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Tweak says, "Follow the creepy brick road."

madame_margot (madame_margot) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-04-22 23:03:00

Entry tags:

marguerite_york

Marguerite York - Pas d'employés sans employeurs
Subject: A business deal, a job offer
Where: The Baron's residence in Grosvenor Square, London
Who: Marguerite York
Open to: Amandine, Olivier (if he's interested in following his wife), Mercedes (if he's around), Harry Fisher

Marguerite retreated to the gardens every morning after breakfast, whether it was pouring rain or blistering heat. As far as her husband was concerned, she went out there to read. As far as she was concerned, it was to write her letters in peace and quiet, away from prying eyes. How else could she find the best gossip?

While in London, her habits did not alter by far. Rather than spend her time indoors, she ordered the terrace windows opened wide and the room aired. When that did not help, she moved to the small terrace and tried to put her thoughts in order.

A servant, as usual, interrupted.

"A young woman is asking for you, Madam," he stammered. "She claims you gave her your card at the Ambassador's ball..."

Annoyance gave way to satisfaction. "Show her in."

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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-22 10:59 pm UTC (link)

Amandine had considered the woman's offer all night despite her husband's adamancy that nothing should be done about it. Had they come to England to survive or to give way to the pressure still haunting them and live in fear? To Amandine more money was more scope, and that she was French gave Amandine a little bit of home.

She stood in the doorway to the terrace, blinking into the sunlight. It was a glorious day. Her mistress was still in a coma from the previous night and there was not much to be done around the house. Now here she was, disobeying her husband's wishes to reject the offer preparing to learn more about the new position.

"Bonjour Madame," she said politely, the courtesy bow to keep up her charade of servitude. "I hope I am not intruding."

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madame_margot
2008-04-22 11:12 pm UTC (link)

Marguerite smiled, gesturing for the servant to leave them.

"I had hoped you'd come but I wasn't certain," she replied by way of greeting. This could be a brilliant move or she could risk shooting herself in the foot. Fortunately, her other French maid was still busy waiting for her at the estate. No spies here.

Gesturing to the chair before her, she nodded. "Have a seat and tell me what made you decide. Was it the money?"

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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-22 11:16 pm UTC (link)

"Partly," Amandine said simply, walking towards the chair and seating herself delicately. Even now she did not fall into the habit of throwing herself into chairs like the other servant girls even when exhausted. "But I also realised I must do what is necessary to survive. This seems a step in the right direction despite my husband's disapproval. His pride runs deeper than I thought."

The woman seemed kind enough, but without a name it was hard to feel a bond beginning to grow with her. "I am sure he will come round."

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madame_margot
2008-04-22 11:29 pm UTC (link)

"Men can be difficult," she acquiesced. "Pride, ego, all those things us females are taught to loathe they obey. Strange how our world works." The words hang in the air, meaningless, for a moment. "I did not ask you here to discuss philosophy, of course."

Leaning back in her chair, she tapped her nails against the tabletop in thought. "There is something about you. You are as French as my French maid, but you are not of her ilk. Your manners are different." Lips pursed, she leaned forward again, restless because she could not read her. "I think we are in the same situation, you and I. I think you fled France as I did - only your husband survived the journey. But of course... if you had to flee, then you were wanted for something. Crime or your birthright. So which is it?"

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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-23 01:13 am UTC (link)

"My lady you are highly perceptive," Amandine replied, choosing to take her time in the way she was going to go about this. There was always the suspicion that this woman would try and weasel something incriminating out of her for her own purposes, but Amandine did not think this woman was after that effect. Her words were careful and so would Amandine's be.

"But I am afraid it is neither. My birthright is as humble as the position I serve in now, no different to the lifestyle I am leading here in England. The only crime I committed would be in the eyes of the Revolutionaries: a marriage to the right person but at the wrong time."

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madame_margot
2008-04-23 09:16 am UTC (link)

"No, not so perceptive as I am aware of the lives of my countrymen in England," she placated, aware that her position was privileged, envious that she'd given up whatever hopes and dreams still kept the other woman married to her man.

"Ah, so it is his birthright instead. You married a nobleman. Life must be... difficult for him here." Which, she assumed, was an understatement.

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bourgeois_girl
2008-04-23 10:12 am UTC (link)

Amandine nodded. "It is more than difficult. I find him in a temper on the strangest of days and I know he is unhappy being as dirty as he is. A stablehand's job is not the cleanest.. but he still manages to retain his pride, usually at the worst of times."

A poignant look in the woman's direction was all that was needed to explain her comment. That was why he was not here with her - the stubborn nature of his ego overtaking his common sense. "I might be able to convince him but it will be difficult."

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madame_margot
2008-04-23 12:57 pm UTC (link)

Marguerite tried to resist the urge to imagine her own husband, had he lived, struggling through life here. A woman of her nature, on her own, was in a better position to elevate her status. Arching an eyebrow, she considered Amandine's looks.

"If you cannot convince him to join you, then it is his burden to bear, not yours," she retorted coldly. "I'd like to give you a chance. You've worked as chamber maid before and what else?" What else could she do, how trustworthy was she.

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	bourgeois_girl 2008-04-23 01:28 pm UTC (link)
	Amandine shifted in her seat. It unnerved her to think of leaving her husband on his own after all he had done for them, to just abandon him for the sake of what he would consider more money and less safety. "I have waited before. I worked in the theatre in Paris - that is my only other experience." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)