CHAPTER 17 - Improvising


Vadim Kiselev - "Silence", "Impromptu"


- Are you sure we shouldn't go together? I'd run some errands on the occasion - asked Andre, trying unsuccessfully to mask the fact that he was worried about her.

- If we wanted to take the carriage, we would have to get up before dawn - Oscar replied matter-of-factly - It really doesn't make sense. You know very well this is no trouble for me. I got used to dealing myself when.. - she broke off, because the memory of the years she had spent without him was still very unpleasant.

But Andre didn't comment on anything, just picked up a mug of tea and was sipping his sweet drink for a while. The sun had already set, but they were still sitting outside, covered with blankets, because October evenings were cold. Since the day they returned from Chavigny, their relationship improved somewhat. This wasn't anything like the one from the past yet, but Andre finally started to speak normally and stopped being constantly angry. Nor did he run away immediately when they were alone. Their conversations were superficial but ordinary, without unnecessary, unpleasant emotions. As if the fact that she accepted the job at school had brought Andre relief. Oscar didn't want to go into the motives of this sudden change. She wanted to be able to enjoy what she had at the moment, especially as she was well aware that there was still a lot of understatement and unfinished matters between the two of them. Everything she had wanted to say to him, to explain to him, when she had come there, was still unspoken. And she was already afraid of the day in which one of them would explode because of too much resentment being hold.

- Then I'll take Robuste and escort you to Saint Pierre, at least - Andre replied after a moment of silence, in a voice that could not stand any objections.

Oscar nodded, trying not to look at him. His determination to accompany her was puzzling to say the least.

- And one more thing - Andre added, then he pulled the blanket off his shoulders and placed it on the bench - Wait a minute.

He walked briskly across the garden towards the stables and forges, and disappeared into the duskiness of the evening. Oscar smoothed the fabric of her crimson gown with trembling hands and straightened her blanket, wrapping herself tighter. Today, for the first time since the day she received this dress, she decided to put it on. It was Sunday and they all went to church in the morning. So there could not have been a better opportunity. When she stood in front of the mirror in the morning, she hardly recognized herself. The dress made her look feminine and emphasized her beauty nicely. She didn't look like Ella, of course, whose darker skin, eyes, and hair made her look in her carmine dress like an exotic flower. Oscar was more like a familiar flower cut in your own garden. Like a rose plucked in the rays of the rising sun. Fresh and charming.

Oscar thought that the color of this dress reminded her a little of her uniform's color which she last wore on the eve of the revolution. The uniform that she gave Rosalie afterwards, though she hadn't known then why the girl had asked for it. Like Andre, her friends in Paris also made sure no attempts were made to find her.

Was her uniform buried with some stranger woman to make the lie of her own death more likely?..

Andre returned fifteen minutes later, carrying something wrapped in cloth. He placed the bundle carefully on the terrace table and began to untie the strings. After a while, Oscar saw an elegant pistol with a richly carved French lock. Andre picked up the gun, weighing it in his hand, then handed it to Oscar. She took it with a slight hesitation, surprised by the whole situation. She unlocked the gun, then grabbed it professionally, her fingers firmly on the trigger, and put it to her face, pointing at the distant tree. The gun was unloaded, so they both heard a slight click when the trigger was released.

Andre watched her actions with a slight nervousness. Suddenly, memories of dozens, hundreds of similar situations began to pass in front of his eyes. It was impossible to count how many times he passed the weapon in this way to Oscar. One of these memories was still vivid in his mind, even though so many years had passed and so much had happened immediately after. He remembered that he had gone up the hill to practice shooting with Oscar that day. A strong wind was blowing, but she was still faultless and every bottle he threw shattered into small pieces. He remembered well that he felt so calm and happy then. Their life together ran on a well-known rhythm, and Oscar seemed to have forgotten her impossible love. However, everything changed that day. Immediately afterwards, Fersen appeared and destroyed all this idyll with just his appearance. The flushes on Oscar's cheeks and her eyes sparkling with emotion betrayed her again. Soon after, she decided to make the strangest decision in her life and go to that ball wearing a gown, pretending to be a foreign lady. And then she spent the night with him, which was both the end of everything and the beginning of everything.

Andre looked surreptitiously at the blond curls that escaped from her elaborately pinned hair and fell freely to her shoulders, and remembered what it felt like to dip his fingers in that hair. But then he immediately rebuked himself. Those all memories were now in the past. That Andre was in the past. There was no point in dwelling on that now. He looked away quickly and reached into his jacket pocket. He took out two boxes of cartridge and placed them on the table.

- A beautiful weapon - Oscar said finally, putting the gun back on the cloth - Why did you bring it?

- Take that gun and put it somewhere so it's close at hand. It's best to always have it with you - Andre said flatly - You know very well that France has never been a safe place and the revolution has changed nothing. People only fear less now. On the one hand, it's good that they feel freer, and on the other hand, freedom is sometimes a threat. Not everyone can use this freedom in a good way.. - Andre finished his tirade and suddenly realized who he was talking to. He just cleared his throat and added - Just take it. For safety.

Oscar nodded.

- Thank you - she said, smiling, but Andre already turned his head and stared into space – Don't worry. I haven't forgotten what I was taught once.

- I have no doubt - Andre muttered under his breath, and there was silence again.

Soon after, Oscar said good night and left. The tiring and stressful day was waiting for her next day and she preferred to have a good rest. Andre was sitting for a long time, staring into the total darkness. He thought of all the years he had stood at Oscar's side, handing her weapons and accompanying her every day while secretly thristing over her. These years were beautiful and painful at the same time. He did not regret anything, although he was well aware that he could live these years in a completely different way. Get married and have his own family. To live a peaceful but worthwhile life away from the nobility and monarchy. When he thought he'd spent so many years serving an oppressive system that didn't respect people like his family, his blood boiled in his veins. If it weren't for Oscar, he would have probably left the service much earlier..

If it weren't for Oscar ..

Had it not been for her, he would not have had Lusien now, his greatest happiness and the only one that kept him awake after Oscar had turned away from him completely. For Lusien, he stood on his feet, and from then on he stood firmly so that nothing could break him. Even when he almost died.. Even then, with the last remnant of his consciousness, he clung to life, fearing to leave his son alone in the world. The presence of the child then saved his life. And Ella of course..

Ella.. Andre thought he had been neglecting the person he owed so much lately. This would have to change.

- Where are you going? - Lusien asked, standing in front of her and watching her suspiciously. Oscar was just putting on a warm scarf, because even though the days were still warm, in the morning, at night and in the evening the temperature was low and it was easy to get cold, especially when riding.

- I have to go to work, darling - Oscar replied, wrapping herself tightly in the scarf - Today is the first day, I can't be late.

- To work? What work? - Lusien sniffed and added commandingly, not waiting for an answer - You mustn't go, you have to stay with me!

- I can't, Lusien - she replied, placing her hand on his head - I really have to go.

Lusien didn't answer, just clung to her leg and buried his face in the folds of her dress. And then he started crying.

- Lusien.. - Oscar sighed, then crouched and hugged the boy who was sobbing desperately - I'll only go for a few hours and then I'll be back. And tomorrow we'll spend the whole day together. We'll go to the river or the castle. What do you think?

Lusien wasn't about to let go, he just hugged her tighter.

- I want to go to the castle now - he said with tears in his eyes - Auntie, do not go. Stay!

- Auntie really has to go - said Marie, who appeared next door - but she'll be back soon, and we can make a surprise for her. After you eat breakfast, we'll get dressed and go get it from Mr. Simon. Maybe those sweet croissants you like so much? Isn't that a good idea?

Lusien lifted his tearful face and nodded in agreement. And then he cuddled up to the old lady, and Oscar was finally ready to go to work. With a heavy heart.

The road to Saint Pierre passed in complete silence. Andre trotted a few steps ahead of her, ignoring her completely. Oscar could see his broad back and dark hair blowing by the wind. Andre still wore his long hair, always neatly tied that only escaped against his face, and he kept it behind his ears in a familiar gesture. Even though he was now an ordinary blacksmith, he still dressed more neatly than the others. He only wore worn clothes to work, because he didn't want Grandma Marie to have too much laundry.

After a moment, Oscar realized that she had rarely seen Andre riding like this. Usually it was she who rode first, and he a few steps behind her, as befits a good servant. Sometimes he would catch up with her to talk to her, to give her a comment, or to laugh at something. The current Andre kept his distance, but completely different than before. It used to be a learned gesture from someone from a lower class. Current Andre was proud and independent, strong. The revolution equated their birth, and he stopped walking with his head lowered.

Why did this independent Andre attract her more than Andre, who had been her servant all these years? Oscar couldn't understand herself anymore.

- Go ahead - said Andre, saying goodbye - Be careful!

- You know me - Oscar said, pulling down the reins and signaling for the horse to move.

She couldn't see that at her words, Andre's face twisted into a grimace, something between anger and sadness. Nor did she see that he kept his eyes on her for a long time until she disappeared below the horizon.

She arrived at the school building fifteen minutes early. She left the horse to the groom and went inside. An older man came out to meet her, introduced himself as the director's secretary, and led her to the office. As she waited, Oscar nervously smoothed the fabric of her cornflower dress and twisted her fingers. She was nervous, even though stressful situations were familiar to her. During many years of service in the Guard, she had the opportunity to participate in thousands of unpleasant conversations, thousands of quarrels and solve the most difficult matters. Her ability to keep her cool was appreciated and widely commented on. But it was different when she had to deal with a situation for which no one had ever prepared her. She was afraid she would say something inappropriate. She was afraid that she would betray herself with something. It was not easy to get rid of all the habits of her old life in a matter of months. What if anyone guessed her being a noble?

When it was time, she entered the office. Right on the doorstep, she was greeted by the school principal, who was also the parish priest here. The priest was a large man in his sixties, quite bald, with a long gray beard like the saints in the paintings. He was nice, but he looked strict. When she sat up, he looked at her and adjusted the monocular on his nose.

- You are Mr. Grandier's cousin? - he asked. - And you live in Angles now?

Oscar nodded.

- Mr. Grandier is a respected resident of Angles. Even here in Chavigny he is famous. He offered your candidacy, mademoiselle, and I have no doubt that if he recommended you, you are fit for the job. However, I have my own rule that every teacher should first show their skills in practice. I would like you to make two short lessons today, one French and the other history lesson. You'll have half an hour to prepare, here are the materials. What do you think about it?

- I agree - Oscar replied confidently, taking the pile of papers from the Headmaster's hands. Half an hour to prepare a lesson was not enough. Especially for a person who, like her, had no experience. But she would never, ever admit it. She would improvise. It always worked best for her.

- I heard that when you lived in Paris, you were a governess and a teacher in several noble families. Is it true? In which? - the director asked.

Oscar looked at him boldly, showing no signs of nervousness. The headmaster wasn't a stupid man and he was checking her out, of course. But she was prepared for it.

- In fact, I worked for three families - she replied decisively - Firstly, a few years with the de Croy-Solre family, then with the de Rigout family, and just before the revolution I was teaching the son of the de Luynes family.

The headmaster nodded appreciatively. Oscar was sure the man hadn't heard of any of these families. These families did exist, of course, and Oscar knew their members personally. It was no coincidence that she chose them. Many families employed expensive governesses from good families, but there were also families who were hiring teachers from among poorer women. The reason was simple stinginess or the lack of money to hire a more expensive servants. Of course, these facts were carefully hidden so as not to expose themselves to rumors, and only a few knew the truth. Oscar was one of those people for obvious reasons. She needed to be well informed about everybody around the queen.

The families she chose would never admit to employing Mademoiselle de Boyer, a commoner from Paris. One would be veiled with mystery or oblivion. Even if the headmaster had reached out to these families and asked directly, he would have learned nothing.

- Why did you decide to leave Paris? - the man asked again - Didn't you live there with your family?

- I have no family other than the one I live with in Angles now - Oscar replied, her voice trembling slightly. She thought of her mother, with whom she had not even had time to say goodbye. Was her mother still alive? - I left Paris right after the revolution. Living there has become too dangerous for a single woman.

- Naturally, naturally - the headmaster nodded again understandingly - You should get married! - he added with a laugh, completely without embarrassment - Do not worry, we have many interesting men in Aquitaine, you will surely find someone you like here.

Oscar smiled faintly and swallowed hard. The way this stranger entered her private life was brutally honest. Completely understandable, however. She was an unmarried woman in her thirties. The old man must have thought that she had come here looking for a husband, since she had not been able to find him in Paris.

- Thank you for your concern, Headmaster - she replied in the sweetest voice she could get.

The man grinned in response. Immediately afterwards, he invited her to visit their little school. The school building was actually an old parsonage. When a new, more magnificent one, was built right next to it, in the old building two rooms were converted into classrooms. The third, small room was a kind of place for teachers where they could prepare for their lessons and rest. There was also a small canteen.

- Lessons start at nine o'clock on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Children usually have three one-hour lessons with short breaks. If you stay here with us, mademoiselle, you will be teaching on Mondays and Wednesdays. Unfortunately, the previous teacher got married and left Chavigny last month. There are four other teachers working here - the director continued - Madamoiselle Renan also teaches French and history, but has lessons in the older group. Monsieur Arnaud is a math and science teacher in both groups. There is also Mademoiselle Jambon, who has etiquette and needlework classes for girls once a week. And mademoiselle Bonnet, who teaches music. You will meet them in due time. Today Mrs. Renan and Mr. Arnaud will be listening to your lesson with me. Please do not disappoint us - the headmaster laughed loudly and showed her a place in the teachers' room - You have some time to prepare. At nine o'clock punctually, please come to classroom number two, on the left.

After the Headmaster had left, Oscar sat down and looked at the materials he had handed her. French classes were not difficult. The group was to be six to ten years old children, and the lesson was about sentence structure. Oscar skimmed the notes and knew she could handle it. Immediately after that, her eyes fell on the history lesson.

"Marie Antoinette's arrival to France" - was the note.

Oscar laughed so hard that she choked and began to cough. This was not what she expected. What evil spirit had told the headmaster this one as the topic of today's classes, she did not know. But she was sure of two things. First, improvising would go smoothly. Second, she would definitely get the job.

For the next fifteen minutes she sat trying to recall all the memories of days that had happened so many years ago. She still remembered her excitement about this first, responsible mission. The moment she saw Marie Antoinette for the first time, so childish and innocent yet, she would probably never forget. Oscar was still a child herself then. After the decision to serve was made, all she could think about was what might be waiting for her in the future. For many years she thought it would be a great career as a soldier. Oscar smiled sarcastically. She looked at the old, though freshly whitewashed walls of the room where she sat. It was close, and arrogance would have ruined her just as Marie Antoinette. And yet she was here. Leading a quiet, safe, simple life. The only thing she regretted was opening her eyes so late.

Soon after, she entered the classroom. The headmaster was standing at the teacher's desk, and the ten children sat politely at their tables. When she entered, the children stood up to greet her. The older man introduced her to them as their new teacher, who he hoped would stay with them longer. The lessons were to last half an hour with a short five-minute break. Oscar took a deep breath, then began. She was a real master of improvisation. She went through all the difficult topics smoothly, and left none of the questions, even the most inquisitive students, unanswered. After finishing the lessons and saying goodbye to the group, she approached the headmaster who shook her hand appreciatively.

- It was wonderful, really wonderful, Mademoiselle! - he rejoiced - I don't think there is the slightest doubt any more. I'd like to see you on Wednesday at nine o'clock here.

He nodded to her and walked away, slightly swaying his long robe. Only now did the other two teachers approach Oscar. It was a young, tiny woman with chestnut hair and a young, dark-haired man.

- Dear Madamoiselle Boyer! - the woman bow politely and reached her hand - I'm Eve Renan. It's very nice to meet you.

Oscar shook her hand in greeting.

- Pierre Arnaud - said the young man, noding his head tactfully, then looked up at her with intense blue eyes - You handled them perfectly, mademoiselle! I've never seen these little devils be so calm. - he laughed sincerely.

- Pierre! - Eve scolded him, but also laughed. - Don't worry, mademoiselle. He always talks nonsense, but he's a good teacher.

- Nonsense? - the man feigned anger to tease her - Who says nonsense?

- Pierre is always like that - the woman whispered in her ear as the three of them walked towards the teachers' room - He's always joking. But the students like him.

Oscar smiled kindly. She liked her colleagues more and more. They seemed to accept her right away, without any suspicion, and were very nice. Eve said goodbye quickly because, as she herself explained, „a woman who cares about a man shouldn't let him wait too long".

- I'll walk you back - Pierre said.

The man had a very handsome face, with a fair complexion and those incredibly blue eyes, but his hair was ebony, which was an interesting contrast.

- Have you been working here long, monsieur? - Oscar asked as they slowly made their way towards the stables.

- Two years. From the beginning, when the school was founded - he replied honestly - I was a teacher in Nantes a few years before.

- Nantes? - she asked curiously - Is this where you come from?

He nodded but said nothing.

- See you soon! - she said, pulling off the horse's reins..

- Have a nice trip - Pierre Arnaud smiled and waved her goodbye.

The man stood for a long time and watched the woman riding away on her horse. The more he thought about it, the more he doubted. It would have been much easier had it not been for his disastrous ability to remember faces. Nevertheless, looking at this new teacher, he had the impression that he had already seen her somewhere. But he couldn't remember where exactly.


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