The Redemption of Lady Georgiana

by Lisa M. Prysock

  Chapter 4. Une Résistance à la Rue

  Less than a month later, the rented coach jostled on the roads all the way to Paris, so much so that at times Lady Georgiana peered out the window thinking the driver was purposely driving into every rut. Both ladies were quite relieved when they were settled at a respectable and fine hotel in Paris where the Earl’s escorts would meet them in a few days. Having passed a full year of mourning and several months, weary of wearing mainly black until the past spring, Georgiana had found many of her former gowns seemed a little out of style. She was delighted they would have enough time to shop for accoutrements all ladies desired to appear fashionably smart and reasonably well dressed. Lady Margaret would continue to wear mostly hats with black veils and black gowns for some time to come she suspected, but Georgiana was determined to leave black permanently behind as much as possible. She had decided she would keep a black gown in her wardrobe for funerals and other somber occasions but she was anxious to purchase a few more new gowns before their arrival in Essex.

  A seamstress in Annecy and another in Geneva had quickly produced five new gowns for Georgiana and two for her mother-in-law. Lady Margaret insisted Georgiana select several new frocks in Paris the next day after they were well rested from the journey and had enjoyed a fine breakfast in the hotel dining room and some leisure time. Glad to hear that Paris was enjoying a season of political peace and quiet, they set off on foot in the direction of a shop a few doors down from their hotel in a fashionable and popular district.

 

  A lady wearing a length of tape measure around her neck, spectacles, and an attractive spring- green, empire- waisted gown trimmed in pink ribbon greeted them. Speaking rapidly in French, she seated them comfortably in plush chairs and flitted about energetically, showing them a few ready-made gowns that might fit Georgiana. The seamstress was plentiful in conversation and put them at ease while clients considered fabrics and fashion designs from the catalog. “I seem to remember you have been to our shop before, but Madame Beaufort waited upon your needs, n’est ce pas?” ¹

  “Mais oui!” ² Lady Margaret replied with a polite smile and nod as

  ¹n’est ce pas? = right?

  ²mais oui = certainly, but of course

  Georgiana contemplated a peach day dress that had particularly pleased her in style and color. “We come here every year, only in the past, we also brought my other daughter-in-law, Esther.”

  “Ah, oui! Oui! Madame Beaufort, elle n’est pas ici aujourd’hui, mais je m’appelle Mademoiselle Rogelle. Comment allez-vous?” ¹

  “Bien, et merci beaucoup Mademoiselle Rogelle,” ² Lady Margaret replied.

  “She likes this peach one,” the seamstress remarked as she studied Lady Georgiana. “Aimes-tu cette robe?” ³

  “Oui!” ⁴ Georgiana breathed and ran her fingers across the fabric approvingly.

  “I have another gown you would like in an olive green silk. It would complement your skin tone and hair color perfectly!” Mademoiselle Rogelle retrieved the gown and set the peach one aside carefully and laid the olive green silk in Georgiana’s arms.

  “C’est très belle!” ⁵ Lady Margaret approved at once and her daughter-in-law concurred with a smile, twinkling eyes and a nod.

  ¹Ah, oui! Oui! Madame Beaufort, elle n’est pas ici aujourd’hui, mais je m’appelle Mademoiselle Rogelle. Comment allez-vous? = Ah, yes! Yes! Mrs. Beaufort, she isn’t here today, but I am Miss Rogelle. How are you?

  ²Bien, et merci beaucoup Mademoiselle Rogelle = Well, and thank you very much Miss Rogelle

  ³Aimes-tu cette robe? = Do you like this dress?

  ⁴Oui = Yes

  ⁵ C’est très belle = It’s very beautiful

  A bell from a church tower outside in the square a few doors beyond the shop had interrupted the quiet morning with a peel of rings that caused them to stop what they were doing and wait until the majestic bells stopped ringing. The noise seemed to fill the little dress shop and they covered their ears in surprise when the little shop door opened and another client entered. Apparently used to the interruption of the bells, unphased by the noise that vibrated even the chairs upon which they sat, the seamstress began speaking nearly as soon as the bells stopped: “There must be another wedding this morning. That explains the bustle of carriages and the number of people out and about today. You should have been here in March! One hundred canons fired twenty-two rounds announcing the birth of Napoleon’s son! It was a remarkable thing-- even though I do not embrace this emperor. Who cannot be but joyeux quand un enfant¹ is born?”

  “Vingt-deux salutes! Vraiment?” ² Lady Georgiana asked in amazement.

  “A balloonist named Sophia I think it was… flew over Paris… up high in a large balloon… dropping leaflets announcing the birth also.” Mademoiselle Roget continued as she held up a yellow gown that did not appeal to them. They shook their heads no and so she held up a powder blue brocade gown trimmed in mauve. Georgiana tried to imagine what a large ‘balloon’ up in the sky might look like. She vaguely recalled an artist’s sketch in a government newspaper circulating Annecy from about that time.

  ¹joyeux quand un enfant = joyous or happy when a baby or child

  ²Vingt-deux salutes! Vraiment? = twenty-two salutes! Truly?

  “Intéressant!” ¹ Lady Margaret’s eyes displayed intrigue, but something about her look told Georgiana and the dressmaker she was not pleased at all to hear anything more of this Napoleon who had divided the people of France and stripped so many countries of their freedoms and sent the young men of France and the world to face the wretched ravages of war. She added firmly and in a more business-like tone, “We will purchase the peach, the blue brocade and the olive gowns if you will permit Georgiana to try them on for a fitting-- and if you will, s’il vous plaît,² make the necessary adjustments and have them delivered to our hotel demain.³ We are staying at l’Hotel de la Belle Rue. We shan’t be in Paris more than deux jours. ” ³

  “Mère, trois robes!” ⁴ Georgiana looked dismayed.

  “You shall have all three gowns! And I’d like to purchase another gown for my daughter if you have something a little less formal?” Lady Margaret was determined to see that her daughter-in-law was well prepared for whatever lay ahead of them on England’s shores. She left Georgiana no opportunity for a rebuttal.

  “Mais oui, Madame!” ⁵ Before Georgiana could object, the efficient seamstress caught on quickly to Lady Margaret’s wishes and gathered up the gowns in her arms. She motioned for Georgiana to step into

  ¹intéressant = interesting

  ²s’il vous plaît = please

  ³demain = tomorrow, deux jours = two days

  ⁴ Mère, trois robes = Mother, three dresses

  ⁵ Mais oui, Madame = Certainly, Mrs.

  the curtained and recessed fitting room, still chatting as she did so. “In June, it has been announced the palace will have a grand processionale en route¹ to the baby’s baptism…”

  When they were done with the fittings and choosing a new ready- made gown for Lady Margaret from among the gowns that were available for immediate purchase and one more for Georgiana, they knew they had been quite fortunate to have found any gowns that actually fit them well and needed only minor adjustments. Gowns sewn in advance were a rare find indeed.

  Mademoiselle Rogelle had discreetly explained that these were gowns that had been sewn for fine Parisian ladies who had not paid for them for one reason or another; sometimes a client did not like the gown when it was complete or a lady might change her mind about a purchase. Sometimes a dress could not be delivered for reasons of non-payment. Some ladies are just fickle she had said… Had they more time in Paris, they would have ordered a few more gowns to be sewn which might have taken weeks to be delivered… but with the blockade they could not order anything from Paris and expect it to be delivered. They would have to be content to shop when they arrived in Britai
n.

  A trip to London would be in order at their soonest convenience. If Georgiana was to attract a husband, she would need a number of gowns for every occasion. There simply wasn’t time for all of what they needed to be purchased in Paris, though it wasn’t that Lady Margaret hadn’t considered having some shipped to Essex. She had other

  ¹ grand processionale en route = grand parade on the way

  reasons weighing heavily in the back of her mind besides the blockade. It seemed everywhere they went; Paris was abuzz with the hum of Napoleon and his actions, both good and bad.

  Lady Margaret stepped out of the dress shop and opened her parasol with a clearly disgusted “Humpf!” She was determined to release the steam from the frustration she’d held in for the duration of the fittings.

  She was feeling intolerable toward the ignorance of the seamstress, but more anger at her own previously apathetic and indifferent actions and thoughts concerning the politics of France. Her previous apathy had partly stemmed from thinking she was only one person and that she couldn’t make much difference in the outcome of things. She had been raised to not discuss nor intervene in the conversations of men when it came to politics. However, as the political climate changed, she too found herself trying to comprehend what was happening and she could no longer bury herself in grief from the changes. In addition to reading les journaux¹ from time to time, she had been listening to the reports Lady Georgiana brought her and all that her husband and sons had said prior to their death.

  It was difficult to celebrate Napoleon when he continued to trample nations around the globe. Soon it would not be safe to cross the English Channel or maybe even walk the streets of Paris or… maybe not even those of London. Eventually the English would defeat the wiles of Bonaparte and his reign and regime would come to an end.

  She took a deep breath and walked briskly away from the dressmaker’s shop window, her cane tapping the paved stones firmly as she did. Each tap seemed to release some of the emotion she was

  ¹les journaux = the newspapers

  feeling. “We are going to need a great number of gloves, hats and bonnets…and we shall purchase them from my favorite French milliner! We shall not arrive at the Earl’s home looking destitute-- for the Lord is with us.”

  When she was nearly at the milliner’s shop she turned to Lady Georgiana who nearly bumped into her because of the unexpected and abrupt turn Lady Margaret made right there on the narrow and busy sidewalk of the rue. “Ma chère fille,¹ enjoy these purchases and this particular day; for we shall henceforth boycott the products of the French, though they be fashionable and stylish. We shall jamais, ² and I do mean never, ever purchase anything from France again until this anti-Christ emperor of France is ousted from power. I don’t care if his offspring is the most adorable enfant en France. Napoleon est mal, très mal. Il est un malade de la monde.³ Until he is removed from power, we shall not lend our support to his seat.”

  Lady Georgiana looked her mother-in-law directly in the eye. Her mother-in-law’s stand against Napoleon on a quaint rue in France might have seemed a small thing to a stranger, but Georgiana saw it as a step bearing evidence of tremendous healing from the grief that had nearly engulfed them both. Had she just witnessed another sign of her mother-in-law’s inner strength arising from the God of Abraham she served? Her mother-in-law might appear strong today giving small commands to the seamstress in the shop, but no one knew better than she just how frail her mother-in-law was; how much she had suffered in health; and how much she depended on her faith in God for

  ¹Ma chère fille = my dear daughter/girl

  ²Jamais = never

  ³…adorable enfant en France. Napoleon est mal, très mal. Il est un malade de la monde = … adorable baby in France. Napoleon is bad, very bad. He is a malady of the world.

  strength to see her through dark days. To see Lady Margaret with her walking stick coming down loudly on the street was an announcement that was far greater than simply supporting her every step. There was a sparkle and determination in her eyes. It was progress indeed! She seemed to have her fight back… the same spark she had often displayed when quibbling with her husband or sons.

  “Oui, ma mère!¹ Papa Duncan would have been greatly honored by your decision. I completely and wholeheartedly concur. We shall lend our voice to stop this tyranny. We shall make this next purchase count as our farewell.”

  “Indeed, we shall.” Lady Margaret replied. “I think I shall buy a very large hat today. With feathers! An outrageous amount of ostrich feathers and plumes! The ladies of England adore hats! Especially those decorated in plumes, feathers, silk and flowers!”

  Georgiana giggled with delight and was sure she saw another sparkle of health in Lady Margaret’s eyes. It would be nice to see her without a black veil of mourning. It was with these thoughts in mind that the Ladies Colton stepped inside the fashionable shop and intrepidly purchased several new bonnets and hats each, several parasols, three pair of slippers each and three pair of gloves each-- at the milliner a few doors down la rue.² At least they would arrive in England fashionably dressed and be ready for anything. That was a comforting thought, along with the rejuvenation a day of shopping had done for both of them.

  Lady Georgiana was beginning to feel revived in her spirit and soul. It had been a long time since she’d felt even remotely interested in shopping for anything, as it had when they had ordered their other

  ¹Oui, ma mère = Yes, my mother

  ²la rue = the street

  dresses before leaving the Alps from a seamstress in Annecy. It was refreshing indeed to have some new items in their wardrobes and they did so enjoy trying on new, stylish hats and bonnets.

  The milliner had their items packaged and delivered to their hotel. After an early dinner at a Parisian restaurant within a comfortable walking distance (where they feasted on roast beef, du fromage, ¹ fresh baked bread, applesauce and another side dish consisting of buttered lima beans, early garden peas, sliced carrots and red onion, seasoned with dill and served in a cream sauce), Lady Georgiana enjoyed trying on her new gloves, slippers and hats again before washing up and unbraiding her long hair. She brushed it and began the process of laying out a new lavender colored day dress (for the next day) on one of the chairs beside the two beds in the comfortable but modest hotel suite they shared.

  Night had settled on the city and they took turns donning white linen nightgowns and matching ruffled night caps behind the dressing screen for privacy. They sat at the small, round table covered with a floral patterned tablecloth near the window in the sitting room to drink cups of hot cocoa and share a plate of scones before bed. Paris seemed aglow with lights in the windows and street lamps. They had drawn the cream colored drapes back to enjoy the view of the city and Georgiana had managed to open the window to let the fresh air inside. Lady Margaret had ordered the scones and chocolat chaud ² as a special treat from the clerk at the hotel desk when they had returned from dinner. The clerk, a pleasant middle-aged man who took turns with his wife running the front desk, compliantly had them delivered to their room. Tucked into one of the two comfortable beds, she

  ¹du fromage = some cheese

  ²chocolat chaud= hot chocolate

  breathed a sigh of relief to be a day closer to their new life in England. After reading several Psalms, she closed her Bible, blew out the candle and burrowed beneath the coverlet. Lady Margaret’s steady breathing was all she could hear from the other bed and once or twice she heard the distant sound of a horse clomp on the street below.

  As she closed her eyes to thank the good Lord for His care of them, she thought how wonderful it was to be able to have a new wardrobe. She thanked the Lord for several delightful days of shopping in the past month, a luxurious stay at the hotel and to be able to dine out as they had from time to time in the past when traveling with the Viscount, her father-in-law. The Earl had been most generous
with them and they had been able to raise additional funds for their expenditures on the journey by selling a few more household items in Annecy. God was being extravagant in His care of them. After a year of scrimping and not having hardly enough to eat most of the time, she was filled with a heart of thanksgiving.

  The only thing she lamented besides leaving the French countryside and beautiful mountains of the French Alps was the brief bit of fear that threatened to cut her breath short when she’d surveyed the trunks that had been brought upstairs to their hotel suite. It seemed odd to both of them now that most everything they would probably ever see again from their life in France and Lady Margaret’s marriage of nearly twenty-five years --and her own marriage of one year --had been reduced to the memories in their hearts and minds, along with the items inside four or five trunks, three portmanteau and a growing stack of hat boxes. Somehow they’d managed to fit all of Duncan’s remaining portraits, some of the sculptures and vases from his sons and a few other treasures such as favorite books, dishes and other trinkets into those trunks along with their clothing and personal items. They’d had to tip the hired coach driver heavily to get him to load and unload all of those trunks and bags with little help. Her new dresses

  would arrive demain,¹ and they would leave France the following day when the Earl’s escort arrived at the hotel. Dear Lord, help us cross the Channel to England safely.

  When two of the Earl’s footmen arrived at l’Hotel de la Belle Rue, it was explained that they might have an opportunity to cross at Calais if Napoleon’s troops had abandoned the area. If not, they would have to settle in for a few days journey past Calais and further into Belgium because of the blockade. They would then board a Belgian ship bound for England and cross the Channel from a safe location along the coast or head further north until a safe crossing could be made. Lady Margaret had snapped open her fan at that point and turned a slight shade of blue but managed to avoid passing out when Georgiana quickly produced the smelling salts.

  ¹demain = tomorrow

  For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54:5, Authorized King James Version