chiffon and lace

“How exciting!” Adelaide exclaimed. “Is it safe to assume you are Lady Amelie Moore? I had the pleasure of hearing you once, but I am afraid I was not close enough to glimpse your face.”

Catherine shut her closet once everything was inside, and she turned to meet Lady Adelaide’s gaze. “Your lucky. She feed’s off of other people’s misery.” Catherine remembered what Lady I had written about to hurt her, and she winced at that memory. She couldn’t get it out of her head because her words were upsetting and finding out something like that through a magazine hurt even more.

The young woman was still concerned about this Lady I but she had many other things to occupy her mind. “It will be no hardship to befriend someone as kind as you,” Adelaide replied honestly. She was surprised that she had been able to unpack this quickly, even with the assistance of another.

Amelie entered her shop and took a look around. It was lovely and quaint, not as lavish as the other shops, but she had heard from many that this woman was one of the best they had ever hired. Amelie was excited to see her work. There were some sketches around the shop, but it was mostly covered with fabric, thread, ribbon, and many other materials. Its untidiness actually excited Amelie - she felt that untidiness accompanied true artists, as she could tell with Felix as well.

Adelaide’s heart pounded as a stunning young woman walked into the room and she suddenly self conscious of the haphazard piles of fabric and sprawling lace all over every flat surface and even some of the chairs. She curtsied respectfully and blushed when the woman referred to her as “famous”. She was unaware that those prestigious to get an invitation to Versailles would have heard of her, and not just her mistress.

 Catherine raised her eyebrows. It amazed her that even this new guest knows so much about this place. “Yes, I would just be careful here. It is very easy to get into trouble.” Catherine giggled. She remembered the things she has done, and she didn’t regret any of them. “You seem intelligent so I know you will be safe.” Catherine told her with a wink.

Adelaide frowned when she heard tell of this “Lady I”. “How unusual,” she began. “I don’t think I have ever seen this publication. Then again, I don’t have much time for reading things that aren’t dress patterns.”

Catherine blushed, “Thank you.” Catherine was glad someone didn’t look at her weird when she said that. She was being herself in the kind and friendly department, but she’s not just kind and friendly. She’s headstrong and a little independent, for she had always been afraid to show those sides of herself.

“A little risk is a wonderful thing,” she agreed, thinking of all the risks she had recently taken. Although they may yet cause her grief, she didn’t regret a single one. “And I am told there will be plenty of risks available for me to take at this wondrous place.”

Seamless {Adelaide/Amelie}

Catherine felt sad for her, but she was a very strong woman. “You are a strong woman! I envy you.” Catherine smiled at her. 

“A very smart resolution,” she complimented. Adelaide didn’t see how the vivacious red head could be anything but herself, but she had not known her for long enough to make such leaps of logic. She secured a coat to a hanger as she thought of her own resolution.

Catherine grinned when she mentioned the beauty of Versailles, “Yes! Wait til you see it all lit up by the fountains at night. It’s a sight for sore eyes! I’m not even sure any of my words give it justice.” 

“It’s quite all right,” she said, hoping to put Catherine at ease. “Getting away is just what I needed. It wouldn’t do to linger over his grave, weeping, like some women. He’d be very angry if I were to do so.”

Catherine smiled, and began shuffling through her things to find what goes in the closet, and what goes in the armor. She giggled at Lady Adelaide’s comment, “No need, Madame. That is why I am here.” She smiled and found a heap of sewing equipment and started organizing it nicely so she could set it on the floor neatly in Lady Adelaide’s closet.

Adelaide smiled sadly at Catherine’s question. She toyed with the ties on one of her corset and sighed. “I came to Versailles for a number of reasons, not least of them being the beauty of this place.” She rubbed the skin on her ring finger where her wedding band should have been.

Catherine smiled once Lady Adelaide opened the door. “Not a problem.” Catherine smiled and she didn’t really care. Catherine was there to help her get settled and what not, so the mess would leave with Catherine when they were done.

Adelaide sighed and looked at the sea of trunks around her. “The closet,” she finally said decisively. “I will put my favorites in the armoire.” She hefted a trunk onto the bed and clicked open the locks, making a surprised sound when the contents poured over the bed and onto the floor.

Never Too Late.

Adelaide was roused from a fitful sleep by a tentative knock on the door. For a moment the young woman forgot where she was. Panic welled in her chest as she thought it might be one of her late husband’s associates, but relaxed when she remembered she was relatively safe here at Versailles.