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Post by Gabrielle Hargreaves on Aug 7, 2009 18:23:13 GMT -5
"No. Just one, please."
Gabrielle watched as the merchant, all pleasant smiles and charm, packaged her purchase. It was a small perfume bottle, highly decorated and very beautiful, with a glass stopper shaped like a rose bud. The rest of the glass deep red and royal blue, with accents of gold here and there. She had hardly hesitated in buying it; it was lovely enough to be valued and sombre enough to qualify as a condolence. The most honoured families of the noble class were venturing out in search of such trifle gifts to wish the Marquise de Balleroy well.
Everyone had been sufficiently shocked by news of her illness. Some whispered that she had known and hidden it, some held that the disease had sprung upon her due to the stresses of a thief being so publicly and dramatically apprehended in her own house. Either way, Gabrielle pitied the woman, especially in light of the scandal of the Marquis' mysterious mistress.
She made her exit from the shop, the footmen employed to tail her falling indiscreetly into step several feet back. Entirely too used to their presence, she ignored them, going on her way.
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