Men's Second Style

Marie was late.

In and of itself, that was nothing new. Vraiment, she was always late. He ws convinced that this was not because she could not keep track of time (and anyway, she had ladies-in-waiting for that sort of thing). No, it was clearly a power play on her part. If she could keep you waiting, she was the one in control. And Marie liked being in control. In any case, if Marie expected you to wait…of course, you waited.

And so he waited. He waited patiently, at first, and the salon was quite pleasant, so that was all right. He enjoyed the fresh breeze, and the birdsong just outside, and he read un peu from a book (de Maistre, quelle blague). He even played a bit on the clavichord, and although it had been years since the lessons his mother had insisted on, to his surprise his playing was actually quite respectable. But he stopped because he was afraid that Marie would catch him at it, and then insist that he play at every party. Or—grands dieux, non!—call upon him to play a duet with her. He shuddered at the thought.

Eventually, of course, he became bored, because waiting is boring, even if one is waiting in a pleasant salon. He decided to step outside into the garden, take in some fresh air, and perhaps amble about the grounds. He might even be contemplative, if he could think of anything to think about. He advised one of the all-but-invisible attendants that he could be found outdoors, should Marie arrive and wonder where he was. In all honesty, he doubted that either would happen.

The breeze was even more enjoyable in the garden, and the singing birds even more clearly melodious. The trees were placed in such regular arrays, and the lawns were trimmed so cleanly and smoothly, that the overall effect was one of calm and serenity. Really, it was unimaginably more soothing than Marie and her ladies-in-waiting, with all their constant nattering and gossip. He supposed that they gossiped about him, as well as every other personage at court. There was little he could do about it but smile beatifically and pretend ignorance. Ignorance was safer.

But pretending ignorance did not mean that he failed to pay attention. He knew quite well what went on around him—all the secrets, the lies, the intrigue…they were really quite ennuyant, but he never let his boredom show on his face. Indeed, no. Even now, as he wandered with apparent aimlessness about the gardens, the expression on his face was not one of irritation or distraction, but rather of calm contemplation. And his apparently aimless perambulations about the garden were far from random, for within just a moment he would be within earshot of de Brienne and some unknown others, conversing quietly and (he thought) surreptitiously, just beyond the hedge. Who knows what he might overhear? Entirely par accident, of course.

Marie would do well to faites attention herself. There were rumors about, not entirely appealing ones, rumors that, if true, did not bode well for the royal family. He for one would be paying close attention indeed, for he had no wish to lose his head.

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June Dion’s “Earl D” ensemble is sumptuously textured and detailed to be fit for un vrai gentilhomme.  June advertises this design as Gothic in style, but I couldn’t resist putting it in another, very different setting. The set includes suits in black, dark blue, green, purple (shown here), and red. Each is composed of jacket (with sculpted collar, jacket hem, and frilled cuffs), pants, and shirt (with sculpted collar). The lace jabot can be worn in either pristine white or decadent gold. Brocade embellishments in gold thread make the whole thing almost unbearably rich. L$140 at Bare Rose (Bare Rose 217, 22, 30).

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Photographed on location at Chateau de Versailles in SL (Chateau de Versailles2 138, 130, 30).