The events of the carriage ride and this are interconnected. This is Aksinya's temper. Notice this is very controlled and rational. She is gentle but insistent. Her problem is not wrath--it is luxuria. We shall see Aksinya in wrath later. That is a hint.
The Freiherr greeted them all when they returned to the estate. He escorted them all to dinner. Freiherr Bockmann seated Aksinya.
Natalya began to take her position behind Aksinya. Aksinya stood and grasped Natalya by the hand. She led her to the other side of the table.
Natalya was distraught, “Please, Countess, let me serve you.”
“I wish you to serve me by sitting at table with me, Lady Natalya. Please accommodate me in this.”
“But you promised I could serve you.”
“You will serve me. I wish my friend to sit with me and not stand behind me.”
Natalya covered her face with her hands.
Aksinya held her close and whispered in her ear, “Please, Nata. Only an accident of birth put one of us over the other. I wish you to dine with me. Don’t the ladies in the royal court dine with their mistresses?”
Natalya peeked between her fingers at Aksinya. She nodded.
Aksinya continued to whisper, “Why do you think you were treated like a servant and not allowed to sit with your mistresses—even in your own house?”
Natalya’s eyes opened wide.
Aksinya pulled out the chair for Natalya. When she released Natalya, she quickly sat herself. Then she as quickly stood and waited beside it. Aksinya smiled and walked back around the table. She sat and the others sat. Aksinya noticed, a tiny smile played at the corners of Natalya’s lips.
Back at the estate, they attend dinner, and Natalya moves to her favorite place--where she can serve Aksinya. You might ask, hasn't she been listening to Aksinya. She has, but Natalya's greatest joy is to serve--I can't let you forget that fact. This must be crystal clear for the main turning point of the novel to make full sense and to create the circumstance for the resolution. Can you see this picture? I didn't draw it for you. You drew it yourself. I know you can see Aksinya towing the quiet, but unhappy Natalya around the table. Can you feel Aksinya's anger--it is not at Natalya. Natalya begs Aksinya, and Aksinya's answer, controlled, clear, refined, like what you would expect from a Countess. The response from Natalya, but you promised... yes Aksinya did promise, but notice, she didn't break her promise.
And Akinsya's answer--you will serve me. To stand behind is the service of a servant, to sit at the same table is the service of a peer. She calls Natalya her friend. Natalya is astonished that Aksinya again called her a friend. This is foreign in her mind, but not in this culture. Akinsya is elevating Natalya and Natalya doesn't believe she should be elevated.
Then the coupe, Aksinya tells her the secret that Natalya's previous lady did not--don't the ladies in the royal court dine with their mistresses? Natalya knows they do. Then Aksinya sticks in the knife. The only answer to this very simple question is that Natalya was never treated like a lady. She was always treated like a servant. Aksinya in a moment elevated Natalya from a servant to a true lady.
Natalya is so gripped by this revelation she allows Aksinya to seat her--this is completely improper. That's why Aksinya did it. It is a trick. That action by Aksinya causes Natalya's brain to rush back to reality--she stands until Aksinya sits. Look at the last, this whole show was not lost on Natalya. She knows what happened, the elevation, the lesson Aksinya taught. That is the reason for the restrained smile. How wonderful, Natalya understands in this regard her place as Aksinya's friend and confidant. This is just a small piece to relate Aksinya's personality and being as well as Natalya's. As well as to continue building the plot and theme to the peak of the novel.
Showing posts with label table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label table. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A New Novel, Part 63 The Table
The Reverend Mother's introductions complete, the ladies at Aksinya and Natalya's table may now address them. Notice that correct protocol has not been completed. The ladies should now appropriately introduce themselves to Aksinya and Natalya. Aksinya is forgiving, Natalya not so much...
Around Aksinya and Natalya’s table sat seven other young women who were from sixteen to twenty-one years old plus an elderly nun. The sister watched Aksinya and Natalya with as rapped an expression as the girls.
After the soup was served, one of the older girls asked in French, “Are you really a Countess?”
Natalya almost leaped out of her seat, “What do you mean asking such a question? My mistress is the Countess Golitsyna.”
Aksinya pulled Natalya back into her seat, “I am the Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna. You may call me Aksinya if you wish. This is the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. I insist you address her as the Lady Natalya. She is my friend and confidant. She is also the daughter of a Prince.”
Natalya sucked her lip and stared back at Aksinya, “And the Countess is the daughter of a Princess and a Count. She…she…rescued me.”
“Hush, Lady Natalya.”
Aksinya gave the ladies a second chance to introduce themselves, but they didn't take it. Aksinya makes her confidence in Natalya very clear--friend and confidant. She also gives them leave to call her by her first name, a bit of latitude they would never be low enough to take. She insists they address Natalya as Lady Natalya. She demands respect for Natalya, but not herself.
Notice, that Aksinya then throws down the gauntlet. She tells them Natalya's rank--she is the daughter of a Prince. Natalya knew this. Earlier, the demon led us to believe that Natalya didn't know who her father was--he left the answer ambivalent. Now we know that she knows this. We also get a repeat of an important point. Aksinya is the daughter of a Russian princess.
Then the confession: she rescued me. This is never far from Natalya's mind and should never be far from ours. I reminded you because I don't want you to forget--it's like Aksinya's hair.
Aksinya's response a gentle, hush. Aksinya realizes what is in Natalya's mind, or she thinks she does.
I just finished writing the pivotal scene in the novel. It happens in chapter 15. It is chapter 15. I've been thinking about this scene and driving toward it for weeks. I have many notes that I must now resolve with it and improve it. It is specifically the scene that will lead to the resolution of the novel.
Around Aksinya and Natalya’s table sat seven other young women who were from sixteen to twenty-one years old plus an elderly nun. The sister watched Aksinya and Natalya with as rapped an expression as the girls.
After the soup was served, one of the older girls asked in French, “Are you really a Countess?”
Natalya almost leaped out of her seat, “What do you mean asking such a question? My mistress is the Countess Golitsyna.”
Aksinya pulled Natalya back into her seat, “I am the Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna. You may call me Aksinya if you wish. This is the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. I insist you address her as the Lady Natalya. She is my friend and confidant. She is also the daughter of a Prince.”
Natalya sucked her lip and stared back at Aksinya, “And the Countess is the daughter of a Princess and a Count. She…she…rescued me.”
“Hush, Lady Natalya.”
Aksinya gave the ladies a second chance to introduce themselves, but they didn't take it. Aksinya makes her confidence in Natalya very clear--friend and confidant. She also gives them leave to call her by her first name, a bit of latitude they would never be low enough to take. She insists they address Natalya as Lady Natalya. She demands respect for Natalya, but not herself.
Notice, that Aksinya then throws down the gauntlet. She tells them Natalya's rank--she is the daughter of a Prince. Natalya knew this. Earlier, the demon led us to believe that Natalya didn't know who her father was--he left the answer ambivalent. Now we know that she knows this. We also get a repeat of an important point. Aksinya is the daughter of a Russian princess.
Then the confession: she rescued me. This is never far from Natalya's mind and should never be far from ours. I reminded you because I don't want you to forget--it's like Aksinya's hair.
Aksinya's response a gentle, hush. Aksinya realizes what is in Natalya's mind, or she thinks she does.
I just finished writing the pivotal scene in the novel. It happens in chapter 15. It is chapter 15. I've been thinking about this scene and driving toward it for weeks. I have many notes that I must now resolve with it and improve it. It is specifically the scene that will lead to the resolution of the novel.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A New Novel, Part 59 Dinner Seating
We see Aksinya and Natalya led to dinner by the Reverend Mother and then the culture of aristocratic precedence.
The Reverend Mother led Aksinya and Natalya to the first table in the room. This was the only one that wasn’t round. The head table was rectangular and at the center was a high backed chair carved with a cross and the emblem of Sacré Coeur. The Reverend Mother stepped behind the table and motioned Aksinya and Natalya to follow her. She pulled out the high backed chair and pointed to the two seats at the end of the table, “I would like you ladies to sit there, please.”
Aksinya curtsied, “I’m sorry, Reverend Mother, we will not take the first place. That would not be appropriate for students. Please seat us at a lower table. Since we are new, it would be most appropriate to seat us at the lowest tables.”
Frau Drescher was aghast, “The Reverend Mother wishes to honor you.”
Aksinya didn’t blink, “But I don’t want to be honored for that reason.”
The Reverend Mother put up her hand. She motioned to one of the novices behind the head table, “Sister Rita, please seat the Countess Golitsyna and the Lady Obolenska at the older scholar’s table.”
Novice Sister Rita’s eyes opened wide. She stared at Aksinya, “Countess?”
“Yes, Countess. I want you to take care of them yourself, Sister Rita.”
The novice sister curtsied to the floor. She couldn’t take her eyes off Aksinya and Natalya. She led them to the round table just below the head table and tried to seat them.
This is a very simple event, but it has great importance. RM Kluge wants to honor and show off Aksinya and Natalya. The Natalya link is not so obvious yet, we will see that very soon. RM Kluge sits in a "Bishop's" chair. That is a throne-like seat for the head of an order (in this case). Aksinya knows the head table is only for sisters of the order. In circles of the aristocracy, nobility of the church are equal to a degree with the "secular" nobility. RM Kluge understands this, but she would be placing Aksinya and Natalya higher than other sisters in the order. Aksinya is perfectly sensitive to the aristocracy--I hope I showed this to you well. She knows how to act properly in every place and event. RM Kluge isn't ignorant, she just doesn't realize the full ramifications of her actions. Also, Aksinya sees this correctly that likely Asmodeus is acting to tempt RM Kluge. To the RM, the school and the convent is everything. In the demon's terms, she lusts for her school and convent to be the best. Aksinya intervenes which likely opposes Asmodeus. This is one of the little ways Aksinya tries to fight the demon.
Aksinya curtsies (an act of subjugation) and proposes they be placed at the lowest tables--that is not possible. The RM realizes her error quickly. Aksinya's proposal for the lowest tables is as unacceptable as the RM's suggestion that they sit at the highest table.
The RM sends a novice to seat Aksinya and Natalya at the highest student's table, this is the most appropriate solution. This how the world of the aristocracy works--even in the church. We will see more of this in the next piece.
I wanted to mention that a reader wrote me to note that only a small percentage of my readers would be able to grasp the depth of the writing especially without help. The question was specifically, why go to all the trouble if your readers won't get it. Primarily, I have a lot of faith in my readers. One of my readers likes my novels because they are so different than what they usually can find. This reader calls them exciting stories that are an intellectual treasure. That is what I want to give you. Even if the average reader can't grasp the depth of the writing, I hope the story to them is good and exciting.
The Reverend Mother led Aksinya and Natalya to the first table in the room. This was the only one that wasn’t round. The head table was rectangular and at the center was a high backed chair carved with a cross and the emblem of Sacré Coeur. The Reverend Mother stepped behind the table and motioned Aksinya and Natalya to follow her. She pulled out the high backed chair and pointed to the two seats at the end of the table, “I would like you ladies to sit there, please.”
Aksinya curtsied, “I’m sorry, Reverend Mother, we will not take the first place. That would not be appropriate for students. Please seat us at a lower table. Since we are new, it would be most appropriate to seat us at the lowest tables.”
Frau Drescher was aghast, “The Reverend Mother wishes to honor you.”
Aksinya didn’t blink, “But I don’t want to be honored for that reason.”
The Reverend Mother put up her hand. She motioned to one of the novices behind the head table, “Sister Rita, please seat the Countess Golitsyna and the Lady Obolenska at the older scholar’s table.”
Novice Sister Rita’s eyes opened wide. She stared at Aksinya, “Countess?”
“Yes, Countess. I want you to take care of them yourself, Sister Rita.”
The novice sister curtsied to the floor. She couldn’t take her eyes off Aksinya and Natalya. She led them to the round table just below the head table and tried to seat them.
This is a very simple event, but it has great importance. RM Kluge wants to honor and show off Aksinya and Natalya. The Natalya link is not so obvious yet, we will see that very soon. RM Kluge sits in a "Bishop's" chair. That is a throne-like seat for the head of an order (in this case). Aksinya knows the head table is only for sisters of the order. In circles of the aristocracy, nobility of the church are equal to a degree with the "secular" nobility. RM Kluge understands this, but she would be placing Aksinya and Natalya higher than other sisters in the order. Aksinya is perfectly sensitive to the aristocracy--I hope I showed this to you well. She knows how to act properly in every place and event. RM Kluge isn't ignorant, she just doesn't realize the full ramifications of her actions. Also, Aksinya sees this correctly that likely Asmodeus is acting to tempt RM Kluge. To the RM, the school and the convent is everything. In the demon's terms, she lusts for her school and convent to be the best. Aksinya intervenes which likely opposes Asmodeus. This is one of the little ways Aksinya tries to fight the demon.
Aksinya curtsies (an act of subjugation) and proposes they be placed at the lowest tables--that is not possible. The RM realizes her error quickly. Aksinya's proposal for the lowest tables is as unacceptable as the RM's suggestion that they sit at the highest table.
The RM sends a novice to seat Aksinya and Natalya at the highest student's table, this is the most appropriate solution. This how the world of the aristocracy works--even in the church. We will see more of this in the next piece.
I wanted to mention that a reader wrote me to note that only a small percentage of my readers would be able to grasp the depth of the writing especially without help. The question was specifically, why go to all the trouble if your readers won't get it. Primarily, I have a lot of faith in my readers. One of my readers likes my novels because they are so different than what they usually can find. This reader calls them exciting stories that are an intellectual treasure. That is what I want to give you. Even if the average reader can't grasp the depth of the writing, I hope the story to them is good and exciting.
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