Plain and Proper by M J Marlow (beach read TXT) 📕

proper for her to be showing herself off like this and she said so. Stephanie laughed in delight and clapped her hands. This child was going to be so popular her head was going to spin. She showed Marianne how to lessen the effect of the garment and saw the girl relax. Her maids dressed the girl’s hair and set the hat on her head. Then they helped her into the coat and Henri came in to look her over.
“You’re correct, my wife,” he said to Stephanie as his eyes remained on Marianne. “She is going to be the belle of the ball.” He picked Marianne up and carried her downstairs. They had breakfast in a private room. He was very serious as he took her hands in his. He cleared his throat. “You are going to be in the Emperor’s court and there will be men who will seek to take advantage of you. So you will remain with my wife and her ladies whenever we are in court, is this clear?” Marianne nodded. “I knew you were an intelligent girl.”
“We can do nothing about the way men will look at you, Marianne,” Stephanie continued as her husband grew silent, “but we will do all we can to keep you untouched. You are a married woman, after all!” She stroked Marianne’s arm. “If you feel uncomfortable, you will tell us immediately and we will remove you from the situation, if we can.”
“It is time to leave,” Henri said as breakfast ended. They got back in the carriage and Marianne saw two very familiar boys among the entourage. She looked at Henri in confusion and he winked at her. She felt relief flood through her. These people did not mean to harm her; they truly wished to protect her as best they could. And when the time came, she knew they would see her and Dominique safely home to England where they belonged.
The journey was tedious and the women taught her a card game to pass the time. Aunt Eustacia had always told her that ladies did not play cards, but she saw that this was not the same in France. She threw herself into learning what they were showing her. If she was going to be forced to stay in this country for a time, she might as well enjoy as much of the experience as she could. They stopped at another inn and pulled into Paris in the early morning of the third day. Marianne was thrilled at the sight of a new city. She was smiling as they pulled up in front of the imperial palace.
“You will be presented to the Emperor tonight,” a man informed them as they were shown to their apartments. “He is looking forward to meeting his new daughter.” He bowed to Marianne. “Welcome to your new home, Princess.”
Marianne was stunned as the man eyed her like a particular sweet piece of candy and she turned away, blushing furiously. If that was how men looked at women in France, she was going to be permanently embarrassed. His eyes had been on her breasts the entire time he was speaking to her. She looked at Stephanie and the woman came over to hug her and tell her it was going to be all right. When she had calmed, she explored the apartments. They were set up so that her room was at the very back and could only be entered by going through the room given to Henri and Stephanie. There was no secret passage or door through which she could be reached. It did not feel like a prison for once. She was being protected here.
Each room was richly decorated and quite enchanting. Gold and white satin was used in the sitting room on chairs, on curtains, and as wallpaper. The rugs were white and gold with touches of rose and gold flowers. The maids’ rooms were plainer; the lord and ladies room were more richly embellished. But when she walked into her room and saw the immense bed with its canopy of satin silk with its rose and green stripe behind a fence with a gate, she was stunned. She had never seen anything so ornate in her life. People actually lived like this? She opened the white armoire with its gold banding and saw all the gowns inside. Drawers below held shoes and hats were set on top. She was not used to having such beautiful and useless things.
“You have to get used to being admired, petite,” Dominique told her later as she was being dressed for the presentation. “You are a very beautiful young woman. There is no man alive who would not see you and want you in his bed.”
“I wasn’t raised to think such things proper, Dominique,” Marianne admitted to her. “I am going to embarrass Monsieur and Madame by slapping some man…”
“You go right ahead and slap them if they push for things you do not wish to give,” Dominique broke in and hugged her. “Your rank will keep most of them at bay, but there are those who will play with fire. If they compromise you, they hope that the Emperor will award you to them as a mistress.”
“I am married!” Marianne fumed. “I belong in my husband’s bed, and no other!” She saw the amusement in Dominique’s eyes. “They truly think like that?” She shuddered at the thought. “I will not leave your side all night.”
The time came and Marianne walked along the gloriously decorated corridors from their apartments to the ballroom, shaking in fear. She caught Stephanie’s encouraging smile and did her best to be courageous. As two men in household uniform opened the doors in front of her a staff struck the floor. The sound of it echoed through the immense room.
“Her Highness, the Princess Marianne, new come to the court of our Emperor,” the Major Domo boomed. “Her escort, Monsieur and Madame D’Arbanville and company.”
Henri offered her his arm and he led her directly to the thrones set on a dais at the end of the room. The man seated there in resplendent uniform waiting to receive her as his prisoner intrigued her. He was not at all the ogre she had imagined him to be. She was smart enough to curtsy to him as they stopped before him and he stood to his feet and came up to raise her eyes to his.
“Quite charming,” he smiled at her and she felt his charm reaching out to her, begging her to adore him. “You are very beautiful, my English daughter.” He held his arm out to her and Marianne was forced to accompany him as he introduced her to his wife and family. They greeted her as if she was truly a member of the family and she was confused. This was not how one treated prisoners, surely. Shouldn’t she be on her way to the Bastille? He kissed her on the forehead. “Now return to your escort and allow them to introduce you to the rest of the court.” Marianne curtsied and he smiled warmly. “I am quite pleased with you, my pretty hostage. Your husband will come to my employ swiftly to have you returned to his side.”
Marianne found Henri at her side and she went with him gladly. Any longer in that man’s company and she would forget completely that she was here against her will. He was a seducer of the first order and dangerous to innocent English women. She smiled vaguely at the people being introduced to her and then joined Stephanie and her ladies. Men came to her to ask to be allowed to dance with her and Stephanie approved or vetoed as she saw fit. She sent more away than she allowed close and Marianne was even more certain now that she was safe among them.
“You are far too protective of the little princess, D’Arbanville,” one man was overheard saying to Henri. “She needs to learn some time.”
“Not with a man such as you,” Henri had replied coldly. “When Her Highness is ready for such dalliance, she will tell me and I will advise her against it.” He looked over at Marianne and smiled at her. “A beauty like you, Marianne, will have every man in this court throwing themselves at her feet.” She blushed and he was enchanted. He knew what the French slime were thinking when they saw the child. Despite the fact that she was married, there remained an aura of innocence about her that was quite fascinating.
Marianne was thoroughly enchanted with her guardian. He was like her Uncle Andrew. Henri would never let anyone cause her harm if he could prevent it. She thought of her uncle and aunt now and felt tears spring to her eyes. How she hoped they were safe; and suddenly found that she could not stop the tears from falling. She turned to Dominique and the loving woman brought out a handkerchief and dried her eyes, murmuring endearments to her and making her feel safe and loved.
“It is time the child was in bed, husband,” Stephanie said to her husband as she saw the breakdown. “This is too much for her.”
“That is a shame,” a familiar voice sounded. They turned to see Gerard standing there. But this Gerard was much altered. He looked at her with an arrogance her Gerard had not possessed and he had black hair and a goatee on his face. “I was looking forward to being allowed to speak to the angel.” He bowed to Marianne and she knew she was to pretend she did not know him. “Your Highness, every female in this room is a hag in comparison to you.”
“You jest, sir,” Marianne choked, even as she played along. “I am considered quite plain where I come from.” She looked to Henri and saw a look of confusion on his face. As if he felt the same way she did; this young man was not supposed to be here.
“Your Highness,” he finally said. “May I present to you the Compte Gerard di Talavers? His father is an old friend of ours.” He seemed to say the rest with extreme reluctance. “He is an acceptable companion for you.”
“How dearly he wished not to admit that,” Gerard smiled at his wife as he offered her his arm. “One more dance, pretty princess, before you retire?” Marianne accepted his offer and they moved out onto the dance floor. She blushed as she realized they were playing a dance that required him to put her arms around her. She saw the expression in her eyes and wished she could relax and hold him tight. As if sensing her thoughts, he leaned close. “We will be leaving soon, Marianne,” he said to her in English. “I love you; do you know that?” The dance ended and she was still in shock. “You are right, she is overwhelmed.” He took her hand and kissed the pulse point in her wrist. He felt her shiver and he was delighted. “Good night, Princess.”
Marianne made her good nights to her new ‘father’ and returned to her apartments with her companions. She could still feel Gerard’s lips against her wrist and she looked at it as if it should be branded now. How could such a simple caress leave such a lasting sensation? She saw his face now and she felt her entire body blushing. Gerard had come for her! Marianne’s heart sang with joy. He was braving the entire French army to take her home, and he had told her that he loved her! But if he were caught, he could be executed for espionage! As much as she wanted to go home, she could not bear the thought of her husband dying to make it possible. She was so deep in