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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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the_legman
2008-04-20 05:46 pm UTC (link)

Ferrand was rather glad he'd taken the time and expense to make this brief hop over to England for this Ball. As he looked around, a wide-eyed, impressed expression carefully put on as he did so, he made a mental note to thank his contact for getting him the invitation (admittedly it was only as a guest of said contact but nobody here needed that titbit of information).

From the people he'd already seen arrive (and those who were distinctly missing) it promised to be a worthwhile evening. There were a couple of conversations that sounded interesting enough to engage their participants later on - nothing for the Gazette, of course, but perhaps for one of the locals - however at the moment he was content to float in the background and let those who had a voice to be heard seek him out for once.

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	ex_the_ambas216 2008-04-20 05:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Ah! Monsieur Duval!" Léon smiles widely as he made his way to the reporter, handing over one of the two glasses he carried. "I am very glad you could come this evening. We seem to have a full count of Englishmen and Frenchmen, but not nearly enough of your kin. Tell me, how is Paris? Are you perhaps a little more knowledgeable of the city streets?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-20 06:07 pm UTC (link)

"Ambassador! A pleasure as always to see you. I must congratulate you for putting on such a wonderful event as this." Ferrand nods in thanks as he takes the glass and just holds it for the moment. "I count myself as incredibly lucky, of course, that my fellow reporters do not seem to have made it here. Still lost in amongst the back streets of Paris, perhaps?" He chuckles to himself, knowing that the ambassador probably meant that his own countrymen were missing but not wanting to offend by saying that an event such as this wouldn't even register with those so far away. Better to play the fool here than risk offence. "Not that I don't envy them a little. I'm not sure how you cope living in this English city day after day but I'm sure the perks of your position more than make up for it."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-20 06:26 pm UTC (link)

"Your trip from Paris, I trust it was pleasant?" He asks, "At least, that the crossing was calm. But it must be very short in comparison of that from Canada?"

"You would be surprised how few reporters take interest in these little gatherings. The English Times hardly ever reports on the parties of the Prince any more, I think they are somewhat sick of parties. They do care, however, about the threat of war with Austria. Which, of course, there will not be."

Léon shrugs slightly. "London is not so bad. It smells, yes, and the streets are dirty and the people rude, but..." He shrugs, "I am serving my country, and the hardships I endure only further the advance of the Revolution."

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the_legman
2008-04-20 06:37 pm UTC (link)

"It was but a blink of an eye when compared to that journey, Ambassador, and we did have wonderfully clear weather across the Channel. Rather lucky in that respect, I've heard, if the weather here is anything like the rumours suggest."

Now this was something of interest. Ferrand showed only a moment of surprise before gathering his expression under control once more, "The Parliament here has decided against joining their allies then? Well, I'm certain that people will be pleased to hear that snippet of news." He definitely was. If England went to war with France it would most likely have the most horrific of effects back home; especially when one considered the already dire relations between the two groups there.

He nods slowly, "And that, of course, is all that matters in the end, no?"

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-20 06:46 pm UTC (link)

"I have not been informed that that is the decision that they have settled on, I am afraid, but it is, I pray, what the Houses of Parliament will choose. I am afraid I have little say in the events, I am merely told afterwards. But considering the English attitude to France and her Revolution at the moment, I am surprised every morning that the Embassy has not been burnt to the ground." He pauses for a moment to take a swallow from his glass. "But we can not be sure. The English change their minds so often. But we can hope, can we not?"

"It matters to the Council and the Committee for Public Safety, yes. As long as I do my job, then I am of use. It is a heavy responsibility in these... difficult and worrying times, my dear Monsieur Duval, as I am sure you can imagine." He replies, the tone betraying how difficult, and likely to turn against him, these times really were. Even more so for a man in his position.

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the_legman
2008-04-20 07:01 pm UTC (link)

His expression falls at the news that the decision was more wishful thinking than fact. "I think that we all hope and pray for the English to keep to themselves in this matter. Let them keep in mind that they have only just fought and lost one war," Although how many over here would remember the battles in America, or even knew of them in the first place? "Perhaps that will keep them from rushing into another?"

He lifted his glass to the Ambassador before taking a sip of his drink. "I shall say a prayer for your continued safety, Citizen Belmont, so that you may keep on your work for all of our safeties at home." A little over the top, Ferrand thought to himself, but all of it true. The last thing he wanted was yet more tension between the English and the French.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-21 07:40 am UTC (link)

"That is exactly what my government is hoping, mossier. The English public, they are in no mood for another war, and try as they might to persuade us otherwise, the Austrians are already loosing. The English and they have never been the firmest, or friendliest allies. It will blow over." Léon says, waving his hand to dismiss the idea altogether, although he doesn't feel it is quite as settled as he makes out.

Léon smiled, "Merci. Although I am not sure if god would answer prayers made of the French when His religion has been condemned as that of the aristos." Léon shrugged. If Elisamarie was to hear him say that... "But it may do me some good."

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the_legman
2008-04-21 04:14 pm UTC (link)

Ferrand nods, understanding the wish for the matter to be dropped, "Well, ambassador, you are most likely to hear the outcome before the rest of us. I can only hope that it will be good news rather than a warning we hear of next." It didn't look like he was going to get anything else out of Citizen Belmont about this problem. Never mind though, while he was here he could always take the opportunity to see if he could catch one of the English aristos and follow the matter straight to the source.

"The good Lord hears all of our prayers," he replies with a smile and a shrug, unsure as to Léon's religious tendencies, "Perhaps he'll take pity on someone so far from home and answer mine." Probably better to lean towards the more devout, and more truthful, side seeing as the majority had not yet abandoned their religion to the mob.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-04-23 11:08 am UTC (link)

"Hopefully, I will. But when dealing with the English, one can never be sure." He smiles, and then shrugs, "They are the worst at keeping secrets. I sometimes think that before they tell me of things they send word to the Navy and the Army and make ready to invade if we can not agree."

Léon can't help raise any eyebrow. The speech sounded very much like that he had received from Elisamarie when he had decided to take paperwork with him to Sunday Mass. Or course, Monsieur Duval was much more well spoken than the ex-scullery maid. "I am sure He does. And I am sure he will look more kindly on you."

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the_legman
2008-04-23 10:23 pm UTC (link)

"It would not surprise me one jot if that were the case, ambassador." He's not entirely sure if he believes it but there's not much he could do if it were a lie so better to play along for now.

He wonders at the raised eyebrow but perhaps the ambassador is not a religious man; it would make sense to avoid attention of that sort in Protestant England. It would be interesting to see what the servants, if they were French too, made of it but that was only an idle thought. "Thank you, Monsieur. Speaking of that, however, would you know if there are still churches here that perform Mass? I doubt I shall be returning to Paris before Sunday and I had heard there had been problems between the clergy and the royals concerning matters such as services." More than problems, Emmeline had written to him about how the English even over there were making proper worship difficult.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-20 06:35 pm UTC (link)

Had Adelaide not been working on her fourth of fifth glass of champagne she would most certainly not have been approaching so many strangers. But alas, she had purposely lost her nurse somewhere in the crowd and was now free to enjoy herself as much as she could. It was a treat for the young Widow, who had spent that last few months in her Paris apartment after her third husband was sent to the guillotine.

But now all that was forgotten, as the unstable girl was making her way around the ballroom. Unfortunately the fact that she was unstable was the result of her broken mind and not the alcohol. Perhaps that was why the look she wore was a mixture of fear and confusion.

"Pardon me, Mister," she started softly as she passed the gentleman, only to find that her nurse was about ten feet off, with her back to them. Carefully Adelaide turned around quickly to face him, afraid to get any closer and risk exposure to her nurse. "Fancy evening, yes?" she asked the man curiously.

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the_legman
2008-04-20 06:51 pm UTC (link)

The girl was an interesting one to watch; she had a vaguely familiar face that he was sure he could place with a name if given enough time (from the royal court perhaps?) but it was her expression, at odds with the party atmosphere around them, that made her stand out.

Ferrand certainly hadn't expected her to approach but there was the evidence right in front of him. "Madame." He acknowledged her pardon with a bow and a smile, not sure why she'd so quickly spun around (he could hazard a guess going by her lack of a chaperone though). It took him a second to translate what it was she'd said, his never very good English had fallen out of practise in recent years, before he replied. "Yes, but it should expect." That didn't sound quite right. "Mes excuses, Madame. My English is not good." If he was correct in his placing of her, however, it was likely that she spoke French though.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-20 07:12 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide cast a nervous glance back over her shoulder before taking a sip of her champagne. At his words she tilted her head to one side, thinking for a second that perhaps she had drank more champagne than she had thought. But when he apologized she smiled and nodded in understand. "No fear, Monsieur," she replied in French. She had been raised in London, but having been married to a French Aristocrat did give reason for one to speak the language. Her accent was perhaps a bit off when she spoke the words, but they rolled off her tongue anyway, as if she spoke French fluently.

"Excuse my forgetfulness," she said suddenly, still in French. "I am Adelaide Newbury," she said gently, before pausing a moment as she looked up at him. He looked somewhat familiar and so she attempted to make a guess. "I believe my late husband Monsieur Kinsley has pointed you out to me in the past, you are a journalist, yes?" she asked slowly, as it took her a few moments longer to translate her words to French now that she had alcohol in her system and it was also a touchy subject for her to speak of her latest marriage.

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the_legman
2008-04-20 07:43 pm UTC (link)

"Not to worry, Madame Newbury," Ferrand replied with a smile and a shake of his head, his own accent strange because of his origins, "I am not one of those who stands on ceremony." He was quite pleased to learn her name though and finally place why he recognised her; she was the girl some of those at court fancifully called cursed because of her record with husbands.

That he'd been remembered by the late Messire Kingsley was a little surprising and he wasn't quite sure what to make of that news considering they'd not spoken often to each other. Perhaps the man had just been good at names though. "Your husband was correct, of course, I write for the Québec Gazette. Ferrand Duval at your service."

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widow_newbury
2008-04-21 12:06 am UTC (link)

Adelaide glanced past him to make sure her nurse moved on to search for her elsewhere. She then took a final sip from her champagne before placing the empty flute on a tray as a servant stopped near them.

"Ah, yes. Monsieur Duval, I remember now," she said gently, before pausing a moment. She glanced down suddenly in thought. Perhaps several glasses of champagne had not been a wise choice. Blinking a few times she finally looked up. "And what brings you to England?" she asked curiously, suddenly seeming to be fine again.

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the_legman
2008-04-21 04:23 pm UTC (link)

Ferrand watched her carefully; the empty glass she'd given to the servant couldn't have been her first. Still, perhaps it would make her more likely to talk and at least she'd be away from distasteful attentions while he talked to her.

He played with the stem of his own drink, still his first of the night, and smiled wider when she admitted to remembering him. "This magnificent occasion, of course. I've had the pleasure of conversation with the Ambassador before now and I had the great luck of a friend of mine receiving an invitation and she brought me along as her guest." He quickly scanned the crowd now, looking for the woman in question, but she was nowhere to be seen. "And yourself, madame? How are you finding your being home?"

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widow_newbury
2008-04-21 06:53 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide helped herself to another glass of champagne from a tray before turning her attention back to him. She smiled and nodded. "It is always lovely to attend events such as this," she said softly. "And the Ambassador is always a charming host."

She took a sip from her champagne. "I find it dreadful here," she said suddenly. "I much prefer my city-dwelling in Paris over my father's estate," she admitted softly.

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the_legman
2008-04-22 09:48 am UTC (link)

"A necessary virtue, I think," Ferrand replied with a glance over to where the Ambassador was standing across the room, "in a role such as his. Still, I must say I think he has exceeded himself this time." It was a magnificent sight, this grand ball, to those not particularly used to such elegance like Ferrand.

"Even with the troubles as they are?" He enquired, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "But perhaps there are reasons for it." He finished with a shrug, let her take it as a question if she wished.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-22 09:59 am UTC (link)

Adelaide followed his gaze to the Ambassador and nodded. "Yes, I suppose he has done a lavish job tonight," she said softly.

At his next words she looked over at him, her lifeless eyes meeting his for a moment. "I do not often see the world outside my apartment, Monsieur, as my nurses do not allow it. And while the troubles in France are tragic, I enjoy the memories I shared there with my late husband."

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the_legman
2008-04-22 12:29 pm UTC (link)

"One can only hope that all this effort doesn't go to waste and that relations between your two countries improves, if just a little." Ferrand meets her expressionless eyes for a second before adjusting his gaze to over her shoulder, disturbed slightly by them.

"But then I suppose I am preaching to the choir, madame, seeing how you've already done your part. You and your husband both." He ducks his head and lowers his voice, "My sympathies to you for that; he was a good man."

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widow_newbury
2008-04-22 06:52 pm UTC (link)

"It would be a shame for these problems to drag on any longer than needed and for any more life's to be taken, innocent or not," Adelaide said gently. She kept her hollow gaze upon him for a moment or two longer before looking back down.

"Thank you, monsieur. It is a tragedy how his life was cut short, but I find comfort in knowing he died for something he felt strongly about," she admitted softly.

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the_legman
2008-04-22 07:08 pm UTC (link)

"We shall have to hope the situation resolves itself before too long." By the sounds of things, at least to Ferrand's ears, it seemed unlikely that this would happen. The mutterings sounded too similar to those he'd heard at home before the war to the south. No need to tell people that though; it would only cause panic. "It would be nice to see peace though. I think it could be quite the novelty." He smiled and chuckled, "Perhaps we could turn it into the latest fashion; we'd be guaranteed its success then."

"A noble cause at that. I'm sure the Lord will look favourably on him in the next life." The words couldn't have been much comfort to her, he knew, as she'd probably much prefer to have her husband with her in this life but they were really all he could offer.

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widow_newbury
2008-04-22 08:38 pm UTC (link)

Adelaide smiled, almost eerily. "If only it was that easy to fix the troubles in the world," she said.

Looking down a moment she sighed. "Yes, that is a slight comfort to know." She then looked back up a shook her head slowly. "But enough of this talk," she said gently. "Have you been enjoying London?" she asked curiously. "I find the people here less pleasant than those in Paris, but it is a matter of personal opinion."

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the_legman
2008-04-22 09:15 pm UTC (link)

"With the end of this country's last war not ten years gone it might be this time." He shrugs, he doesn't really believe it himself but there's nothing wrong with letting the fools have their hope while they can.

Ferrand was rather glad of the change of topic, if the truth had to be told, and took a few seconds to think up a response which didn't involve distaste of the state of the place. "I honestly haven't seen that much of it, madame, I spent most of what little time I had before this ball at the Times' offices and journalists, I've found, are much the same the world over. Perhaps you could advise me, as a native, on the places I should see before I return to Paris?"

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