by T E Elliott
“What do you think, worth the effort?” he asked.
“Definitely!”
They sat for some time, taking in the peaceful scene in companionable silence, Audric thinking that the moment was pretty near perfect.
As the day wore on, they parted ways. When evening came, Léa entered the dining room to find the partition gone and Audric standing by the table waiting for her. As she approached, he pulled out the chair. It was a strange feeling to have him beside her after so many evenings of only hearing his voice. They had reached a certain level of comfort in the old routine, would their conversations be different now? Only one way to find out.
“You’re very good at drawing,” she said as Francine poured her drink, the maid giving Audric a pleased smile.
“Thank you,” he replied simply.
Léa thought for a moment. “That book of drawings you gave me, who did them?”
He looked sheepish. “I did. I copied them from the artwork we own upstairs.”
“Is there anything you don’t do well?” she asked in surprise.
“Speak to young ladies, apparently.”
Léa held back a laugh.
“Let’s just say I’ve had a lot of time to practice and have explored a variety of pursuits…unhindered.”
She gave him a challenging look, “Very well, I shall test your knowledge. I’ll give you a name, you tell me what you know.”
“I’m ready,” he bowed his head as he prepared for the first one.
“Descartes.”
“Ah,” he lifted his head, “Cogito, ergo sum. ‘I think, therefore I am.’ I’ve had so much time to think, I thought I would die, so…” he weighed his hands and shrugged. “‘Cogito, ergo moriar’ might be more to the point.”
Léa sat back and laughed.
“I’m teasing, of course. His contributions to mathematics and natural philosophy are impressive.”
“Next one! Da Vinci.”
“Italian, painter, his inventions are quite brilliant as I understand. He’s a fellow lover of nature. I’ve not seen his artwork, though Lisette has written to me about what she has seen in her travels. A true master it would seem.”
Léa stopped. A thought struck her that his knowledge was limited to what he could read in books, there wasn’t much he could experience firsthand being cooped up here.
“Where would you go, what would you do, if you could leave here?”
His face changed and he scratched a finger behind his ear. “I stopped thinking about that a long time ago,” he answered with a finality to his voice.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offense.”
“No, Léa, I didn’t mean to shame you for the question. It’s just that to dream is to hope and as the saying goes, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ I had to stop hoping for what could never happen. There were a lot of things I had to stop hoping for,” he said as he locked eyes with her.
She lowered her gaze and pondered his words.
“Come with me,” he stood up suddenly and went to the wall across from them.
Léa sat confused. Go with him…to the wall? She stood up slowly.
“I’m not crazy, come here,” he smiled and beckoned.
As she came nearer, he went to a nearby side table and flipped something underneath it then took the candelabra off the top. A hidden door moved back and slid to the side. Now she was intrigued! Audric disappeared inside and Léa looked back at Francine and Édouard, who laughed silently and nodded and gestured for her to follow. Audric poked his head back out. “Coming?” he asked. She tilted her head and gave him a befuddled smile, then shrugged and trotted after him.
A stairwell met her as she came through the doorway. It was dark, but she could see Audric's frame and the candles that he held as he ascended the stairs. They climbed several stories’ worth of stairs as they curved slowly up. Finally, the stairs ended and he turned and handed her the candelabra, then pushed up on a trap door. Pulling himself up through it, he lowered his hand, first for the candles, then to assist her through. They were at the top of one of the towers of the château. Audric led her to the wall and leaned on his elbows to look out. Léa followed suit and was amazed by what she saw. The snow-capped mountains of the French Alps were spread out before her. She took a deep breath of the fresh mountain breeze that blew past her. On the other side, the trees of the forest were like a green blanket and beyond she could see the entire village.
Audric joined her on the village side. “Whenever I feel like I can’t take the isolation one more day, I come up here. Not quite the same as being part of it, but it helps.”
“Well, sometimes I think you’re not missing much, in the village at least.”
He tilted his head as though he didn’t believe her.
“That was a thoughtless thing to say, I’m sure you would give anything to leave,” she was quick to correct herself.
He turned to lean his back against the wall and looked at her thoughtfully, “What do you mean when you say I’m not missing much?”
“Just that, while I can’t claim to know the depth of loneliness you must feel, it is possible to be surrounded by people and still feel alone.”
He turned back to resting on his elbows, seeing what she was seeing. “Were you lonely, Léa?” he asked.
She gave him a sad smile, but said nothing.
“Paris,” he said.
“Hm?” she turned to him.
“If I could go anywhere, I would go to l’Académe de Sciences at the Louvre in Paris. I receive the regular Comptes Rendus journal of their discoveries and proceedings and would love to study there.”
“Of all the places in the world to see, you would go to another place to study?” she asked incredulously.
Embarrassed, he laughed, “I’m hopeless, I know.”
She thought about what he said before and hoped that his life wasn’t completely without hopes and dreams that could be fulfilled. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
He smiled softly at her.
Léa thought for a moment then her expression turned to dismay, “Is there a passage to my room—a secret one I mean?”
Audric laughed through his nose, “No.” Then he stood up and turned to her, “I hope you know I wouldn’t spy on you if there were.”
She quirked an eyebrow, “I think I do but just the possibility of someone being able to would be enough to keep me up at night.” She laughed, then stopped and thought about that possibility. “You are sure there’s not?”
“I’m positive.” He smiled. “If there was one, I would have found it, I was quite the explorer as a child.”
“Will you show me more sometime?”
“Certainly. There’s one that leads to the kitchen that comes in quite handy.”
“Ooh! Yes, show me that one.”
“I must warn you though, use that one with caution, Cook isn’t always happy when I invade her kitchen unexpectedly.”
They laughed together then returned to the dining room for their supper.
Chapter 14
The carriage rolled through the gates late the following afternoon. The servants lined up outside on either side of the main entrance as Duchesse d'Aramitz, her son, and his bride-to-be came down to meet the carriage. Audric held back as his mother went forward. Léa stopped and looked up at him. “All will be well, Audric,” she reassured him and placed her hand in the crook of his arm. He nodded his head and gave her a nervous smile as he stood a little straighter.
Devereux opened the carriage door and a petite, sprightly young woman hopped out, dressed in the latest fashions with a wide paniers holding her skirts out at her hips, a mop of curly hair, and a large hat. A stoic lady’s maid stepped down after her.
“Bonjour, Mother!” she practically shouted as she first kissed her mother’s cheeks then gave her a light hug.
“Bonjour, darling, you might have given us more of a warning of your arrival, we only had your letter yesterday.”
�
�I’m sorry, Mother, I knew Aunt would change her mind in sending me if I didn’t come right away.”
“And how long will you be staying, dear?” the Duchesse tried to be sweet.
“Trying to get rid of me already?” the girl’s enthusiasm waned slightly.
“Of course not, I just like to be prepared for these things, you know.”
Her voice lowered and she could barely keep back a sigh as she replied, “Yes, I know. You may tell Villeneuve I’ll be here for the summer, at least.”
The girl then looked over her mother’s shoulder and stepped around her. She calmed as she walked up to Audric.
“Brother?” she almost whispered.
“Lizzy,” his voice was low but affectionate.
Her chin started to quiver and she ran into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and closing her eyes as she savored the hug. He held her close, lifting her off her feet, and let out his breath. “I’ve missed you,” he said as he set her down and brought her to arms’ length.
“And I you.” She wiped her tears. “You’ve grown older, Brother!” her voice grew lighter again.
Audric lifted her hands out to look her over. “And so have you! You’re practically a woman.”
“I like to think I am a woman, thank you!” She put her hands on her hips in protest.
Laughing, he said, “A very beautiful one at that!”
Beaming at his approval she plowed into him for another hug around the middle. He smiled over at Léa and mouthed his thanks.
“Lizzy, may I introduce you to Mademoiselle Du Bois?”
Lisette stood up straight and turned to Léa, “Mademoiselle?” She looked between the two.
Duchesse d'Aramitz came forward then, “I’m afraid that’s my mistake, Lisette, I may have written to you prematurely of your brother’s marriage. But, I trust it will come to pass shortly.”
Lisette jumped up with excitement, “Then that means I haven’t missed the wedding!” She giggled. “I’m so happy to make your acquaintance, Mademoiselle.” She kissed Léa joyfully on each cheek. “May I call you by your given name?”
“Of course,” she answered warmly, “you may call me Léa.”
“What a beautiful name! I’ve always wanted a sister.” She could hardly contain her excitement.
As they moved to walk into the château, Duchesse d'Aramitz noticed the austere woman following them in. “Have you brought a lady’s maid with you, my dear?” she asked her daughter.
“Of course, Mother, I couldn’t very well travel alone. Aunt and I have explained everything to her, she’s promised to be discreet.”
Léa noticed Marguerite’s disappointment as they passed her. Lisette stopped suddenly then turned, as if remembering something. She hopped back and kissed a surprised Marguerite on the cheek. Léa smiled for Marguerite’s sake, she would have to try and cheer her up later.
It wasn’t long before everyone adjourned to each one’s own room to dress and freshen up for the evening meal. A subdued Marguerite assisted Léa into her dress then started on her hair. As she added some dainty white flowers to her coiffure, Léa had a sudden thought.
“Marguerite, perhaps since today is a special occasion, with Mademoiselle Rousseau’s arrival, we should make use of these,” she gestured towards the many jars and bottles on the dressing table.
Marguerite’s face lit up immediately. “Of course, Mademoiselle! Do not worry, I will make you look très magnifique! We’ll show that sour-faced maid what Marguerite can accomplish.”
Léa stifled a laugh, and submitted herself to the maid’s skillful hand. When she finished, Marguerite stood back, clearly proud of her work. “You make Monsieur’s flowers blush with shame and look like simple daisies,” she crossed her arms and nodded her head. “Finis!”
These preparations had taken more time than anticipated, so when Léa entered the dining room everyone was already seated. At her entrance, Audric shot up, nearly knocking his chair over. Lisette covered a giggle with her fist.
As he pulled out the chair next to his, he said, “You look…” he swallowed, “that is…”
“I think what my brother is trying to say is that you look ravissant, Léa,” Lisette interjected.
“Mm hmm,” he managed as he took his seat again, “That is to say, you always look lovely, just especially so this evening.” He finally found his tongue.
Sitting in regal posture, Léa replied, “Thank you, Marguerite is an exceptional lady’s maid.”
“Oh, dear Marguerite! I would love to have her attend me while I’m here, but I’m afraid Beatrice would feel slighted.”
Léa softened her composure, “Marguerite will be very happy to hear that, I think.”
Duchesse d'Aramitz cleared her throat and rang a bell, “If you are all quite ready, we’ll leave off talk of servants at supper.”
Léa stiffened and thought how glad she was that the fine lady hadn’t been included in meals previously. They would never have had an open conversation. Though it did occur to her that she must have been taking her meals entirely alone and wondered if she might not be almost as lonely as her son. For the first time, Léa felt a small measure of compassion for the woman.
A lull continued after the first course was served. Léa decided to risk scandalizing the lady of the house further by broaching a new topic, “How were your travels, Lisette?”
“Long! And tiring, but I was excited to come.” She smiled sweetly at Audric.
“Do you enjoy living in Paris with your aunt?” Léa sipped her soup.
Lisette’s eyes flitted to the other two, then she answered without emotion, “I am very grateful to my aunt for allowing me to live with her. Paris always has something exciting to take part in. Have you been there yourself?”
“I was born and raised there and have only lived in the Alps a short time. My father was a merchant until circumstances compelled us to live in the mountain cottage that he bought some time ago for my mother.”
“How very interesting. Does your mother prefer the mountains then?”
“From what I understand she did. She died when I was very young.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Lisette grew quiet.
After more silence, Léa tried again, “Do you have many friends and acquaintances in Paris?”
“Lots! Though no favorite friends. Jean Allard paid me great attention, but he had an awful habit of dozing when I talked to him for any length of time.”
“Allard? Is his brother’s name Albert?”
“Yes, do you know him?”
“Albert Allard was engaged to my sister Marie...until our circumstances changed.”
“What a dishonorable man! I’m glad I don’t like his brother then. Did you have many beaux in Paris?”
Everyone’s eyes shifted to Léa, who squirmed at this particular subject being turned to her.
“There were...admirers, yes.”
“Whom? Anyone I would know?”
Léa shrugged, “Rémy Archambault would have married me, I suppose to his credit, even after we left.”
Leaning over, Lisette said in surprise, “Prince Rémy Archambault? Léa, do you speak truth? He’s the most sought-after young man in Paris!”
Duchesse d'Aramitz looked mildly impressed while Audric watched Léa with something like concern.
Realization began to form on Lisette’s face. “You’re his ‘raison d’être,’ you’re the ‘beauty that got away’ that all the men speak of. But, Léa...you’ve certainly done well to choose my brother, I won’t argue there, but did none of those men suit your fancy?”
“Lisette.” There was a warning in the Duchesse’s voice.
“Forgive me, Léa, Audric, I meant no offense,” Lisette apologized.
An uncomfortable silence followed.
Léa caught Lisette’s eye and gave her a kind smile. “They all wanted what they didn’t have, my sisters, their suitors, Monsieur Archambault. A title, money. Prince Rémy had both of those things, but he wanted so
mething else, a prize that no one else could win. Everyone knew…” she glanced at the Duchesse, then came back to Lisette, “Let’s just say he had other ‘reasons for being’ and the only person he loved was himself. He would have married me, yes, but he would have done nothing to help my family. All those men are like puffs of smoke, impossible to escape and without substance. You do well not to give your heart to any of them, Lisette.”
Léa left off trying to start any more conversations, but Lisette watched her whenever she thought she wouldn’t be noticed. After supper, they all rose to enjoy tea and coffee in their mother’s sitting room, but Léa was certain she would just be in the way today.
“If it will not cause offense, I think I shall leave you now and return to my room for the evening,” she didn’t want to appear rude, but she didn’t know how else to manage an exit.
“Please join us, Léa, it will be so much more enjoyable with you there,” Lisette pleaded and grabbed her hand.
“I’m sure the young woman knows her own mind, Lisette,” the Duchesse was still as controlled as ever, though quieter. Léa felt she was making the right decision.
Before she could turn in the direction of her room, Audric stopped her and spoke quietly so the others wouldn’t hear as they continued up the stairs, “Are you well? Has talk of your mother and father saddened you again?”
She smiled appreciatively, “No, I am well, truly. Enjoy the evening with your family.”
He placed a hand on her arm, and spoke close to a whisper, “Are you sure? You are part of our family now, I would hate to think you would feel yourself unwelcome.”
“Please don’t feel uneasy on my part, I will probably just read for a short while and retire early. I think your sister might enjoy some time with her brother.” She nodded in Lisette’s direction and Audric turned to find her watching them with curiosity.
“Very well. I shall miss your company,” he said with feeling and took her hand to kiss it.
Léa watched as he turned to Lisette and took her arm in his. She smiled at their affection for one another. Once in her room, she rang for Marguerite to help her undress and told her what Lisette had said about her, for which the maid was very pleased. A fire burned cozily in her fireplace, so once in her nightdress, she found a book and sank into her bed.