Let Them Have Cake (9 page)

Anna began walking along a deserted pathway and soon was standing at the entrance to the hamlet. Fog shrouded the landscape and she was unable to see more than a few feet in front of her. There weren’t any other tourists in sight. She walked slowly down the path towards the buildings she remembered were a short distance away. Her footsteps on the gravel path echoed in the stillness of the fog shroud. She was enveloped in solitude.

Chickens cackled nearby and Anna stopped to peer into the fog. She finally spied them pecking at the ground and clucking to one another. The path twisted to the right and she could see the lake through the mist. A pair of swans floated by; occasionally turning to look at one another, their arched necks forming a heart shape as they did so.

Her hair was getting wet and the cold was chilling her to the bone. She reached down to pull her robe tighter around her. She wasn’t dressed for the cold weather and realized she shouldn’t be out in it. She should go back to the hotel, but couldn’t tell which direction to go since it had gotten too foggy.

Anna looked around and noticed a tiny farmer’s cottage a
few steps away. The front door stood slightly open. She approached tentatively and peaked inside the home.

“Hello? Is anyone home?” No answer. Anna stepped inside. She walked from room to room and found it to be deserted. Women’s clothing and a shawl were hanging on a wooden peg in the tiny bedroom.

She didn’t think anyone would mind her borrowing them given how wet her own clothing was, so she dressed in the long peasant type dress with multiple petticoats underneath. The dress was made of muslin. She wrapped the shawl that was hanging with the dress tightly around her shoulders. She felt much better. The clothing was really authentic looking. She thought that they must put on plays or pageants in the hamlet and used the clothing for that purpose.

Anna stuffed her silk nightgown and robe into the bottom of a large basket she found in a corner of the room. She vowed to return later and leave the clothing where she’d found it and retrieve her sleeping wear.

She stepped back out into the damp air and began walking slowly along the walkway.

“Madame. Madame Toussaint. It is marvelous to see you! You’ve been absent for quite some time. Monsieur Andrieux has been beside himself with worry. We’ve all been quite concerned. Welcome back.”

The odd little man scurried off towards what appeared to be a barn. He was dressed in peasant clothing. He carried a bent stick that he used as a walking cane and leaned to the side as he walked.

Anna thought it strange that he called her Madame Toussaint, and his appearance was strange as well. The sound of running water drew her attention. She followed it through the fog until she located the source. A waterwheel on the edge of the small lake in the center of the hamlet turned tirelessly.  Ducks and geese paddled by. She sat on a rock by the lake and gazed at the peaceful pastoral scene. The scent of a wood smoke fire reached her nostrils with shifts of the wind. 

Being in the hamlet felt comfortable to Anna. She believed she’d been there before, perhaps in another lifetime. At the very least her ancestors had been there before her.

Anna thought about her theory that human beings are a composite of all of their ancestors that came before, not just their physical selves but their mental selves as well. It only made sense that little bits of your ancestors lived on within you, and that their experiences and memories got passed on as well. Someday she would research this and write a journal article. She was certain she wasn’t the only person in the world to believe this and that this was where feelings of déjà vu came from. Maybe she’d never been here before, but her ancestor had
and the memory was encoded in her brain.

She reached down to smooth her skirt and then wrapped the shawl tighter around her.

Chattering female voices were approaching in the fog. Shadowy figures grew clearer and Anna watched as two beautiful young women approached. They, too, were dressed in period costumes. A pretty brunette wore a simple blue, full-skirted dress. Her hair was done in an elaborate up do. Her companion, an exquisitely beautiful creature with ebony hair and eyes, wore a similar blue dress.

“Anne-Marie! When did you return? We have missed you so,” said the brunette. “Look, Genevieve, it’s Anne-Marie.”

They were speaking French and Anna was amazed at how well she was able to understand them.

Both young women picked up their skirts and ran to Anna, who had stood up from the rock she was sitting on. They simultaneously embraced her.

Anna felt the need to explain and hoped her high school French was convincing. “I only just arrived. I’ve been here a very short time.”

The women seemed to understand her perfectly.

“Monique,” said Genevieve as she pulled away from Anna. “Anne-Marie is freezing and she’s wet. We must get her inside by a fire. Come.”

Monique and Genevieve each took one of Anna’s arms and guided her through the fog. A large thatched roof house came into view. The chimney of the farmhouse was the source of the wood smoke Anna had smelled. They threw open the door and entered into a pleasant scene.

Young women sat about engaging in various activities. Some were doing needlework, some spinning wool, and another was playing music on a harp.

A young man was painting a portrait of two of the women as they did their embroidery. The man was dressed in a velvet waistcoat, pants that reached just below his knees, and white tights. His hair was long and pulled into a tail at the nape of his neck. He was aristocratic looking, with a long thin nose and sunken cheeks. His hair was a mouse brown color and had sausage curls rolled above his ears. His hands were artistic and thin with long fingers that held the palate and brush he was using to paint.

All of the women were dressed in simple yet elegant long dresses with full petticoats underneath. They were trimmed in lace and ruffles. The bodices were tight and their budding breasts swelled out the top. Hairdos were extremely elaborate and ornate. Masses of hair were piled on top of their heads and were adorned with baubles, lace and feathers.

The women rose in mass as they entered the cottage, all
rushing to great them with great enthusiasm. They talked at once:

“Where did you find her?”

“Anne-Marie! We thought you would never return!”

“We thought we’d lost you forever!”

“Where is Monsieur Andrieux? Is he still out searching?”

Anna allowed herself to be led close to the fire. She was placed in a chair and her wet shawl was replaced by a dry one. She mumbled vague greetings to each of the women as they came forward.

Suddenly, the man that had greeted Anna earlier, burst through the front door of the home. He had bits of hay and straw stuck to his clothing. He was carrying a bucket partially filled with milk, which he thrust at the woman standing closest to the door. “She’s coming! Queen Marie Antoinette is on her way to the hamlet! We must prepare for her arrival!”

Anna was beginning to have an uneasy feeling that this wasn’t modern day and the residents weren’t just preparing for a pageant. This was really
France
in the 1700’s. How could this be? She’d gone back in time! How did this happen?

Chapter Nine

Everyone jumped to attention and began performing well-rehearsed tasks. Pillows were fluffed and brooms appeared. The house was quickly put in order. Anna was handed a basket of clean kitchen linens to fold and put away. When she entered the kitchen she found the cook preparing chickens, roast duck, green beans and roasted potatoes. Anna located the linen cupboard and put the folded linens inside. She was then immediately placed into service chopping vegetables.

“How was your trip to the countryside?” the cook asked. “Did you get your children safely tucked away with your cousins?”

Anna didn’t know how to answer and stood silently looking at the cook.

“Madame. Did you hear me? Did you deliver your children to the Franchet family?”

“Oh. Sorry. Yes, they are with my cousins.”

“We will miss them here in the hamlet though they will be
safer away from the building unrest.”

“Monsieur Pelloutier.” Monique entered the kitchen and addressed the cook. “Remember, the Queen’s stomach has been delicate as of late. She cannot eat any of your wonderful sauces. And, no iced cheese! Of course you are preparing a roast duck.”

“Of course. I am aware of the Queen’s delicate stomach.”

Anna made a mental note to remember Monsieur Pelloutier’s name. She didn’t know how she’d gotten there but it looked like she was going to be stuck for a while. That was some magical fog she’d walked through.

***

“Anne-Marie. We’ve placed Queen Marie Antoinette’s needlework next to her chair. She will want you to sit with her and work on the new dress you are sewing for her while she does her embroidery. She wants to wear the dress for the dance tomorrow,” instructed Monique.

“Of course. Did you place it by the chair as well?” asked Anna.

Anna was relieved that her favorite hobby was doing sewing and needlework. She said a silent prayer thanking God for Aunt Tillie and her sewing lessons!

“Yes. It is in the basket next to the chair you usually sit in.” Monique turned and hurriedly left the kitchen.

Anna located the chairs and needlework in the gathering room. She inspected the tapestry that Queen Marie Antoinette was working on. The embroidery was exquisite. The Queen must have learned at a young age.

She removed the dress from the basket that was next to a smaller chair. The stitches were tiny and evenly spaced. It was a full-skirted dress in a wonderful light blue color. It was made of silk and felt delicate to the touch. She lifted it to her face and held it softly against her cheek. Anne-Marie was quite the seamstress. These stitches wouldn’t have been any more even if they’d done by a modern, computerized Bernina.

Anna sat in the chair and began attaching the top of the dress to the skirt.

***

The door opened and all stood at attention as the Queen entered the farmhouse. Queen Marie Antoinette’s skin was the color of alabaster. Her extremely high forehead was accentuated by the elaborate hairstyle she wore. Her hair was piled on top of her head and was adorned with jewels, peacock feathers, ribbons and bows. It was a brownish-gray color that looked as if it had been powdered. Her cheeks were rosy red. She had a long, slender, aquiline nose. Her lips were full; particularly the bottom lip which extended in a perpetual pout. Her gown was pink satin, adorned in ruffles and lace. She was delicately
beautiful.

“Please, return to what you were doing. I’m here to relax. There has been far too much activity at the palace. Too many dignitaries, speaking in whispers and looking alarmed. Music! I need music and laughter!”

The Queen smiled and stopped to greet the members of the household one by one. She inspected the kitchen and nodded her approval of the menu to Monsieur Pelloutier. He flushed and appeared pleased. She returned to the gathering room and spotted Anna, trying to hide behind Monique.

“Anne-Marie! You’ve come home! Oh, I’m so pleased to see you. Tell me, did you spirit your children away from here? I’ve been told you took them to the home of some relatives,” the Queen waited for Anna’s response.

Anna stepped forward reluctantly. “Yes. They are in the countryside,” Anna responded with what little information she had on where Anne-Marie had been.

“I’m sure that is for the best. The peasants continue to sporadically rise up in protest. I fear for all of our safety at times. Let us not think of those things now. Let us be gay and enjoy life here in my wonderful Hameau de la Reine. Come; let me see the progress of my dress. I want to wear it tomorrow for the dance.”

The Queen seated herself in her favorite chair and waited
expectantly.

Anna held the dress up. It was almost finished and Anna thought it to be one of the prettiest dresses she’d ever seen.

“Perfect. It is just perfect. You must make some ornaments for my hair from the materials that are left over. I’d like you to make some little people. Yes! That is it! You must make a miniature scene of people dancing. Do you think you can do that for me?” Queen Marie Antoinette asked.

Anna smiled and nodded her agreement to the Queen. She thought about her Great Aunt Tillie teaching her how to sew by having her make clothing for her dolls. She forced her to redo anything that wasn’t close to perfect. Anna had made her dolls many wardrobes and was quite confident she could make little figures for Queen Marie Antoinette to wear in her hair. She remembered reading about the Queen’s need to have her hairdos decorated. She thought it detracted from her very high forehead of which she was quite self-conscious.

“Anne-Marie. Have you seen Monsieur Andrieux since you have returned?” the Queen asked quietly.

“No...I have not,” Anna answered hesitantly.

“I believe he rode off into the countryside looking for you. He has been most distraught since you left. You’ve been gone for more than a month. He feels you should have allowed him to help you.”