The weeks end could not come quickly enough. Soul had made all the proper arrangements. Nan would be escorting her to the lakeside. Tyrian would be arriving at her estate to retrieve them in Earl’s summer carriage. She’d requested permission through the Duchess who was ecstatic to hear Soul had been invited out by a potential suitor. Soul knew better than to correct her way of thinking. Lord Boudreaux had no intention of courting her and that was just fine as she had no intention of accepting a proposal. Still, her parents did not need to know this as the assumption worked in her favor.
It was the day before the trip when a rainstorm came in and didn’t let up. Normally Soul loved the rain but the storm threatened her day out with Lord Boudreaux. Nan told her it was probably just a summer storm and it would pass. To top off her bad luck, when Madeline heard of Soul’s trip to the lake there was no consoling her.
“—but Soul it just isn’t fair! You simply can’t go to the lake without me, you can’t even swim.” The younger girl was sitting in a chair opposite her sister in the greenhouse. Raindrops became waterfalls outside the glass. Soliel took a sip of her tea. She admired the 4oz pink and gold china in her small hands. “Are you even listening?!” Madeline whined.
“Don’t frown Madeline you’ll get wrinkles. Focus on your studies.” The Duchess said. She was standing near the flower beds watching the rain. Madeline looked down at the book in front of her. History.
“Soul please tell mama to let me come with you.” Soliel looked over at her little sister who seemed to be in full panic mode. The girl was having a meltdown.
“Why is it so important to you?” Madeline sat up and placed her hands on the table.
“Juliana and Chrissy have gone away on holiday all summer. Don’t you see, we’ve no travel plans! I’ll be a laugh. When they come home they will ask what I’ve done all summer and I’ll have no proper response!” The Duchess joined them at the table.
“Your father has very important business here, we can't pack up and go on holiday just yet. We have duty. We’ve just gotten back from London for spring holiday dearest.”
“That was spring holiday mama. They’ve already heard all about it. I promise I won’t be a bother if you let me attend.” Soliel exchanged looks with the Duchess.
“Mama, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Madeline to come along. She’s been inside the house every day this past week.” The Duchess looked betrayed and Soliel hid her smile.
“Accompany you, with Lord Boudreaux? I hardly think that is appropriate.”
“It’s not as if we won’t be watched at all times regardless. Besides, any potential suitor of mine must learn to love my favorite little sister.”
“I am your only sister.” Madeline pointed out.
“All the more reason for you to come along.” Soliel took another sip of tea. “That is, if this rain lets up. I fear if it doesn't, no one will be going to the lakeside tomorrow.” The greenhouse whistled in the wind. “Mama, Madeline really won’t be any trouble. It would be nice to spend some time as sisters before I am married and out of the house.” The Duchess took a sip of tea and thought it over.
“You don’t think Lord Boudreaux would mind?” Soliel smiled.
“If he does mind, then I'm afraid we aren’t a match.” The Duchess looked at her daughters.
“You are both growing up so fast. Nania?” Nan took a step closer silently. “Send word to Lord Boudreaux estate today, one of our messengers. Tell them Lady Soliel requests her younger sister Madeline to accompany them tomorrow if the weather permits it.” Madeline perked up in her seat smiling wide as Nan left silently.
“A trip to the lakeside with the son of an Earl. Take that Juliana and Chrissy. Their cabin trip will pale in comparison to this!”
“Madeline, a lady doesn’t boast. If you haven’t finished studying you will not go.” The Duchess scolded. Soliel picked up the history book from the table.
“What is the name of the treaty our Queen approved with the Natives?”
“Ummm….” Madeline sat trying to remember. “Promise...something promise.”
“Madeline ‘something promise’ is not a proper response.” The duchess said from beside her. Soliel made a face and mouthed the word ‘Sacred’ to her.
“Sacred Promise! The Sacred Promise treaty signed by general Nicolas Davout the native chief and the queen.”
“Correct, ‘twas the goal of the treaty?” Soliel asked next.
“The Sacred Promise treaty was a compromise for colonial land. The natives made room for settlers to come to the colonies so long as we promised to stay off their sacred lands. The natives even showed the first settlers how to hunt and grow harvest. In return our queen provided them with new goods, alternative ways for building houses, and new ways of travel.”
“Correct again. If the treaty was signed, explain the ambush battle of New York.” Soliel was smiling at how well her sister’s studies were coming along.
“The ambush battle… um… several settlers thought the Natives to be savages. Since the queen allowed them to keep their religion and didn’t force conformity. The men ambushed natives on sacred land and it led to the deaths of almost all attendees.”
“Correct.” Soliel didn’t smile when she said it this time. So many innocent lives lost o’er bigotry. “Those men were wrong, Madeline. Peace is about understanding each other’s differences. Accepting them. The ambush battle of New York was the first of several attacks. It sparked many battles through the colonies, started by both sides. It almost started a war.”
“Luckily Castus Brennus rose up the ranks of the military and was able to do the impossible, stop the fighting.” Madeline spoke clearly. “He single handedly got the natives to stop fighting at the battle of York harbor. The books say he’d spent a few years before the treaty living among them and learned their language. He brokered a new treaty that outlined the punishment of any Frenchmen who attacked Natives unprovoked.”
“Correct again, Madeline. The improved treaty prevented thousands of deaths and is the reason we still have peace with the Natives today.”
“The Sacred Promise Treaty was resigned with the amendments.” Madeline remembered. “Soul, if the treaty was resigned why is it that some of our people still refer to the Native’s as savages?” Soliel thought long and hard about her response.
“Madeline, when the treaty was broken the Natives thought we lied to them. Many of their people were murdered. It was a sad day for all. When they were hurt they acted out negatively.”
“The book says they retaliated.”
“Yes, they wanted to hurt us how we hurt them. Many Frenchmen only remember the deaths caused by the Natives.”
“ Dost not seem fair Soul, ‘tis not what happened. Our books have it all recorded.”
“I know Madeline, ‘tis unfortunate that some are so small minded. ‘Tis why it is so important for our youth to learn the truth. Remember there will always be people who seek to destroy goodness where it shines in the world. ‘Tis our duty not to let our minds be closed, to stay open, to stay positive, and above all in the face of adversity to stay ourselves.” Soliel flipped the page in the history book. “Next question.”
* * *
Saturday morning Soliel awoke to a strong light peering through her drapes. She got up and looked out the window to see the sun had come from behind the clouds. The ground was wet, the flora watered, but the storm had passed. A smile split her face. She rang the bell near her bed with joy.
“Alyssa, isn’t it wonderfully sunny outside?”
“Yes miss.” Her handmaiden said as she began to make her bed.
“How are you today Alyssa? Is all right in your life?”
“I’ve had a pleasant day so far, miss. You seem to be having one as well.”
“I am to go to the lake today; I will need a swimwear packed in a bag, a sun hat, and shoes for the water.”
“I shall let Clara know immediately, miss.” Alyssa said. She finished making the bed and disappeared out the door. Clara appeared shortly after and began to brush Soliel’s hair.
“My Lady, you are smiling a lot this morning.”
“Am I? I think today is just going to be a good day Clara.”
“It does look to be good weather now that the rain has stopped. Let’s get you dressed in your summer layers.” It took Clara 45 minutes to fasten Soliel into a summer petticoat, chemise, corset, and underskirt. Lastly, she tied off her lightest over dress. It was a simple dress with cap sleeves in a pretty forest green, Soliel’s favorite color as it matched her eyes.
“I think I’ll wear my ballet flats today, Clara.” Soliel said as Clara pinned her hair back out of her face. It fell in loose curls down her back.
“Yes miss.” Clara responded on her way to get the shoes.
“Soul! Are you ready yet?” Madeline’s voice sang on the other side of the door.
“Nearly! I’ve only to put on my shoes.” Soliel called through the door.
Madeline waited impatiently tapping her foot in the hall. When Soliel finally opened the door she smiled.
“Finally, it’s not polite to be late Soul. Nan is already downstairs with our swimwear packed up.”
“Already?”
“I made sure of it! We cannot risk the rain coming back before we get to leave.” Soliel laughed. “Now quickly, you have to eat breakfast. I read in a book that you have to wait after you eat to get in the water so you must eat now so we will have plenty of time for fun.”
“Oh really? That rule seems rather silly.” Soliel said, but she still followed her little sister down to the kitchen.
“What would you like to eat? I’ve already eaten. Bessie made muffins, there are also eggs, and fruit.” Soliel began to look through the food spread on the table. She licked her lips. Clara had left her corset looser today so she could easily change into her swimwear.
“I think,” Soliel said waving her hand over the basket of muffins “I’ll have this one.” She picked one up and bit into it. Chocolate and banana coated her tongue and she moaned aloud.
“Oh that's absolutely delicious.” She stood near the kitchen table chewing and when Madeline was certain her sister was indeed going to finish the muffin she excused herself from the room.
“I need to make sure Nan didn’t forget to pack my ball. Finish eating and then come to the foyer to wait with us.” Soliel shook her head.
“Are you going to stand waiting for his carriage all morning?”
“We must be ready to leave when he arrives!” Madeline said and out the door she went. Soliel took another bite of her muffin. She let the sweet taste envelope her senses. She had a bit of chocolate on her thumb and being that she was alone she sucked it off slowly, whisking her tongue around her finger tip. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of the Muffin in her mouth and moaned aloud again.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made her jump, popping her eyes open.
“And here I thought apples were your favorite.” Soliels heart raced.
“Lord Boudreaux.” She spun toward the entrance of the kitchen to see him leaning in the doorway. If she didn’t know better she would’ve thought he owned it. “How- when did you arrive?”
“Only a moment ago,” he told her as he moved into the kitchen, “Adam’s said I could find your cook here. I was hoping to ask what foods you preferred for a picnic. Yet here I find you instead.” Tyrian was dressed as always impeccably well. His grey waistcoat popped against his dark green ascot. He looked like a scholar.
“Well, yes I- Madeline required me to eat something.”
“Is that so?”
“She read it’s not good to eat before a swim and so she dragged me down to the kitchen. She’s prioritizing fun. I do hope it’s alright that I requested her accompaniment, she would not take no for an answer. The Duchess tried.” He was a few steps away from her now. Soliel tried to even her breathing.
“It’s no trouble at all, I find Madeline to be quite amusing. She’s a bright young lady and I could never refuse you the company of your sister.” He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. “I do hope this morning finds you well?” He asked, returning her hand.
“Indeed it does,.” she curtsied “and yourself?”
“Better now. May I ask, what were you enjoying so brazenly before I rudely interrupted?” Soliel flushed scarlet.
“A chocolate banana muffin. Bessie makes them moist and they melt on your tongue, you should try one.” She said, gesturing to the table behind her. His eyes darkened.
“I think I’d rather have something else instead.” He took a step closer to her and leaned forward. He reached just over her shoulder and she could feel his breath on her neck. When he pulled away he had an apple in his hand. Tyrian had captured her gaze and she couldn’t look away. He took a deliberate bite of the apple and winked at her. Soliel’s lips parted watching his glisten.
“Bessie, she’s our cook. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind us taking some apples with us.” She managed.
“Apples it is then.” Tyrian said breaking her trance when he looked away to the table.
“There you are!” Madeline called from behind them. “I saw the carriage out front but Lord Boudreaux was nowhere to be found.” She pouted.
“Soliel was helping me pick out some fruit for a picnic after we swam. What kind dost thou like Madeline?”
“That’s easy, we should definitely bring grapes”
“Apples and grapes, got it. Shall we?” Tyrian extended his arm to allow the girls to walk ahead.
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