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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 2, 2008 11:11:01 GMT -5
The great bourdon bell of Notre Dame chimed out the evening hour of eight. It was at that precise moment, directly on time, as always, that Colette's dainty boot touched into the chapel, followed by it's twin. After her boots came the tap of little boots. Colette was dressed in a simple walking gown of baby blue fabric with brown kid gloves and walking shoes to match.
Jean had been out for the last hour, and from her experiences from the last few days, he would not be back until fairly late. Business, he said. Ha! Fishy business, surely. He was with that mistress of his, she knew. She used it to her advantage to sneak away with Marie. Naturally, there had been inquisitive looks from the help, but it really wasn't any of their business and she had no obligation to tell them anything. She had said nothing of where she was headed. It would not matter, ultimately, as long as she returned safely and had a good story ready.
Her hair was up, as always, in braids pinned elaborately to the back of her head. Marie wore a very dark, rich blue, which had cream coloured lace here and there, such as about the sleeves. Colette had insisted that for this particular occasion her daughter wear her hair down, held back loosely by a velvet bow the same colour as her gown. The hair fell in thick, dark waves to Marie's mid-back. A few hairs that were too short had escaped to float about her face in tiny curls, and the top of her head was a bit frizzy from the wind and her hair not being anchored down.
The little girl's large blue eyes peered up through the fringe of her lashes to look about the dismal place. She knew to be very solemn and quiet in a church. Her eyes scanned in interest over the painting of an angel on the far wall, and a lit candle in a holder. It was far less fine than the church that her family attended, but she didn't mind that. It just gave her a sense of dread that she couldn't place. Being but a child, she did not even endeavour to do so. Colette's comforting hand held hers, and her own blue eyes were searching the darkness and crannies for a good friend and sister as she moved them further into the chill place.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 2, 2008 20:59:50 GMT -5
This morning, Liana would have given quite a bit to be with her mother. She did not care if death was the way. She was sure she would be happier in heaven than she was here on earth. In heaven she would have true freedom and she would be safe. Here she was alone, had to gaurd her tongue and feared for her life and well being everyday. She had been so desperate when she arrived at the grave yard this morning. She would have traded anything to see her mother again, to have a companion, to be able to speak freely and move on from her past life.
It was strange though how her prayers were answered. The best part of her past, her dearest friend, had found her. Just a few moments were enough to share her misfortunes and gain the most precious gift she could right now: hope. Liana, for the first time in a long time had hope that she could live on. She had hope that things would get better, and she had hope that there would be things to look forward to in the future. She had that hope and joy that there would be better days and better people.
For example, today she had a visit from her goddaughter to look forward to. She wished she had money enough to buy a simple gift for her young godchild. Godmothers were supposed to do that after all. They were the ones that were suppose to spoil and entertain the child. They were supposed to look after them should anything happen to the mother and father. It was almost like having a child of your own to some extent. Liana for one could not be more thrilled with the news and she had been looking at the clock all day for some sign of passing time to the hour when she would get to meet her dear Marie.
As the hours ticked by and the time drew near Liana's nerves grew. She sat and brushed out her long golden curls and worried. What if the little girl didn't like her. What if she did not speak to her because she was common now? Her mother would have to explain otherwise and the little girl may not be able to keep silent. She was sure if the girl didn't like her it could be resolved with time. At least she hoped it could be. And as for Nicolette. She knew Nicolette still liked her. She knew things would be fine there so why was she worrying.
Quickly, Liana slipped on her nicest simple blue skirt and a simple white blouse to match and pulled her hair back into a long blonde ponytail with a blue ribbon. She pinched her cheeks a bit for color and then rushed down the halls of the Populaire as the bells were chiming. She smiled as she stood at the door of the familiar chapel. She took a deep breath to calm both her nerves and her excitement and then entered.
There were two figures in the chapel. One of a woman and one of a girl. They looked like they were waiting for something, but just in case, just in case they were not waiting for her, Liana quietly made her way down the steps in silence and proceeded to politely clear her throat and call. "Perdon Madame" She wished so badly to say Nicolette's name, but she knew from experience to always error on the side of caution.
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 2, 2008 22:49:51 GMT -5
Nicolette was in an excited state, and her daughter could tell. She comfortingly stroked her mother's hands as they wrung, tensing and relaxing as her thoughts raced through her busy mind. The silence was broken by a quiet voice; Colette sighed in relief and turned to her with a smile. "Liana Marceau. It is pleasing to see you again." She said, but her eyes spoke much more. She wanted to hug her friend and tell her about what it was like to run a house in the country, how her husband betrayed her, and all manner of other important things. She did not. Marie shyly clung to her mother's skirts, staying behind her.
"This is my daughter, the Lady Jondrette," She said, and placing her palm flat to the child's back, urged her forward into the light. Marie smiled up at the pretty woman and dropped a little curtsy, mumbling, "Bonjour, madamoiselle." Colette completed her introduction. "Marie, this is Mademoiselle Liana Marceau. She is your guardian angel."
Marie's eyes lit up. "Vraiment?" She whispered in awe, asking it of Liana. She moved closer and touched the new woman's skirts reverently, seeing something kind in her face that she liked very much. Colette watched silently in happy thought. She had often day dreamed that she was confiding in Nicole, even when she had still been there, and with that name. Colette did not confide much, but Nicole had always known when to be gentle and comforting with her. She had the feeling now that she had given a great gift of comfort back to her friend in the form of her daughter. What she wouldn't do to have Liana take Marie after she was gone!
She was struck at once with the outlandishness and the desirability of the idea. It would not be fair to Liana. It would put her in such great risk! Yet here she was in the Opera House, and Marie with such a beautiful voice! She could be an artist. She could have more of a choice in her husband. She would live poorly, something that Colette didn't like. Yet she had every confidence that Liana would take every care for Marie, as if she were her own. Oh, but no! Off with the idea! Too risky, and far too selfish. The notion stuck with her, however, no matter how she tried to shake it.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 3, 2008 21:32:53 GMT -5
It was Nicolette. She had started formally. She knew she had started this formally, so she continued that way down the steps as Colette called her by her false name. What she wouldn't give to be called Nicole again! She wanted so badly to have her friend call her by her true name. She wanted to run to Colette and embrace her and cry into her shoulder and hear everything about her life that she had missed, that she had been forced to miss. She wanted to hold and embrace the child as her godmother and not just some outlandish gaurdian angel! She wanted all of that but she could not have it. Not now.
It was clear Colette felt the same. You could see it in her eyes. There was something there. It was a care, an endearment of sorts. There was a longing and Liana knew it well. It was the same longing she had for a confidant and a friend. It seemed she wasn't the only one that missed their relationship. It was that of sisters, of friends, and protectors. It seemed both of them needed each other right now and Marie, well, that darling, beautiful little girl, Liana supposed she was the newest one in their circle. She was their treasure, their daughter, and their lifeline.
She was such a precious little girl too. There was something more beautiful about her eyes than the eyes of any little girl in Liana's opinion. They were clear and bright. The way the little girl looked at her was almost reverant which was strange considering that the little girl was more of an angel to Liana than she expected herself to be for anyone one this earth. In this little girl's eyes, she saw life, a new life, and renewed hope for once in her own. With a calm and kind smile, Liana nodded to her friend, holding back her tears of joy.
With a brighter smile Liana kneeled down and nodded to the little girl. "Your mother is telling the truth. We have known each other for quite some time. She decided it was time that you learn about me." Liana smiled brightly and looked back up at her friend with a kind smile before looking back down at the other girl thoughtfully. "What your mother does not know is that I am her gaurdian angel too. I can listen, I can help in my own way. That is what I am here for as much as she is here because of her own goodness."
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 3, 2008 22:53:24 GMT -5
Marie smiled up at her mother confidently as the long connection between the mother and Liana was revealed. Colette smiled back, and Marie was shocked at the strange new expression on her face. It was so much more relaxed and open than she had ever seen it. She looked... relieved, almost. Marie, being so young, didn't really make that conclusion. She just noticed that something was different in her mother.
Marie then turned back to Liana as she praised the goodness of her friend. Marie grinned proudly and said with every bit of happiness, "My mother is the goodliest woman in Paris!" Colette laughed whole-heartedly and shook her head a bit, saying, "Marie, it is not true, though I am glad that you think it. My favourite circle of friends thinks that I am goodly!" She smiled upon Liana and Marie. Her sharp mind still turned, taking in both the offer of solace and the promise to watch for her and tucking them away in her mind. Marie tucked herself into Liana's skirts much like she tucked into her mothers and started idly nibbling on the pad of her index finger, watching the two woman with childlike satisfaction and contentment.
"Liana," She said softly, taking advantage of the fact that they were alone to use the first name. "Will you be performing in Roméo et Juliette? You must be a singer here?" She would love to hear that she was, indeed, employed here as a vocalist. Circumstances would prevent her from setting great success in the profession as a goal, but Colette had every confidence in her friend's talent. "Would you honour us good friends with a little song? Perhaps you know one that Marie knows as well. She loves to sing quite as well as you once did, and as did a certain Mme. Deloncre." She smiled fondly on the memory.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 3, 2008 23:52:05 GMT -5
The little one was so much like her mother. She had her mother's carriage. Her mother's eyes her mother's kindness and face. She even had her mother's ability to compliment and flaunt her family as any decent lady learned as soon a she could talk. Liana had been taught such things, but unlike her little goddaughter she never really had the stomach for doing it. She wasn't ever fond of lying. If she said something it was the truth unless she had no other choice. In the old days that meant protecting herself from a beating. Now, it meant anything from making a promise to a friend and keeping it or giving a false name to new friends.
At least now she did not have to worry about such things. In fact, most of her worries were now eradicated. From the small body folded in her skirts and the familiar sight of a girl nibbling on the pad of her finger Liana knew she had the little Marie's favor. No child got that comfortable with another woman unless she truely liked her or her mother dearly wanted her to. It seemed in this case it was both and that was enough for Marie to take to her. Liana for one could not be happier about it. She was practically glowing and a quick glanced up to Colette and she radiated the same joy. It was such a shame they had to keep things so polite.
At least she could provide Colette information about her new life and get to know Marie. It was such a joy to hear that her friend still remembered her love of music from the old days. It may have been the hint that could have led anyone who truely knew her here. Her father, however, never payed enough attention to find out, or even care if she loved music. He and her fiancee knew she had been instructed in music as any young lady was. They knew she excelled in it as most young ladies of decent worth were expected to. Excelling in such things increased your worth in the marriage market after all which was everything to a young woman and her family. At least most young women of standing and their families. It was almost ironic that if her father had just taken the time to speak with her about her true passions, if her father had been more observant and caring for her, he would have her location.
It was a frightening thought, but she knew he would never find her. Unless Nicolette told, which she knew her friend would not, there was no reason for her location to be disclosed to anyone. Only one so far knew of her true identity. The rest were long gone from Paris. There was no way she could be found now. She trusted her friend too much to believe otherwise. This was just a new life. Colette was her only link to the old world and the only link there that she wanted; her and this little girl. She was sure the two of them would be in her life forever. She would make it so. It had to be that way. She wanted it that way. Besides, Colette needed her. The look in her eyes said that. The dreamy far away look in her eyes said that she needed Liana for her secrets. They were secrets and puzzles much larger than the ones they used to share when they were girls, but they still needed to be divulged. They still needed each other.
Right now, however, was not the time as Colette had other things in mind. A song it seemed. A song Liana did not mind sharing, nor the memory of her singing as Deloncre with her mother and not a name that truely was not her own. She smiled prettily and nodded. "Indeed I am singing in the new production though hardly any role worth noting." She paused for a minute before she smile grew. "And I do recall fondly the name of Deloncre as she was the one who taught me how to sing. In fact, one could say she sacrificed a good deal to allow me to be here today." More secrets spilled in their own cryptic way, but it was still a secret out in the open. After earlier Nicole was sure Colette had understood her father's true crime. She suspected now at least and now she would know.
Marie however would not be privy to that knowlege. It was too easy for a little girl to prattle on about things. Besides, she did not wish for her goddaughter to grow bored and therefore have time to even contemplate dislike. She wanted to be her friend, her other mother, to amuse her fittingly. Song was the way to do it at the given moment. With a fond twinkle in her eyes Liana looked from mother to daughter and smiled brightly. "If I may ask Mademoiselle Marie, what song is your favorite to sing? If you enjoy singing so often as your mother says, surely you must have a favorite!"
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 7, 2008 0:39:40 GMT -5
Colette smiled in solemn sympathy at mention of the good lady's sacrifice. That statement all but confirmed her suspicions as to the crime of the father of Nicole Deloncre. A sick feeling came to her stomach at the sheer force of the image; as an admirer of the woman in question, as a mother herself, and also as an unwanted wife. Jean was not a man like Monsieur Gerard Deloncre, yet she did not doubt that he would be all the more saddened if she were to announce that she would indeed live. It was a sad truth, but one that she knew well. She prayed that Marie would not soon know it.
Liana glowed with warmth and love for the child, and this made Colette smile. It gave her greater ease and comfort to know that this woman cared for and would watch over her child to the very best of her ability. She knew that she would. She also knew that Liana's own personal experiences would help her to sympathise in the situation presented to Marie. She would soon be young and without a mother, trapped in a strict society with a musical dream that could never be realised, with a father without regard to the woman that she loved as her mother. Colette had known the feeling. Nicole had known it as well, though in an altered and perhaps harsher sense.
Marie smiled up at Liana and said immediately, "Yes!" in response to her inquiry. She did indeed have a favourite song. It had not been her favourite until her Papa had come home and they had taken a walk in the park. The imagery of fountains and roses in the song reminded her of that day, and so she loved it, even though she did not understand the depth and meaning of the lyrics. "Do you know À la Claire Fontaine?" She asked, and Colette smiled. "I thought that you liked the one about the sheep best, darling?"
Marie smiled back at her mother and said, "Now that is my second favourite, instead of this one. This one is my favourite," She said decisively, and Colette nodded very seriously as if the order of favourite songs was of the greatest importance. If her daughter thought so, then to the mother, it was. She smiled at Liana, basking in the comfort of her presence.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 7, 2008 2:14:19 GMT -5
It was a sure fact now that Colette knew what had happened to her mother. As long as Colette knew Liana had a feeling that her friend would understand why she had to leave. Her fiancee had a dark side to him as well. Any man picked by her father would have. For all intensive purposes her father had been looking for a man much like himself and Liana was not at all interested in that kind of man. Colette had known that better than anyone. Her friend of course had tried to comfort her once the arrangements were made, but running was the only real solution. Now, Colette could truely see how well that solution had worked for her. Liana only prayed she would find a way to solve her marriage problems that did not involve running.
At this point, with a child and an established name, it was too late to run. It was far too late to run. And who would want to run when one had a comfortable home with a daughter who loved you. That was probably the thing that made anything home for Colette. It was so easy to remember her own mother and how close they had been. She had said to herself once that her mother was home. It was true. The minute her mother had died, that house ceased to become her home, it became her cell. That whole world had. For the most part she had escaped that. Colette being here helped immensly in this new world. Colette and Marie especially.
There was something so warm and playful about her. You had to love her almost from the moment you saw her. It wasn't just her beautiful brown hair that reminded Liana so much of Colette, or the bright blue eyes, but more the innocence and the sincerity in them. And she took everything so seriously! Her favorite song apparently was a matter of great importance. A matter of so great of an importance that the little one felt she needed to clearly correct her mother about it.
Liana, took her seriously though little and silly she may be. Nodding without the slightest hint of a smile on her face. "Of course I know that song. I too is one of my favorites. Very popular among all the girls when I was growing up I do believe." Liana smiled, her eyes laughing though her face was serious as she looked back up at Colette. She looked back down at the little Marie with the same serious look but kind smiling eyes. "Would you like to sing it with me or should I perform a solo for you?"
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 7, 2008 2:30:31 GMT -5
Colette allowed a slow smile to take over and struggled not to chuckle at her child's antics. While Marie was concentrating solely upon Liana, Colette knew that her amusement was safe from discovery. She caught the laughter in Liana's eyes and her smile grew wider. She gently put a hand over her mouth to stifle further expression of her growing mirth.
Marie was oblivious to her effect on the women. She smiled up at Liana gratefully and said, "You start, and I will join you!" She then turned and looked at her mother, who pulled her hand away and quickly schooled her face into one of utmost seriousness. Marie gave her a quick curious, almost suspicious look, but let it slide. It made Colette want to laugh even more. "Will you join in after me, Mama?" Marie asked, and although it was stated as a polite request, it sounded as if the agreement was already established. She knew that her mother did not deny her such requests. She hardly ever denied her anything, and when she did, she explained her reasons in great detail until she was sure that Marie understood.
Colette smiled and nodded to her daughter and then turned her attention back to Liana. She made a grand gesture and announced, "La grande prima donna, Liana Marceau!"
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 7, 2008 3:29:17 GMT -5
At this point, as her dearest friend, her confidant and protector from all those years ago introduced her as 'le grande prima donna' Liana could not help but laugh brightly after holding it in for so long. She could not remember the last time she had laughed truely like this! And yet she laughed, remembering how Colette used to tease her with that title when they sang to entertain others as girls. She always played and Nicole had always sang for the crowds. Her fiancee had told her once that he wanted her for his wife so he could have a songbird that would live as long as he did, rather than have to replace them. Her voice was better now that she was free of such things.
Calming her laughter, Liana straightened up and gave a small nod to Marie. The song was a famliar one. Her mother had taught it to her when she was a bit younger than Marie was at this moment. She had loved the images of gardens and roses considering how often she was trapped in doors. Her mother had taught her if you sang it just right, the garden would come alive and you could walk through it with your voice. So many of those darker days in the guilded mansion had been passed with this song and Nicole love to sing it even now.
So, she took a breath and did so, this time for her own pleasure, well, hers and that of her goddaughter. The sound was sweet and light on the air. It flew and rippled and danced, echoing slightly in the small room as Nicole sang, her eyes dancing with light and laughter as she waited for the others to join her in their little trio.
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jul 7, 2008 20:41:38 GMT -5
Both Marie and Colette sighed as Liana began to sing. Colette smiled in an almost motherly pride, for she noted that the voice of her little sister-friend had improved into professional quality. Doubtless she had received further instruction here in the chorus, although she didn't know how she avoided titled roles with a voice like that. It was possible that she hid the magnificent quality that she had to it and sang dully, as one befitting a chorus part.
Marie smiled and rolled back and forth from toes to heels in excitement, glancing at her mother then back to Liana as if she were showing her off. She did this with a gleam in her eye as if she herself had discovered a great talent until Liana had finished with the first chorus.
Finally Marie took a deep breath, her posture immediately correcting for the job, and began to sing. Her voice was pure and constant, something uncommon for children her age. Usually a young voice wavered and cracked, but her tone was perfect. Her singing had the tone of a very young person, in no way adult-like, but she sang with the versatility, range and smoothness of a child born singing. She avoided vibrato because her young tone did not support it well, only sounding silly.
Your heart feels like laughing, mine feels like weeping... They finished the third verse and chorus and this was where Colette joined in. Her voice was sweet and full, and she wove it about in a harmony to the other two voices, letting her voice take the lower tone.
As they finished the song and it faded off into the recesses of the dark chapel, Marie giggled. "Brava!" She cried in glee, and Colette chuckled.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Jul 16, 2008 3:20:11 GMT -5
Memories were hard to avoid in times like this. Of course, this song was one of her favorites as a child. Despite the fact that it was a children's song, Colette and herself used to sing it together on a great many occasions. Colette would accompany them on the piano, Liana would take harmony, and Colette would create with her lower voice, a magnificent harmony to bring the little children's song into its full potential. Of course, their little performances in salons and social gatherings when bidden by some of the elder ladies who enjoyed the arts and well cultured girls, or their fathers, attempting to make them more desirable prospects for suitors were far different from an easily dressed up children's melody. But that, had been one of their true favorites and they had sung it together from the time they met to the time they parted so long ago.
It almost seemed perfectly fitting now that they should sing it once again upon the date of their most wonderful reunion. It constituted a meeting too in some ways. Colette was meeting Liana, the new Nicole, and Liana was meeting her goddaughter, Marie. It was a sweet and beautiful thing for Nicole to find that her little god daugher was just as fond of the song as she and her mother had been. She had been a little bit more favored towards it but that was not the point. The point was that the little one liked it and wanted to sing it. And so they did and the old times flowed into new life.
Their voices, first her light soprano, crisp but sweet and dreamy floated on the air. Then the suprisingly good voice of Marie, higher, firmer with no vibrato but excellent tone followed. Knowing the child's voice would carry and her own was a lower due to maturity and age, Liana dropped a bit, keeping her sound but creating a counter to the melody only supporting it fully now and again. Then came dearest Colette with her lower voice mixing into the beautiful song they had thus far created. The three voices skipped on the air with all the joy that matched that of Liana's heart at this meeting. And then, the sound did what Liana wished the meeting never would, and suddenly ceased, with only the light echo upon the walls as the reminder of the fact that it had been.
Silence took the room for a moment as the sound dissappeared, only a fond memory now for the three of them. As was the way with such events however, the silence was quickly broken by the cry of a child. A happy cry in this case which was more than delightful to all present. Liana laughed and shook her head, looking to Nicolette who also smiled brightly with a fond pleasure for the singing. Liana laughed a bit harder and then eased it into a glowing smile as she looked down on her angelic little god daugther. "I am happy you enjoyed it Lady Marie. I quite enjoyed it yourself. You have a very good voice my dear. You learned very well from your mother."
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Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Aug 27, 2008 21:07:48 GMT -5
Marie smiled and blushed at Liana's compliment. With childish trust she reached up with an open palm, requesting Liana's hand to hold. Colette chuckled. "The lady offers you her hand, dear friend. She honours you," She said with a note of sarcasm that Marie didn't detect. The child stared up into Liana's face in earnest affection. "I want to be able to sing as well as you." She said, without envy. She had never considered that there might be a point in her training when she stopped getting better and never developed true skill. As far as she could tell, all people were born with the great talent of music and you got better at it as you got older. The servants, she knew not why, simply chose not to utilize the gift. She had assumed since the first time the thought occurred to her that it was because they always seemed to be busy with something else; and even if they weren't always busy, the very act of seeming it must take almost as much energy.
Suddenly a bell rang out, and Marie giggled, for she loved the sound. However, footsteps were heard and Colette's nervous hand clamped over her daughter's shoulder, even though her face and posture remained composed. The smile slipped slowly from her face as she looked at Liana, fearing that indeed, she must leave. Quickly, as the bell chimed again, she leaned toward Liana and said so only she could hear: "If I should be gone, take my daughter." Having completed her desperate plea, she lovingly laid her palm upon Liana's cheek and gave her one last affectionate gaze. The bell was silent, and the voices grew ever nearer. "I will do what I can safely do for your plight. Your secret is safe. Come to me disguised if you need to hide." She whispered, and then hurried a quietly protesting Marie up the stairs from the chapel just in time to turn down a side corridor and avoid the boisterous members of the ballet company headed toward the chapel.
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Post by Liana Marceau on Oct 30, 2008 18:33:36 GMT -5
Before today, Liana had not thought it possible to love another soul in an instant. She had believed, until this very moment, that forging a bond as strong as the one she felt now took time and energy on the parts of both of those entering into the bond. It had been that way in all her friendships: the friendship she had with Mori, the new one she had made with Colombina, and of course her friendship with Nicolette. But this little girl, this tiny little creature before her refuted all of that and made the her feel as if the child were her own. There was something about that tiny warm little hand in her own and those large eyes staring up at her she knew she would help her dearest friend take care of this little girl for anything in the world; even if it meant risking her own life. The child was so admiring and sweet. There was something so genuine about her and loving. The trust and care that radiated from this girl just because of a song was astounding. Such innocence was disarming, and Liana had fallen prey to its trap.
But as it was with all good things, the small amount of secret time with her dearest and only friend she could trust had to at this moment come to an end. The bell was chiming and the time to part was now at hand. Both Liana and Colette knew that the sad parting that they had tried to push away was now at hand, but the laughter of the child showed that only the two adults understood the gravity of the situation. With each chime of the heavy bells of Paris, Liana's heart grew heavier, not knowing when, if ever, she would see her dearest friend and the only little girl that would ever hold her heart in an instant. But the bells chimed and the time grew in importance to both the ladies.
With the greatest urgency her friend approached and whispered things far more disturbing than the chime of the bell that made Liana's heart freeze in terror. Why would her dear friend say such a thing. She could understand wanting the best care for her child if anything should happen, but why not the child's father, why her? And why even bring it up? Colette was pale yes, but she seemed well, she had to be well! If she was not well they would have spoken of it. Wouldn't they? Her face twisted into concern Liana nodded with confusion but was twarted out of a single word in response to Colette's hurried last statement before the killjoy clock reared its ugly head once again.
With that it was over. The child and mother fleeing up the stairs from the footsteps of ballet rats and Liana alone, with only the figures of Christ and the colors of the stained glass for comfort. Her friend's words still beat in her head: if I be gone, take my child. Why would she say something like that, why? There had to be more answers. Nicole needed more answers than this. It wasn't fair to leave such a heavy situation like that. She needed to know why such a thing was on her friend's mind. She needed to know how she was supposed to get her child from the grasps of the father. There needed to be more than the simple mandate of: take my child.
The answers would be provided. They had to be provided. Liana needed them to be provided. The Bal Masque. She would corner her friend there, or pass a letter. Things would be resolved at that time. Her father would not be invited so nothing could go wrong. Colette would of course be there, and the child. Oh how she missed the child. She wanted to see her again even at this moment. It was a mystery why she felt such a connection to the small girl, but perhaps it was that Liana felt they were both about to lose one of the greatest loves of their life: a friend and a mother. Perhaps that was why...
The noise of the ballet rats passed and Liana sighed before kneeling and praying for both her mother, and her dear friends, before carefully crossing herself with the greatest piety and walking with quiet pensive footsteps up the stairs. It was strange how this thing that was suppose to bring her such comfort, had only brought her disparity and questions. A small frown took over Liana's lips. Perhaps in time, she thought, they would be solved, until then patience and planning would have to be her comforts.
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