"If you really want to know John, I think that you should ask her out. It
is not like you are a peasent or anything, you are of high society," I said
to John on a sunny day out in the orchard.
We were lying down on the warm grass underneath the shade of an apple tree talking about Ella and Char's daughter Eloise. This week there was no special occasion so I got to wear almost anything. I had put on a bright yellow jumper, with white stockings, and for once I was only forced to wear one underskirt. My hair was in a simple braid and there wasn't a spot of makeup on my face. I rolled around joyfully in the grass staining my dress, but I didn't care.
"I know," replied John, "But she is so beautiful, and perfect, and an amazing dancer, and....," John continued for what seemed like hours.
Finally I couldn't take it any more. "You know John if you like her as much as you claim, then I would totally go for it. I think you could use a love life built on a real relationship instead of just dreaming about it."
"Yeah I guess your right Laura," said John, "You do need a love life that is not as lame as it is now."
"Exact...hey, I was talking about you."
"Me?" said John with a fake surprised voice. "Yes, you," I said. And with that, I picked an apple off the tree, and bit in.
When I walked inside the house I heard Ell singing Ladamuste while playing the piano; I knew that it was almost time for my lesson. I leaned my head around the large white door, and with Ell and the piano teacher's back to me, I stuck my tongue out repulsively at Ell. Unfortunately the head servant came walking by and tightly grabbed my shoulder. "Now don't go stickin your head in there while your sister's havin' her lesson, young lady."
"Pardon me," I said and curtsied politely. Then I walked off, praying that the teacher would forget about my lesson.
That night I heard someone banging on my door. "Come in," I groaned, but before I had finished Ell came bursting in.
"A foolish, now former, maid had received notice this morning about a midnight festival tonight and forgot to give father the message. It starts in two hours we must prepare," said Ell. I groaned again and got out of bed, my head throbbing from being woken up after only one hour of sleep. I sat for one whole hour while Ell curled my eyelashes, waxed my arms and legs, applied blush, lipstick, and many crèmes (French for creams), and gels to my hair and face. Finally I had my robe around me, hard wooden curlers in my hair, and all my makeup on my face.
"Now for your dress," said Ell, taking a dress off a hanger in her closet. The dress was turquoise, with long matching gloves, and a matching hand bag. I also had to wear a corset, a wooden board to keep my posture perfect, and very itchy underskirts. By the time I was finished, I felt awful. I was tired, the board hurt, and the corset was too tight. I followed Ell obediently into the carriage where father was waiting, and then we took off.
When we arrived I was delighted to see John waiting for me. The festival was outside with food, music, dancing, and warm fires burning. John extended his arm to me and we walked elbow, in elbow into the festival grounds. As we walked I saw the Ella and Char at the table of royalty, and the high class sipping soup. Next to Ella was Eloise, and I watched John gaze fondly at her. But next to Char was someone I did not recognize. Something in me seemed to click and suddenly I wanted to know everything about him.
"John, who's that?" I said, elbowing John in the side.
"What? Oh that's Char's nephew, André, his favorite sister's kid. He is staying with the royal family for a while, why?"
"Oh, nothing I just didn't recognize him."
"Oh, said John, "want to go sit down?"
"Alright," I said and went to sit right down next to André.
"Good evening King Charmond, and Ella."
"Oh, yes good evening Laura, have you met my nephew, André? Said Char.
"No, your highness, I have not had the pleasure to be introduced to him yet." I said. "It is a pleasure to meet you," I told him, extending my hand out to his.
He grasped it firmly, and for what seemed like forever we stood hand in hand. His hand was warm and comforting and I never wanted to let go, but Char, Ella, Eloise, and John were starring at us so we both released our grasp. About halfway through the festival, while I was dancing in the moon light, André asked me if I would care to dance. This was the only time I had ever before regretted that it was not ball room dancing, and that the partners kept a bit apart.
"I'd love to," I said, wanting to be near him. While I was dancing every thing seemed to be going well. I was dancing with André, John had asked Eloise to dance in which she had accepted, and the festival festivities were delightful. As were pranced around the fire, André seemed to be trying to get close enough to whisper something in my ear. I leaned in forward and to let him tell me what he had to say.
"Come with me," he whispered, "I have some place to show you. When the music stopped, and the song ended, I curtsied, he bowed, and we bid each other good bye. As we walked off we met back at the front and fled from the festival.
"Where are we going," I asked, as we both ran fast, the wind blowing in our faces.
"Shhhhhhhhh," he said and put his gloved hand over my mouth, "It's a secret."
We were lying down on the warm grass underneath the shade of an apple tree talking about Ella and Char's daughter Eloise. This week there was no special occasion so I got to wear almost anything. I had put on a bright yellow jumper, with white stockings, and for once I was only forced to wear one underskirt. My hair was in a simple braid and there wasn't a spot of makeup on my face. I rolled around joyfully in the grass staining my dress, but I didn't care.
"I know," replied John, "But she is so beautiful, and perfect, and an amazing dancer, and....," John continued for what seemed like hours.
Finally I couldn't take it any more. "You know John if you like her as much as you claim, then I would totally go for it. I think you could use a love life built on a real relationship instead of just dreaming about it."
"Yeah I guess your right Laura," said John, "You do need a love life that is not as lame as it is now."
"Exact...hey, I was talking about you."
"Me?" said John with a fake surprised voice. "Yes, you," I said. And with that, I picked an apple off the tree, and bit in.
When I walked inside the house I heard Ell singing Ladamuste while playing the piano; I knew that it was almost time for my lesson. I leaned my head around the large white door, and with Ell and the piano teacher's back to me, I stuck my tongue out repulsively at Ell. Unfortunately the head servant came walking by and tightly grabbed my shoulder. "Now don't go stickin your head in there while your sister's havin' her lesson, young lady."
"Pardon me," I said and curtsied politely. Then I walked off, praying that the teacher would forget about my lesson.
That night I heard someone banging on my door. "Come in," I groaned, but before I had finished Ell came bursting in.
"A foolish, now former, maid had received notice this morning about a midnight festival tonight and forgot to give father the message. It starts in two hours we must prepare," said Ell. I groaned again and got out of bed, my head throbbing from being woken up after only one hour of sleep. I sat for one whole hour while Ell curled my eyelashes, waxed my arms and legs, applied blush, lipstick, and many crèmes (French for creams), and gels to my hair and face. Finally I had my robe around me, hard wooden curlers in my hair, and all my makeup on my face.
"Now for your dress," said Ell, taking a dress off a hanger in her closet. The dress was turquoise, with long matching gloves, and a matching hand bag. I also had to wear a corset, a wooden board to keep my posture perfect, and very itchy underskirts. By the time I was finished, I felt awful. I was tired, the board hurt, and the corset was too tight. I followed Ell obediently into the carriage where father was waiting, and then we took off.
When we arrived I was delighted to see John waiting for me. The festival was outside with food, music, dancing, and warm fires burning. John extended his arm to me and we walked elbow, in elbow into the festival grounds. As we walked I saw the Ella and Char at the table of royalty, and the high class sipping soup. Next to Ella was Eloise, and I watched John gaze fondly at her. But next to Char was someone I did not recognize. Something in me seemed to click and suddenly I wanted to know everything about him.
"John, who's that?" I said, elbowing John in the side.
"What? Oh that's Char's nephew, André, his favorite sister's kid. He is staying with the royal family for a while, why?"
"Oh, nothing I just didn't recognize him."
"Oh, said John, "want to go sit down?"
"Alright," I said and went to sit right down next to André.
"Good evening King Charmond, and Ella."
"Oh, yes good evening Laura, have you met my nephew, André? Said Char.
"No, your highness, I have not had the pleasure to be introduced to him yet." I said. "It is a pleasure to meet you," I told him, extending my hand out to his.
He grasped it firmly, and for what seemed like forever we stood hand in hand. His hand was warm and comforting and I never wanted to let go, but Char, Ella, Eloise, and John were starring at us so we both released our grasp. About halfway through the festival, while I was dancing in the moon light, André asked me if I would care to dance. This was the only time I had ever before regretted that it was not ball room dancing, and that the partners kept a bit apart.
"I'd love to," I said, wanting to be near him. While I was dancing every thing seemed to be going well. I was dancing with André, John had asked Eloise to dance in which she had accepted, and the festival festivities were delightful. As were pranced around the fire, André seemed to be trying to get close enough to whisper something in my ear. I leaned in forward and to let him tell me what he had to say.
"Come with me," he whispered, "I have some place to show you. When the music stopped, and the song ended, I curtsied, he bowed, and we bid each other good bye. As we walked off we met back at the front and fled from the festival.
"Where are we going," I asked, as we both ran fast, the wind blowing in our faces.
"Shhhhhhhhh," he said and put his gloved hand over my mouth, "It's a secret."