PART ONE: Ignorance is Bliss
In which there is a new addition
Aveline strode slowly behind the others, her silk-covered arm linked with that of Marie's. Marie, blonde curls bouncing underneath her blue feathered hat, skipped alongside her. Her eyes wandered to the fluttering of the pink flowers that adorned the straight hedges. Aveline started at her feet, watching the pink slippers dig into the path. The crunch her foot made as it connected with the gravel was a welcome distraction from the other girls' boring conversation. She loved Morgane dearly, but she needed to find something new to talk about.
Morgane chattered eagerly in Josephine's diamond-encrusted ear – something about men as usual. Élise was no doubt just as bored as Aveline, but she kept her mouth shut. She always did. She was nothing but Josephine's lackey, her plaything. Then again, everyone was Josephine's plaything. Even her own sister, the little girl fiercely attached to Aveline's arm, was nothing but a mere doll.
"You are excited too, aren't you Aveline?"
Aveline's gaze drifted from her feet and she stared blankly at Morgane. The brunette beauty chuckled.
"Dreaming again, Ava?"
Aveline shrugged. Marie tugged on her arm and pointed at some small, yellow butterflies that flew around them. Aveline smiled in wonder.
"As I was saying, it's all very exciting that Edouard is returning from America. It's been years since he left!" Josephine exclaimed. She was particularly proud of her elder brother, the heir to the Beaulieu estate. Aveline waited for the oncoming boasts
"He's been working in the colonies in Nouvelle Orléans for years! Everything he does is to benefit France. No doubt the King will award him the highest honours when he returns."
"You've been saying this for as long as he has been working there and yet there are still no awards," Morgane quipped.
Josephine rolled her eyes.
"It will be so nice to see Edouard again! I wonder how handsome he has become," Morgane said, smirking at the woman at her side.
"That's my brother you're fawning over, Morgane!"
"I can't help that your family's good looks skipped you, Josephine."
Aveline laughed, clutching at her fan. Looking over her shoulder, Morgane winked, giggling madly. Josephine swatted Morgane's arm with her own pink and feathery fan.
"I hope he has presents," Marie sighed, playing with the long ribbons on her bonnet.
"Of course he will have something for you, petite." Aveline replied, stroking the girl's arm. Marie looked up at Aveline, grinning.
"Maybe he's brought back some strong, handsome men."
"The only men he would be bringing back, Morgane, are grumpy English in chains." Élise stated dully.
"Or soldiers!"
The entire group (minus Elise) burst into laughter until an exuberant squeal from Marie brought their attention to a carriage slowly being driven down the road next to the gardens. The carriage stopped suddenly, causing the girls to twitter. All but Aveline. Marie had released her from her grip and she stood back, watching the other blankly. She didn't get the same sort of excitement as them, probably because the return of Édouard brought nothing but exclusion and insults.
And oh was she looking forward to that.
A lithe man in a coat covered with frills and laces stepped out of the heavily decorated carriage. He stood tall, though he was barely as tall as the footman, and walked towards the group with his head held high. Another man followed, taller, but slumped and shuffling. It was the posture of defeat, of submission. Aveline's brow furrowed. The two men soon reached them. Josephine's face lit up at the arrival of her dear, elder brother.
"Edouard!"
Josephine gathered up her brother into her arms, fan dropping onto the grass below. Marie followed suit and wrapped herself around her siblings. Edouard pried the two off him and greeted the others. Each girl gave him a curt bow. Morgane took hold of Aveline's wrist and pulled her forward.
"And who might be the tall, dark stranger standing behind cher Edouard?" she murmured into her friend's ear. "He looks like one of those Indians in the etchings we've received."
It was true; he looked like a refined version of the savages in the sketches Edouard insisted on sending home. Tall, all muscle and bone, with a strong jaw and dark hair. It was cut short, just hanging below his ears with a braid in front. He stood silently, seeing through people but not at them, as if the trees in the distance were far more entertaining. His clothes were that of the court's servants, with polished shoes and golden trimmed waistcoat, but shrouded in a thick travelling cloak.
He looked tired.
The returned duke seemed to notice the attention the new arrival had gathered and turned to face him.
"Ah! I see you've noticed my new addition! A fine slave from the New World," Edouard bragged, grabbing the man's chin between his fine fingers and thrusting his head up. "A strong specimen. He will no doubt be a great help around the house. Of course, he is my personal manservant."
The girls sigh in awe as Edouard released his servant. The man glowered at his master, but the duke was too busy explaining to his sisters of how he 'valiantly fought the brute'.
"And what are we to call him?" Aveline asked.
Edouard turned to her in surprise, his arms held apart mid-gesture. It was the first time Edouard had heard her speak. The man didn't even know she was there. He blinked, thinking. Aveline rolled her eyes discreetly. He was always a dim man. Edouard looked back at his manservant.
"What did the English call you, boy?"
The servant stumbled over his words, desperately trying to understand the alien language.
"Answer me."
"Connor."
Edouard frowned. "What a strange name… Anyway, as I was saying, dear sister –"
Connor stared at Aveline curiously. The woman quickly flicked her fan open and shielded her face, retreating into her thoughts. The dull chatter of conversation flew over her ears. She soon felt herself being dragged back towards the house by Morgane with the promise of macaroons. Looking up, the servant was only a mere speck in the distance, walking back to the carriage to collect his master's luggage.