Hey everyone. So this is the second chapter of my story, first chapter can be found here:
post679790.html#p679790
You don't really need to read the first chapter, though it would help.
It's kind of long, but broken up into four parts, so feel free only to comment on one or two if you wish.
~~~~~~
It was a gusty, rainy day in Paris. Jacqueline Bouvier walked against the wind down a wealthy residential street. Victorian houses lined the road on either side, standing tall in the face of the harsh weather.
Jacqueline turned onto a side street and continued walking. The heavy rain made it difficult to see into the distance, though she could tell she was alone on the street. She walked to the side door of a majestic white house and shivered before knocking twice. Within a few moments the door opened.
A young man of around twenty stood at the door, wearing the neat yet tellingly plain clothes of the help. He had dark hair, kind eyes, and a serious expression that mirrored Jacqueline’s own. The young man gave her a smile but no greeting as he ushered her out of the rain and into the house.
They stood in a type of ante-room to the kitchens. It featured two ovens and a blazing fire; together they warmed the small space and gave it a homey atmosphere. A number of wooden tables and chairs stood about, and the young man directed Jacqueline to the seat nearest the fire.
They sat down across from each other and neither spoke for a long moment. The fire roared next to Jacqueline and she could feel its heat gradually starting to reach her frozen body. She looked at the young man across from her, quietly drumming his fingers against the table, and gave a small sigh.
“So,” she began, her voice confident and inquisitive.
“So,” the man echoed unsurely.
“What news?”
The man sighed as well. “Mr. Léon has a lady ‘round fairly often. She came by, say, five, six times in the last two weeks. I’m sure they’re to be engaged soon.”
“What’s her name?”
“Reece. A mademoiselle Caroline Reece.” He looked to Jacqueline to see if the name meant something to her but she simply nodded for him to continue. “The master of the house... left for the south a few days ago. Story is he’s visiting his sister in Auxerre. The way he left, though, there was something odd about it. Received a letter by the morning post and immediately made arrangements to leave by midday. Hurried about, writing letters and such, and left within two or three hours. I have reason to think he’s actually in Orléans, but I couldn’t tell you why.”
He stopped talking, glancing again at Jacqueline. This news was surely significant, but again her face expressed nothing.
“I’m sure Mademoiselle Dupont will find value in that. And Mr. Victor? He’s still in Aquitaine?”
Surprise showed on the young man’s face. “No, not Aquitaine. Bretagne.”
“I see. Anything else?”
“No, nothing of value.” He looked tired as he continued, “I still don’t understand how she finds any of this useful. Aren’t Durand and Charles Dupont allies anyway?”
Jacqueline noted the circles under his eyes and the weariness of his expression. He was an honest, quiet young man, and she knew his task troubled him at times. Nonetheless, he knew his duty and could be relied upon. She smiled kindly.
“Fortunately, it is not your job to understand, Lucas, only to provide.”
He nodded knowingly and opened his mouth to speak when a sound came from the door that led into the rest of the house. Its handle jiggled in its lock from the other side, and Lucas jumped at the sound. Jacqueline made no movement but sat rather stiffly in her seat.
The door handle moved some more but the lock held, and then three knocks sounded. They both remained plastered to their chairs until all went quiet.
After a few moments Jacqueline spoke. “You do know that would’ve been the end, if someone had walked through that door?
“Yes, yes I know,” he replied, his voice weary.
For a few seconds they both just stared into the fire roaring at their side. Then Jacqueline stood up.
“Well, if that’s all...?”
“Yes. That’s it.” He stood up as well. “I’ll work on finding out more about Durand’s trip.”
“Good.”
He walked her the few yards to the door and opened it for her. The rain continued to pour outside and a chilly gust of air blew into the room, reminding Jacqueline just how cold she had been moments before.
Lucas looked out into the rain and then back at her.
“Take care of yourself, Jacqueline,” he said, reminding her simultaneously of the years they used to know each other and the fact that he was actually older than herself.
She smiled up at him. “You too.”
He smiled back, but it did not reach his eyes.
Jacqueline stepped back out into the blundering grey haze of the rainy Paris day.
~~~~~~~~
Jacqueline walked back home to the townhouse. The front door was unlocked, as it always was in daytime, and she made her way through it and in past the drawing room. Her clothes and hair were drenched from the rain, and the rooms were barely warmer than outside. The kitchens would be warm, though. She headed for their sanctuary.
Outside the door to the kitchens, Jacqueline paused at the sound of voices – an argument.
“You are not to go near her, do you hear me?” The voice of Marie, the forty-something cook.
“I can take care of myself, Mother.” An insolent adolescent voice – Louis, her son. A rather arrogant young man, he had just arrived the previous day and was to live at the house with them now.
“No, you can’t. And you don’t know this girl. You don’t understand this girl. She ruins people.”
“It’s not like I’m expecting to court her, Mother. I know our place. Fine, I’ll stay away from her if it’ll really make you happy.”
“No, it won’t, because you’re not listening to me. Did you hear what I said? She ruins people. Have you heard of Sophia Martin? Did you hear how she was ruined?”
“She ruined herself, Mother. Well, she and that boy. Adèle didn’t do anything.”
Marie’s voice got quieter, almost indecipherable through the door. “No. That was her. That was her doing.”
Her son’s voice lowered as well. “And how exactly did she do that?”
A pause. “You don’t understand her. And you shouldn’t try to. She lies, she manipulates. She doesn’t feel. You are to tread carefully whenever you’re around her. And if you can help it, try not to be around her at all, do you hear me?”
Not a bad description of Adèle, Jacqueline thought, though in reality Marie knew next to nothing. She wondered how Marie knew about Sophia Martin.
Having heard enough, Jacqueline opened the door.
The two had been standing near one the counters used for cooking. At Jacqueline’s entrance, they froze and stopped talking.
Louis just stared at her, looking alarmed. Even he knew her position.
Marie did not appear frightened, only wary. She and Jacqueline had lived and worked together for years. She knew Jacqueline wouldn’t pass on anything she may have heard, and even if she did, she knew Adèle wouldn’t find much interest in it. But it was still not good to be caught speaking poorly of Adèle Dupont, especially by Jacqueline Bouvier. The two women exchanged a long glance.
“You do know Miss Adèle will be arriving home this evening, Marie?” Jacqueline asked pointedly.
Louis stood by, watching their exchange with his mouth agape.
“Yes, of course. I will prepare the lamb.”
“That would be lovely,” Jacqueline said, and she continued walking to take a seat next to the fire.
~~~~~~~~
A few hours later Jacqueline sat in a plush armchair in one of the two studies. Adèle, who had arrived the previous hour, walked through the open door, closed it behind her, and took a seat nearby.
“Jacqueline,” she said as she sat down.
“Adèle.” Jacqueline matched her solemn tone with a faint mockery.
Adèle laughed charmingly, as was her custom. “Oh Jacqueline, Jacqueline,” she said, looking out at the window to her right. “Whatever will I do with you.”
Jacqueline said nothing. The question was rhetorical, and Adèle had little tolerance for people of unnecessary words.
Adèle continued staring out at the rain, which was still falling outside. “Have you been anywhere of interest lately?” she asked.
“I went to Durand’s this morning,” Jacqueline said, and related all that Lucas had told her.
There was a pause while Adèle took it all in. “Durand has certainly become sure of himself,” she said, smiling.
“You know what he’s up to?”
“I have an idea.” The rain poured loudly from outside. “Caroline Reece...” Adèle gave a harsh laugh but did not continue.
There was another pause before Adèle spoke again. “That was all he told you?”
“That was it.”
“I want you to visit Lebrun’s next.”
Jacqueline simply nodded. “How did everything go in Reims?”
“Well enough. Successful.” Adèle said. “For me, at least,” she added. “Not so for others.”
Jacqueline wondered what was so interesting in the rain, and joined Adèle in looking at it through the window.
“My father is arriving home later this evening.”
“Tonight? From Reims?” Jacqueline asked, surprised.
“Tonight, yes.”
“I’ll let the house know.”
“If you must.”
~~~~~~~~~
Late that same night, Adèle and her father sat in the study. After they had exchanged greetings, Adèle spoke.
“Did everything go as planned in Orléans?”
“Enough so,” Dupont replied. He was still dressed in his traveling clothes, and despite his journey and the late hour, he did not seem tired at all. He possessed the air of a man always moving, always alert. “Lebrun and Simon are being difficult.”
“Ah. And how are things progressing along the front?” she asked, referring not so much to the fate of the army as to the politics behind it.
“Uncertain to tell as of yet. I’ll need your help with those matters, as it turns out.”
“In what way?”
“I’ll need you to take care of someone, again.”
Adèle waited for the name.
“...François Perrot.”
“François? You want me to kill Jesus?” she asked, shocked yet slightly amused.
“You were already going to hell, Adèle,” her father said, smiling.
Adèle laughed. “Don’t I know it.”
The storm continued to rage outside.
