Post by Adrienne d'Heur on Nov 9, 2013 16:54:30 GMT -5
On the fashionable side of Paris, far away from shouting fruit-sellers and begging gypsies, there was an elegant castle-like building of stone. This building had spires and elegant details like a castle, and yet it was not as large as a castle would be. The roof-tiles were made of bronze and gleamed in the afternoon sun. The castle was surrounded by an elegant garden, and a broad path made for carriages led all the way from the garden gates to the castle entrance. In front of the castle door was an open place, and on the other side of this place was a stable, a smithy, a barn and a chicken house.
On the middle of the open place in front of the house was a fountain with a golden mermaid in it. The mermaid was beautifully sculpted and almost life-like. The garden was well kept, with beautiful trees, flowers and bushes. There was a pond on the backside of the building, where swans floated gracefully on the water surface. Near the pond there were benches to sit on, and near the backdoor there was an outside table with matching chairs. Here was a good place to have a nice meal when the weather allowed it.
The first floor in the building contained a hallway that led to the magnificent stairs leading to the second floor. It was a great place to make an impressing entrance while receiving guests. But the hallway also led to other important rooms on the first floor - like the kitchen, the dining room, the salon (living room for people of the higher classes), and the gaming room. The quarters for the servants, the washing room and rooms to store food were kept in the cellar. On the second floor there were several bedrooms, some bathrooms, a library, an office and a smaller living room. There was also a large balcony with a beautiful view over the garden. The balcony had some chairs and a table so people could sit there and enjoy the weather when they wanted. This building was the chalet of the d´Heur family - the place they stayed every time they had errands in Paris.
Today there was much more activity here than usual. Maids ran around with buckets, mops and dusters, trying to clean and make everything clear in good time. Male servants carried wood and water to the house, making fires in fireplaces where people would live, and a smell of food and tea spread around the house from the kitchen. The butler and the housekeeper kept a watchful eye on the servants, making sure that nobody shirked away from their duties.
Today was an important day - Baroness Adrienne d'Heur had arrived in Paris and would be here any time soon. She had sent a message upon her arrival: Tonight she would not dine alone. She had invited two men to dine with her. One of the men they had hardly heard of - it was a Baldric something... But if this Baldric was unknown to them, they knew the second guess even more. His name was Judge Claude Frollo, and his mere reputation spread a hint of fear among the servants.
Just when everything was ready, the main entrance door opened, and Lady Adrienne arrived in the doorway.
"Is everything prepared for my guests?" she asked.
The butler stepped forward and bowed politely. "Everything is ready, Milady," he replied.
"Excellent," Adrienne replied as she walked quickly towards the stairs. "I need one maid to go with me to my room and help me prepare for the party. I need a bath and some clean clothes. When my guests arrive, please bring them to the salon and have them wait for me. I will join them as soon as I am ready..." One of the maids joined the young noblewoman, and they quickly went upstairs, leaving to the butler to receive the guests of honor.
(She will return in my next post, but first, her guests must arrive...)
On the middle of the open place in front of the house was a fountain with a golden mermaid in it. The mermaid was beautifully sculpted and almost life-like. The garden was well kept, with beautiful trees, flowers and bushes. There was a pond on the backside of the building, where swans floated gracefully on the water surface. Near the pond there were benches to sit on, and near the backdoor there was an outside table with matching chairs. Here was a good place to have a nice meal when the weather allowed it.
The first floor in the building contained a hallway that led to the magnificent stairs leading to the second floor. It was a great place to make an impressing entrance while receiving guests. But the hallway also led to other important rooms on the first floor - like the kitchen, the dining room, the salon (living room for people of the higher classes), and the gaming room. The quarters for the servants, the washing room and rooms to store food were kept in the cellar. On the second floor there were several bedrooms, some bathrooms, a library, an office and a smaller living room. There was also a large balcony with a beautiful view over the garden. The balcony had some chairs and a table so people could sit there and enjoy the weather when they wanted. This building was the chalet of the d´Heur family - the place they stayed every time they had errands in Paris.
Today there was much more activity here than usual. Maids ran around with buckets, mops and dusters, trying to clean and make everything clear in good time. Male servants carried wood and water to the house, making fires in fireplaces where people would live, and a smell of food and tea spread around the house from the kitchen. The butler and the housekeeper kept a watchful eye on the servants, making sure that nobody shirked away from their duties.
Today was an important day - Baroness Adrienne d'Heur had arrived in Paris and would be here any time soon. She had sent a message upon her arrival: Tonight she would not dine alone. She had invited two men to dine with her. One of the men they had hardly heard of - it was a Baldric something... But if this Baldric was unknown to them, they knew the second guess even more. His name was Judge Claude Frollo, and his mere reputation spread a hint of fear among the servants.
Just when everything was ready, the main entrance door opened, and Lady Adrienne arrived in the doorway.
"Is everything prepared for my guests?" she asked.
The butler stepped forward and bowed politely. "Everything is ready, Milady," he replied.
"Excellent," Adrienne replied as she walked quickly towards the stairs. "I need one maid to go with me to my room and help me prepare for the party. I need a bath and some clean clothes. When my guests arrive, please bring them to the salon and have them wait for me. I will join them as soon as I am ready..." One of the maids joined the young noblewoman, and they quickly went upstairs, leaving to the butler to receive the guests of honor.
(She will return in my next post, but first, her guests must arrive...)