Masque History -> Subplot #7: A Strange Education

Subplot #7: A Strange Education

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Elfled Sarah Delaney	Posted: Jul 12 2007, 01:09 AM
¤[N O T]a__c o u r t d.e.c.o.r.a.t.i.o.n ťť Group: Countess Admin Posts: 84 Member No.: 15 Joined: 13-October 06	Education - it's a word with such a manly connotation. Or so Gabrielle Howard thought. Her earlier governesses had attempted to teach her everything that would be useful in the Ton; Proper curtsying, dinner manners, proper speech and responses, embroidery and other womanly pursuits, etiquette - she had covered it all by the time she was 12. Of course, it was not all mastered. Her curtsies left much to be desired, and the girl spent more time reading "foolish novels" than reviewing her dinner manners. Each governess has gotten tired of the rebellious girl after a year or so, and moved on to find some quiet, manipulated girl who would do as they were told. After six governesses, Gabrielle's father had had enough. He got the son of a longtime family friend, Jerome Harris, a well liked, 23 year old Oxford educated man to come be his 17 year old daughter's tutor. The Duke of Norfolk knew better than to try and get his daughter to learn her etiquette once more. He had Jerome teach his daughter classic literature, French, Latin, and had her refine her calligraphy .Harris managed to control her for two years. By the time she was 19, she wanted to go out into society - and he told Gabrielle's parents she was ready. He was still to be her tutor, however, and her good behavior in the classroom determined which social outings he let her participate in. Needless to say, Gabrielle absolutely hated that deal, but she had to go along - It was the only way she'd get into the Ton. Although everyone saw him as a gentleman, and he was considered one of the most promising bachelors, rumors surrounded him for he had many French friends. His French was impeccable - he had grown up in Bretagne, yet he still spoke and behaved like a true English gentleman. Gabrielle hated the man, but it wasn't clear, even to her, if it was because she thought him disloyal to the English or because he was her strict tutor. Jerome is in actuality an English spy, spying on the French and an ally of the Pink Carnation. Gabrielle's parents know, as do his own and those few who are involved with the Leagues of the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Purple Gentian, and the Pink Carnation, but few others. Over the last two years, Jerome has started to have feelings for his student, which, at the moment, the girl does not return. Will Gabrielle get over her childish beliefs, and give him a chance? What will happen now that Gabrielle is in the Ton, and Jerome is participating in his own right? [Inspired by the novel "Time Enough For Drums and edited to fit into our various other subplots (primarily subplot 4.)]

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