The Throne of Broken Hearts

CHAPTER SEVEN

Eloise.

A month had passed since the wedding, and while I could not say I enjoy living here, it had been better and easier than life at the manor, including Papa's consistent complaints and Mama's quest for unachievable neatness.

On the other hand, the Count and I have come to learn and adapt to the art of cohabitation. The bed solely belongs to me while I submit sole ownership of the canape to his authority. I have barely seen him within the past few weeks as our schedules are totally different. I retire a few hours before midnight, while he comes in by the early hours of the morning.

I stretch myself from bed, preparing for the orders for the day. I had previously commanded the maids to relieve me of this dressing disaster as I could absolutely take care of myself.

I washed myself, and put on my day dress. I sat on the soft comforter on the four-poster bed, enjoying the quiet morning in my chambers, right before the maids disturb me and yes they always do. My day dress was a stream of crisp taffeta that rustled softly with the slightest movement, pooling around my ankles without the restriction of heavy hoops. The structured bodice looked formal enough should a courtier knock, yet it was comfortable enough that I could actually draw a deep breath. I rested my arm on the gilded wood of the bedframe letting the layers of soft lace at my elbow drape over my wrist as I watched the sunlight stream through the window."

A knock resounded from the door. I sighed. “ Come in” I beckoned, standing up to continue my preparation lest I miss breakfast. “ My lady, you have a letter”. I turned to take it. Opening it I walked to the table to see a letter from Mama. This would be her first letter to me since the wedding. I tucked the letter into the drawer and followed the maids out the door towards the eating area.

The estate was buzzing with life, I could hear the guards training in the distance, their shouts adding to the eccentric atmosphere of the estate. The servants and maid contributed to the bustling by running around the estate with brooms on their hands or fresh produce for the kitchen. The air, crisp and fresh, the sky promising sunshine. I returned the greeting of the servants, walking into the dining area with a smile on my face.

And then my smile dropped.

The count was seated at his side of the dining table looking up at me like his presence here was a normal occurrence and may inform you that it was not!. “ I think the dining table would look good there too but it would be a pity to disrupt the food arrangement for that now don't you think so too my lady?”. “ Eloise please I'm starving and the food is getting cold. Close your mouth too” he added.

My hand flew to my mouth, and my face turned hot with embarrassment. I cleared my throat and walked to the table. “ You can't really blame me my lord, can you?” I asked, settling down in my seat, directly opposite him. “ I can count on one hand how many times I've met you at the table even if I had fewer fingers on them, and I don't!”.

“ I didn't know you missed me that much”. I snorted ungracefully, earning looks from the house manager at the side. I coughed and smiled at her ( I'll repay him back, one way or another!). I looked to the table to see a lavish spread of Silver pots of steaming hot chocolate and tea, baskets of warm, soft pain mollet (milk bread) and fresh butter, elegant porcelain plates of sliced plums and apricots and soft-boiled eggs.

We settled into a comfortable silence, interrupted only by the clinking of spoons against plates and the shuffling of feet underneath the table. This would be the first time we were alone and awake since the wedding. I heard from the gossiping servants that he had been constantly involved in the ascension battles that had been ongoing in court, not that I dislike it though. I heard the scratching of a chair against the floor and I looked up to see the Count walking off.

“ Nothing as much as a goodbye Henri?”, “That's not fair!”, I whined. He turned to me, his mouth wide open.

Serves him right.

I waved him off, smiling. I quickly finished up breakfast for I had court classes with the preceptor, boring lectures about geography, history and court procedures, everything I was required to know but nothing I desired to learn.

I walked to the library with a tight weight on my chest. I had learned these past few weeks that the estate was not here to help you grieve, nor do they care about your opinions. I had hidden my pain down beneath smiles and elaborate dresses, showing no cracks on the surface while my insides are ridden with scars and injuries.

The next few hours passed without problems and I was quickly done with my lessons and left to my own devices. I wandered the halls, passing locked doors and examining portraits that had absolutely nothing to do with me. I returned the greetings of whoever I met on the way while making small occasional conversations with my maids.

After serious contemplations, I decided to visit Father. The Duke was ridden with illness and had been unable to move around but I had made it a duty to visit him at least a few times a week.

I arrived at the door and went through usual routine checks while the physicians provided me with protection from the deadly disease. “ Father I have arrived”, I said walking towards the bed. I had been made aware that I was not allowed within Five feet of the Duke.

“ Ahh, Mon enfant”, his voice cracked as he spoke, riddled with pain and fatigue.

“ I brought you some herbal tea, imported from the ports of Marseille, it would help relieve your pain. The merchant said it contained ginseng imported from the empire of the Great Qing, you should have some of it” I spoke while giving space for the physicians to sit him up and provide him with the tea.

“ Ahh, well done my child, you have done well. I hope Henri isn't causing any trouble?, I would have spoken to him but he barely visits me anymore, but what can an old sick man like me do” the Duke spoke and sighed.

“ Don't worry father, we are doing just fine… and erm Henri worries about you too but is constantly overwhelmed with duties that he barely even has time for himself but I would make sure to pester him into a visit when I return” I consoled him, moving to seat on the stool by the door.

I spent a few hours with the Duke before leaving. Though sick, the Duke was brimming with authority, but he managed to combine it perfectly with fatherly love, something Papa has never been able to achieve.

Lost in my thoughts, I bumped into a hard surface, my head immediately registering a sharp pain and I crouched to the ground in pain. I stand up ready to confront the assaulter but I see a man adorned with a rich velvet justaucorps (coat) over an embroidered waistcoat and breeches.

“ Good day, my lady”, he said bringing his lips for a gentle kiss to my knuckles. “ I am Phillip Montreval of the house of Montreval. I assume my cousin has told you about me?”, he inquired smiling.

I looked at the handsome face before me, my face taut with utter confusion.