the boredom that is england Subject: An Afternoon at home. Who: Angélique Worthington Where: The London town home of the duke of Huntingdon Warnings: none yet Open to: Anyone wishing to visit Angel at home.
Lady Marie Angélique Thérèse Zéphyrine Worthington, daughter of the duke of Huntingdon, granddaughter of the duc d'Aumont, 2nd cousin to the king of England, 2nd cousin to the king of france, grand-neice of the Duke of Savoy, neice of the Duchess of Parma, neice of the Elector of Bavaria, grand-niece of Queen Sophia of Prussia, cousin to the prince of Salm-Kyrburg and great-great-great granddaughter of the Sun King (to name just a few members of the family tree) was bored.
She had been bored since the first moment she stepped foot on this sunless little island, and it seemed as though she was going to be bored until she died of a sheer lack of interest in living. Life was hollow, empty and meaningless. The world was gray and dark in her eyes, and no sun shone in the sky.
She raised a delicate ivory fan to hide her face and flicked it opened in closed in practiced, graceful motions. Come here, stay there, tell no one, the fan said in rapid succession. She drew it across her eyes- I am sorry. Angélique sighed and turned from the window, disgusted by the the lack of any semblance of a view and walked to the couch with the gliding steps of the ladies of Versailles, never raising a slippered foot so she would not step on her train, and never disturbing the front of her gown so that she appeared to float across the marble floor rather than move. It was an art she had mastered by watching the Queen and not one she would forget. English girls moved like drunken elephants, skirts swaying like lumpy flags with each step, and Angel so desperately wished her friends could see it. How they would have laughed! Oh, the jokes that would have been told...
Another sigh came she she sank onto a chair and cast a mildly disgusted glance down at her new day dress. Maman had insisted on it, had seemed to think new clothes would help her like this dreary prison more. What nonsensical folly. She snapped open the fan with a derisive flick when a servant entered. A guest?
"I don't care who it is. Show them in. Anyone would improve my company today." She waited expectantly as the man bowed, disappeared, and footsteps approached the door. Oh, please let it be someone entertaining...