InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "A BUSINESS proposition."

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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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-20 06:36 pm UTC (link)

Amandine was used to balls and the social liasing which was typical of the guests attending. Having been practiced in the art of mingling for the past year as a Baron's wife, she was no stranger to the fake smiles, forced pleasantries and occasional genuine conversation. Usually she found it to be quite fascinating, but this occasion was far from usual.

Waiting in the wings as her ladyship was both entertaining and entertained by the other guests, Amandine looked about the room with a mildly curious, mostly blank expression. The desire to delve into the drinks rather than serve them to her mistress was strong and it was all she could do to keep in her place, watching the people there instead of being among them. She wondered for a second if her husband might be somewhere close, then quickly reminded herself that a humble stable hand would not even be considered to attend a ball such as this.

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ascesis_ira
2008-04-20 06:43 pm UTC (link)

It still upset her, even now in England to see Aristos waited on hand and foot. The poor woman looked as if she needed a moment to relax from standing on ceremony.

Elisamarie waited until the young woman's Mistress was out of sight, engaged in intimate conversation and approached her with a full glass in hand.
"I know you are not supposed to have this," She offered. "But I am sure no-one would wish you to refuse an offer from one of the Ambassador's staff."

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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-20 06:57 pm UTC (link)

Amandine's face lifted and she gave the kind stranger a grateful smile. Taking the glass gently from the woman's fingers she tried not to look too pleased in case someone caught sight of it.

"Merci," she said quietly, humbled by the act. "I have not even had a sip of water since we arrived, she will insist on dragging me everywhere..." Unable to resist Amandine raised the glass to take a small gulp and sighed slightly. "Thank you so much."

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	ascesis_ira 2008-04-20 07:16 pm UTC (link)
	"It is my pleasure, think nothing of it." Elisamarie said, although she did not look at the young woman but scanned the crowd, attempting to catch sight of her mistress. "They are too cruel." She murmured. "I think they believe everyone is their servant, no?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	bourgeois_girl 2008-04-20 07:36 pm UTC (link)
	Amandine glanced to the crowds then back to the woman at her side. "It certainly appears that way. They have the fine clothes, but not all have fine personalities..." She felt almost naughty discussing her lady and her company in such a way, but the woman did not seem to be one to tell on her. (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	ascesis_ira 2008-04-21 07:55 am UTC (link)
	Elisamarie smiled, although it was rather more cruel than amused. "In France they have all their fine clothes but not their fine heads." She said, playing with the cross around her neck. "Perhaps, soon, that will be the case in England also?" (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

bourgeois_girl
2008-04-21 09:39 am UTC (link)

Amandine gave a small wince at the very thought. Not only did she dislike the idea of her and her husband's friends being sent to their deaths in such a way but she was quite squeamish to begin with.

"The English seem to lack the fire of the bourgeois people," she replied simply. "I think it would take something big to make them rise like us." Us. How can I count myself among them now?

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	ascesis_ira 2008-04-21 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	Elisamarie nodded, evidently satisfied with this answer. "I think you are right. These Englishmen have no passion. It is the weather I am sure, dampens the spirits." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

	bourgeois_girl 2008-04-21 04:40 pm UTC (link)
	Amandine stifled a laugh. "Dampens to be sure! I have counted but three occasions where I have not ended the day like a drowned rat. It increases the workload for the maids threefold.." (Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)