~Chapter One~
Crunching gravel from the wheels of the horse drawn carriage signalled the end of Aurore Pontmercy's journey from her manor house in the countryside outside the inner city pigs nest they call a capital; Paris. Slightly poking her head out of the lowered window, her gaze turning towards her Grandfathers daunting home, she felt worlds away from the quiet pampered life of luxury.
A footman with slick back hair, tall prudent and blustery, with a bristled moustache opened her coach door, helping her down with a dull thud onto new soil.
Her grandfather's staff, of a merger number, lined the foot of the steps; all pristine, smiling broadly at a new face. Three handmaids, three cleaners, two footmen, and a nobly shaking butler, with barely a wisp of hair on his head were her welcome committee. No sign of her elderly bitter grandfather or beloved cousin Marius.
Giving an awkward cough, and brushing down her periwinkle dress, Aurore smiled graciously, and walked towards them, greeting them one by one. Smiling at the handsome footman, giving a wink back, she blushed.
'Please, let me carry a bag, do not trouble yourself with too many' Aurore offered the plump footman, who was sagging under the weight of overstuffed suit cases.
Gruffly he politely refused, 'Not a ladies place to carry her own luggage' Earning a huff and an eye roll from Aurore, who took it as a slight towards her feminist personality.
Walking the old, worn stone steps to her grandfather's foyer, Aurora was grateful that she was only staying for two nights before she left with Marius to start her first year of university, studying English language to thus become a Governess in England, to escape the country that is teetering on the edge of a bloody revolution.
Echoing footsteps came thundering around her as she was greeted by the warmest welcome she could every wish for, Marius' arms grabbing her and shaking her about like a rag doll.
Laughing and struggling to breath after having the wind knocked out of her, and straitening her travel bonnet, returned the brotherly hug.
'Marius, it has been a year too long, my dear cousin how I have missed you.'
'Aurore, you have become less… masculine' Laughing loudly at his joke, Aurore smacked him on the arm. 'I stand corrected, but you have the force of a butterfly, yet you still strike fear to my core'He said bowing like a gentleman.
A cough came from behind them both as they squabbled like common children. There stood with a stoop, Gillenormand Pontmercy, her beloved… grandfather, clicking his tongue with impatience at the state of his two grandchildren.
'I see you made your way well on your travels, the train ride was to your standards I expect? Was the coach comfortable?' He asked in his weary dull tone. Nodding Aurore shook her grandfather's wrinkled hand. Her grandfather had a stone heart, for anyone he met, even his family and a shake was seen as a warm sign, if you could call it that.
'I am sure Claudette will carry your luggage to your room, and heat you a tub of water. You will be clean for four o clock, for tea and cake, in the drawing room. You can get yourself re-acquainted with my house after we have had tea.' He didn't wait for a response when the man as old as the house she was stood in, struggle back into the room he had sprung from two minutes prior.
The sound of a distant bell rung towards the back of the home, and the next she knew Aurore was being ushered towards the East Wing of the mansion, in a room that had never been lived in before. Its décor was that suitable for a basic living, a spacious bed, dresser and chest, and a vanity mirror. The fire was lit in some attempt to give warmth to the heartless room.
Two handmaids bustled about her room, whilst another who she assumed to be Claudette began to undress her, unlacing her dress, letting it fall to the floor and stepping out of her shoes, Aurore was wrapped in a silk gown, and lead to the steaming bath. Welcoming the warmth and soothing comfort onto her skin. The dirt of the days travels fell away. Listening to the handmaids whisper to each other as the unpacked her clothes for the next two days, she slunk into the water, soaking her chestnut hair.
Sometime later Aurore was sat on the stool in front of her vanity mirror, silently protesting at the preening the three handmaids were performing on her. Making her feel like a useless lame, with grumbles of "I can do it myself!"
'Why do you want to teach children? Surely you would rather marry a suitor?' Her Grandfather poked at her for the fifth time, again… Pouring her second cup of tea, Aurore took a deep breath and said simply, 'I am sure.'
Marius chirped in to save Aurore yet another time, 'Grandfather, do we have a night at the Opera tomorrow? Before we both take our leave.' Marius winked at his cousin.
'Hmm, yes, I can arrange for my box to be prepared for us, yes. Splendid, Marius. Splendid!' Clapping him on his back, their grandfather reached for his snuff box, and offered himself one and Marius.
'We dine at Seven, do as you bid till then.'