Whoot! Another Chapter, I don't think I am doing so well, I only got on review the last update. I promise you that this will be a good chapter, I am ready for Catherine to return to Boston. I am ready to get the American Revolution to be kicked in gear.
-Moon
Catherine touched up her hair as she glanced at herself in the decorative mirror that was in the hall before the door. "So remind me again on how I am supposed to address royalty?" Catherine asked as she tried to tuck back any wild strains. Her voice had a bit of a nervous edge.
Dorian held up her cloak for her to wear in the chilly afternoon. "Madame la Dauphine for the future queen,"
"Madame la Dauphine, which is like your royal highness?" Catherine took the cloak draping it over her shoulders. Dorian nodded, "Catherine you will be fine. Just follow Genevieve ques."
Catherine sucked in her breath as she fastens her ties. "I don't want to insult anyone, besides, I am worlds different than them." The grey fabric laid nicely over her dull red dress. "I am sure my accent will cast me outside the norm."
"Don't worry about that, just relax and enjoy yourself tonight, Catherine. I have serious in any doubts you will meet the king or the Dauphin. You will be in the company of Madame Maria Antoinette and her close friends."
Taps of small feet ran down the hall up behind her. Arno stood behind Catherine and Dorian.
"Arno, I thought you were doing your reading." Dorian starred down his young son, who only grin with his hands behind his back.
"I know, but I have a present for Catherine." He held up a single flower, a marigold. "I thought she could wear it in her hair since she is wearing a dress."
Catherine flashed a smile as she knelt down in front of the young child and outstretched her arms, hugging the boy. She gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Your so sweet, Arno." She took it from his fingers as she planted it into her hair.
Charles glanced outside the window to see a carriage pull, "I see that Genevieve is already here."
Catherine stood up from her crouching position. "I will take my leave then, if I am out late, don't wait up for me," Catherine instructed as she fixed the creases in her red fabric.
The young assassin picked up the ends of her dress as she walked. She wore flat boots that were obscured by her gown but were only shown in her actions.
Nearing the end of the path, the coach driver held the door open for the young woman. She gave a quiet thank you in French to the man as she climbed in.
Catherine took a seat across from Genevieve who was peeping on the small home. "So your family owns this home?"
"No, my sponsor does, I live with him and his young son."
Genevieve snapped back at her with a small smile. "I know about the assassins. So is he your mentor?" her voice laced with a heavy French accent.
"Aye, he is. He's been like a second father to me the last few years."
The noblewoman hummed in understanding. "How long have you been in Paris?"
"Four years or so."
On the way to Versailles, the two women who were similar in age spoke on the way. It was a small light heart talk.
Upon arrival, Catherine smoothed out her red skirt as she stood up. The driver opened the door for the two women clad in silk.
"The red looks lovely on you," Genevieve compliment as she walked by the redhead.
Catherine's cheek flushed, "thank you. I should let you know that I am not used to socializing around royalty."
Her laughed echoed like a bell, "It's quite alright, Mademoiselle Cormac. I could guess about your background as an assassin." She said in a lower whisper.
Catherine gave chuckle as she fidgeted with her fingers. "I will just follow your queue then. "
The two women were lead inside the grand chateau known as the Palace of Versailles. Catherine was quiet as heard nothing but the clicking of their shoes while being lead by servants through the expensive halls.
She realized they were being led into the private apartments of the royal family. Only people with special permission were allowed direct access to these apartments.
"What does the Dauphine know about me?" Catherine asked trying to prepare herself.
Genevieve hummed, "She asked me about you and I explained that you were an Irish woman from Boston."
"That's all?" She asked with a bit of shock.
"Sophie didn't tell me much of your background. She only told me you were a skilled young woman who showed empathy towards my situation."
Catherine still fidgeted with her sleeves of the gown as they walked. "I understand. I would have done even without the offer of a reward."
"Speaking of an award, I have the funds ready for you. I was told why you needed it and I find it noble. My Oncle fought in the Seven Year War alongside the natives. He had told me that they received unfair treatment by your fellow Colonist."
"I know...I am trying to buy my friend's land. Terrible men are trying to buy it right from under of the natives, so I am going to buy it first."
Genevieve smiled, "buy it with French money, I suspect you already have an idea on how to transfer French livres to English pounds."
"The universal currency everyone knows, gold. I was even planning on supplying the natives with weapons and other items they would hold with value. I want them to be able to protect themselves from people who wish to hurt them."
The two servants that stopped in front of the two women to open the door for them. Catherine could hear laughter as the door open for the two of them.
One of the servants made an introduction for them as Catherine walked into the room. The noblewoman that stood beside her made a curtsy. The Irish assassin followed suit.
There were twenty or so women with a couple of men sharing drinks in the room. Some were a group at a table playing a game of cards while another gossip about their daily lives.
The room seemed to freeze at the sight of Catherine. The whole room had her eyes on the Irish foreigner. At the moment, Catherine knew it was the mistake of coming to the palace. She wasn't the type to like eyes on her.
A woman stood up from the card table, greeting the two women. Catherine recognized her as the Dauphine, Maria Antoinette. The French princess gave a welcoming smile.
"Thank you for attending, Mademoiselle Cormac."
Catherine crusty again, unsure if was appropriate behavior. "It's my honor, thank you for the invitation."
"It's the least I can do for coming to our aid, without you, who knows what that man could have done."
Catherine smiled as she looked upon the woman, she was around Catherine's age dressed in fine silk. The future queen of France reached with her hand to take a hold of Catherine's arm. "I want to hear all about you and the tale on how you stopped this assassin."
Catherine cleared her throat, trying to not to sound nervous. "As you wish, it's not a thrilling story, but I can fill in the spaces as much as I can."
Maria looked upon the group in the room, she spoke to them in French, introducing Catherine. She stopped mid-sentence and looked over the redhead. "You do speak French, correct?"
"I do, you don't have to speak English on my behalf."
The future queen smiled, "well since you are my guest of honor, I do want to make you feel welcome."
Maria waved for a servant to walk over, he carried a silver platter of drinks. Genevieve took one for herself, Catherine followed her lead, holding the drink in between her fingers.
Catherine wondered what her friends would think back home if they could see her sharing wine with royalty. "Everyone, I want you to meet my savior from the other day, Catherine Cormac. Please make her feel welcome."
The room echoed in applause for the Irish assassin. They were gossiping whisper among some of the nobles, as Maria led the young woman to sit across from her. Genevieve was making conversation with another noble.
"Tell me about yourself, how does an English colonist find herself in France?"
"It's a long story, but to make it short. My mother and I were affected by the raising of the taxes that King George made upon us. We ran a small tavern in Boston, just me and my mother."
Curiosity twinkled in Maria eyes as well as the surrounding noblewomen. "You don't come from a well off family?"
"No, my father was a ship captain during the 7-year war, but he hasn't been in my life since I was a small lass." Catherine painted a story of her simple life in Boston as a tavern girl. She made it sound as if Charles Dorian was a friend of her mother's family. She explained that her mother had sent her to France for a proper education to keep her out of trouble.
Tying off her pretend story, the young woman explained Dorian had given her an equal education. Maria seemed satisfied with the answers given, especially on how she was able to learn how to fight.
"That must have been quite a transformation for you. Going from a simple life to an expensive life here in France," Genevieve spoke as she sat next to her savior.
Catherine took another refreshment from a server. The taste of fine wine was on her lips as she took a sip of the rich wine. It happens to be her second glass to help her relax. "It was quite a bit, but I have learned to call Paris my second home." The whole situation felt so surreal to Catherine at the fact she was sitting before royalty.
The nobles looked amongst themselves as they listen to Catherine's story on what brought her to Paris. The young assassin made a story up how she had discovered the plot about the hit placed on Genevieve's head. No one seemed to question it as she told her tale.
The young woman even picked up on comments that the nobles were making about her. She ignored the rudeness that some of the nobles were displaying to her.
Catherine didn't care that she was ostracized from this social standing. The part of the reason that she came to the small gathering was to form possible allies. Gaining the trust of Genevieve was already accomplished, now she was sitting in front of the Future Queen of France.
Catherine played with her skirt, as she talked with the different nobles. Maria listens as Catherine talked while Genevieve walked over to sit next to Catherine as a friendly gesture.
One of the noblemen faces was a blush red from the drinks he had consumed. "If you use to run a tavern, you must know some of those jolly tavern songs."
Catherine choked on her drink a bit embarrassed, "A few, but I don't sing."
Maria flashed a smile, "nonsense, I am sure you are not all that terrible, we are all friends here."
The redhead pressed a forced smile, she did not want to perform on command and embarrassed herself. "It won't hurt, Catherine." Genevieve reached over to touch Catherine's hand. "I would love to hear you sing."
Catherine's face blush, but a voice spoke up to her a defense. "I am sure Mademoiselle Cormac just want to enjoy her company with us, your highness." A young gentleman spoke up, he was dressed in a blue silk coat while wearing a powder wig. a younger woman stood beside him Catherine could only guess she was his wife.
"Oh, course, we don't want to overwhelm her." Maria smiled, she glanced at the man. "Catherine, this is Marquis de Lafayette and his wife, Marquise de Lafayette. They are newly married."
"Congratulations," Catherine flashed a smile, "May you be blessed in the years to come."
The woman looked a bit shy about responding, but Lafayette smiled. "Thank you, miss Cormac." He turned to bow Maria Antoinette. "My wife is tired from tonight events, we will be turning in early." The aristocrat then turned to the Irish woman. "We would like to extend you invite to dinner, sometime in the next week. I am very fascinated about the Americas and struggles your homeland is facing."
Catherine couldn't help but feel flattered at the invite, "I would gladly accept. I have been keeping up with events back home, in fact, I know of the people who through the tea into the harbor."
He took the young woman's hand to give it a light kiss as a sign of respect and admiration. "Then I like to discuss it more over dinner at our apartment in Versailles. Farewell."
The young couple took their leave from the private apartments. The night went on after the Lafayettes left. Catherine was on her third glass of wine, listening to the upper-class talk. She was near the glass doors that lead to the private gardens. She felt warm from her alcohol intake, some fresh air would be good for her head.
Catherine pushed herself from her seat to leave to the gardens. She stumbled a little in buzzing haze to the door that she gently pushed open.
Genevieve came up behind her, "going for fresh air? Do you mind if I come? I need some fresh air as well."
The Irish woman held the door open for both of them. "Of course, I could use the company."
The two women left the back steps to wander around the garden together. They had managed their way into a private rose garden. It was into twilight. "I haven't properly thanked you for your help yet," Genevieve spoke clearing the air.
"You don't need to, it was part of my job. I have to thank you for your generous gift of money to help my friend's land."
"He's lucky to have you." Genevieve smiled, before dropping to a frown.
Catherine saw the look on her face, "Is everything okay?"
"I am a fool about letting Martian into my life. I was a grieving widow that he précipité into my life. We were married in six months.
Raphael was my closet friend and I miss him every day."
Genevieve's eyes became watery as she spoke about her first husband. The Irish woman walked over to hug the French woman. "I am sorry, you must have really loved him."
"Oui, he was my childhood friend." the noblewoman wiped the tears away before looking up at the kind gesture from the younger woman. There was a whimsical look on the French woman's face. Her blue eyes meet her light brown ones. In the spark of the moment, Genevieve pushed her lips onto Catherine's.
It took Catherine by shock with such a sudden kiss from Genevieve. She froze where she stood at such a stunning action from her. Catherine didn't push her away, she only accepted it. This was the second time she had been this close to someone in France.
Her kiss was sudden but soft. The elegant fragrance of Genevieve's perfume entered her nostrils. There was nothing wrong with being kissed by another woman, but in her heart, she could only think of Connor. Catherine stepped back after the kiss, looking at the French woman. She realized at what she had done.
"Catherine I am so sorry-I-I wasn't thinking." She looked horrified, "please don't tell anyone. My life would be ruined."
Catherine placed her hands on her shoulders then touching her face. "No, no. It was a nice kiss, I liked it, but my heart wasn't in it. I have someone else there."
Genevieve opened her mouth in a gasp after Catherine removed her hand from her cheek. "Oh...your native friend." It was a
Catherine blushed bright red, "Aye. We have been going on in circles due to our duties. Though, neither of us can touch the subject in our letters." The assassin glanced at the woman, "you don't love your late husband in a romantic sense."
"No, we were good friends and he understood my secret. I could only act upon them in the shadows."
"I understand, I really do, I won't say a word." Catherine smiled, "I just hope you can find happiness. If it wasn't for the circumstances, I might considerate, but I miss home. I am ready to return and I miss Connor."
Genevieve smiled, "well, Connor sounds like a lucky man. I wish you luck." Catherine's answer seemed not to affect her. She welcomed it. "Thank you, for giving me that freedom back to have my life."
"Your welcome." Catherine spoke with a smile, "Let's head back in, I am sure everyone noticed that we went missing."
"Agreed." Genevieve extended her hand out, "lead the way."
A storm rolled from the south of France carried in by the seas. Paris became a victim of its a heavy downpour. Catherine's feet were swimming in puddles of water. Her hood pulled over her head to protect her head and face from the spring weather. Droplets of water rolled down her coat that protected her from being drench.
She made sure her hair was tucked into her hood while made her way to her destination. The Île de la Cité was almost barren from the storm that cascaded onto its streets. In the heart of Paris stood one of the oldest and tallest buildings in Paris. The tallest building in all of France.
Notre Dame was the iconic gem of the city, it stood over 500 years being built back in the middle ages. She admires the twin bell towers of the cathedral with the rose glass that rested between them. She took a second to admire the structure before walking off the steps of the Lady of Paris.
It had been a month since the assassination attempt at the Palace of Versailles. She had stayed in Versailles for the month after the incident where she had become good friends with Genevieve as well as the Lafayettes. She was even invited to the palace of Versailles weekly by Maria Antoinette. She even had the great honor of eating with the royal family. Catherine had sounded like a bumbling idiot in front of the King of France, but it was still a good evening. She had found Maria Antoinette to be native, but a kind person.
A meeting had been arranged for her to meet Sophie Trent to discuss what was next for her. Catherine's time in the foreign country to her dwindling due to the urgency of the needed help that Connor required to save his people's land. On top of this rushed emergency, Catherine was starting to miss her home. She missed the lush greenery and quietness of the frontier. She missed the smell of the sea air that floated in the Boston Harbor.
Most of all, she missed her close friends. James had moved to New York. Connor was still living with Achilles at the Davenport Manor who still wrote to her. Catherine couldn't help but think about the kiss that she shared with Genevieve and compared it to Connor's. She felt guilty for liking it, because of her feelings for Connor. Feelings she was trying to ignore to focus on her mission.
Catherine walked across the marble tiles in the Cathedral. Across the room, she saw candles ablaze in honor of prayer for someone. The young assassin walked over to the stand. Every time she stepped into Catholic Cathedral, she lite one for her mother and father. It was a childish hope that they could be a family again.
She looked upon a small statue of the Virgin Mary before walking over to the pews to have a seat. She wouldn't call herself a practicing Catholic, it was just a way to honor her mother who could never practice it herself. Catherine had a glimmer of hope that her mother was somewhere that she could be able to practice it.
Catherine looked over to glance at the Rose Windows in awe, she could never stop looking at the beauty of them. She also heard the quiet prayers of the people inside the church.
Quiet footsteps could be heard walking across the marble tiles. A hooded figure sat next to Catherine, pulling down the hood. "I received your message," Trent spoke in a low whisper, "Are you sure you want to return to Boston?"
"Yes, I've learned everything I can from the French Brotherhood. I have the amount of money I need to purchase Connor's land right out from under the Templar's noses."
"I like your enthusiasm Cormac, I just wish you stay a little longer since you have had so much progress. Though, the council and I do believe it is time that you return to the Colonials to rebuild the brotherhood. You told us Connor had already started recruiting."
Catherine shook her head, "Aye, he is actually French from Quebec."
"Very good, might I make a small request?"
"Of course," Catherine said. "What is it?"
"We will send you another recruit to you after you get settled."
Catherine raised an eyebrow, "Which novice?"
"William, he is eager to go with you to the colonies, but he is not ready yet."
Catherine nodded, "Sure, send him. We need all the help we can get."
Sophie nodded before asking the last question. "When do you leave?"
Catherine sighed, "This week, I spoke with Charles and everything is arranged for a ship to charted to Boston. Ill is in heavy disguise, so I won't run into any of the Colonial Templars. It will also give me time to have the paperwork drawn up for the land."
"I wish you good luck then, Paris will always welcome you." Sophie smiled, "You should set out to pack and say your goodbyes, the other novices have grown to look up at you."
"Thank you,"
The Master Assassin nodded, "I do wish you to stay, but you have you're calling to take care of business back in your home."
Catherine smiled before leaving she wanted to keep her mind at ease. "Is there any update on the Cult of Kosmos?"
"No, we are still pouring through our records for them. We even reached out to our brothers in Greece to get more answers, but don't worry Genevieve is safe. Martian will not lay a hand on her."
"Thank you, please reach out to me about them when you have answers. They were very interested in me."
Sophie nodded, "I know, we are wary of them especially since they are involved with the Templars."
Catherine nodded before standing up, she took one final glance of the Cathedral, "I do have to say I will miss this building, it is beautiful."
"I know, it has been standing for over 500 years. It does attest to what humanity can build." Sophie replied. "I hope to see you one last time before you leave for the Colonials."