Good morning and welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday Tales. It’s picture prompt week, and what a picture I chose. It isn’t always easy to work a prompt into a story, and this week, given where i am in the story, it was harder than ever. Forgive me for doing it this way. As the story unfolds, you’ll see why I did. I continue with Murielle and The Price of Courage.
Glancing at the ornate clock, Murielle realized it was already five. The meal was scheduled for seven, and her uncle would expect her to be in the salon by six to greet his guest.
Hurrying with her toilet, she donned her russet gown, pulled her hair into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, and covered her head with the matching cap. She sat on the side of the bed and pulled on her heavy boots. She would exchange them for her slippers once she was there. Only a fool would travel the rough path between the trees, the one that went by the old pagan ruins on the edge of the cliff, in silk-soled shoes, especially at this time of year. Grabbing her fur-lined cape and gloves, she extinguished the candles in her room. Small satchel in hand, reminded that it had been all Isabelle had taken with her on her flight into the unknown, she closed the door behind her.
As she passed the dining room, she opted not to interrupt the family’s lively conversation. The practice of children dining with their parents wasn’t a common one in the homes of nobility, not even minor ones like her uncle, but for the middle class, like her nephew, a well-respected doctor in the area, it was what he’d grown up with, what he preferred.
Listening to Martin’s excited chatter as he explained how he’d helped the ostler this morning with the new colt, suggested his idea might be the right one. It gave parents a chance to get to know their children. The countess had never dined with Isabelle or Sophie, having died before the girls were old enough to leave the nursery. The count had waited until after Sophie’s fourteenth birthday to do so. Sadly, they would never know what they’d missed.
That’s it. Don’t forget to check out all the other posts on Tuesday Tales.
Living the Dream 
Lovely snippet!
I loved this snippet! And I thought how you worked that particular picture into the scene was terrific! Well done!
Very true words about parents spending time with their children. Still holds true today. Great job!
Very interesting to learn that there were two schools of thought about dining with children, depending upon social status. I’m glad the one that prevailed is dining with kids. It was always an adventure in our house.