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Tweak says, "I don't believe in love."

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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madame_margot
2008-04-01 02:37 pm UTC (link)

Marguerite gracefully descended from her carriage with the help of a footman, sweeping her gaze over the sumptuous Embassy building. It might not have been Paris, but it was close enough that she could brave the presence of traitors in her husband's stead. It was his privilege to claim illness to shrug his responsibilities, but far be it for her to do the same.

A wife's role came with sacrifices of a certain nature. And if those sacrifices entailed parties where she was liable to glimpse old friends and make new ones, well, there was no shirking her duties.

Passing through the foyer, she shrugged off her cape into the waiting hands of a servant. Her dress couldn't have been more English and were it not for accent, she might even have passed for a native. As it was, she made no effort to deny her roots--not even when faced with the infamous Ambassador.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-19 06:45 am UTC (link)

Infamous or not, the Ambassador had his own duty to preform to those arriving guests, and no-less to than to Madame York. "Marguerite, I am glad to see you again. But your husband? Is he unwell?" He asked, already quite aware that Baron York left his wife to do much of the social leg-work that he himself did not wish to address.

"Perhaps I could offer you some champagne?" He asks, as one of his staff stops close-by with the tray. "As a little taste of home?"

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madame_margot
2008-04-20 01:42 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, dear friend, good evening," she smiled, gracefully nodding her head and accepting the offered glass. As Eve with the apple, she thought, amusing herself with the comparison.

"What a marvelous thing, this party. My poor husband does not know what fun he is missing, all cooped up at home." Her wink was conspiratorial - and had she any thought or reticence when it came to dealing with revolutionaries, she might have feared to be associated with such a man. "Indeed, he is once more unable to accompany me. I should feel quite friendless were I anywhere but here."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-20 01:49 pm UTC (link)

"It has been a most pleasant evening so far, but of course it is even more so now you are here, Madam." He smiles, knowing that this amount of charm is too much, sickeningly sweet like the English enjoy their cakes. But it was expected.

"I am glad you are enjoying it so far, Madam York. Perhaps next time you will be able to persuade him to accept an invitation? I would very much like to meet the Baron, when he has the opportunity." He smiles, taking a small sip from his own glass, "But you will have to ensure him you are not without friends, my dear, in any walk of life. Especially here, with your kinsmen and women. We are all friends here."

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madame_margot
2008-04-20 01:57 pm UTC (link)

Marguerite laughs airily, for show and politeness as she surveys the room.

"Ah, but that sword has... how do you say, a double edge?" she muses, a smile hiding the edge in her own words. "My husband is a man of strict habit. If I persuade him to join me I may never move freely again." And wouldn't that be a bleak thought - no more trips to the harbor, no more lone walks in the park. "Oh, I have been meaning to thank you for quite some time. Your wife's gift arrived not two weeks after our conversation. A French maid, she's an absolute dream."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-20 02:06 pm UTC (link)

"I would certainly not wish your freedoms restricted, Madam York. The English, they have strange ways of treating their wives, don't you agree? They are beauties to be admired, not free creatures." He shakes his head. "Perhaps I shall meet your husband on official business instead? I am sure then you would not have to be troubled by the discussion of politics and money."

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madame_margot
2008-04-20 08:29 pm UTC (link)

It's on the tip of her tongue to mention how much she misses the old days at the French court, but she refrains. It's the wiser thing to do.

"The Baron would delight in your company, I'm sure. Whether you would delight in his I am less certain." Allies were important, she judges. If that means abandoning her own husband, then so be it. "A man who can host such lovely parties and one who is unable to attend them cannot have much in common."

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	ex_the_ambas216 2008-04-21 06:40 am UTC (link)
	Léon can't resist a smile. "And would you be terribly upset if your husband and I became friends? It is my job, Madam York, to get on even with the most disagreeable of people. If your husband had the good sense to marry you, he can not truly be the worst of people." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	madame_margot 2008-04-21 08:39 am UTC (link)
	"Upsetting? Not at all," she replies. "But it would cost me the attention of a dear friend whom I would hate to see reduced to games of whist and drinking fine port." She makes it sound more horrible than it is, but there's always a risk in the Ambassador knowing too much. "And then again, it might dispel some of the mystery surrounding your person." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_the_ambas216 2008-04-21 09:23 am UTC (link)
	"I do not think you could loss my affection, dear Madam, although I must admit now Port is not my favourite of poisons." He shrugs, "But I would bear it for an audience with your famed Baron." Léon pauses then, considering, "I do not believe I keep myself a mystery, Madam, unless you have been telling your husband tales?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

madame_margot
2008-04-21 09:31 am UTC (link)

Marguerite laughs freely. "Indeed I have no need to. Official functions involve some degree of secrecy and thus they breed mystery. My husband is a reasonable man. I doubt he would listen to my fabrications." Unless delivered with the pathos of a grieving widow, of course. Sipping from her glass, she pursed her lips in thought. "I had not known so many of my kinsmen were on good terms with our new government. Or is it your charming presence that has solicited their presence?"

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-22 07:56 am UTC (link)

"Perhaps he would not, but men, even if they do not seem to, always have a more sensitive ear for their wives' stories." He said, nodding to emphasize his point.

"You would be surprised, I think, to see the numbers of those who have adjusted well, and are better off for the new government, Madam York. Although my guests tonight are, like yourselves, French citizens staying in England for the time being. This Ball was intended to help them remember they have a home across the water from here which they should not neglect."

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madame_margot
2008-04-22 12:36 pm UTC (link)

"I shall have to test that theory now, of course," she teased, wondering what kind of woman could hold sway with her stories over the ambassador.

Watching the rest of the guests, she nodded. "No, I doubt I'll ever quite forget France. No other land on this earth could take the place it holds in my heart. Oh, but I did not tell you." Her eyes brightened considerably, a girlish smile on her lips. "I was just there recently! It was a spur of the moment decision, of course, and I was terribly unprepared, but Normandy is still as beautiful as ever. I am so very glad I had a chance to see it after so many months. Though I regret my voyage being cut short..."

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