December, 1792

[renegadeheart]

Sir Percy is away on pressing 'business in his Derbyshire estate' these last few days, and so Marguerite, conveniently, has the run of the Richmond Manor in order to prepare for this, her first visitation from her Language Instructor.

With the aid of her devoted maid Lucie, Marguerite secured the lesser ballroom - the one that happens to be closest to my lady's personal rooms - and arranged for them to be locked up and intruded on by no one without Lucie first announcing their presence to the women within.

The servants of Blakeney Manor are already used to their Master's strange eccentricities and impulsive excursions. The only real oddity here is that his French wife should have taken a whole year before exhibiting her own private madnesses. Lucie, at least, can be trusted to be discreet.

Everything prepared, Marguerite rises before breakfast and ventures into the magical bar of Milliways, in order to return with her new tutor.

Comments

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya had 'ordered' some early regency clothing about a week prior to their first lesson in order to get used to moving about it in. Besides blending in, it was pointless to teach a young woman to 'fight' in regency clothing if she herself was still in modern gear, and so learning how to move in it was detrimental. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be, provided the clothing was as simple as it could be. She did not that foot work would be limited from the skirts, and the corset hampered upper body movement, but it was nothing she couldn't work around given time.

She'd actually recieved a 'memo' from bar when she stepped down that morning, so when Marguerite arrived in that bar that day, Sonya was already dressed, a bag of language books and supples on the table and some mats rolled up next to her chair.

[renegadeheart]

"Lieutenent Blade," Marguerite says effusively as she catches sight of her intended target, immediately heading that way. "You look completely charming!"

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

That was actually a nice thing to say-considering she felt more like a girl playing dress up.

Sonya stood from the table, hever sack with books and papers over her shoulder, and rolled up straw mats over the other.

"I feel rather out of place, but then I just tell myself that it's to blend it. Just lead the way."

[renegadeheart]

Marguerite wouldn't be the darling of London society if she didn't know how to say the right thing. She inclines her head.

"I can assure you that you won't be out of place in Blakeney Hall when it is just the two of us. If you're ready, we can go straight there. Will you need any help with your heavy bag?"

The door opens right out into the hallway of Blakeney Manor, which is currently empty.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya gave the mats an extra heft to make sure they were secure: they were.

"I'm good, I lifted heavier bundles than this." And under worse circumstances.

She followed her through the 'doorway', into the hall, getting an idea of the place.

[renegadeheart]

Nevertheless, a woman carrying such a heavy burden is such an alien situation for Marguerite, she'd never have considered it. She doesn't give the event a second glance though, sweeping through into her hall.

Blakeney Manor is an exquisite residence even by the standards of the time: Sir Percy and Lady Blakeney have a well deserved reputation for having the finest of tastes and not a penny of his large fortune has been spared in making their home a suitable abode in which to host the Prince of Wales, on his not infrequent visit to his friends.

Marguerite glides across her hall with all the grace of a hostess in her natural environment, leading the way through the manor towards the ballroom near her rooms. Lucie is there already, and bobs a curtesy to milady and her guest.

"I'll fetch the tea, Ma'am," she says, stealing a furtive (and impressed) look at Sonya's burden as she leaves under Marguerite's grateful smiles, before Lady Blakeney turns back to her guest.

"Will this room suit our purposes, do you think?"

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

It may've been strange, but bound up the bundle weighted thirty pounds and was clumsy to boot. For Sonya to have to carry something that weight was nothing, but she wasn't sure if Marguerite could carry them without pulling a muscle.

She gave a small nod to the servant before looking around the room.

"It works." They really didn't require much, just a lot of room, and the chairs on the side of the wall would be used for the language lessons. "We'll start with the language course first."

[renegadeheart]

"Oh, good." Marguerite says, turning to make sure the door is closed. "Then I will have something to show for the first session when Percy asks me."

She gives one of her dazzling smiles and gestures towards an area where a table has been left by two chairs. "Please instruct me, Lieutenant."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

The table would make things even more easier.

"I have what we need right here." She gestured to the bag as she made her way over to the table, setting the mats up by the wall.

"We'll start with some common phrases: hello, how're you, and so forth." She took a seat and started pulling out a few books as well as some notebooks and pens. "And in between them, I'll be assigning you some excercises and phrases for you to learn."

Given the random time spans of the bar, it wouldn't do for her to forget things between lessons.

[renegadeheart]

"Of course," Marguerite says, taking a seat at the table, upon which she rests her hands, eager to learn. Lucie brings tea at around this time, although according to Marguerite's wishes that this take place before breakfast, there is no cake or sweetbreads to go with it.

"I shall apply myself to the lessons between our meetings with all my attention."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Considering the differences in time frame between here and milliways, I'd expect nothing less."

Sonya noted the lack of food on the service tray, not sure if it meant this wasn't a social call-because it wasn't-or if Lady Blakeney was aware that food plus excercise wasn't the best thing.

She handed her a 'script' with the russian phrases and english translations.

"Let's begin."

In between cups of tea, the next half hour was spent with Sonya teaching her simple but common phrases, as well as prouncations and the sounds of the letters.

[renegadeheart]

Marguerite has an ear for language, and she handles the pronunciations skilfully, with some hesitation over the letter sounds, which improves quicky over the half hour. Her quickness with the language mirrors her own skill with English, which she speaks with an accent, but easily.

Every timme she makes a mistake, she laughs at herself. "I can see I'll have a lot of work with this."