InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "SMOP!"

Léon Belmont (ex_the_ambas216) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-03-28 07:54:00

Entry tags:

ambassadors_ball, leon_belmont

An Invitation to the French Ambassador's Ball
Subject: The Ambassadors Ball
Where: The French Embassy
Who: Léon Belmont, the French Ambassador to the English court
Warnings: none as yet
Open to: All (all players may attend either as invited guests of the ambassador, as servants or guests of those invited, as staff, or as gate-crashers.)

The ballroom of the Embassy was already growing busy, and when Citizen Belmont paused for a moment besides one of the large windows, he could see yet more carriages pulling up outside, wreathed in the mist blowing in from the river.

The quartet had been playing now for a good half an hour, new French tunes as well as those the English favoured. His staff was busy handing out good French wine, and then refilling those glasses when they were drained.

It was going to be a good evening, and not only in the eyes of the party-goers. With some of England’s most prominent aristos on the guest list, and some than some newly arrived French nationals, tonight would be a night of information gathering, of sizing up the opposition, and perhaps even ensuring some of those French escapees were returned to face justice.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

gabrielle_bonne
2008-04-19 03:44 pm UTC (link)

Gabrielle was late. She picked up the elegant skirts in her hands and ran to the Embassy. She had yet to find her sister, but had left before it was time to leave to ask around. She had gotten a description, but no sister as of yet. She finally reached the Embassy. She smoothed the skirts of the elegant gown Adelaide had acquired for her. Her small hands ensured her hair was fine, and except for red cheeks from the run, she looked like a lady. She stepped into the Embassy. Her blue-eyed gaze searched for Adelaide, landing on her at last. She went over to her and gave a low curtsy.

"I apologize for the delay in my arrival."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-19 04:19 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide stared at the young girl for a moment, clearly surprised by such a sudden arrival. But finally she smiled her usual lost smile and nodded.

"That's alright, dear," she said softly. Over Gabrielle's shoulder she could see the nurse shaking her head at the girls tardiness, but Adelaide didn't care. "You look lovely tonight. Perhaps some young suitor will sweep you off your feet?" She smiled a little more at the thought, giving a dreamy sigh at the thought of somebody finding love.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-19 04:42 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle giggled, and said, "Perhaps. I've only just had my twelfth birthday, though." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-19 05:55 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, then perhaps that is too young, yes?" Adelaide asked gently. "I was thirteen when I married the General, but I suppose if you are happy now then we won't work to change that."

Smiling she exchanged the empty champagne flute she was holding for a full glass as a servant passed by them. Out of the corner of her eye she could see her nurse keep tracking of how much they drank and so she looked down to Gabrielle. "Perhaps we should move farther into the room?" she suggested, doing her best to sound as if she was doing it for reasons other than ditching her nurse.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

gabrielle_bonne
2008-04-19 06:26 pm UTC (link)

Gabrielle nodded gratefully. "I am unhappy, but I don't think a suitor would change that. I think that shall pass when I have family again. You remember what I told you about my papa?" She asked. She had told Adelaide about her father's death and the no money. That was why she had inquired about a job with her. She had also told her about her father's other daughter.

Gabrielle was quite smart. Her papa had said that if she were a boy, she'd be sent off to University when she was grown. But alas, she had been a girl, and girls didn't do such things. Hence when her mistress gave the briefest of looks to the nurses, she realized why it was, but remained quiet.

"Yes, of course." She said, taking her by the elbow and steering her away from the nurses.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-19 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	Adelaide nodded a little as they moved farther into the room. "I am sure you will find Josephine before long, Gabrielle. And hopefully that will be enough to cure your sorrow," she said softly before taking a long sip from her champagne. Sorrow was the one thing she knew everything about, however unfortunately she had found no way to cure her own unhappiness. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-19 08:40 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle said, "You have family. Did being with them afterwards make you happier?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-19 08:58 pm UTC (link)

"I did not see my family after dear Edgar's death," Adelaide admitted. "Only a few weeks ago did I finally go home to visit for the first time since. However after the General's death it was splendid to have my brother Benjamin there for me." It hurt to speak about Benjamin as nothing more than her brother and not the first man she had loved. "I can not say as to whether or not it would have helped to have some sort of contact with them immediately after Edgar's trial."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-19 09:02 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle nodded. "I see." She took a sip of her champagne as she thought of her father, and her mother before her death. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-19 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	"But I am sure that finding and meeting your sister will help comfort your pains, if not take them away completely." She smiled a little. It was a reversal of roles in a way, Adelaide comforting Gabrielle instead of the other way around. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-19 11:01 pm UTC (link)
	"But she might not want me." She said. "She could have her own family, and not want a perfect stranger in her life." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-19 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	"But that is no reason not to try, is it?" Adelaide asked gently. "And as to having her own family, are you not her family as well? Half-sister or not Gabrielle you're sill her sister." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-19 11:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Perhaps." Gabrielle said. "Perhaps she's just as alone as I am." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-20 12:56 am UTC (link)
	Adelaide, who was working on her third glass of champagne, finished it before once again snatching up a full glass from a passing tray. At Gabrielle's words she smiled her usual lost smile and patted the girl on the shoulder. "Cheer up, dear," she said gently. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

gabrielle_bonne
2008-04-20 01:34 am UTC (link)

Gabrielle needed to discuss some other subject. If she was voicing her worries, she was easy to see through, and in dangerous times such as this, then she had to be hard to understand. Not that she thought Adelaide would ever say anything about her, but who knew who was listening. She gave an involuntary shudder.

"That is going to be your last glass, so make it last."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-20 06:27 am UTC (link)

Adelaide stopped mid-sip and lowered the glass of champagne away from her mouth. "Oh, Garbielle! Don't be a spoil, dear," she said innocently as she finally took a sip from the new glass. "After all, I know how to handle myself." Although that last bit was obviously far from the truth, as she needed three nurses to watch over her during the day. And the mix of alcohol and her troubled mind was hardly a pleasant experience for her once the drinks started to take full effect.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-20 12:22 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle put her hands on her hips and fixed Adelaide a look she had worked on just in case she needed it. "If you take another glass, I shall tell the nurse." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-20 05:36 pm UTC (link)
	Adelaide pouted. "You're a wretched little beast," she hissed, even though she wasn't angry. "I never get to do anything that I wish to do," she added stubbornly. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-20 09:01 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle kept a hand on her hip, letting the other drop. "If you keep drinking, you shall be sick in the morning, and God knows how you'll behave if you keep drinking. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-20 11:47 pm UTC (link)
	Adelaide stubbornly crossed her arms across her chest. "Fine," she said, as if she was going to listen to Gabrielle. However she was silently working on a plan to separate herself from the younger girl, just like she had done with her nurse. Smiling as if she had won she took a sip of her champagne. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-20 11:52 pm UTC (link)
	Gabrielle frowned. She had given in too easily. So probably she'd be trying to give her the slip. The girl made a decision to watch her closely. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-21 12:12 am UTC (link)
	"Cheer up, Pet," Adelaide said happily as she pinched the younger girl on the cheek. She giggled softly before sipping her champagne again. "Perhaps you need more to drink, Gabrielle," she suggested before glancing around for another servant with a tray. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-21 12:20 am UTC (link)
	"I have plenty." She held up the glass in her hand. It was nearly full. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-21 01:06 am UTC (link)

Adelaide glanced down at her own glass, which was already half empty. "Perhaps we should trade?" she suggested thoughtfully. "That way you can get a fresh glass sooner?" She smiled a little, as if it was a marvelous plot she had thought up that would benefit both of them.

Sighing softly she looked around the room slowly. "Have you seen Francis?" she asked gently.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	gabrielle_bonne 2008-04-21 01:10 am UTC (link)
	Gabrielle took both glasses in her small hands and handed her mistress the fuller one she had been sipping at. OOC: Who is Francis? (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)