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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.

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ascesis_ira
2008-04-19 05:33 pm UTC (link)

Parties were not Elisamarie’s favourite thing. She found them tedious and nothing more than a show of wealth and greed, pride and lust. They were a competition for the rich to scrabble amongst themselves for a little more power, a little more social prestige.
Tonight looked to be no acceptation. He might be the ambassador but Léon Belmont seemed all too susceptible to the trappings of aristocracy.

She refused a glass passed to her by one of the servants. Her simple dress and hair seemed out of place amongst the glorious gowns and ornate hairstyles of the ladies at court. She stayed in the shadows around the edges of the room, hoping not to catch the attention of anyone within the party but quietly observing them, learning their names and positions from their conversations.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-19 06:18 pm UTC (link)

The woman might have been doing a remarkable job of keeping to herself, however nothing ever escaped Adelaide's wandering eyes. And now that she had managed to separate herself from the controlling clutches of her nurse she was free to do as she pleased. Her pale face was slightly red as she was on her third glass of champagne.

"I must say, you don't look like you're having an enjoyable evening," she said softly. She was either blind to the fact that Elisamarie was simply dressed, or she didn't care who she made conversation with; although most girls of her status did.

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ascesis_ira
2008-04-19 07:45 pm UTC (link)

Elisamarie gave a withering glance, although it turned to pity when she saw the young girl's face. Her lost look did stir a feeling of remorse.
"No, I am not." She muttered. "I am not used to being invited to such things as a guest." She pauses for a moment. "Are you enjoying yourself, Mademoiselle?”

She looked like a child this girl before her, Elisamarie guessed, too young to be addressed as a Madam.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-19 08:46 pm UTC (link)

The young Widow gave another lost smile. "I suppose it is nice to be out of my apartment, as I have not been out much since the death of my dear husband Edgar. However I don not know if enjoyment is the correct word for the way I feel."

Adelaide gave a gentle sigh as she let her lifeless eyes glance around for a tray of champagne, as she had been holding dearly to an empty glass for some time now. "It can be an adventure though, all the preparation that goes into attending a ball, yes?" she asked curiously.

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ascesis_ira
2008-04-19 09:21 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, forgive me! I don't not realise you had been married, Madam." Elisamarie said, only able to think again how young the child looked.

"I cannot say I have had much experience with the preparation. I own very few articles of clothing and I have no desire to dress myself according to the fashions." She had had to bite her tounge to keep from saying Aristos, it would not do to alienate someone so soon.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-19 11:00 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide was used to this, as she was barely eighteen and looked young for her age. "I've been married three times," she admitted softly, before pausing a moment out of respect for the lovers she had lost.

"But the excitement of being here does not suit your taste?" she asked, almost out of disbelief. Adelaide was young and the idea of getting dressed up for a ball was something she loved. "I was distraught when my nurse suggested I not attend tonight, but I convinced her to let me come. It is marvelous to spend the evening socializing after being in my apartment for such a long time." She was rather talkative at the moment, which was odd for her, although it could mostly be blamed on the champagne.

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ascesis_ira
2008-04-20 07:35 am UTC (link)

"Three times?" Elisamarie repeated, shocked although she knew it was not uncommon for girls to be married so young. After-all, the late Queen had been all of twelve when she had married.

"It is not the excitement so much as the atmosphere. I have no taste for dancing or finery." She glanced again at the young woman next to her. "But I am glad you are enjoying yourself, Madam. A young woman should be allowed some freedoms from morning."

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widow_newbury
2008-04-20 07:46 am UTC (link)

Adelaide nodded. "Yes, it seems that I am easily lured with fancy things," she said gently. "But I have learned my lesson now, as some woman just are not fit to be married."

Suddenly she brought her hand to her heart, as every little mistake she made was something she would never let herself live down. "Oh, dear! I have forgotten my manners. I'm Adelaide Newbury, and you?"

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	ascesis_ira 2008-04-20 07:53 am UTC (link)
	Elisamarie touched the cross around her neck, remembering. "Yes, I know that only too well, Madam." "Elisamarie Fournier, Madam." She dipped, curtsying. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-20 08:05 am UTC (link)
	Adelaide's lifeless eyes wandered to the woman's neck when she touched the cross. The red-head was a fairly curious girl, especially when it came to a possibility of hearing a story of love and romance and so she looked back up to Elisamarie's face. "And is there a Monsieur Fournier?" she asked gently. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

ascesis_ira
2008-04-20 08:28 am UTC (link)

Elisamarie's face fell for a moment, but then her expression set to one of disgust. There was no point in remembering what had happened back in France. That was over now. She had buried that back in Paris. Buried the child and buried him.

"No, there is no Monsieur Forurnier." She hissed, teeth clenched. "I believe it is not in God's plan for me to marry, Madam. I think he has another use for me on this Earth."

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widow_newbury
2008-04-20 08:32 am UTC (link)

Adelaide had lost her last husband back in France and so she knew the woman's pain, but at the same time did not. The younger girl had the help of a broken mind, allowing her to escape to a fantasy world where she was still with her beloved husband. However now she was in reality and it was obvious to her that she had done something to upset Elisamarie.

"My apologizes," she said softly, a hint of fear in her once vacant eyes. It wasn't clear what exactly she had suddenly become afraid of, but the feeling was not uncommon for Adelaide.

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	ascesis_ira 2008-04-20 08:41 am UTC (link)
	Elisamarie frowned. She had not meant to upset the girl, the memories were painful but they had at least a happy ending. He had been guillotined after all for his crimes. "There is no need to apologize, Madam. Nor to be upset. It was a long time ago now and I have new work to keep myself occupied." She smiled slightly, the first in a long time. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	widow_newbury 2008-04-20 08:53 am UTC (link)
	"Ah, yes. That is the secret to keeping ones self content after tragedy, isn't it?" Adelaide said. Although she was certainly not speaking from experience, since after the death of each of her husbands she did little to keep herself occupied. Instead she allowed herself to be consumed by her grief to the point of near insanity. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	ascesis_ira 2008-04-20 09:04 am UTC (link)
	"I would believe so, yes." Elisamarie agreed. "Work and faith." Her faith had been all she had had to console herself during those terrible weeks, and then months, after the event. But then had come the revolution and she had been filled with the a new passion for a new work - destroying the family of her former employer as he had destroyed her. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

widow_newbury
2008-04-20 05:54 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide nodded in agreement, although she wouldn't know from experience. She had very little faith left in anything and she had certainly never worked a day in her life. She didn't say anything, just took herself another flute of champagne before glancing around. She was certainly past the limit her nurse had set. But when she didn't see the hawk-like woman she took a sip and smiled. "And perhaps some good champagne always helps."

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	ascesis_ira 2008-04-20 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, I am sure, Madam." Elisamarie agreed although she did not touch the stuff herself. As long as she could remember champagne had been a drink reserved only for Aristocrats and she did not feel like closing the social gap by drinking what they did. (Replies frozen) (Parent)

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