There was an accident, and one of his grooms was killed, and he never hunted at all after that, and would not allow me to learn to ride until after he had passed away. But he did not enjoy any physical activities. He was very portly. Like I am.
*now she feels awful for having asked and wishes that she hadn't brought it up either*
I am so sorry, that must have been terrible. I had no idea that had happened to him, I can understand why he would want to avoid it after that.
*she pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful*
But is it not better to be a more substantial person to do those kinds of things? If someone as slight as me were to attempt them I would not be strong enough I am sure.
I would love to! Are you sure I won't be in your way?
*she's thrilled that he's asking her to come and see something he's interested in, but she wants to be sure that she's not going to be in the way. She's already made enough of a mess today in her opinion*
That is good, I am sure I will be in for quite the scolding from the Comtesse for coming back so filthy today. I do not wish to have to repeat it any time soon, although it would be worth it.
[He looks thoughtful. He halts his horse near another puddle, and dismounts into it. He scoops up handfuls of gunk and smears his hunting habit with it.]
We will tell her it was my fault: that you were only helping me, and I soiled your clothing.
*she halts her horse when he does, watching curiously as he gets off of it. Her eyes widen when he purposefully gets himself dirty and she gasps*
Louis! *she swings her leg over the side of the horse and slides off of it, walking over to him and standing near the puddle* You didn't have to do that. I have been scolded by her before and I certainly will many times over again.
*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.]
*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*
*She doesn't mind if he stares at all, she was just worried about him. She smiles and looks relieved when he says he's all right*
I'm glad, I was worried.
*When he comments on what she's wearing she smiles again and laughs a little*
Thank you! I really do like it myself, it is a great deal easier to move around in. Even if it was quite the trial to convince the Comtesse de Noailles that it was not completely indecent for the Dauphine to wear this.
*she nods her head, moving over carefully to look at the horse. She holds her hand out to it and pets the top of it's head*
It is. She is just perfect, thank you for choosing her for me. I am afraid I would have been hopeless at the task myself *she smiles over at him* Does she have a name?
[He has no idea what his face looks like sometimes. And it's probably for the best.
Louis summons up all of his tact. Every last drop.]
You look...far decent-er than I.
[And then he makes himself very busy patting his mount's neck so no one can see how red he is. His hunting party is very politely ignoring them. They're good men, all.]
You just looked slightly unsteady, that is all. I didn't want you to continue with the ride for my sake if you were not feeling up to it.
*She debated just ignoring the question or possibly brushing it off, but that didn't seem fair. She really was worried that he was sick or something and she really would have felt terrible if he had continued with the ride because she was there.
She giggles a little when he says that, and is rather pleased by it*
Thank you, but try telling the Comtesse that. She told me it was scandalous and I may as well be prancing about in my nightgown.
*Good men indeed. Good men who will probably be telling their wives all about this later and then it will be all over the palace by the afternoon.
She smiles again and gestures for one of the grooms to come over to help her onto the horse*
That's a wonderful name. It suits her well since she's such a beautiful colour.
*the man approaches and help her up onto the horse. It takes her a moment to get herself adjusted properly, as she is generally used to riding a horse sidesaddle and not astride like she is now*
There, goodness it is much easier to do this without skirts on.
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