𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter eleven; French Friendships
" Looking at a woman as nothing more than if she still has her virtue makes us no better than men. "

  THE HARVEST FESTIVAL was a great opportunity for Elspeth Liens. Despite the news that her friends would remain in France, she still wanted to make ties in the country, considering she planned to remain there for a long while.

  The Queen's words hadn't left her memory so soon either— Elspeth had been formally released from her duties, considering she'd found herself engaged, but still, she'd remain at Mary's side for as long as she could.

  The tugging between Scotland and France aside, Elspeth had it in her mind to make friends with the French.

  "Petal."

  Demetre seemed to have it in his mind to make friends with the Scottish.

  "Demetre," Elspeth greeted, smiling as she subconsciously smoothed the fabric of her new dress. 

  Demetre had no shame in admiring the deep purple he'd chosen, a color so rich it was reserved mostly for royalty, but he had too much money for one man and dared not spare any expenses for the gown.

  "It looks wonderful."

  "You have wonderful taste," Elspeth corrected with a smile, "Thank you, truly."

  Demetre waved her off, joining her side to stare out at the mingling crowd around them.

  "How are you?"

  "Oh, you know. . . not very fond of all the festivals, banquets, celebrations," Demetre waved, clasping his hands together as he peered over at her, "But you seem to enjoy them."

  "Of course I do, it's only one of the unspoken duties of being a noble," Elspeth smiled, making Demetre roll his eyes sarcastically, "Oh, come on, you don't find any fun in this? Writing your worries on a boat and watching it sail away, indulging in Autumnal foods. . . perhaps finding a girl that would love nothing more than to catch the eye of The Demetre Langlois."

  Elspeth's tone had turned to teasing as she pointed out a young brunette at a table across the event from the duo. She was pretty, in a casual pale orange dress that contrasted to the color of Elspeth's own, and her light brown eyes hurriedly searched for something else to lock onto as Demetre peered towards her.

  "I'm not interested in courting anyone," Demetre said evenly, "They're all the same."

  "That's incredibly rude, Demetre."

  "It's true," He sighed heavily, "They only care to know about the Grim, the Blood Wood, the fights and metal and war."

  Elspeth fell silent. She couldn't blame him for being pessimistic about women if every single one had only cared about the most sensitive subject Demetre had.

  "You can't give up hope yet, I won't let you."

  "Elspeth— Elle—"

  Demetre attempted to halt her actions of tugging him across the festival without making a scene, but his work was useless as they approached the girl.

  "I just love your dress," Elspeth spoke up, making the girl jump slightly, "Oh, I'm sorry—"

  "No, you're alright," The girl laughed honestly, placing a hand over her heart, "Thank you, yours is beautiful!"

  "Oh, thank you! It's from Paris- my very first one," Elspeth smiled brightly, smoothing the skirt, "I'm Elspeth Liens."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you," The girl grinned, "I'm Nora— my father's Duke Antoine of Lorraine."

  "Nora, this is Lord Demetre," Elspeth smiled, "Now, excuse me, I have to go search for Sebastian before he gets lost himself— take care of Demetre while I'm gone, he often finds himself lonely at these functions."

  Elspeth heard Nora apologize to Demetre for his lack of company as she hurried away from the duo, setting eyes on Sebastian who had watched the entire situation unfold with a smothered grin.

  "What?" Elspeth asked, lightly hitting Sebastian's arm when he didn't respond, "What's wrong?"

  "Oh, nothing," Sebastian spoke through muffled laughter.

  "Sebastian!"

  "I know your intentions were good, but you've just tried to set Demetre up with a girl he's already rejected."

  Elspeth's jaw dropped, quickly turning back to Demetre and Nora who looked uncomfortable in their conversation.

  "Her father requested the marriage," Sebastian was still attempting to hold in his laughter, "Even though his title is lower than her own, his reputation and high standing with the royals were enough."

  "And he. . ?"

  "And he laughed in the poor man's face," Sebastian whispered, his cheeks tinted pink from laughing, "Oh, Ellie, your heart was in the right place."

  "I've. . ." Elspeth mumbled, watching Nora awkwardly hurry away from Demetre, "Oh, dear."

  Demetre sulked over to the couple, glaring at Sebastian whose laugh had grown only louder.

  "Thank you, Elspeth."

  "I didn't know—"

  "I know," Demetre sighed honestly, looking to Sebastian, "But you could've warned her."

  "I have no business in monitoring what Elspeth does," Sebastian grinned, "She can set you up with every woman in France for all I care."

  "That's just because you think it's hilarious that I've rejected each one of them," Demetre mumbled through gritted teeth, hitting Sebastian's arm harshly.

  "Oh, come now, don't be bitter," Sebastian said, "What of Mary's ladies, hm? They're not French."

  "Ah yes, because that's the quality I'm not fond of," Demetre muttered.

  Sebastian stared at him expectantly, and of course, Demetre couldn't say who he'd truly found himself taken with— he couldn't admit the one woman he'd ever even given thought to was the one Sebastian always held so close, the one already engaged to Demetre's closest friend.

  So he said the first name he thought of.

  "Well, Kenna seems alright."

  "Oh, um," Elspeth cleared her throat, "Well, Greer seems more like someone you'd get along with— honestly, I think the two of you would have wonderful conversations, and—"

  "Is something wrong with Kenna?" Demetre asked, raising a brow, simply hoping she'd give him an excuse to steer clear of each of the Scottish ladies.

  Elspeth felt her nerves eat away at her insides— she couldn't explain the situation, not in public and certainly not without telling Sebastian first. 

  But, then again, it wasn't her secret to share.

  "No, not at all!" Elspeth smiled widely, "I can properly introduce the two of you if you like."

  "Of course."

  "Wonderful, Sebastian would you like to join us?"

  "Olivia D'mancourt has just arrived," Sebastian sighed, making Elspeth turn her attention to the blonde woman Francis rushed to, "I should. . . perhaps warn Mary of who she is."

  "If you wish," Elspeth smiled gently, pressing a kiss to the man's cheek, "You'll find me later?"

  "Of course."

  Demetre silently followed Elspeth, attempting to push his thoughts out of his mind.

↬

  "It's a talent, really. No matter what the topic, he can wind it back to pepper."

  Elspeth laughed lightly along with her friends as they lounged among chairs and pillows in the French Castle's throne room. The queen and other women were scattered amongst tables, talking quietly and sipping out of golden goblets, but the younger ladies— they'd chosen a comfortable way to pass time.

  Though, poor Aylee had been trying to read for the past twenty minutes, only to find herself interrupted by Greer every time.

  "Sorry, sorry," Greer apologized to the blonde, "Go on."

  "Et vacet annalis—"

  "I bring up politics," Greer continued, "'Pepper transactions are a political minefield.' History? 'The peppercorn has a storied past.'."

  "I doubt he'd wind Virgil back to pepper," Aylee mumbled.

  "Oh, stop. We know what happens, he wanders around Troy for another 100 stanzas."

  "Well, at least Castleroy has something he's passionate about."

  "You joke, but it's not funny," Greer argued to a snickering Elspeth, before setting her eyes on Kenna who, too, giggled from behind her hand, "And you, you can't laugh, not all of us get to be set up with a gorgeous Lord."

  "Oh, like Lord Demetre ever truly wishes to marry," Kenna sighs, "He was just being nice to Elspeth— it was her idea."

  "Not true," Elspeth gasped, "Sebastian asked him if he had an interest in any of you, and he specifically said you, Kenna."

  "Well, that certainly improves my mood," Greer sighed.

  Elspeth opened her mouth to argue again only to see Greer's eyes double in size and flit to a space behind her.

  "Shh, it's Olivia."

  The girls all turned to Olivia, who shuffled into the room quietly, her hands clenching onto the skirt of her dress as if the fabric provided some kind of safety.

  The queen stood quietly, stepping over to where to Scottish ladies sat.

  "You and I find ourselves strangely aligned for once."

  Elspeth watched Catherine leave the room without another word, sitting up from her leaned-back position.

  "I can't believe it," Aylee spoke, "She dislikes Olivia more than you?"

  "Apparently," Mary said.

  "Why would Olivia return here?"

  "With the prince's favor, she can find a match," Kenna answered Lola, "If need be, Francis could force the issue."

  "Who would willingly take used property? Even a royal's."

  "Well it sounds like there were real feelings there," Kenna spoke, looking at Greer, "Should she be punished forever?"

  "Her station's fallen. She doesn't belong at court."

  "Well, some might say the same of you."

  Elspeth could tell Kenna was taking Greer's words to heart by her argument, and could only assume it meant Kenna had truly gone through with it. She'd slept with the king.

  "Because I don't have a title. How dare you?"

  "Greer has just as much right to be here as the rest of us," Elspeth sighed, placing a hand over Kenna's, "And you're right, Olivia shouldn't be punished for the rest of her life because she had a romance that didn't end in marriage— looking at a woman as nothing more than if she still has her virtue makes us no better than men. As long as she truly just wishes for Francis's favor in finding a match, we have nothing against her, right, Mary?"

  Mary truly had no idea what she would do once Elspeth was married and no longer at her side. Most days, Mary felt as though Elspeth held their friends together better than a queen could hold a country.

  "Right."

  Elspeth sent a small smile to the girl as she stood and walked to meet Olivia. Mary offered the blonde a dress, considering her things were still missing, and despite the discomfort amongst most of her ladies, Elspeth found herself offering a kind smile to the unfamiliar girl.

  She had high hopes that this would be just another blossoming friendship starting in France.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH
I HAVE MISSED ELLE. WE'RE BACK
BAYBEE!