#udc: de bellefaye family

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1334 – Day 2 – De Bellefaye Home

In Praaven, Annette is brought down to the birthing bed for a third time in the middle of April, about a month before Théofroy Chevalier is born. And once again, her agonies are rewarded by the birth of a healthy baby, another little girl.

They name the little one Louise and are eager to introduce her to her brother and sister.

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1333 – Day 2 – De Bellefaye Home

The Bransons aren’t the only celebrating a son’s continuing survival. Annette and Alexandre de Bellefaye rejoice in their little Guillaume’s toddlerhood, as well.

Alexandre doesn’t think there can be a happier man in the world, in fact, well aware as he ponders it that it sounds an awful lot like the vanity the Watcher condemns. But it’s true. He has a beautiful, charming wife and not one, but two healthy children. He knows he should prefer Guillaume, as his son and heir, but he finds he dotes on their little girl just as much.

Which does not mean that he doesn’t love their son, not in the least.

In fact, spends as much time playing with both children as he can manage, which is not nearly as often as he would like. Now that he is advancing in age and it is clear that his older brother does not intend to return to town, his grandfather has decided that he has to be heir to everything. Because of this, he spends much time instructing him in the management of the small pieces of land they own – farmed by tenants – and of the merchant business they have invested in to keep up their wealth.

Alexandre is glad that he will be able to do his part in providing for his wife and children, but he misses having much more time on his hands. It seems cruel, somehow, that he used to have so much of it to be idle when he was alone, but that it shrinks now that he has his family to care for.

He is in the nursery, bouncing his little boy on his hip, when his wife walks in, a small smile on her face when she spots them both.

“I thought that I’d find you here.”

“I have become obvious, have I?”, he asks, returning her smile and shifting his body so that their son is facing her. “Look here, my lad, there’s your maman.”

“Mama”, Guillaume says obediently, waving at his mother, who can’t help but wave back.

“Hello, mon chou”, she coos, before turning to her husband. “I was wondering if you have heard any more about what is happening to the North. I asked your father, but he said I shouldn’t worry my head about it.”

Alexandre, still bouncing their toddler on his hip, frowns. His wife’s thirst for knowledge of the world is commendable – at least he thinks so, although he knows that not everyone would agree – but he can’t quite understand her obsession with this Scottish campaign. Certainly, the Scots had made it almost as far as Praaven in their last attack, but their family is sure to be safe behind its walls and gates.

“They are still besieging Berwick, I believe”, he says. “The English army has likely joined the fight by now, but I couldn’t say for sure.”

His dear wife makes a humming sound but doesn’t respond otherwise as she waggles her fingers at their son to play with. Alexandre frowns.

“Does that upset you?”

“Me? No, of course not.”

But he can tell that something is bothering her, so he stares at her until she sighs.

“Well, it doesn’t upset me, but it does upset my grandmother. Or rather, the fact that you’re here while you may be busy acquiring glory in Scotland does.”

“Me?”

He can’t help but stare at her in astonishment. He certainly never expected that Mistress Mary Crawley had any designs on his future. He’s always known her to be ambitious, as her daughter Caroline’s marriage plainly shows. If rumours are to be believed, her granddaughter – his cousin Josephine – may even become a countess soon. But he had thought that Annette marrying him, grandson of both a landowner and a baron, would be enough where that branch of the family tree was concerned.

Apparently, he was wrong, because Annette nods with a little sigh.

“Yes, you. With the status you already have, she is hoping that by taking part in this – or in any – campaign, you could better our fortunes even more. Maybe even gain offices or a title if you’re exceptionally lucky.”

“And is that what you want?”

At that, she gives him a tired smile. “If it was, I wouldn’t go about convincing you this way.” She holds out her arms for their son, and he hands little Guillaume over to her after only a little hesitation. She looks down at their child while she talks, rocking him in her arms. “Maybe I would have been all for this plan before we married, but I much prefer my husband here with me and our children, and alive. And even if you don’t die, you could be gone for months, if not more. I don’t want that for Juliana or Guillaume.”

“It wouldn’t be rare for children to grow up separated from their parents.”

In fact, after a certain age, it is almost a requirement in the upper tiers of society. In fact, his grandparents are already thinking about his children’s future placements, wondering who might take Guillaume on as a squire, or if they might send Juliana to some household to be trained as a great lady. Annette is as aware of this as he is.

“But not this early”, she protests. “In fact, if we are to send them away one day, it’s important that we spend time with them now. My parents always made time for me and my sister.”

“Your mother was a peasant. It’s different for them.”

“She hasn’t been one for a long time”, his wife protests immediately. “I don’t even understand why you are arguing against me. Do you want to go?”

“No! Of course not.”

“Well.” She gives him a look full of meaning. “That’s settled, then.”

But after what she has said, Alexandre doesn’t really think it is.

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1332 – Day 3 – De Bellefaye Home

Only a few months before David Pelham’s marriage, his two-fold cousin Annette (who is his cousin by blood through her father Matthew and his mother Caroline, and his cousin by marriage through Alexandre’s mother and David’s father) celebrates her twentieth birthday.

Given the de Bellefaye family’s prominence in the city, she is planning a grand celebration later in the month, but on the day itself, she is happy enough to merely enjoy a special sweet dish with her husband, little daughter and her husband’s grandparents.

Annette has found that she enjoys being a married woman. Even playing second fiddle to Marguerite (Alexandre’s grandmother, not her Uncle Robert’s little daughter) has come with its definite advantages. Madame de Bellefaye has been a fixture in Praaven’s upper echelons for decades and knows anyone worth knowing – and even quite a few influential people beyond the county.

Annette has done what she can to learn from her, but she has found that she also enjoys things other than the social side of her position. Alexandre often takes her out of town to go riding, more often than she had been allowed since becoming an young woman. Being out in nature is oddly soothing, especially with her ever-attentive, loving husband by her side.

All things considered, she is sure that she could have drawn a far worse lot when it comes to her marriage.

Annette had learned long ago that sometimes, when one would like to have information, it is best to simply listen. Men don’t like to discuss war with women – it’s a topic to gruesome for their gentle ears, or something along those lines – but they do sometimes forget that women are present, if the women in question are wise enough to hold their tongues.

So it is while they eat the cake their cook has prepared. At first, they talk about general topics, but eventually, Alexandre and his grandfather delve into a discussion about the Scottish campaign. Officially, King Edward (of England) has disavowed the attack, but it is common knowledge that most of the attacking host is English. And apparently, her uncle Robert is itching to be among them.

“Might be that he will join should things turn bad, and England send reinforcements. We will see how the next few months turn out.”

“While he has yet to father a living son? Brave of him”, Alexandre comments.

“Knights don’t make their fortune by staying safely home. And with those four girls, he will need ransoms or rewards for their dowries. At least if he wants to see them married well.”

“And if he is killed, my dear aunt will be left alone with them all.”

At that, Guillaume actually shrugs. “Such are the fortunes of war.”

It is hard for Annette to bite her tongue at that, but she manages. She can’t do as much when she and Alexandre are alone on their chamber later. They hadn’t meant to stay there for long, only to look in on little Guillaume and to put Juliana back into the nursery. But somehow, once that is down, they stumble into bed together. And not even to lie together, at least not in the figurative sense! They do enjoy some kisses, but in the end, Annette finds herself in Alexandre’s arms, curled up against him, still fully dressed.

“We’re going to be late, you know”, she says, mock-strict.

“I don’t think a few minutes will do any harm. I feel we’ve hardly had a moment to ourselves lately.”

“We have been busy”, she agrees. She is silent for a moment, but then she asks: “What your grandfather said about the fortunes of war…do you really think he’d abandon Lady Chevalier?”

She has met Elisaria Chevalier a few times, especially since her marriage. Her aunt always seemed a sweet woman, but…sad in a hard-to-define way. She finds she doesn’t like the thought of her being left on her own like that, and wonders what the elder Guillaume would do with herself, and her children, were anything ever to happen to Alexandre.

Her husband sighs. “I don’t know. He did give her a rather generous dowry, as far as I recall, so maybe he thinks that should be enough. He doesn’t have endless coffers, after all. And there are our children to consider now.”

“Especially if you were to go to war as well”, she says, quietly. “Going to Scotland could boost your fortunes, as well.”

“It could”, he agrees. “But unlike your uncle, I’m no knight. But I think Grandfather would like it. Well, we’ll see what comes of that campaign. Right now, I’m very comfortable here with you and our children, dear wife.”

She knows she should push him to seek glory. It’s what her grandmother Mary would advise. But somehow, she can’t bring herself to.

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1333 - Statistic

Births:

Francis Townsend – Gen 3 – Main Household

Georgina Pelham – Gen 3 – Baron’s Household

Deaths:

Francis Townsend; Birth Asphyxia – Main Household

Benjamin Townsend; 57 y.o.; Old Age – Main Household

The Hon. Yseult Pelham; 20 y.o.; C-Section – Baron’s Household

Marriages:

Theodora Crawley & Balwin Wozny – Crawley / Wozny Household

The Hon. Josephine Pelham & Arnulf Penrith, Earl of Windermere – Baron’s Household / Earl’s Household

Amye Townsend & Sir Silas Ellesmere – Main Household / Ellesmere Household

Birthdays:

Guillaume de Bellefaye; Toddler; Survived - De Bellefaye Household

Jehanne Chevalier; Child; SAVED - Chevalier Household

Geneviève Chevalier; Toddler; Survived - Chevalier Household

Richard Pelham, Baron Elbenhawke; Young Adult; Survived - Baron’s Household

Thomas Branson; Toddler; Survived - Branson Household

Hawise Townsend; Young Adult; Survived - Main Household

Hugh Townsend; Toddler; Survived - Main Household

Mariora Townsend; Adult; Survived - Glennborough Townsend Household  

Siobhán Townsend; Toddler; Survived - Glennborough Townsend Household

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1331 - Statistic

Births:

Siobhán Townsend – Gen 2 - Glennborough Townsend Household

Hugh Townsend – Gen 3 – Main Household

Reginald Crawley – Gen 2 – Crawley Household

Guillaume de Bellefaye – Gen 3 – De Bellefaye Household

Thomas Branson – Gen 3 – Branson Household

Deaths:

Reginald Crawley; Stillborn – Crawley Household

Marriages:

None!

Birthdays:

Marie Chevalier; Toddler; Survived - Chevalier Household

Florian Townsend; Toddler; Survived -  Praaven Townsend Household

Elias Townsend; Toddler; Survived - Glennborough Townsend Household

Lady Maud Dudley; Teenager; Survived - Earl’s Household

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1331 – Day 4 – De Bellefaye Home

Elsie isn’t the only not-quite-Townsend-anymore cousin to give birth to a son this quarter. In fact, Annette is brought down to the birthing bed only a fortnight or so before Elsie is. She feels a little guilty when she asks her mother to be there – it has only been two months since the loss of her little brother. But she can’t imagine going through this without having her mother with her. It isn’t her first birth. But knowing what to expect, morbidly, only makes her fear of suffering through it worse.

But Anna wouldn’t dream of abandoning her daughter in a moment like this. She visits regularly even before the birth, and once called in, stays with her all throughout the long hours of her labours. And if she has to look away when the midwife hands her daughter a healthy, squealing baby boy, who is to blame her for it?

While waiting out the end of her confinement, Annette dotes on her little son, just like she has doted on his sister Juliana, who is in the care of a nurse for the moment. She can only hope that her husband will be pleased with him as well. He is his heir, after all.

They name the little boy Guillaume, after Alexandre’s grandfather.

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1330 – Day 3 – de Bellefaye Townhouse

Annette can’t help a certain disappointment when her first child turns out to be a girl. A precious, beautiful little girl, but not the heir she wishes to give her husband. Her grandmother has made perfectly clear that while her mother may have failed to provide the Crawleys with a living son, that is no reason for Annette to follow in her footsteps.

But bigger than her disappointment is the tenderness she feels for her daughter the first time she is laid into her arms. And luckily, her husband seems to share the sentiment, because his face lights up like the sun when he sees her for the first time.

They name her Juliana and pray that she remains as strong as she now seems.

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1329 - Statistic

Births:

Elton Branson – Branson Household

Landon Chevalier – Chevalier Household

Wymark Townsend – Painters’ Household

Deaths:

Landon Chevalier; 3 months old; SIDS – Chevalier Household

Edwin Townsend; 7 years old; Bowel Infection – Main Household

Marriages:

Annette Crawley & Alexandre de Bellefaye - de Bellefaye Household

Birthdays:

The Hon. David Pelham; Teen; Survived - Baron’s Household

Master Ralph Dudley III; Child; Survived - Earl’s Household

Nicolas Townsend; Child; Survived - Lüghaven Household

Joseph Townsend; Toddler; Survived - Lüghaven Household

Wilfred Watmore; Teen; Survived - Watmore Household  

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1329 – Day 2 – Praaven Cathedral

After several back-and-forth negotiations about the terms of their union, the day finally dawns: Annette Crawley and Alexandre de Bellefaye are to be married in Praaven Cathedral. It’s a rather imposing building for their wedding, but Matthew’s long relationship with the earl’s family does bestow some benefits.

One might imagine that the bride and groom would be the first to complain about the long delay to their marriage, but that is far from the case, for Annette especially. It has given her something she never even considered she might enjoy: a chance to get to know her husband-to-be. And she has found, to her surprise, that Alexandre is quite the romantic. She imagined that he would be interested in her only for her dowry or her lineage or as the mother of his heirs, but over the months of their betrothal, he has paid her numerous visits to get better acquainted, has brought her gifts with explanations why they reminded him of her, and has even written her poetry.

How could she help falling in love with a man like that?

She never expected love from the marriage her parents and grandparents arranged for her, but she is giddy to have found it. And even that pales in comparison to her mother’s heartfelt joy when she tells her about that spark on the evening before the wedding, when Anna sits her down to ask her how she feels, and to prepare her for the following day – and the following night.

For a moment, Annette is certain that her mother is going to weep out of sheer happiness when she learns of her daughter’s budding feelings for the man she is to marry, but she settles for embracing her and wishing her joy in her marriage.

The wedding ceremony does its best to do its grandiose scenery justice. Their families are among the congregation, of course – but it doesn’t stop there. As aunt of the groom, the countess herself attends to give the union her blessing, as do the earl and their two children, the Lady Maud and the earl’s heir, Robin. Then there’s their acquaintances and family friends, all the great and good of Praaven society. Neither family has spared any expense to ascertain that the occasion will be remembered.

The presence of this exalted assembly does nothing to calm Annette’s nerves. Her grandmother might have envisioned a lord for her husband and raised her accordingly, but she still finds herself jittery with nerves as she is bathed and dressed in a fine new gown for her wedding. What if she stumbles and humiliates herself? What if she misspeaks when saying her vows?

What if Alexandre changes his mind?

She doesn’t think he will, but he is a romantic. Maybe an arranged marriage like this isn’t enough for him. It hurts much more than she anticipated to envision him abandoning her. Without noticing it, she has begun to not only look forward to being married to him, but to depend on it.

In the event, he does wait at the altar for her. She doesn’t trip while walking down the aisle, she says her vows fluently – as does he – and finally, in the eyes of the Watcher and before their gathered guests, they are proclaimed husband and wife.

And Annette couldn’t be happier about it.

There is much celebration after the marriage, and all that comes with it – the drinking, the dancing, the general merrymaking, and, finally, the consummation of the marriage. Annette blushes under the knowing smiles and jeers of the revellers, but she knows that every bride and groom have to undergo this ritual to make their marriage valid.

The experience, in the event, is not as frightening as she imagined beforehand.

It is only the day after the nuptials that she and her husband take leave of her family and travel through town to the de Bellefaye’s home. Alexandre’s parents have both passed away long ago and his brother has taken up residence in another county, so she will live with only him and his grandparents, Monsieur Guilliaume and Madame Marguerite de Bellefaye.

Which means that in time, she will be mistress of the de Bellefaye household herself.

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1328 - Statistic

Births:

Joseph Townsend - Lüghaven Household

Deaths:

None!

Marriages:

Elsie Watmore & Frederick Branson – Branson Household

Birthdays:

Alexandre de Bellefaye; Young Adult; Survived - Baron’s Household

Edwin Townsend; Child; FAILED - Main Household

Lady Viviane Penrith; Child; Survived - Earl’s Household

Theodora Crawley; Teen; Survived - Crawley Household

Jehanne Chevalier; Toddler; Survived - Chevalier Household

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1332 – Statistic

Births:

Geneviève Chevalier – Gen 2 – Chevalier Household

Jeremiah Townsend – Gen 2 – Praaven Townsend Household

Deaths:

Gwendolen Penrith, Countess of Windermere; 28 y.o.; Mumps – Earl’s Household

Marriages:

The Hon. David Pelham & Yseult Thompson – Baron’s Household

Birthdays:

Juliana de Bellefaye; Toddler; Survives - De Bellefaye Household

Annette de Bellefaye; Young Adult; FAILED - De Bellefaye Household

Christopher Townsend; Child; Survives - Glennborough Townsend Household

Elsie Branson; Young Adult; Survives - Branson Household

John Townsend; Toddler; Survives - Main Household

Adeline Townsend; Teenager; Survives - Main Household

Frank Townsend; Teenager; - Main Household

Amye Townsend; Young Adult; Survives - Main Household

Malcolm Townsend; Young Adult; Survives – Main Household

Previous: 1332, Day 4, Part 3/3 <--> Next: 1333, Day 1, Part 1/4

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1332 – Day 1 – De Bellefaye Townhouse

By the time Annette has left confinement, her and Alexandre’s daughter, Juliana, is already eighteen months old and more than happy to see her mother again. Two months are a long time for a child below the age of two.

Now secure in the knowledge that she has given her husband a son to carry on the family name, it fills her heart with joy to see him dote on their children. His attention isn’t exclusive to Guillaume, either; whenever she can’t find him in the study or anywhere else in the house, it’s safe to assume that he is in the nursery, playing with their daughter, who clearly enjoys still commanding so much of her father’s attention.

She looks more and more like him with every day that passes, too, so much so that Annette can’t help but joke that she is glad she remembers the pain of birthing her – she might not be sure she had any hand in the creation of that child were it otherwise. Her husband laughs heartily at that, as she had intended, but she truly can’t help but marvel at the resemblance between father and daughter. It has her wonder which of them their son is going to take after.

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WATCHER'S COMMENTARY:

Just so you know how uncannily Juliana looks like her father:

At least he will never have reason to doubt whose child that one is.