Re-cap: Gabrielle and Erik got tipsy at supper. Gabrielle takes a chance with Erik, mostly just helping him to relax. Life goes on (Ob la de ob la da…)
Time the Avenger Ch. 7 - The Visitors.
Five months had vanished since my arrival in19th century France. Many days would pass where I felt entrapped in a vortex of confusion and hopelessness. Would I ever see home again? Was I stuck in this backward timeline for the remainder of my natural life? Where were my ruby slippers? Where was my good witch of the north? I wanted to go home.
After our night of arguing, drinking and Erik's impromptu back rub, a less formal relationship began to form between the two of us. This occurrence helped salvage my sanity.
My enigmatic housemate now scowled less and smiled more, and it was not unusual to hear him humming a tune while sitting at the breakfast table reading the Figaro or strolling through the manor. Not to say that he became a pussycat, but I believe we began to trustone anotherenough to let up on our stiff behaviorand allow an easy familiarity to form.
Erik would often invite me into his library for literary discussions or to pick my brain about the centuries to come. I loved sitting in the lavishly decorated room. The interior was decorated with lush dark fabrics the colors of lapis, gold and wine. A manly chocolate leather sofa and chairs provided ample room for one to settle in for a good read. Ornate dark mahogany shelves filled with every sort of book imaginable lined the walls. An enormous Persian rug that would have cost a fortune in my day covered the length of the floor.
Today we bantered about music, the differences between 17th and 18th century composers and the various styles of modern music. Erik struggled to comprehend what the music of my time would be like; but them how does one explain the difference between Rage Against the Machine, 50Cent, and the Carpenters?
He enjoyed hearing me sift through the various musical genres from Swing to Rock-N-Roll, Jazz, Punk, Country, and even Grunge.
I cringed at the thought of losing allbattery power tomy IPOD, but it was worth the sacrifice to watch Erik's face while he listened and learned. He enjoyed the Broadway musical selections, noting that they often translated both humor and sorrow well.
It took himsome time to warm up to rock and roll. I tried desperately to convince him that it was a viable format, full of raw passion, emotion and diversity. The vocals were often crude yes, but that is how many artists' communicate truth.
He wasn't crazy about Hip Hop, but did appreciate the rapper's freedom tocomment on their experiences. I explained it to him this way: "Yo dog, wuz jus trying ta keep it real. NawI mean?"
I'd yet to see such a look of exasperation on the refined man's face. "Gabrielle, not more of your frivolous 21st century-speak, it tires me so sometime, honestly..."
I laughed lightly. "Sorry, I'm teasing you some, that's rap-speak. I'll have to teach you Ebonics Erik."
"E-what?"
"Rap-speak, dog...never mind." Nope, I couldn't imagine Erik embracing the urban genera of music as his own.
He did appreciate the complex arrangements of the jazz musician. Theirirregular tempos intrigued him.
Country music, he just could not fathom. "What the hell is a double-wide and why would anyonesign about it?" He would question.
- o -
Life moved along at an even snails pace into December, that is until the Roux's youngest son and his companion came for a pre-holiday visit.
The Roux had one daughter and two sons. Their only daughter, Caron, was 20 and lived in Manchester, England. She had been married nearly four months when her husband, Gerald Spencer, was commissioned to serve his time in the British Navy. Gerald had been home only twice in the past 18 months. From Mdm. Roux's account, I deduced that Caron was very lonely young lady. Unfortunately for the Roux's she would be spending Christmas with her in-laws in England. M. Roux suggested that she might enjoy visiting after the holidays.
Henri waggled his fork at me, "It would be good for both of you ladies to have female companionship closer to your own age, no offense my dear," he directed toward his wife.
Their eldest child, Percy was 25, and lived in Nice with his wife and three children. He was carving out a good living for his family as an accountant who specialized in handling the personal finances of the wealthy. Although the Roux's were proud of their eldest son, they refused his relentlessly polite invitations to retire and move into his family home. The Roux's were proud working class people, not accustomed to being taken care of.
Warren was a tall, slender young man of 19 with sandy hair, blue eyes and an infectious smile. He attended University at Oxford in the study of Animal medicine. Warren wished to become a veterinarian.
Warren's Oxford chum, Reginald Roxbury, hailed from Brighton, England. The boy was a living Jane Austin character with his athletic build, dark hair and angular good looks. I wanted to call him Darcy. However, after meeting Reginald, I found him not to be stuffy, just trying hard to be a grown up.
In three days there would be visitors in the DuPuis household and Monsieur was not a happy camper.
I was in the kitchen preparing a roast for supper when I heard him reprimand Marie rather loudly. Apparently she was dusting and sweeping the library while he was in it.
"For the sake of the Angels Marie, must you sweep under my feet? If having your son and his natty friend in this house means suffering your frantic cleaning, then this will be the last visit!" I heard him bellow.
I think I recall her saying something like, "You may put your feet back down Monsieur DuPuis."
I giggled, and wondered how she got away with speaking to him as such.
- o -
The boys descended uponDuPuis Manor late on Friday afternoon. A cold rain beat steadily on the French countryside dashing the boys' hopes of getting in some quail hunting before supper. Instead they were relegated to polite conversation and a game of chess in the parlor.
Erik wasn't a great fan of company, but he would not be a rude host to his old friend's nephew. He graciously made sure their every need had been met before vanishing to his music room.Erik instructed me to keep an eye on the boys should they require any refreshments; a task I was happy to oblige. As much as I had grown tolike M.Dupuis, Icravedvariety in my companionship.
After Erik was safely out of earshot, Warren cheekily boasted, "Apparently Monsieur DuPuis does not wish to face us in a game of chess."
I let out a pithy laugh, "More like he doesn't want to embarrass you by giving you two a sound trouncing."
"Does Mdm. Gabrielle think we cannot hold our own against the gifted M. DuPuis? We are, after all, Oxford boys!" Warren continued.
"You should catch one of the marathons held at that chess board when his friend from Paris, M. Khan visits. The two men can go hours without eating while they pontificate their next move. Both are formidable chess players, but Erik wins more often than not." I smiled demurely at the boys.
Reginald shrugged, "No matter Mdm. My friend here will have his hands full with me."
"Then let us do battle, the loser helps Mdm. Thomasen with the supper dishes," Warren offered.
"Then either way, I win," Reginald winked mischievously in my direction.
I stood and straightened my skirt ignoring his comment. "May I get you boys something to eat or drink?"
"Thank you for your gracious offer Mdm. Thomasen, but we have all we need for the moment," Warren replied motioning to the full brandy decanter positioned near them on a marble topped wine chest.
"Then I'll summon you when supper is ready. And Please call me Gabrielle."
"Gabrielle it is," agreed Warren.
Reginald, deep in the throes of contemplating where to move a knight, nodded.
"I'll be looking forward to having help cleaning up tonight." This time I winked.
Author's note: This story will be moving to the M category. After some re -writing and feedback, I have decided to spice it up a bit. So if that's not your thing, don't go there. However, it will be a good thing for our Erik.
This is a short chapter I know, but the next one will be longer. There will be some revelations too. Please keep reviewing. It means a lot to hear from you. - Leesaintehsky