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| A day as my Sister |
Part 4
Written by: Francoise
�What a girl!� the young man thought while he took another sip from his cup.
He had been watching his fianc�e about one hour during the formal tea time, which the General arranged to bring the two young people a bit closer together.
Everything at the elfish creature, who seems to be bored sitting this long time in front of him at the small, filigree table, was different compared to the young aristocratic women he came across until now.
She seemed to be vacantly, looking through the big window into the sun-drenched garden.
�Hm, hm�� the General coughed to crave attention.
Jacqueline turned her head to face her father.
�Well, I hope your father will be recovered from this illness soon. Please wish him a quick recovery, son! But what�s with you Jacqueline? You�re so quiet today? Why didn't you tell your fianc� a bit about you? I�m sure he�s eager to learn more about you!�
Oscar in Jacqueline�s body shuddered at the thought. �Damn it to hell! What should I tell him about me? What did I know about Jacqueline�s life? We have absolutely nothing in common. She�s a perfect little doll that my father is very proud of. I�m not like this; I�m the heir of this family! I�m a man! I could tell him a lot about Andr�s interests because we share everything and every minute in our lives. But about Jacqueline?�
She took a deep breath and answered: �I�m sure, father, that you already told my fianc� a lot about me. I don�t want to bore him. Maybe he could ask me the things he wants to know about me?�
With these words she turned her head to the young Bouille and looked bashfully at the ground, like it surely beseems for a young girl like her.
Now she was very proud of herself. She could behave like a young woman if this was necessary! Oscar had to restrain a grin.
Francois Claude de Bouille seemed to be surprised at her unexpected feminine behavior, he swallowed: �General de Jarjeyes, if you don�t mind, I will ask Mademoiselle Jacqueline to accompany me for a walk through your beautiful garden. It will be good to stretch the legs a bit after the hours in the carriage and I�m sure Mademoiselle will enjoy the sun too.�
He smiled politely at the General.
Oscar looked up. �Good turn, man!� she thought. �It will be easier to play this role if I�m not under the observing eyes of my father who knows Jacqueline too good not to get suspicious.�
The General was baffled. �Should it be so easy?� He thought and looked from the young man to his daughter, who looked like she could hardly wait to follow the invitation to go into the garden. �Fine then.� he smiled pleased.
�That�s a great idea, son! The weather is nice today and I�m sure you both will enjoy a little walk outside. Nanny can accompany you!�
�Oh� the young man said politely, �I thought you could accompany us?�
The General wagged his head slightly and stood up. �I�m sorry, but my presence will be expected tonight at the court, I have to prepare a lot for this! But I think you two will have a lot to talk about, even without me!�
Francois Claude de Bouille also stood up and raised his hand into Jacqueline�s direction to help her up. �Shall we?�
But Jacqueline was already gone.
She was halfway at the door and looked back like she was wondering where he was. �Are you coming?�
Francois was stunned. �I think with her, I should only expect the unexpected!� He smiled slightly and followed her.
Andre and Jacqueline in Oscar�s body squatted behind the banister in the great hall and watched as Oscar, her father and the young Bouille finally re-entered the great hall.
Jacqueline was surprised. Her father looked pleased. Could it be possible that Oscar showed a good, a feminine behavior during the last hour?
�What do you think?� she whispered to Andre. �It seems like Oscar can behave like a girl!�
Andre smirked. �I�ll make sure she won�t forget that! Ahhh.....!�
�You silly boy! Hanging around here instead helping in the stables!�
A furious Nanny stood behind the both of them, spanked Andre with her spoon.
�You know that Mademoiselle Oscar had to accompany her father tonight at the court. She needs time to prepare herself!�
She turned to face Jacqueline in Oscar�s body. �Honey, why didn't you go upstairs to change dresses? I sent you a maid to help you! And you...� she said to Andre, �stand up, you snotty brat!�
Jacqueline stiffed. �To the court? Tonight and as Oscar?? Damn it! That isn�t good!� she thought. She looked seeking for help in Andr�s direction but he was already gone.
Nanny pulled him at his now reddish ears down the stairs.
�Nanny!� the General shouted when he entered the great hall. �Where is that woman?�
At this moment, Nanny appeared at the bottom of the stairs, Andre, with an alarming reddened ear, still behind her. �Yes, Master?�
�The young master and Jacqueline want to make a walk through the gardens. You accompany them! And you...� he turned to look at Andre. �Quick! Go to the stables and tell the hostler to prepare my carriage for tonight!�
Jacqueline, still at the top of the stairs, watched, as first Andre hurried in the direction of the stables and then Nanny, who left behind Francois Claude de Bouille and Oscar.
She sighed. That was getting complicated!
�Ah, my son!�
She startled to see the General, who stood now right in front of her. She didn't hear him getting up the stairs.
�What are you doing here? Hurry up, son, this night can be very important for your subsequent career. You have to make a lasting impression at the court! I see you in one hour!�
�This IS getting complicated!� Jacqueline thought as she hurried up to Oscar�s rooms.
The sunset glow converted the garden into a surreal place. The wind whispered through the leaves of the big oak tree.
�I think it will be better if we return to the maison, its getting cold.� Francois said as he gently placed his jacket on Oscar�s bare shoulders.
�Right� she muttered, still grumbling about Jacqueline. �Why, for the everlasting hell, does this dumb Dora have to wear an off-the-shoulder gown? This was sooo impractical!� She was getting a cold and couldn�t show the young Bouille the birds nest, she discovered the last week with Andre.
�Ah, the story about your goldfish Francoise was very amusing.� the young Bouille said, still smiling to himself, as they finally reached the maison. �Please show it to me tomorrow!�
�Sure, tomorrow I can show you our horses, too and we can make a little race?�
�But Jacqueline!� Nanny shouted outraged. �You sounded like your little sister! That doesn't beseem for a young woman like you! What should the young master think about you?�
�Nanny, please, don�t compare me with Jacque....ehm...Oscar!�
The young Bouille repressed a smile and cleared his throat. This girl was a miracle to him. The whole time she told him about her pet, the goldfish, her younger sister she seems to adore, her childhood.
She was trapped in this society like him, longing for more liberty.
�Madame Glaces, please, I don�t mind if women are used to ride horses. And I will be glad to accompany Mademoiselle for a ride tomorrow!�
�But Master...� Nanny stumbled in surprise.
Bouille turned to face Oscar. �Mademoiselle? Thank you for this pleasant afternoon! Now it�s time to prepare ourselves for the dinner I think.�
He looked at Nanny, which showed a nod of assent.
�I�m looking forward to see you at dinner, young lady! Goodbye!� And with these words he bowed slightly and took Oscar�s hand and placed a kiss on it.
Oscar looked shocked at her hand. What the hell�?
�Ehm, yeah...bye!� she stumbled and ran away from them, towards her rooms.
She stopped at halfway, realizing that she has to go to Jacqueline�s rooms, to not make Nanny suspicious.
�Damn!� she shouted after she reached the room and shut the door behind her. �What was that?! That wasn�t the deal! I�m a man! Men don't give hand kisses among themselves!�
She stamped up and down, still staring at her hand.
�What a stupid idea! Me as Jacqueline! And I thought he could be a worthy adversary, maybe for fencing. I�m glad Andre wasn�t there! He wouldn�t let me forget that for my entire life!�
She stopped abruptly and looked down.
Okay, she had to change dresses for dinner, which was annoying even so necessary. But, for heavens sake, how should she come out of this...thing?
�Nanny?�
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