The Library Part I: Cleaning

[Avive de Rocaille]

I rose early the next morning, eager to get started. It was Library Day! Dressing in an old gown I had brought from Siovale, I slipped into the washroom to splash water into my hair and face. The remnants of last nights' food fight washed away.

I headed downstairs for breakfast. Alain wasn't awake yet, but Bonnie was already up and about.

I walked into the kitchen. "Good morning, Bonnie," I said.

"Good morning, my lady," said Bonnie. "Have a seat, I'll get your breakfast right away."

"Thank you," I said. "Bonnie, I am working on the library today, so I will need to use the cleaning supplies. May I borrow two rags, a bucket and an apron?"

Bonnie looked up, surprised. "My lady is doing housework?"

"Not quite," I said. "It's my gift to Alain. I am reorganizing and cleaning the library."

She nodded. "I will give you the things you need," she said. "Right now, you must eat." She laid a plate of bacon, hotcakes and eggs in front of me. I dug in with relish.

[Avive de Rocaille]

As I wiped the last remnants of food from my mouth, Bonnie approached me with an apron. "Here," she said, putting the loop over my head. "Stand up, dear." I did, and she tied it in the back.

"Thank you, Bonnie," I said. "I will be moving all the books from the library to the dining room table now, can you send two men to help me?"

"Of course," she said.

"Thank you." I left the kitchen and headed for the library. The room was so dusty I thought it might have been a crypt. Rolling up my sleeves, I began to move the books. Soon, two of Alain's men arrived.

"You two," I said, "Please move the books from the library to the dining room table. Once they are all there, while I am cleaning the library, you two will wipe each book clean of dust and set it down in piles by topic. I want a pile for history, another for geography, another for fictitious literature, another for foreign literature, another for science, another for mathematics, another for law, another for books on the art of love. If I have missed a topic, set them all in one pile, I will organize them myself."

They nodded. "Yes, my lady." They were strong and fit, and within the hour, the shelves were cleared.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I had woken up a bit ago, but I stayed where I was, listening to Avive as she gave instructions to my men. She may appear flighty at times, but she certainly did know how to take control when she wanted to.

Smiling, I pushed myself up and went to the door of the library. My smile widened at the sight of her looking very domestic.

"Good morning Avive."

[Avive de Rocaille]

I jumped a little at Alain's voice and turned around. "Good morning," I said. "I thought you were still asleep." As I spoke, I was already attacking the middle shelves of the bookcase with a rag, wiping away the dust gathered there. I crouched down to do the bottom ones. "It's as though someone died in here," I commented. "This house isn't haunted, is it?"

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"I don't know," I told her honestly. "It had sat empty for a long while before I bought it. I don't rightly know what happened to those who owned it before me."

[Avive de Rocaille]

I shuddered a little at the thought of someone actually dying in here, but brightened again. "Do you want to make yourself useful and grab a rag or do you have too many duties to attend to?" I laughed. "It's all right if you can't, I think I have things under control."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"As much as cleaning sounds fun, I am actually going riding this morning," I said, laughing. "You have fun though."

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Have a lovely time," I said as I dusted a vase on the mantle. "You must teach me to ride someday."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

"Ah yes, one more thing to do," I teased. "I will see you later, cousin. Don't work too hard."

With that I left her to her tasks and went up to get clean and change to go riding.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I stuck my tongue out at his retreating back, then scampered up the ladder to dust the higher shelves. As I swept the rag across the smooth wood, my thoughts turned to Dominic. I hoped that Alain would not be too harsh with him. Shaking my head sadly, I put him out of my mind. There were more inportant things to worry about.

"Robert!" I shouted. A minute later, Alain's man walked in. "Get something to clean out this fireplace. I want it prepared for a fire in an hour."

"Yes, my lady," he said, before running to the kitchen to get the necessary materials.

As I finished the dusting, my thoughts turned to redecorating. But I needed to wait until Robert was done. So I headed into the dining room.

Books were everywhere, and the other man, Damien, was dutifully putting them into piles as I had instructed. "Damien," I said, "As you work, please put the piles in alphabetical order from now on."

Settling myself next to the mound of history books, I began to order them. A History of Akkad, A History of Siovale, A History of the Shahrizai... I froze up, then quietly slipped out of the room, padding up the stairs and laying the book on my desk. I would read it later.

[Avive de Rocaille]

Thumping back downstairs to the dining room, I continued to alphebetize the piles of books until a very sooty Robert returned. "My lady, the fireplace is ready," he said, sneezing.

I laughed. "Thank you, Robert. Please, go clean off and then help Damien alphebetize these piles. You are doing a great job."

He bowed slightly. "It's our pleasure."

Walking back into the library, I stood in the center of the room and spun around. I knew just what I wanted in here. Red curtains were essential. By the window, there would be a table for playing chess, by the fire, a loveseat and two comfortable chairs. Each would have a table with candelabra. A reading stand, light, but sturdy, would rest in the center. On a table behind the loveseat, a decanter of wine and two glasses. And of course, the books.

Satisfied, I called to Robert, "Robert!"

He came in. "Yes, my lady?"

"Get your cloak, we're going to Mont Nuit."