"The world wars must have left everyone in 1946 a whole lot worse off…" Hindley said as he inspected the clothes Francis had brought from his time. "You can't wear any of these, you'll look like a pauper." He said "You'll have to wear my clothes, and then we'll see about getting you some finery. I won't have you going around looking like we have no money. A fine Frenchman like you should be wearing silks and stylish suits…"
Francis lay on the bed naked and covered with a few sheets, not quite sure what to say. Lord Kirkland could be quite insistent and masterful when he wanted, and he wasn't sure how to respond to that. He did like the idea of wearing nice clothes though, so he didn't object, he just felt a bit like he was losing any independence he might have had. That didn't matter though, because he was the one out of time and Hindley wanted to take care of him. It was kind of sweet in a way.
"These will all have to be thrown out…" He uttered. "Not a decent shirt in sight." He said as he threw them into a waiting laundry basket.
"Those are all I have…" Francis sighed as he sat up in bed. "You are right Hindley; the wars did leave everyone broke. We spent so much money trying to defeat Germany that everyone had to economise. And Germany was a ruthless enemy, blowing up supply ships and bombing where they could. People are starving and live on rations. Nobody has anything in 1946, even this mansion is a ruin."
Seeing how this was affecting his lover, Hindley sat down on the bed and put his arms around Francis. "It sounds like a terrible time to be alive…" He whispered. "I'm sorry if I seemed insensitive."
Francis leaned into him and sighed softly. He'd seen a lot of carnage in the wars, and just thinking of it was distressing. Hindley stroked his hair and kissed him to comfort him. "I sometimes forget that you have been through so much." He said softly. "Was it bad for you my love?"
"I saw so much death on the battlefield…" Francis replied. "My countrymen… friends… all dead… many of us injured for life… broken." Suddenly he felt a pang of guilt for leaving Arthur behind in 1946 and selfishly wanting to be here with Hindley, but he kept that to himself.
"I wonder if it would be possible to change it." Hindley wondered. "If we somehow left a warning for our children… not to go to war with Germany." He said "surely it is worth a try."
"Anything is worth a try." Francis replied, just wanting to sink into Hindley's arms. He had this way of holding him and comforting him that made him feel so loved.
"I have an idea." Hindley eventually said as he got a suit out of the wardrobe for Francis to wear. "I'm going to introduce you to the other nations, and… don't worry your 1828 counterpart won't recognise you as you will be in disguise. They'll all think you are a normal human being."
"Oh… are you sure that's a good idea?" Francis gulped, genuinely afraid of meeting the other nations and his Great Grandfather whom he knew was identical to himself. He knew his name and his history. Francis, Marcel Bonnefoy, flamboyant and fierce was his reputation. What if he recognised him? What if everything went wrong?
"You'll be fine Francis my love…" Hindley said as he helped him dress. "Besides Francis Marcel and I hardly speak. I think I've only ever met him a couple of times, very briefly. If we do it right, no one will suspect that you are his descendent."
"You um… want me to meet them soon then?" Francis asked as he allowed his Englishman to help him dress, interspersed with little kisses here and there.
"I should have told you yesterday, but I only wanted to make love to you…." Hindley replied as he kissed him softly. "They are coming here in a couple of days. In the interests of… world relations it was deemed that meetings should be held in each others countries. It is my turn to host it. Trust me I didn't want to… but everyone else has done it and I haven't. I felt obliged…"
"I am confused." Francis uttered as he took it all in. "If you knew Francis Marcel when you met me… why did you not think I was him? We are identical… as you and Arthur are …"
Hindley chuckled. "Francis Marcel wears blue silk and finery and always has his hair beautifully groomed, he walks all haughty like …" he laughed and walked with his right hand in the air and looking very posh. "And he says things like "Tu es un imbecile…" he mocked. "You are nothing like him in your mannerisms or your demeanor, all that is similar is your looks. So no, I didn't recognise you as him… in fact it was only later when you introduced yourself properly that I realised how similar you are. And no, I don't feel the same towards him as I do for you. I feel nothing at all for him… and yet I fell in love with you straight away."
Francis blinked and looked quite flattered when he said that. He continued to try to get dressed but it was clear what he really wanted, just for Hindley to hold him again, to kiss him and to love him. Half dressed, Hindley sat next to him and did just that, kissed him deeply and then held him, almost as if he'd read his mind.
"Do we have to get up just yet…?" Francis uttered, gazing into Hindley's deep green eyes. "Can we not just stay here a while?"
"Ah I would … but what about Young Arthur's studies? Hm? I am the master of this mansion and the surrounding estate… and as much as I want to be with you right here, we have things to do." He sighed and kissed his lovers head gently. "
"When they come to visit… are they all staying here in the mansion?" Asked Francis worriedly. "I mean… does that mean we won't be able to be together?"
"They will stay here of course but… I won't ever neglect you. Please remember that." Hindley replied as he put on his jacket and knee length boots. "We'll just have to be very discreet… and its none of their business anyway."
"Oh…" uttered Francis looking quite upset and lost. This was going to be quite frightening. He'd at least spent most of his time alone in this mansion or with Hindley or the servants but this was going to be difficult. Hindley caught that look of worry on his face and helped him to his feet, continuing to help him dress and put his tie on. "Now you listen to me Francis… its only for a few days. Every country has to do this. Is it the same in your time?"
"Yes… but in my time those nations are my friends. I don't know what to expect from yours…" He uttered. "What if they realise who I am…? What if…?"
Hindley placed a finger to his lips and hushed him. "This is why I was reluctant to tell you this." He said quietly. "I don't want you to worry alright? We'll find a disguise for you, and they won't suspect a thing."
"But I look like Francis Marcel… they're going to twig straight away…" he said in alarm.
"No, no they won't.. trust me I know what I'm doing." He said. I have to get breakfast now and get to my duties, but … tonight I'm going to show you why they won't recognise you."
"What?" Francis asked curiously "What do you mean…?"
"Hush…" Hindley said as he got ready. "Just trust me alright?"
Hindley had breakfast and went off to do this and that whilst Francis got on with what he was hired to do, and that was to teach Young Arthur. He had a study programme for him and although he was worried about what was going to happen, that didn't mean he could just stop tutoring the boy and think about it all day.
Later that night as Hindley came home, Francis was still wondering what on Earth he was going to do. They had dinner and then when Young Arthur was in bed, Hindley took Francis up to the attic which was very much the same as it was in 1946. He'd noticed a large black trunk in there before and it was in the corner.
"When… Alice died…" Hindley said "I couldn't throw away all of her things. I loved her you see…" he said and then looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Why…bave you brought me to the attic Hindley?" Asked Francis.
Opening the trunk, Hindley revealed a selection of dresses and ladies accessories in the big black trunk. "These belonged to Alice, and this is why no one will recognise you." He said sort of nervously.
"You want me to wear a dress?" Francis asked with wide eyes, as he took a sharp intake of breath. "You want me to be a girl?"
"Only temporarily…" Hindey said with a kind of nervous grin. "Everyone would recognise you if you were dressed as a male, but if you are dressed like a lady, they will simply think you are a girl I am dating or…or something…." He said taking out a beautiful long red gown from the trunk. It had a flared skirt and was decorated with roses on one shoulder and had a flowery trim. It came with a set of red gloves and was buttoned right up to the neckline. Francis looked scared as Hindley showed it to him. He also got out a corset, pair of fishnet stockings and some little black silky panties, suspenders and a black bra.
"Trust me its only for a couple of days." Hindley said with a smile.
Despite protesting a little Francis finally agreed that this was the best way to do it. He had to agree that no one would recognise him or wonder about him if he was dressed as a girl, and it was only for a couple of days after all, then they would all be going home and they could get back to their lives as normal.
The day of the conference came and Francis spent some time in the attic with Hindley, somewhat reluctantly putting on the ladies clothes in front of a full length mirror. Hindley handed him the panties and the suspenders and he put them on.
"I feel ridiculous…" mumbled Francis. "These knickers are a bit tight.."
"Stop complaining." Hindley said with a hungry look on his face. "Here put on the suspender belt… and the stockings."
With a sigh and rolling his eyes a little, Francis put on the corset, getting Hindley to pull it tight. Then on with the suspender belt and stockings, followed by the bra. Hindley had brought some socks to fill the bra to make it look as though he had boobies. "Here you go, you've got to look the part." He said as he helped him stuff the bra.
"I thought Arthur's ideas were off the wall but yours…" he muttered.
"You look lovely Francis." Hindley said and pecked him on the lips. "They won't suspect a thing…"
Hindley then helped him put on the gown and adjust his pretend fake boobies so that they looked real. Then to top it off he got a gold necklace locket and put it around his neck.
"Now… hair and make up…" Hindley said. "You have long hair so… lets leave that long and tie the back up in a bun… then um… I think I have some of Alice's make up in here too…" he said as he rummaged through the trunk.
Soon Francis looked for all the world like a woman. Quite a tall woman but still very feminine.
"I look awful…" He said as he shook his head, looking in the full length mirror.
"Nonsense you look great." Hindley replied as he sprayed perfume on him. It was very nice perfume and as Francis looked in the mirror at himself he began to think he did look extraordinarily feminine. He smiled a little and admired his figure, made more feminine by the corset which was pulled far too tight.
"You're right I do look feminine…" He said. "If only this corset and panties weren't so tight."
"You'll be fine." Grinned Hindley. "Just act like a lady and they'll dismiss you as a lady, or my girlfriend of something…"
Only a few moments later, there was the sound of a carriage arriving in the courtyard. Prussia had arrived with his entrourage of a couple of servants. He stepped out of the carriage and looked at the mansion before him, grimacing at it.
"Are you ready?" Hindley asked Francis who was putting on the shoes, which were also too tight.
"As ready as ever…" he mumbled as Hindley led him downstairs. He walked awkwardly because the knickers and corset were too tight but he tried to walk like a lady.
"You're doing fine." Hindley said. "Just stand next to me and curtsey when they come through.
The door was opened by Townsend who knew that it was Monsieur Bonnefoy dressed up, but he didn't say anything out of respect for his master. Prussia entered, dressed in his usual blue uniform but with lots of buttons on the chest, much like a fairytale Prince. Townsend introduced him loudly.
"The Kingdom of Prussia." He said. This version of Gilbert Bielschmidt was younger and more handsome than the one in 1946 but they were very similar. Francis thought immediately that he would recognise him and he looked down, just waiting for him to say something but he didn't. He shook hands with Hindley and spoke for a few moments.
"It is good to be here Herr Kirkland." He said in his German accent. Then he turned to Francis "And who is this charming young lady?" He asked taking her hand and kissing it politely.
"This is er… Lady Francine…" Hindley replied as he removed Francis' hand from Gilberts and smiled politely.
"I am pleased to meet you Lady Francine…" Gilbert said "You must be Herr Kirklands new Frauline." He said.
"It's very nice to meet you too sir." Francis replied in a high voice, doing an awkward curtsey.
"Charmed Frauline." He said with a bow and made his way into the dining room where Mrs Bailey had prepared a veritable banquet.
Francis stood there feeling a little more confident as the rest of the nations started to arrive…
To be continued.