Revolution

[Daz]

The letter arrived on Saturday, informing me, in it’s ever so trivial of ways, that we should expect the first of our foreign company in the next few days.
I informed Katherine only yesterday, which is just as well, because late last night the sound of a horse and carriage had broken our sleep and into our house came a family of five.
The father, an ex-duke, if I am not mistaken, was the first to greet me; a broad shouldered, yet shattered looking man, with a small wife at his side. In turn she had in tow 3 children. An elder boy, and two young girls, of which I know nothing and expect to keep in such way.
I have decided to become a hospitable man for the time being, one must keep up appearances in grave times such as these. I must act with all the power I once had. If I do so, then who is to mention the long financial downturn in the business. Which, indeed, will be back on it’s feet within a year, thanks to these visitors. Once time enough has gone to lead them into believing the Revolution is over, they will be turned in and butchered along with the rest. A fate that is the one reason I do not wish than to be anything more than hospitable to them. Friendships and anything else of the like, would not be suitable, not necessary for this task ahead. One must keep priorities...

“Sir?” Mary stumbled into the drawing room, red faced and anxious as always...

“What is it, girl? Can you not see I’m writing?!” I snap, not in the mood for these silly moments of hers today.

“Oh, It’s just... I made you some Tea, sir. The lady Katherine told me that you must be famished. You’ve been sitting in here since day break.”

“My business is to no concern of my wife, nor of you.” I scowl, glancing down as a drop of ink drips from my quill and blotches the page... I make a disagreeable noise and glare up at her again, “Go make use of your tea somewhere else. Shouldn’t you be tending to the guests?”

“I would be. But they still seem to be asleep, sir. Tired from the travel.”

“Fine. Then keep it as it is and it shall be re-heated when they wake. Do not throw it away, it is expensive.” I grumble, “I remind you to ASK next time you go ahead with such wasteful things.”

“Yes, sir.” She nods, slowly, backing out of the room again, slowly.

I keep my eyes on the door as it closes before I grab hold of the the ink stained paper. It crumbles into my fist as I then throw it into the dull fireplace.

[Lauren]

I stand outside my husbands study as Mary re-emerges, still with the lunch tray in her hands. I roll my eyes.

"He's in one of his moods again, is he?" I grumbled. "Nevermind, let him starve if he's so stubborn. Take it into the kitchen and dispose of it," I wave my hand at her dismissively, having no real concept of the money troubles that plagued Edward day and night. Of course, I knew our Countrys money was slowly disppearing, as the French insisted on beheading their royals, but I never really imagined it would have effected our household so badly. Money still ran through my fingers like water.

The sound of birds outside my window woke me from my sleep. It wasnt a very deep sleep anyway, I was too nervous, my mind would not shut down. But I could not let Elisabeth see that, I must stay strong for the sake of the family.

I rolled over in the bed and kissed the back of Elisabeth's neck lightly as she slept before I sat up and pulled on my boots. I walked across to the window and looked out. I still could not believe our predicament. French Aristrocracy being slaughter by the public! A year ago I never would have believed such nonesense could actually happen, and I still didn't want to believe it. Most of our friends would be dead by now, if not all. And we have to resort to the English for safety ... of all people! I thought to myself with a slightly shake of the head.

[Daz]

Mary nodded, quickly, heading off to do as she was told, deciding to ignore his requests. It would be the Lady to get into trouble, not her.

My eyes flicker open as I feel him move away. It almost startles me slightly. After all those nights worrying that he'd be pulled away from us as we managed to modestly make our way through the crowds.
I see him there now, though, as my sight adjusts to the light of the window, staring out into our new home... for the time being.
I sit up a little and watch him, silently.

[Lauren]

I nod in approval as Mary walks away. I spot Jane walking down the stairs with her head down.
"Jane, go and help Mary in the kitchen. Prepare some lunch for our guests. And make it nice this time, we must keep up appearances. We can't have the French thinking down on our hospitality,"

Jane glances up at her in surprise, not expecting to be addressed by the Lady. She is usually invisible in this house. "Yes, my lady," She mumbles and follows Mary.

I take the top of my skirt gently in my hands, lifting it as I step towards Edward study door. I enter without knocking.
"I hope you're going to cheer up when our guests wake up. I don't want you giving us a bad name. We have an image to keep up," I say to him, sternly.

I continue to look out of the window, not realising Elisabeth is awake already. I let out a slight sigh and turn out.
"Oh," I force a slight smile, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I say, walking around to her side of the bed and perching on the edge. "Go back to sleep, you look tired," I say gently, brushing her hair away from her face.

[Daz]

I glare up from my now blank scrap of paper on the desk, staring over to her standing there. I swear the entire household is out to annoy me this morning.. "What?" I mutter, quite aware of what she said, just not willing to agree to any of it.

"I couldn't sleep another minute, not now." I glance aside to him, giving a rather weak smile, "There's too much on my mind. It was the pure exhaustion that took me last night."

[Lauren]

"I said we have an image to maintain," I say, putting one hand on my hip. "I will not allow you to hide away in your study all day. What would they think of that? More importantly, what would they think of me? My husband would rather lock himself in and write about his feelings than spend time with his beautiful wife? At least try to keep up the appearance that you actually love me," I keep a straight face, trying not to display any feelings, especially not showing how insecure and neglected I really felt. No. That would not do, as far as Edward was to know, she was a strong confident woman who could hold onto her husband.

"We're safe now, you can relax," I smile slightly. "These people have been good to us. This is a nice house, and they seem like a nice enough couple. We have live like this just until it's safe to return home. Don't worry, my love, soon the people of France will realise how much they need a Monarchy and they will be begginng us to come home," I smile, not even believing it myself.

[Daz]

"Since when was Love anything to do with it?" I mutter, spilling words that I know I'll regret later on, but it's early, and I'm tired, and fustrated more than anything right now... "Woman, we're only married under the conditions of money. And do not preach to me, I am fully aware of our guests and their views.. but we'll save that for the time and place, won't we?"

I raise an eyebrow, the images in my mind of the mob and their hatefull, jealous faces are imprinted there... and I wonder whether it'll ever come to an end. But I don't tell him that. I decide to keep with the equilibirum we have for now, and nod a little.. "Yes."
I look awat from him to the Children, asleep on the arm chairs in the room, as their quarters wern't ready last night.. I wouldn't want to part from them anyway. My gaze stays on them before it travels back to him, taking a deep breath.

[Lauren]

I sighed, yes, I knew our married was only for the money, but I had grown quite fond of him over the years, yet I couldn't decide if it was love or not. But I couldn't help but wish he would love me. I married him when I was a very young girl, still with dreams of marrying my one true love. My parents thought otherwise.
"It would be easier to keep up appearances if you kept it up behind closed doors as well. You don't even have to pretend to love me, but it would help if you could at least act as if you liked me once in a while," I take a deep breath.
"And you should put on a different suit, that one looks so old and disgusting," I say, quickly changing the subjects, pretending not to be upset with what he just said. "I'll have Mary lay out your best suit," I quickly walk across the room to the door.

I follow her gaze to the children. Our beautiful girls and our son, already well on his way to being a man, still sleeping peacefully. They didn't fully understand what was happening, and that was a blessing he supposed.
"Everything will turn out alright in the end, I promise you," I say gently, looking back at her. I place a soft kiss on her forehead and then stand up.
I walk around to my side of the bed and start getting dressed for the day.

[Daz]

I divert my gaze, still not quite used to always being in his company, let alone watching him dress himself. It's all rather taboo to me.
I glance over to my rough old gown, deciding to put it on once he'd left the quarters at least.
For now I just keep my eyes on the window, feeling terribley uncomfortable.

I lean back in my chair, staring up to the ceiling, that damn woman will be the death of me. There's nothing wrong with this suit... it's comfortable .

[Lauren]

I finish dressing and sit on the edge of the bed to fix my boots. I then walk over to the mirror on the dessing table and brush my hair back with my fingers. I don't even think twice about Elisabeth and the children being in the same room. They were not given a seperate wash room so they would have to put up with it for now.
I move across the room to where the children sleep, and pull up the old blanket so it's covering them.
Without another word to Elisabeth I leave the room. I close the door behind me then lean back on it. I felt lost, I was no longer the master of the house, I didn't know what I was supposed to do next.

I walk down the corridor from the study, stopped briefly at one of the wall mirrors and check my face, feeling as if I could burst into tears at any moment. I hated that man for being so arrogant and hurtful. I take a deep breath and go down the stairs to the kitchen.

Jane immediately stops what she's doing when the Lady walks in.
"Good morning, ma'am," She says, curtseying slightly.

"Learn some manners, girl, you speak when spoken to," I snap shortly, and then immediately turn my attention from her to the other maid. "Mary, go upstairs and set out my husbands best suit, and make sure you tell him it's ready," I say, knowing otherwise Edward would simply ignore my request that he changes.