sixwordstories | (no subject)

[Seated on his horse, but only paying attention to one thing.]

*It had been hard for her to get up that early, but she'd insisted her ladies wake her and not allow her to sleep in. She'd though Noailles would have a complete fit when she was dressed in her riding outfit, especially when she'd put the breeches and boots on. She'd never felt quite so free before, and the fact that she didn't have to wear a corset was a big part of that. She'd even insisted on a hat to go with the ensemble, with a feather sticking out of it and gold braid for trim.

She'd done her best not to burst out laughing at all the curious glances and outright stares as she'd made her way through the hallways. She had a feeling that people were going to be gossiping about her and what she was wearing for quite some time now but she didn't care. At that moment she was just hoping she'd gotten up early enough that no one was going to be made late by her.

When she reached the area outside where everyone was gathered she was vaguely dismayed to see most of the riders already on their horses and clearly anxious to depart. She almost goes into a curtsy as she approaches, but realizes she can't since she's not wearing skirts and she can't help but laugh a little at that*

Good morning! *she smiles and looks up at him on his horse, pleased to see how calm he looks* My sincerest apologies if I have kept everyone waiting. I did not intend that at all and I'm glad that you didn't leave without me.

[Here's one more outright stare, although it's not at all disapproving. Louis does look like he might topple off his horse at any second, and he is breathing very unattractively through his mouth, but his half-lidded eyes are unusually bright and a little glassy. She is so graceful; even without her voluminous skirts she appears to float when she walks. And, just as it had at the opera, the world has bent and parted at her very whim. And she does not seem to have any idea that it has done so at all. She is so kind, even reality hopes to please her.]

Not at all, Madame.

[He nods at the unmounted horse beside him.]

Will you join us?

*she notices the stare, but she's putting it down to the fact that she does look rather strange right now, dressed in what is technically men's clothing. She'd gotten quite a few stares walking there after all, and she didn't expect any different when she got there. She does tend to be rather graceful regardless of what she has on though, and that was one of the things even her mother had always praised her on.

She does notice that he looks that way and frowns a little at it. She steps closer to him and speaks very quietly so that everyone doesn't overhear her*

I'm glad I did not inconvenience anyone, but are you sure you are all right?

*She's worried that he might be ill or something, usually when he's around his horses he's very focused and it's not like him to look as though he's about to topple off of one*

[Realizing she has caught him staring, he quickly glances down at his horse's withers. He fiddles with his reins.]

Yes.

[He clears his throat.]

Your outfit is very...appropriate.

[The shape of her body is enticingly clear, and at the same time: she seems less fragile than usual.]

I hope your horse is to your liking?