Luisa: The Orphan Tale

Part XIII: Life at Dubois Manor

Luisa had slept more soundly that night they returned from Rennes than she had any night before in the manor. Maybe seeing Genevieve get closure was a comfort to her, she still grieved for her lovers but she didn't cry herself to sleep that night. It was a step, a small one but a step.

She joined M. Dubois and Genevieve for breakfast, the spirit had lifted from the sad and dreary trip back. They laughed and talked and enjoyed their time together. Luisa and Genevieve got on very well and Dubois treated Genevieve as if she had married Carlota and she was her widow.

After breakfast Genevieve requested a tour of the house and grounds and Luisa was happy to oblige. M. Dubois excused himself on account of his work and they went off on their own.

Luisa showed Genevieve around the house, even the basement with the kitchen and the empty servant's quarters.

They then went out back and toured the garden, which the friendly old gardener was working.

"That's the gardener!" Lusia pointed out. "Bonjour!" She called out to him and he waved and smiled in return.

"What's his name?" Genevieve asked.

"I...don't rightly know!" She giggled.

"Well now it will be awkward if you ask!" Genevieve laughed. "Let's just settle on 'gardener!" She giggled.

Genevieve admired the bushed and flowers that spread out across the garden, and they soon were sat on a stone bench next to a fountain, this one gigantic.

"What's the matter?" Genevieve asked. "You've become suddenly glum."

"The garden just reminds me of some people." Luisa shyly responded, making sure she avoiding looking in Genevieve's eyes.

"Who?" She asked curiously.

"No one." Luisa stubbornly replied.

"Oh come now! You're M. Dubois' daughter now and so as far as I'm concerned you're my sister-in-law now." She smiled as she hugged the young girl. "Tell me!"

"Well. I'm like you. I love women." Luisa shyly admitted.

"Oh I know!" Genevieve laughed.

"What!? You do? How!?" Luisa asked in confusion as she looked up at Genevieve who was smugly smiling at her.

"You don't spend nearly twenty five years seducing women without being able to tell who will say yes and who won't!" She laughed. "I sniffed you out. And confirmed my suspicions when I caught a glance of your poetry book."

"Well anyway!" Luisa said re-steeering the conversation. "I was with two girls, we were all three of us lovers together!" She said almost proudly.

"Oh?" Genevieve asked. "How was it?"

"Wonderful! I was in love! Not to unlike you and Carlota if you'll forgive me for presuming!" Luisa said. "But one had to travel to Prussia for a livelihood and the other was arrested on false arson charges." She sighed. "It's been over a month since I've seen them. I'm afraid it will be much longer before I see them again."

"Luisa, if you truly love them and wish to see them again, you will!" Genevieve smiled at her. "But I'm curious, when did you know you preferred women's company?"

"Probably twelve or thirteen." She said as if it was forever ago but it was only three years. "I actually um would provide sexual services to women who didn't have time to find men or were stressed out. They were my friends mostly." She said ashamed.

"That's adventurous!" Genevieve giggled.

"I stopped after I starting being with Chloe and Elise, those are their names, they finally gave me what I craved. Love!" Luisa explained.