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Authors: Ted Bader, Marilyn Bader
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one to play the man of rank.”
His brother then ordered, “Take off that funny coat and return to your duties.”
Laura raised her voice indignantly, “What is the meaning of this?”
As the questioned Marquis began to take off his coat he said, “It was a wager, my lady.”
“What? To let yourself be insulted like that?”
John and Andrew began laughing. The Marquis looked at the two brothers, “You have won the wages, Jacob,” John said between laughs. “Why do you not explain it?”
With his coat in his arms, the Marquis, or shall we say Jacob, turned and said, “My masters bet me that I could not fool you as the Marquis de Mascarille from Moliere’s play, the Precious Provincials, did.”
“I should have smelled a rat,” Madame Duval said. “I thought the title familiar, although it is difficult to remember a play from the 17th century.”
“You have done quite well,” John said as he approached, “but, now you must return to your duties.”
“Thank you, sir,” was Jacob’s reply.
As the pseudo-aristocrat left, Laura angrily said, “I hate you, John Darcy. You are low and despicable. I know you are primarily the one behind this, since you are always playing tricks.”
At this, the brothers renewed their mirth, while Madame Duval merely smiled and sat back to enjoy the entertainment. Maria, who had always enjoyed John’s pranks, could not suppress her giggles.
Sarah felt guilty about her secret pleasure at seeing Laura so infuriated. She restrained her smile and said, “I was fooled also. This will just teach us to be more careful next time.”
“Oh, be quiet! The only thing worse than being tricked is to have a moralizing sister,” the vexed Laura replied as she collapsed onto a sofa.
Sarah asked Maria, “Would you be so kind as to ask your brothers to leave since they are so obviously enjoying Laura’s distress.”
Maria firmly pushed the mirthful John towards the door as Andrew controlled his laughter long enough to say, “The prolongation of our visit is clearly not desired. We beg leave of you.”
Madame Duval replied, “I must say you have given us a most colorful diversion. I shall keep a careful eye on you and your brother in the future.” She then moved to pat Laura’s hand and said, “All is not lost, my dear. You have a natural gift for coquetry. Surely, you will interest many other suitors in Paris. Perhaps we can regain the interest of the captain.”
Chapter Nine
Following the private morning church service a few days later, the ladies gathered in a small reception room on the lower floor of the embassy. “I simply cannot stand being upstairs on such a warm day,” Laura grumbled as she continued to fan herself. “I had no idea Paris could be so unbearably hot!”
“If it is of any consolation to you, Laura, I believe this warm weather to be quite unusual,” Sarah said.
“Does it being unusual make it more comfortable?” Laura snapped.
“No, of course not sister.”
Trying to add some cheer, Maria said, “I am glad we can use the downstairs rooms this afternoon. . . the heat is surely unendurable on the upper floors.”
“Most of the well-to-do Parisians have deserted the city for the cooler comfort of their country homes.”
Lady Staley suggested, “Perhaps this would be a fine afternoon to stroll through the Tuilleries –with the trees, fountains, and its pleasant situation near the river, the gardens might offer a respite from the heat.” Looking at Laura’s doubting face, she added, “And, it is the place for young ladies and gentlemen to be seen on a Sunday afternoon. Since everyone dresses in their finest, it is an excellent time to see the latest in Paris fashions.”
Laura’s attendance was not to be doubted after Lady Staley’s statement.
Soon, it was arranged that Andrew and John would escort the young ladies to the gardens. Sarah quickly offered to take Edgar and Anna also, allowing Georgiana to rest during
His brother then ordered, “Take off that funny coat and return to your duties.”
Laura raised her voice indignantly, “What is the meaning of this?”
As the questioned Marquis began to take off his coat he said, “It was a wager, my lady.”
“What? To let yourself be insulted like that?”
John and Andrew began laughing. The Marquis looked at the two brothers, “You have won the wages, Jacob,” John said between laughs. “Why do you not explain it?”
With his coat in his arms, the Marquis, or shall we say Jacob, turned and said, “My masters bet me that I could not fool you as the Marquis de Mascarille from Moliere’s play, the Precious Provincials, did.”
“I should have smelled a rat,” Madame Duval said. “I thought the title familiar, although it is difficult to remember a play from the 17th century.”
“You have done quite well,” John said as he approached, “but, now you must return to your duties.”
“Thank you, sir,” was Jacob’s reply.
As the pseudo-aristocrat left, Laura angrily said, “I hate you, John Darcy. You are low and despicable. I know you are primarily the one behind this, since you are always playing tricks.”
At this, the brothers renewed their mirth, while Madame Duval merely smiled and sat back to enjoy the entertainment. Maria, who had always enjoyed John’s pranks, could not suppress her giggles.
Sarah felt guilty about her secret pleasure at seeing Laura so infuriated. She restrained her smile and said, “I was fooled also. This will just teach us to be more careful next time.”
“Oh, be quiet! The only thing worse than being tricked is to have a moralizing sister,” the vexed Laura replied as she collapsed onto a sofa.
Sarah asked Maria, “Would you be so kind as to ask your brothers to leave since they are so obviously enjoying Laura’s distress.”
Maria firmly pushed the mirthful John towards the door as Andrew controlled his laughter long enough to say, “The prolongation of our visit is clearly not desired. We beg leave of you.”
Madame Duval replied, “I must say you have given us a most colorful diversion. I shall keep a careful eye on you and your brother in the future.” She then moved to pat Laura’s hand and said, “All is not lost, my dear. You have a natural gift for coquetry. Surely, you will interest many other suitors in Paris. Perhaps we can regain the interest of the captain.”
Chapter Nine
Following the private morning church service a few days later, the ladies gathered in a small reception room on the lower floor of the embassy. “I simply cannot stand being upstairs on such a warm day,” Laura grumbled as she continued to fan herself. “I had no idea Paris could be so unbearably hot!”
“If it is of any consolation to you, Laura, I believe this warm weather to be quite unusual,” Sarah said.
“Does it being unusual make it more comfortable?” Laura snapped.
“No, of course not sister.”
Trying to add some cheer, Maria said, “I am glad we can use the downstairs rooms this afternoon. . . the heat is surely unendurable on the upper floors.”
“Most of the well-to-do Parisians have deserted the city for the cooler comfort of their country homes.”
Lady Staley suggested, “Perhaps this would be a fine afternoon to stroll through the Tuilleries –with the trees, fountains, and its pleasant situation near the river, the gardens might offer a respite from the heat.” Looking at Laura’s doubting face, she added, “And, it is the place for young ladies and gentlemen to be seen on a Sunday afternoon. Since everyone dresses in their finest, it is an excellent time to see the latest in Paris fashions.”
Laura’s attendance was not to be doubted after Lady Staley’s statement.
Soon, it was arranged that Andrew and John would escort the young ladies to the gardens. Sarah quickly offered to take Edgar and Anna also, allowing Georgiana to rest during
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