C'est La Vie

Chapter 20 The Little Froglet

Esme:

"So, it will only take an hour until we get to Julians, since it's at the border of Belgium." Imogen said reading the map, "That's quite quick!" Elisabeth said leaning back in her seat, " Ok, so what exactly do you and Esme do?" Imogen said looking at Elisabeth,

"Well, we have been trying to collect information about the ball in which a attempted assationation on my father happened." Elisabeth saidlooking at her hands, "We have been stopping at palaces all over Europe to try to... talk to them.." I said awkwardly, "Talk to zem?" Genevieve said confused, "Like talk-like convince with body language to them." I said turning a little red, "EW!" Imogen said shrieking, "Eeeeeee! I'm ze most excited!" Genevive said, I looked at her confused. "I love talking to ze people." Genevive said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Ok- so how about Elisabeth and Genevieve do most of the talking." Imogen said flustered,

"I'm only 13- say how old is that duke?" " 23." Elisabeth replied. "Yeah no- that's a ten year age gap, Esme shouldn't cause she has Atlas." She said, "Imogen and I can just bat eyelashes and smile pretty." I said "Well, I'm going to get some sleep, all this running and excitement makes me sleepy." Elisabeth said leaning back "You're always sleepy." I said laughing. "You can never have enough beauty rest." Elisabeth said, smiling faintly and then she drifted off to sleep. "I will stay up, after all there is only about 50 minutes till we get to the castle." I decided,

"Well, I will too I guess." Imogen said, "I Must perfect myself." Genevive said, looking herself up and down. "O-oh ok then." I said, turning my head to the window. There were long fields with flowers and horses in the distance. Soon enough twenty minutes had passed and I could see the shape of the castle in the distance. "I can wake up ze Elisabeth- I am all ready." Genevive said looking at me, she put her face really close to her and said..

" GOOD MORNING ZE LITTLE FROGLET!" All of a sudden there was a moment of silence "AHH!" Elisabeth shrieked, then Imogen and I burst out laughing, I rolled onto the ground of the carriage, tears in my eyes. "Froglet?!" Imogen and I said laughing on the ground. "Ughh.." Elisabeth said, disoriented. " Come on! Let's get ready!" Imogen said, leaping up.

My floral dress matched the flowers out in the fields, so that was good. It was spring but it was a tad chilly so I took my shawl and placed it on my shoulders. Then I brushed off specks of dust on my beautiful cream gown. Genevive took it upon herself to do everybody's hair and she arranged my hair in a beautiful milkmaid braid and then tucked a small "Forget me not" flower in the braid, "Zere!" she said proudly. I looked at my reflection in the window, "It's beautiful-merci." I said trying a little French on her, she cracked a small smile and then went off to do Elisabeth's hair.

I put on my heels and then sprayed on some jasmine perfume- I didn't want to use the perfume Francis gave us. Then I dabbed on a little lipstick. "Ok! So here is the drill, we get to make ourselves new identities. We are from a small town-Luxembourg, France. And our carriage crashed and we are hurt." I said quickly, "Ooh! I am Belle Monet. My mama is friends with the Monets- so I know what they are like!" Imogen said excitedly, "I am ze Fleur Dupont." Genevive said wiggling her fingers, "Hmm....I'm Louise-actually no I sound like my mum." I paused then though for a second, "I am Louisa Alaire." I smiled, Louisa was the name my mother was originally going to name me. "I am Effie Clement." Elisabeth said, tapping her finger on her chin. "Wait- I can show vou some tips to be more french!" Genevieve said happily, "Instead of mum.. Say le maman, Instead of father say.. Le papa!" Genevieve demonstrated, "And use my accent!" "Hmm. My maman has ze hair like yours." I said making sure to roll my r's. "Parfait!" Genevive said, clapping her hands. We practised our French for another minute and then our carriage came to a halt. "Ok, everybody just follow Elisabeth and I's lead." I said, taking a deep breath. I stepped out of the carriage limping, and Elisabeth cradled her arm as if it was hurt. Elisabeth went to the giant doors and then knocked on them. Suddenly a young pageboy opened the door, "C-kan vou fetch ze King Julian s'il vous plaît?" Elisabeth said looking down at her hurt arm, "Ah-yes madam! Just a second!" The boy closed the door and scampered away. I stared into the field to make my eyes glassy, like I was about to cry. "Genevive quickly pretended to hold her stomach as if she had broken ribs. Imogen debated about how she was going to be hurt and then promptly fainted on the stone ground. I was about to laugh but then suddenly the door opened to a tall blond man with tan skin, his crown was crooked. I put on my sorrowful look, "King Julianne, we are very hurt and ze young friend fainted." I said in a french accent. He looked down on the ground to see Imogen laying down and then carried her on his back. "Your majesty-may we stay in a beautiful palace-for a day?" Elisabeth said wiping fake tears from her eyes. "Ah- of course!" he said and then led us to our room. I pretended to fall down the stairs multiple times to add to the hurt act. I saw Imogen eyes widen as she was upside down on the kings back, she then closed her eyes again. Our room was beautiful and had primrose walls, with fresh bouquets of flowers on the vanity. There were four poster beds. I grabbed a random on and then sat on it sadly. Duke Julian then laid Imogen down gently on the bed, "Ladies I will fetch for a maid and bandages." he said in deep voice. "Merci! Mon beautifique!" Genevieve said holding her stomach, she looked up at her and then batted her eyelashes. I don't know how but within seconds he became completely smitten. He blushed then looked away. "So-uh where are you ladies from, and what are your names??' he said looking at us, "Ve are from Luxembourg, France. Je m'appelle Effie Clement." Elisabeth said nervously, "Je m'appelle Louisa Alaire." I said quickly, "Mon nom est, Fleur Dupont." She sad looking at him with adoration in her wide eyes the colour of celery. His ears turned red as he blushed again, as he looked away she let out a quick wink. He gave us a bell to use when we needed a maid and then he walked out the door, Genevive blew him a kiss and then his face flushed once more. Once he left I blocked the doors with towels and then closed the curtains. Imogen sat up, "Wow-that was the funniest thing in my life-pretending I fainted." Imogen giggled, I cracked a small smile, "Also hold on there Romeo and Juliet." Elisabeth said, teasing Genevieve. She rolled her eyes, "Non, la froglet." Soon bandages arrived and then we pretended to wrap them in various places. Then the maid came in, Imgen pretended to slowly gain consciousness, "Wh-where am I?" Imgoen said fearfully, "Shh, Belle. Ve are in a magnifique place. Vou must heal and sleep." I said, patting her head. The maid looked at us with a caring smile. "You ladies must be exhausted after such a harrowing trip." "Indeed, indeed.." Genevive said, looking at Imogen, concerned. The maid placed a tray of assorted soups and breads. She then bowed and left. I tried one of the soups that had raspberries and was dotted with froth, it tasted exactly like springtime. "I could eat this all night!" I said ladling the soup into my bowl. Afterwards, I ate some of the delicious tartines. After everybody was finished eating, we changed into simpler gowns. I put on a dark green gown and a corset over. Then I put on my boots. Genevive and Imogen changed into their signature colours, red and purple. Elisabeth also put on her favourite colour pink. We smiled and then walked on the door slowly... after all we were injured.

We decided to stroll around the castle and figure out what the King was doing so Genevive could bump into him and then get the information. After lots of questioning, we figured out that he was going to be watching a jousting match in the fields. We headed towards there and sat in the grass, "I have no idea how jousting works." Elisabeth said whispering, "Me neither." I whispered back. We pretended to make small talk in jumbled French, since King Julian was probably somewhere in the fields near us. "comment s'est passée ta journée?" Genevive said, "Uh- maman est rouge." I said throwing in random words, she gave me a look and then Imogen, Genevive and Elisabeth burst out laughing. "What?!" I whispered, "She asked how your day went and you just said your mom is red!" Imogen said whisper-laughing. I couldn't help but crack a small smile too. Suddenly I saw a tall figure that was probably King Julian strolling towards us. We all immediately straightened our posture and then started talking about the weather in french, "Bonjour, ladies." King julian said sitting down on the grass to join us, "Bonjour chérie!" Genevive said cheerfully, leaning forward. Her gown was quite showy so he turned a little red, "Merci, for your hospitality monsieur. Because of vou, I am conscious." Imgoen said sweetly. "My pleasure." He said, still looking at Genevive with starry eyes. Genevive smiled and then flipped her hair to the side. I ran my fingers over the milkmaid braid that had flowers in it, "So how was your day today monsieur?" I said copying Genevive's accent. "Quite pleasant" he said simply, Elisabeth was fixated on something in the distance, "Earth to Sylv-Effie!" I said almost blowing our cover, "Huh- oh I was listening." Elisabeth said, peeling her eyes away from the meadow. "Oh yes!" I said remembering our purpose, "Have vou heard about that awful ball in Darlington?" Elisabeth said looking up,"Oui! I went." Julian said, still being smitten like Genevive,"What were you wearing? We might have seen you." Genevive said gazing back into his eyes"I wore a purple suit with a velvet purple mask, you?" Julian said softly, still unfocused,"A red dress, something like this."Genevieve said looking herself up and down "Okay, this is getting weird now."Imogen whispered to Elisabeth. I smiled, I could hear her voice faintly, "Yes. But he didn't try to kill my father, the suspect we are looking for was wearing black." Elisabeth whispered back. "Well it's good he's not an assassin- on Genevieve's part." Imogen said giggling.

Eventually he had to go to the jousting match, "Well he's not the assassin." Elisabeth said sighing,"We can head to Viktors tomorrow." Elisabeth aid looking into the meadow. "I zont want to leave." Genevieve said, staring at Julianwhile he went off. "Your welcome to stay Genevieve." Elisabeth said laughing. "No doubt he'll let you." Imogen said laughing as well. "What time is it?" Imogen asked. "About 6" Elisabeth said, sounding a bit unsure. "Well if we are going on a big trip tomorrow we should eat and get some sleep." Imogen said looking tired. "Imogen , have you met me? I can sleep anywhere at any time." Elisabeth said laughing. "Well, still." Imogen said. "I'm not interested in jousting anyways." Elisabeth said standing up. "I'll grab something from the dining hall and go to sleep." Elisabeth said looking around. "You coming Esme?" Elisabeth said looking back at me. "I'll think I'll stay and chaperone." I said, looking at Genevieve. She laughed and waved goodbye. "Salut mon petit froglet!" Genevieve said waving to Elisabeth. "Salut!" Elisabeth said waving back. I stayed for about an hour, during the golden hour and watched the beautiful sunset. "Genevive-I must go to dinner but farewell, and hope I can see you soon.." I said softly, "Zon't worry once I'm zone with him, I shall get ze private carriage to bring me to le Viktor's." she said chuckling, "Ah-splendid." Then I got up and dusted my dress off, Genevive had decided to go with Julian to do something more private..ew. I decided to go to the dining hall and grab some pasta and breadsticks. I also asked the chefs for a to-go basket of fruits, pastries and assorted breads for the trip. Once I was done I tip-toed into the room to see that Imogen and Elisabeth were already soundly asleep in their beds. I took a nice bath and then put on some of the assorted vanilla lotions and then got into my nightgown. I decided to wrire a quick letter to mother. I grabbed some parchment and my quills and ink and sat by the candlelight. I dipped my quill in the ink and wrote:

Greeting Mother,

We are currently at King Julian's castle and to my surprise it is quite pleasant, but Genevive is smitten with him right now and she has decided to stay here for a little while more until she is ready to come with us again. I am a little scared to go to Viktor's place after all he is most likely the assassin, none of the other dukes or kings showed signs of being one so he is probably it. Elisabeth has recovered quickly from the incident with Franics, and I would like to know. How have you been doing in Denmark? I heard that they are starting the Aurora Borealis. I Hope I can visit soon and say farewell..

Sincerely your youngest daughter,

Lady Esme Corrigan

I sighed then neatly folded the letter and put it in the mailing box. Then closed the curtains and fell asleep to the sound of the fountains below...