Immortal Beauty (21 page)

Why was he at the Comtesse’ home in Paris? Maybe she was helping to protect him from some fresh new violent outbreak in the city. She didn’t have time to mull things over. The time for thinking was past and she rang for Honorine shaking the velvet cord in a terrified manner which sent off a series of bells in the home. Ripping off her wig she grabbed a cloth and began wiping off the heavy layers of make up that she had so recently applied with such skill. A few moments later the servant came to her door and gave out a cry as she saw Helene practically ripping the dress from her body.

“Mademoiselle! What on earth is happening? Are you alright?” The woman was clearly frightened to see Helene in such a state.

“Honorine you must help me. There has been a change of plans. I must go to Paris now disguised as a maid and you must help me.” The panic was dripping off of every word. She read the letter out loud to Honorine who gasped and sighed at the contents. Then, gaining control of herself the large woman squared her shoulders back and began to unhook the myriad of buttons on the back of Helene’s gorgeous dress.

“Don’t you worry Miss. Everything will turn out just fine. It’s just a simple change of plans.” Her hands worked deftly at the bodice.

“A simple change of plans? Honorine I have to become a servant! I don’t even know where to begin!” She was crying now and desperately wanted to feel safe again in Etienne’s arms.

“You leave that up to me Miss. If there’s one thing I know something about it’s how to be a proper servant. You just act like me, maybe with a little less attitude and I’ll take care of your appearance. You have to admit it is a very clever plan. Etienne has found a way to get you safely into Paris. Once I’m finished with you you’ll have nothing to fear. You’ll be safer than you are now I’m telling you that. I’ve been hearing terrible talk in the kitchen. Yes, I think you’re young Etienne has found a brilliant way to spirit you off into safety. The words of the older woman had a calming effect on Helene. “Besides I’m going with you so I will make sure that no harm comes to my lady.” She laid the barely worn gown on the bed and smoothed out a few wrinkles lovingly. “You are going to be my daughter and we are going to the Comtesse D’Aumont’s home looking for employment. It will be simple. You don’t even have to say a word.”

Helene stood there in her lace undergarments in a daze until her maid’s voice commanded her to action. “Now get the rest of that make up off and I’ll go find you the proper clothes. I think Marie’s will fit you just right.” Honorine left her mistress for the moment and Helene suddenly felt strong for the first time since all of this madness had begun. These were desperate times and now she was involved in a desperate masquerade. She made herself smile and thought that in a year from now she would be telling this amusing story to her friends and they would all be shocked and laugh at how Helene Corbet had dressed herself up like a maid to get into the heart of Paris. She picked up the letter one more time and read it again thoroughly. She still couldn’t figure out how Etienne had gotten himself trapped in Paris. It didn’t matter now. She took the letter and threw it into the fireplace where the soft glow fanned into a bright flame for a few seconds as the only piece of evidence of the affair between the young lovers.

They made it into Paris with no incident. The weather was turning colder and Helene was used to her furs and many layers of clothing to keep her warm. She shivered as the wind tore through the streets with no mercy. There were signs of chaos everywhere. Storefronts were burned and she thought she saw blood spattered on one of the walls. The worst thing was the smell. It was the odor of death and decay and she kept her hand over her nostrils to prevent herself from breathing in the foul air.

“Come along Miss. Don’t dawdle, we have work to do!” Honorine commanded her as if she really were watching out for her daughter. As long as Helene kept her mouth shut nobody would hear the unmistakable accent of class and position which would have betrayed her in an instant. “We still have a bit of a walk before us.” She grabbed Helene roughly by the wrist and pulled her along. Helene thought she might be taking the role a bit too seriously. She played along and kept her eyes downward and adopted a subservient manner as her other maids did. Honorine seemed pleased with this and ushered the young woman down the street. They walked along the Seine whenever possible even though it was far colder at least the smell along the river wasn’t as bad. Helene decided she could endure the cold more than she could the stench of humanity and at that moment she realized just how spoiled and aimless her entire existence had been. She thought she was a friend of the people but she had no idea the things they had to endure and today she was getting her first glimpse which had the same effect of a strong slap across her cheek. All over Paris people were starving as the gaunt lifeless faces proved that to Helene. So many people had little clothing to protect themselves and countless of them were missing teeth and she couldn’t believe the stench! It was unbearable to think that people lived like this. There were children in the street corners huddled together to keep warm. Once they passed an angry mob carrying all sorts of crude weaponry made out of farming tools and sticks and such. They were intent on some mission and never even glanced in their direction though Honorine, ever protective of her charge shooed themselves away from the hundreds of men and women who were marching down the street. Something big was happening. Honorine knew that violence would erupt in the city any minute now and was anxious to be off the cold and cruel streets of Paris. They didn’t have much farther to go for the Rue Varenne was just off to the right and she pushed Helene gently through the crowded fairway. They could hear shouting from the distance and it sounded like “Death to the King!”. This frightened Helene more than anything else did. If the people had no respect for the King what would they think of her? She had to make it to the D’Aumont chateau to get to Etienne. Only he could save her from all this madness. Only he had remained calm in the midst of all the disruptions that had come into their pampered lives. She could see the huge house behind a gate. Madame D’Aumont was known as a friend to the philosophers and the artists. That was how it was possible for her to still live in the city. It was said that she invited the traitors to the royal family into her salon so they could plot and plan without being caught. It was she that harbored the most dangerous rogue criminals of the court. Helene did not really know her at all, she just knew the things that were said about this new Comtesse who had shown up in Paris out of nowhere with more money than anyone could count. She had a vague story of her family lineage and all the papers to prove it but she had never gained entrance into the court. Versailles had turned down every petition she handed them even though they were full of bribes and promises. Nothing seemed to work which only made Madame D’Aumont try even harder. She was talked about and even considered a figure of fun at Versailles. Madame D’Nobody was her nickname. She carried on with all the airs of the upper class but was utterly lacking in the feminine arts and the submissive gentleness of the women of class. She was outspoken and brazen and so very sure of herself. It was this more than anything else that barred her from the inner circles. How Etienne found himself in her midst was beyond Helen except that he had a kind heart and was always giving money to the poor and handing out his old clothing and trinkets that meant nothing to him any longer and meant so much more to someone who had nothing. A pair of his cuff links could feed an entire family for a week he had told her only recently. Maybe it was their concern for the common man that led Etienne to this mysterious woman. Possibly they were engaged in some good will mission when Etienne found himself trapped in Paris. She would find out soon enough. She began to walk up to the front gate when Honorine stopped her.
“Young Miss! Just what do you think you are doing? We’ve got to go around to the back like everyone else!” She pulled at Helen’s worn sleeve and yanked her away from the footmen at the entrance. For a moment Helene had forgotten everything almost placing them at risk. They hurried around to the back door where they were greeted by the femme de manage.

“What do you want?” She looked up and down at the two women at her kitchen door. She was tall and thin and looked as if she hadn’t eaten in a week with her pallid cheeks all sunken in. She was a stern and frightening looking woman.

“Look here. Madame D’Aumont is expecting us. This here is the Comtesse Helene Corbet of Passy.” Honorine pointed to Helene.

“And I’m the Queen of France! Pleased to meet your royal highness.” The severe looking woman broke out into hoarse laughter. The thought that this woman could even venture a smile was a stretch let alone the gut wrenching guffaw that fell from her lips. “If it’s work you want why don’t you just say so instead of making up some fancy story. Come on in your majesties. The Mistress is looking for two scrubwomen so you might just be in luck but I’d skip the fancy joke on her..she wouldn’t find it as funny as I did.” She led them into a large and warm kitchen and Helene sighed with relief. They had made it safely inside and the smell of the streets was turning into a nasty memory. All she needed now was Etienne. The woman of the house kept eyeing them suspiciously. “Don’t move and for God’s sake don’t touch anything. I’ll go get my lady.” She hurried out of the kitchen and Helene looked at Honorine and the two of them burst out laughing.

“Oh Miss what an adventure! Just wait till that smug woman finds out who you really are. She’ll be begging you for forgiveness and mercy! I can’t wait to see the look on her face!” Honorine was highly amused and her skilled eye was peering into every corner of the kitchen to see how it was run and what fancy machines they had in Paris. Satisfied that it didn’t hold a candle to her own kitchen she returned her attention to Helene. “Are you alright Miss?”

“I’m fine Honorine. It’s just been such a shock seeing the streets of Paris like that. I heard the rumors but I had no idea how bad things really were. I’m so relieved to finally be away from that nightmare! I need a bath immediately and so do you. We have to get this stench off of us, I can’t bear it a moment longer.” Helene wanted so badly to sit down but was paralyzed by the stern woman’s admonishment not to move. She would wait for the lady of the house. She did not have to wait long. At the sound of the door opening Helene turned to see the most magnificently dressed creature she had ever laid her eyes upon. A mass of bright red hair was piled high on top of her head in a direct affront to the current fashions. Any respectable woman wouldn’t receive guests without her wig on but here she was all made up in a stunning fashion and she did not seem déclassé at all. On the contrary she seemed very modern and chic. It was incredible. Miss D’Aumont rushed toward them.

“I’m so glad you made it safely. It is a madhouse out there! You poor dear look at you! We must get you out of those things immediately.” Her voice was warm and dripping with honey.

“Oh thank you Madame D’Aumont! You don’t know how awful it was! You see we are quite sheltered from this insanity out in Passy.” Helene was still enamored of her hostess’ flamboyant appearance. The dress was red like the color of dark blood and in contrast she wore a fantastic necklace of emeralds as her only adornment.

“Yes, of course you are. You’re out in the country and you couldn’t possibly know how things have deteriorated so quickly. I’m just sorry you had to witness it all firsthand but we just had to get you to Paris as I’ve arranged safe transport for you and Etienne.” She smiled down at Helene and took her hand in her own. Her skin was hot as if there were a secret fire burning somewhere in her veins. “But we’ll talk later. First we must get you properly washed and dressed.” She ignored Honorine altogether.

“I was hoping my maid could get bathed and changed herself. I think we ought to burn these clothes immediately.” She looked to Honorine who was eying the Comtesse with suspicion. Something did not seem right about her even with all the flattery and soft cooing noises she made. There was something wrong with the Comtesse D’Aumont. Honorine could feel it.

“Begging your pardon Madameoiselle…”She approached Helene. “If we could just have a word.” She was interrupted by the woman with the flaming red tresses.

“We can all talk later. Antoinette get this woman to a bath and find her some clean clothes. She really is a servant but this woman is not. She is Madame Corbet from Passy.” The femme de ménage’s visage altered visibly. They were telling the truth! “She is to be treated like royalty. Take her upstairs and get some of the girls to help her. We have no time to waste.” Antoinette stared at Helene and then back to Honorine. What was going on in her household today? She was a woman who lived by schedules and routines. These large houses did not run themselves. At least she would have a satisfying tale to tell the rest of the staff at dinner tonight. Madame D’Aumont led Helene away from the kitchen and left Honorine with the head of the household.

Madame D’Aumont led Helen through a marble foyer that was as grand as could be imagined with a large staircase that split into two sections each leading to a different wing of the house. She kept Helene very close and whispered as they ascended the staircase.

“Etienne cannot wait to see you. You are all he ever talks about.” It was hard for Helene to hear someone else talking about the man she was in love with. It had been such a secret between them since it all began and it made her skin crawl to hear another woman talk about it so openly and brazenly.

“Where is he? I must speak to him.” Helene would not feel right until they were together. This was all so unreal and fantastic that she felt she was stuck in some bizarre dream from which she could not wake.

“All in good time.” The creamy soft voice failed to console her. “He is out in the stables working out the details of your escape. I will let him know that you are here and once you’ve become decent again you can see him. You don’t want him to see you this way do you?” This time the warm voice was mocking.