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#Post#: 2179--------------------------------------------------
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 9, 2012, 4:51 pm
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Forgive me for starting yet another story but I'm being bugged
by a long dark haired muse here.
Author's Note : *Disclaimer* - Please know that this is a work
of pure fiction. I'm but a humble writer and I don't make a cent
from these works, I just write them for my own and the enjoyment
of others. I do not mean in anyway to infringe upon the famous
individuals/characters that are mentioned within the work. I
only own the original characters unless otherwise stated. If you
would like to post my work please contact me and I will gladly
grant permission as long as my name is mentioned and the
disclaimer (above) is posted along with the piece. I don't bite,
I promise. :-)
HTML http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh628/mcohen3/loveisamanysplendoredthing1.jpg
HTML http://www.polyvore.com/laurent/set?id=65375015
Summary: (crappiest summary in the history of summaries, so
sorry)
Two sheltered sisters are sent away on a summer holiday to stay
with an aging spinster aunt. Mixed signals are sent to
prospective suitors due to partaking in a wee bit too much
vintage claret. Is it summer love or something more?
#Post#: 2180--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 9, 2012, 4:54 pm
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Here's a better pic of dear Lottie. ( I felt horrid about not
having a good enough shot of her face)
HTML http://www.hungergamestrilogy.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kaya_Scodelario.jpg
#Post#: 2182--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: December 9, 2012, 5:11 pm
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Please, do not apologise! a muses wishes must be granted as and
when, haha.
I love the banner first of all, and the summary shines as well
:D it sounds as though it will be quite a tale to read. The
outfits are beautiful! I was hanging around on Polyvore earlier
and noticed them, but though I would wait a bit to see what they
were for :D Lottie and Margaret are very pretty ladies! I can't
wait for this to begin xD
#Post#: 2197--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 10, 2012, 1:12 am
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I'm sorry this is so short as far as first updates go, forgive
me. I can promise you the next part will indeed be longer. :)
Author's note:
I own absolutely nothing here, I've only borrowed the lovely
Alain and the likeness of dear Lestat. They belong to the great
Robert Louis Stevenson and Anne Rice, respectfully. I do however
own the original characters and feel that if you enjoy my work
please ask me before posting it anywhere else besides this
lovely board. Thank you my dears :)
June Edinburgh, Scotland 1812 (Enroute to Mar Hall Manor)
“When is this blasted carriage ride going to end?"
I thought to myself as I glanced up from my needle point and
looked over at my still napping sister, Lottie. We'd been sent
to spend some time with our older, unmarried Aunt Millicent at
the Mar Hall Manor house, our Mother's former home. Truth be
told our parents were having some sort of coup over the expense
of our joint education and decided it was for the best if Lottie
and I were left under the tutelage of dear Aunt Millicent. The
woman was bit daft but she loved us both dearly and would spoil
us both unmercifully. With our dear Aunt we were given the
liberty to roam the vast estate until dusk and enjoy the use of
the stables for a day or horseback riding. Our Aunt was
everything to us that our Mother wasn't, her own person.
“Are we there yet?”
Came a sleepy query from Lottie as she sat up looked out the
carriage window only to find herself face to face with a rather
handsome blond haired man with sparkling green eyes grinning at
her. The thunder of hooves could be heard right behind the
carriage it seemed as I peeked out of my own window to see a
dashing rider, looking almost like highway man ride up alongside
the blond fellow and motioning for him to ride on before
catching my eye, tipping his hat and thundering off after his
friend.
“What do you suppose they were meaning to do, Maggie?”
Lottie questioned as she picked up her sketchbook and charcoal
and started to sketch something with great enthusiasm. I smiled
in spite of my otherwise grumpy mood, traveling always seemed to
put me in a tail spin. Something about the stale air in the
carriage and the movement didn't sit well with me. Lottie's muse
has returned and it was no doubt in the form of the mysterious
blond haired man astride the white horse. Perhaps she'd found
her Prince? I, on the other hand kept sticking myself with my
embroidery needles left and right as my mind drifted to the
handsome stranger dressed in black whose face was obscured by
that of a black silk kerchief, with the exception of those
dazzling icy blue eyes of course. I found myself waxing poetic
on the color in my mind as the carriage took a sharp right hand
turn. Forget-Me-Not blue, of course! How fitting they should be
the same color as one of my favorite flowers.
“Someone's smitten!”
Lottie giggled in a sing song voice as she finished her sketch
with a grin.
“What? Whatever are you talking about, Lottie? How could I
possibly be smitten?”
“Well, there are those tell tale Forget-Me-Nots you've stitched
into your sampler.”
I looked at her with a prim expression and went back to my handy
work with a slight smile before she continued.
“Not to mention the fact that said sampler is now stitched to
the lower half of your skirts, dear sister.”
I looked down in horror and then held up my embroidery hoop only
to find that Lottie was right, as she often was on such things
thanks to her curious mind and artist's eye for detail. I yanked
the sampler away from my skirts with a small tearing of the
threads and heaved it away from myself as if it were the devil
incarnate.
“You, Margaret Wilimina de Laurent, are smitten with a rogue
highway man. How romantic! Just like one of those novels Mother
always tells me I mustn’t read!”
Before I could even dignify Lottie's statement with an answer
our carriage came to a grinding halt and our presence was
announced as the carriage door swung open. We had arrived to our
destination, Mar Hall Manor. Lottie was the first out of the
carriage and up the great set of stone steps and into the front
receiving area to send her hellos to our dear aunt. I, was busy
trying to enjoy a bit of fresh air to settle my stomach before
going in and presenting myself. Once my stomach quieted I took a
deep breath, or as deep as my stays would allow and made my way
into the manor to say hello to Aunt Millicent. Lord only knows
what Lottie had told her about my incident with the sampler
already. The calm summer breeze blew the scent of honeysuckle
and bluebell on the wind causing me to smile at the thought of
my highwayman. I wondered if I should ever find out his name or
see the rest of his face.
#Post#: 2200--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: December 10, 2012, 8:28 am
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Oh, do not apologise at all for it being short. It makes it all
the more interesting and now I am just dying to read the next
update! that one was perfect and you were very descriptive. I
love it when writers do that! xD it made me feel as though I was
riding in that carriage with them both. And, when they both
spotted two very dashing men on either side when they looked out
of their windows.. well, I just about lost it :3 hehe.
Definitely cannot wait for the next part!
#Post#: 2232--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 12, 2012, 8:01 pm
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Aww! Why thank you my dear! I'm still writing away here so never
fear, haha. There really aren't enough hours in the day to get
done what I set out it seems and it's quite vexing. I shall be
updating soon, if not sometime during the week then most likely
late Friday evening or Saturday, I'm so so sorry to make you
wait! I've included a picture of dear Aunt Millicent in the post
so you can get a feel for her. (So sorry about the size of the
pic, seems a wee bit as I was writing Aunt Millicent in I
always pictured her looking a bit like the lovely Maggie Smith.)
I feel I should also note that along with mass amounts of
alcohol there will be mention of the use of Laudanum, cocaine
aka "snuff", as well as opium, and absinthe. Forgive me but my
muse is pushing for such things and I'm about ready to back him
one if he doesn't quiet down. S
HTML http://www.ciakhollywood.com/oscar/1969/Dame%20Maggie%20Smith.jpg<br
/>
#Post#: 2234--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: December 12, 2012, 8:09 pm
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No apologies necessary!
I love that you have chosen Maggie as Aunt Millicent and I
cannot wait to read more about her. Take as long as you need
with this next update! I have absolutely no room to complain or
anything as such because I make you wait such a long time, and
I'm so sorry. I'm writing as I type this though so you should
have my first Jack story update very soon :D I've taken to
staying awake until I can get back on Tumblr.. I do miss it and
it's quite sad, haha.
#Post#: 2278--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 15, 2012, 1:32 am
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I'm so sorry this is short again! :( I'm trying to pace myself
and I'm afraid I might be dragging a bit. I should also point
out that I by no means am a scholar when it comes to the french
language, if something's spelled wrong or incorrect please, by
all means let me know :)
Two Weeks Later
I longed to go outside in the fresh country air and soak up what
little sunshine I could. I sat perched on the window seat
staring off into space whilst attempting to embroider something
other then my usual Forget-Me-Nots. Lottie had been just as
distracted from her pianoforte lessons as I heard what seemed to
be a slaughtered version of Claire de Lune and a solid thud as
Lottie closed the pianoforte making both a dozing Aunt Millicent
and I jump a bit.
“I can't take it anymore! Aunt Millicent can't we go outside,
please? It's such a lovely day!”
Lottie all but begged as I attempted to untangle myself from my
embroidery threads only to find that I'd stitched my hem again.
I let out a sob as I yanked the offending hoop off and threw it
across the room.
“Come now girls! This is no way for young women of your station
to act! Whatever is the matter my dears?”
Aunt Millicent asked as she attempted to sooth us the best she
could while adjusting her parlor wrap. Lottie and I exchanged
looks and each bit our lips before telling her the story of our
dashing men upon horseback. A twinkle caught Aunt Millicent's
eye as she gave us a smile before sending us out for the day but
not before telling us to wear our bonnets and take our parasols
and wraps. We made the trek across the front yards and into the
gardens where we ambled through the various mazes until we
settled on the inner most part of the maze where the fountain
was found. Perching ourselves upon the edge of the fountain and
watching the streams of light filter through the beads of water
as they shot up into the bright summer sun.
“What do you suppose Aunt Millicent has planned? She got that
twinkle in her eye that Mother was always prattling on about.”
Lottie asked as she dipped a finger into the water making
ripples as I adjusted my bonnet to shade my face from the sun.
“Oh, Mother's always prattling on about things she doesn't
understand or appreciate, Lottie. She never was the happy one of
the family. Perhaps Aunt Milli's planning some sort of dinner
party or something? I say, I'll race you to the outer edge of
the hedges last one there is a rotten egg!”
I dropped my parasol and wrap and took off on foot and turning
to the left as Lottie attempted to keep up yelling after me to
slow down. Just as I'd rounded the last corner leading out to
the winding walking path that lead to the stables I heard the
thundering of horse's hooves that made my heart stop as I turned
to see a large black stallion come rushing at me as it's rider,
in cloak and mask black as pitch swooped down much like a hawk
and seize me about the waist and unceremoniously perched me in
front of him atop the saddle.
“Do you have any idea who I am?! You'll unhand me this instant!”
I shrieked as I tried to get a good look at my captor. I turned
to see those familiar Forget-Me-Not blue eyes that had haunted
me for the past two weeks and had taken over my sampler work. My
head swam as I heard a chuckle from behind the dashing
highwayman's kerchief. The horse promptly veered to the right
and swung back around to another part of pasture on the estate
causing my captor to hold me that much closer. As I got a whiff
of bergamont, lemon, and rosemary along with a slight twinge of
pipe tobacco I was reeling again, my heart fluttered and dots
appeared before my eyes.
“I know precisely who you are my dear Miss de Laurent, I tipped
my hat to you as you and your dear sister arrived to stay with
your dear Aunt. The question dear girl is do you have any idea
who I am?”
I stared at him struck dumb by the richness of his voice and
shook my head.
“Then you shall find out later this evening, Lady de Laurent.”
His words washed over me all but enveloping me with in their
velvet like smoothness before I even realized that we'd come
back to the same spot I'd been all but snatched from and I was
gently set on my feet. A final grad gesture was made as my
highwayman tipped his hat to me for the second time since our
first meeting and thundered off down the lane. I was left
shaking like a leaf in the summer breeze and let out a shriek as
Lottie came up behind me and all but shouted my name.
“We've been looking for you for nearly thirty minutes, Maggie!
Where on Earth did you go? I'd thought the fairies had taken
you.”
“I...I...I saw...him.”
My mind was still reeling as Lottie helped me over to the stone
bench and produced her fan.
“Is your sister alright, Mon Cheri?”
My weary head turned to see a handsome flaxen haired green eyed
man standing before me in the finest silks and satins money
could buy, a small tentative smile playing about his lips as he
looked over at Lottie and I.
“Oh yes, She's fine, I think that perhaps she's had a bit too
much fresh air. Thank you for all of your help, Monsieur de
Babineaux. I expect we shall see you and your mysterious friend
this evening at dinner?”
“Yes, perhaps you will. I bid you good day and farewell for now,
Ladies.”
Lottie and I had just barely made it across the threshold of the
house and we were whisked away by Aunt Mili's ever faithful
servants, Sarah, and Mary into our rooms for a bath and a mid
afternoon nap to keep our spirits up for what Aunt Mili had
planned for later on this evening.
“You don't suppose she's arranged a match making session for us
do you? I knew I never should have made my debut last season!”
Lottie fretted as she took down her hair from the pins and
flopped down on the settee with a look of fright etched into her
pretty face. I propped myself up on my elbows and looked
directly as my fretting sister.
“Charlotte Lucille, you know Aunt Milli would never ever do
that! She's not Mother after all. She's her own person and she
loves us far too much to even think of trying her hand at match
making.”
Truth be told our dear Aunt had quite the experience when she
was younger. Our Grandmother had gotten in touch with the
village match maker and a suitable match was found, or so they
thought. Aunt Milli had always been head strong but also a true
romantic at heart. It's said she waited nearly three hours at
the local church for her husband to be and he never did show up.
It was summed up as a case of cold feet. Dear Aunt Milli was
left heart broken for years after that until she met a dashing
Colonel in the Royal Navy, they'd arranged to marry but our
Grandparents had thought he was below her and refused to consent
to such a match. That was when she made a vow never to marry. I
can't say that I blame her, if your heart can't have what it
wants then perhaps you're better off alone.
“You never know! Remember Celia Blythedale? Her Mother tried it
and now Celia's miserable living in the Cotswolds.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“Celia Blythdale wouldn't be happy anywhere, she's a spoiled
little ninny that needs someone to put her in her place.”
Lottie's mouth hung open at my barage against the sainted Celia
whom I knew for a fact was planning on leaving her husband for
one of his work associates.
“Now, enough talk of match making and that dreaded Blythdale
woman. Get some rest, Lottie, I should think we'll need it.”
An hour later there was a sound rapping at the door and the
voice of our dear Aunt roused us beckoning us to change into our
formal attire and ready ourselves for the evening. As we wrapped
ourselves into our respective dressing gowns and loosely pinned
our hair up we went about the processes of choosing which
dresses to wear. Given the clothes we'd packed our choices were
limitless.
“What about the lovely pink one, Lottie? With the rosebud
pattern?”
Lottie dug through her trunk and found the prized dress and held
it up to herself turning either way.
“I suppose you're right, then pink it shall be. As for you my
dear sister, what about that lilac one? Or, you could go for the
blue one, with the tiny Forget-Me-Not pattern. It seems only
fitting for you've made so many samplers featuring them
already.”
I shot Lottie a look that said a million words before settling
on the aforementioned dress with a sigh. I was always told that
with my dark brown hair and eyes (both of which I couldn't stand
because I thought they made me look plain) that blues, greens,
creams, reds, and oddly enough pale yellow were my colors of
choice so I usually stuck with them. I'd once plucked up the
courage to wear a deep amethyst color only to be reprimanded by
Mother telling me I looked like a woman of ill repute. Father
disagreed and told me I should wear what I wanted to wear.
“Could you help me with my hair? I can't get it to pin the right
way, Maggie.”
Lottie said as she emerged from behind the changing screen
looking a tiny bit nervous.
“Of course, have a seat and I'll see what I can do, Lottie.”
Twenty minutes and many pins later Lottie's hair was finished
and I was attempting to put the final touches on my own hair
style before Aunt Milli swept into the room moving swiftly with
a slight whisper of silk.
“You two look absolutely radiant! We mustn't keep our guest
waiting, girls. They've come a long way just to meet you.”
Before Lottie or I could even exchange worried glances we were
shooed out and down the great sweeping hallway and down the
steps into the parlor where we were standing face to face with a
pair of men who looked quite pleased to see us. The fairer of
the two looked quite familiar and it took me a moment to place
him as the charming man from the gardens who had helped Lottie
try and look for me. Something about that face was familiar. The
other, I couldn't place for the life of me. I found myself
staring at him and wondering why he had such a smirk upon his
face. I looked deep into those eyes and then it hit me like a
swift and sudden spring wind upon the moors. My highwayman was
standing before me, totally unmasked.
“Ladies, I'm pleased to introduce to to you our dinner guests,
Vicomte Alain de Keroul de Saint-Yves and Vicomte Jean-Luc
Saint-James de Babineaux. Gentlemen, may I present to you the
Ladies Margaret and Charlotte de Laurent.”
My mind was tensing like a steel trap and when the spring gave
way my world was reeling as our otherwise gentlemanly and proper
dinner guests bowed before us but not before taking our hands
and each laying a chaste kiss upon them. I could tell by the
merry twinkle in Aunt Milli's eyes we were going to be in for
quite the evening.
Dinner gave way to drinks and drinks gave way to parlor games,
parlor games gave way to a few more drinks thus making Lottie
and I quite flushed thus causing us to make swift use of our
fans. The fine vintage we'd enjoyed all evening made us both a
smidge tipsy but due to our upbringing we both thought it
terribly horrid for ladies such as ourselves to admit to being
in such a drunken state. So, we made the best of it by
attempting to cool ourselves totally forgetting the language in
which our fans spoke for us. My heart was practically in my
throat as I noticed the Vicomte Saint-Yves come toward me.
“Yes, Lady de Laurent? You want to speak to me, privately?”
Drat! Stupid infernal language of the fan!
I thought to myself before dumbly spouting off something or
another of trivial exchange that had been instilled into my mind
as polite conversation.
“Oh, come now, my Lady. You, of all people should have something
much more interesting to say other then that comment on the
weather. I say, are you by any chance interested in horse back
riding? Your Aunt tells me you're quite the rider. Perhaps I'll
have you to the St.-Yves stables sometime.”
My cheeks colored at the undertone of which he was suggesting.
“Vicomte de St.-Yves, don't make promises you can't keep.”
Did I really just say that?! Oh sweet mother of the lord above!
Mother was right, I was nothing but a common woman of ill
repute, and I wasn't even wearing purple!
And a hint as to what the next part holds!
HTML http://www.polyvore.com/painted_faces_on_parade/set?id=65854879#stream_box
#Post#: 2279--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: December 15, 2012, 7:19 am
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This update completes my life, and I really mean that. I want to
say first off that they have a very lovely relationship; they
are very much the best of friends and I only wish I had a
sister. I love my brother, I do, but a sister would be pretty
nice as well for all the girls things, haha.
Both men sound very handsome and wonderful and everything :3 I
am fangirling like a mad woman over that update and I can't
contain myself. I've been very giddy lately, what with all thats
going on, and it's like.. pardon this term, it's like being
given a huge tub of your favourite ice cream when there is
nothing in the house to eat. And I am always asking for ice
cream, of the mint choc chip variety, and this was just like
that ^_^
I'm sorry, my madness is overwhelming. But I truly liked that
update and thank you for sharing the polyvore outfits! Are we to
expect a masked ball of sorts? :3
#Post#: 2281--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: December 16, 2012, 7:25 pm
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Aww! I'm so so so happy you enjoyed it my dear! :D Please, by
all means fangirl away! I'm honored, and I loooooove and I mean
looooooooove mint choc chip ice cream! :D I'm still writing away
and I'm so so sorry I didn't update yesterday or this evening.
I've got a million and one things going on but you will be
getting an update very soon, if not by Christmas. :D Yes indeed,
there is a masked ball in Lottie and Maggie's future. :D
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