Mid-morning, soft light piercing through the curtains. Suzanne turned
over in the soft bed and then pulled the blankets over her head in
hopes of catching a bit more sleep before moving anywhere. She had
hardly slept at all the past few days. The night in the prison with
the crowds of people all trying to huddle together. The night on the
floor of the barn. All pretty much sleepless times.
This covered time only lasted a few minutes before a soft tapping on
the door told her to get up. Dressing, and washing quickly, Suzanne
paused for a minute to twist her hair up neatly before stepping into
the hall. Seeing her mother also coming from a room, Suzanne waited
for her, and went downstairs at her side. Down in the main room, there
were a few men milling about, Pierre sat at a bench alone.
"Mother, why don't you take a seat over here. Pierre and I will go to
find out what is going on this morning." Suzanne said sweetly to her
mother before making sure she was comfortable.
Crossing over to the bench where the lone Pierre sat, Suzanne offered
a smile. "Good morning." she said in a cheerful tone, speaking in
French so as not to worry him further than he already looked.
"Will you come with me to see where we are going today. I know we are
leaving. I am just curious. I will talk to them, just don't make me go
alone." taking his hand she pulled him along. Where was Sir Andrew,
she could ask him, he seemed to know what was going on.
Spotting Andrew standing in another section of the room, Suzanne went
that direction.
Reluctant to enter further into this country of laughter and odd
speech, the Vicomte followed Suzanne only due to her plea to not be
alone. Pierre did not like to be so far from friends and family.
Once they stood however, he pulled back his hand from hers. He was a
man in France and he would be considered a man in this England too.
Andrew had been standing against a wall, simply
watching everything that was going on..making sure
that things went according to plan. Percy would never
forgive him if they didn't. As his mind was reeling
with thoughts of the upcoming day..and getting the de
Tournay family safely to Richmond, he thought he saw
Suzanne walking towards him with Pierre at his side.
Andrew still didn't know what to do about Pierre, the
boy obviously did not like him. "Good morning, Mlle de
Tournay.." He didn't ignore Pierre. He simply nodded a
greeting. "Did you both sleep well last night?"
What were they saying? The English speech to him went by too fast.
This Englishman nodded at him? Why? Did he think he could not even
try and understand the words and think him stupid? Ignoramus? The
boy's face flushed embarrassed for the truth was, he did not
understand the English.
"The morning came too fast." Suzanne said with a smile. "I was
wondering where we were going this morning? I know we are leaving, but
to where?"
"I agree, mlle. I am still tired and sore from yesterday." Andrew took
her hand and kissed it, bowing slightly at the waist. "As to our
destination, we are headed to Richmond."
Now his sister spoke too fast! Her words held for him the sound of
his home, and he faired a little better with the words. Something
about moving too fast and going to that something. Pierre wondered
if there were talking about a ship or horse.
When the Englishman spoke again, Pierre moved next to Suzanne so his
arm brushed against hers. She was taller than he, and the other man
was even taller still. His brown eyes searched out the lips of this
tall man. They were going to be rich? "I do not understand
Suzanne. Aren't we already rich in France? Why do we have to go
fast to remain rich?" his home tongue ran quick and fast from his
tongue, as if he could not get the words out fast enough.
Pausing her conversation with Andrew to explain to Pierre, for she did
not want him to feel left out and leave her alone in the middle of the
small crowd. Turning slightly, she spoke softly explaining in a calm
tone, in no way upset he had asked questions. It was his future too.
"We are going to a town, called Richmond. And yes, we had money in
France, and a name that meant something... but things are different
here. We will go to this town and hope to start again... and to bring
Poppa here too." her quick tongue spoke sweetly before looking up to
Andrew once again.
His little piggish nose wrinkled, making the freckles mesh against
one another. "What do you mean, 'meant'? 'Had'?" Turning around,
Pierre looked at the wealthy clothes of the company around him.
Their clothes once looked well, but due to journey, had developed a
spot or two.
"I do not want to go to Richman!" Taking a step back, Pierre tensed
and his lower lip trembled. "Where is Poppa? He needs to buy me a
new suit! Mine is dirty!"
Turning around, Pierre started yelling in French towards the
crowd. "Poppa! Poppa!! Come find us!" With tears streaming down
his face, he turned and ran into the crowd.
Shoulders slumping slightly, Suzanne watched as Pierre went off into
the crowd. She should have realized he didn't understand all of what
had been going on.
Taking a deep breath she ran after him. She had to make him
understand, had to make sure that he did not give up hope. All would
be lost for him if he did.
It took a while before she caught up with him. Suzanne knew if she
reached out to touch him, he would once more pull away from her grasp.
Instead she stood behind him. "Pierre. Listen to me please." Her voice
was forced, listening to his desperate cries for their father she had
teared up and hers had fallen as she ran after him.
"NO!" He spun to face her, gulping back his sobs. "My suit is
dirty! I don't want to be mistaken for a commoner in this suit!
Poppa knows what to do! He knows what to do!" Yanking on his
jacket, he looked up at Suzanne with his face twisted in anguish.
"Is that all this is about... a dirty suit? If that is all we can take
care of that. Pierre, you could never be mistaken for a commoner, you
are far above that in mind. You are smart, and handsome..." Here
Suzanne paused to wipe her own tears. "Poppa always know what to do,
that is true. He knows now that he needs to come to us. He will not
give up, but we must not give up on him."
He babbled on and cried about his suit, more so when Suzanne thought
that was really what he was upset about. She was telling him things
he wanted to hear, and the young boy covered his face with his
hands. "And I don't have my favorite watch. How will I know the
time?" Shakily, Pierre looked behind him and wiped at his face with
clean fingers.
How Suzanne hoped he was just covering his real fears with these minor
things. Yes, Suzanne had nearly thrown a fit when her dress had been
cut apart, but they had to find a way to live somehow.
"You can get a new watch, perhaps you and Poppa can get it together.
Until then, ask me, and I will find out for you. Then no one will know
you do not have one right now." This was trivial stuff.. a watch, his
suit. At least he was expressing some fears.
"We are leaving in an hour, we will be going by carriage to London.
Mother wants to make a stop there. London is a very large city... I
hope I can stay in the carriage and wait."
Nodding, Pierre calmed a bit and wiped at his eyes. Glancing around,
he noticed more and more people speaking how he did not understand
them. This frustrated the boy and he moved nearer to Suzanne. "Will
you tell me the time now?" His small voice came out in a weak
cracking from his throat and his eyes took on the look of a timid
being.
Looking almost franticly about the room for a clock, she spotted one
on the mantel. "it is nearing 10 o'clock." Suzanne looked down at him,
wanting so much to make everything better again. He didn't seem to
understand why this was happening.. and she thought it was almost best
that way. "I am going to help mother, breakfast should be served soon.
Are you going back to sit with Mother?"
Looking beyond Suzannie, he spied Andrew and groaned, "No! It is too
late for breakfast. I don't want to eat and I don't want to go to
Richman Suzanne! I want to go home and I don't want you to talk to
*that* Englishman."
Hurt by the way he turned and spoke to her, Suzanne was quiet, and
still for a moment. "Alright. Pierre you can have it your way." her
head went down a little. "You don't have to eat, you don't have to
come. Mother and I are going, if you choose to stay here alone and try
to make it back to France.. I'll cry, but I can't stop you."
Pierre's mouth dropped open and he stared at her. Unsure of his
sister's threats, he licked his lips and looked from Andrew to
Suzanne.
Finally he whispered, "If I go with you, is he going too?"
He was still insist on not wanting her to speak to Andrew... but
she had to keep their family together. Family was more important than
anything else at the moment.
"I think he was planning on coming, I had rather hoped he would. If
you do not wish him to, I will let him know we can travel alone."
Pierre nodded quickly his approval and wiped at his face, taking
control of his sniffling. "I would like that." The whispered French
came out and he took a hold of Suzanne's hand.
As they walked back, he added quietly, "I want to see Poppa."
He had taken her hand on his own, so Suzanne dared not release it.
"Me too." Suzanne said softly, no was in this family was alone in
that thought.
Disappointed in what it was that would make Pierre happy, Suzanne
watched the ground and tried to think of a nice way to tell Andrew
they did not need him to ride along with the family.
Coming back to near where they were standing before, Andrew had moved
so it was hard to tell exactly, Suzanne looked over to mother, "We
should get Mother some breakfast. Are you hungry?"
Andrew had been exceptionally quiet that morning, something did not seem right, but he wasn't sure what it was. With a sigh, he set his tea cup down on the table and wondered what to do with himself until the de Tournay's were ready to leave, he would not rush them..
"Oui Suzannie." He nodded and glanced up at her, tugging a little to
head back to where Mother was waiting.
After breakfasting with Mother and Pierre, Suzanne went to find
Andrew. Giving him a brief explanation that they would be going to
London, then to Richmond, she told him that if he wished to escort
them to Richmond, it would be best if he rode a horse along side them.
He seemed disappointed but did not say anything about it.
Gathering the few things they had with them, Suzanne helped her mother
into the carriage. Seeing that she was inside, Suzanne turned to see
Andrew mounting his own horse. Taking a step towards him, she took a
breath.
"Sir Andrew, are you coming along with us, or shall we meet with you
again in Richmond?"
Andrew was silent for a moment, before quietly looking into Suzanne's eyes...it was hard not to get lost in her gaze.."Whatever you wish for me to do, mademoiselle." Andrew looked straight ahead and didn't say anything else until she spoke again.
"I would like for you to ride along with us." Suzanne said softly.
"Though I wouldn't be able to talk to you.. I would know you were out
there. It would make me feel better." he seemed rather distant at the
moment. Silent now she looked up at him, hoping for just one more look
into his eyes before having to go back to the carriage.