Sim_Spiration 24/5/11
May. 24th, 2011 06:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dicreasy2What's this? Two sizable drabbles from me in two days? What's going on?
I have no idea, but I'm pleased to be writing again.
Anyway, I was inspired by two prompts today, and this also takes place two years before we meet the characters in it. Enjoy!
"'Sybil is entitled to her opinions' 'No. She isn't until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.'" (Countess of Grantham and Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey) and "You are confusing stubbornness with strength, my dear." (The Young Victoria)
Lauren Sartor leaned close to her sister as they watched their aunt bidding farewell to the last of the dinner party guests. "You are in for such a tongue lashing," she whispered to her.
"Whatever for?" asked Sophia.
"You know full well what for. She is not likely to let how you spoke to Mr Thomas go without comment."
"Oh that," said Sophia as she watched their uncle dismiss the servants to go about their duties clearing up after the dinner party, before locking the front door while her aunt bid their cousins goodnight. "What can she do really? I did nothing wrong."
"She will not see it like that, as you well know." Sophia was prevented from replying by their aunt approaching them. "Lauren," she said, "you looked beautiful tonight and behaved impeccably. You may retire for the night."
"Goodnight Aunt Matilda," said Lauren as she bent forward to kiss her cheek, then with a commiserating look at her twin, she made her way to the staircase and up to their room.
"Sophia," said her aunt, her tone noticeable colder, "I wish to speak to you." She turned and swept into the drawing room, expecting Sophia to follow without question. After only a momentary hesitation, Sophia did so.
"Sit," commanded her aunt as she pointed towards an armchair.
"If you do not mind, dear Aunt, I would prefer to remain standing," replied Sophia. "It has been a long and tiring evening, and I do not wish to tarry too long before seeking my bed."
"Hrumph." Matilda did mind, but she also did not want to get side-tracked arguing over a relatively trivial matter. Not when she had something more important on her mind. "I was very disappointed with your behaviour this evening Sophia," she said instead. "I really had hoped your father and governesses had raised you better than that, although I suppose it could be the influence of your other aunt making itself known."
Studiously ignoring the sleight towards her Simtalien heritage, Sophia feigned a look of innocence. "I am not certain as to what you are referring Aunt Matilda," she said slowly.
"Do not play games with me my girl," snapped Matilda. "You know, as well as I, that the way in which you argued with Mr Thomas over the meat course, was, not only unbecoming of a lady, but also utterly unacceptable in polite company. I have apologised to him and told him to expect a proper letter of apology from you on the morrow." Matilda fixed Sophia with a stern look as she spoke. It was a look which had always cowed her own daughters, and she was more than a little surprised when Sophia, instead of meekly acquiescing, raised her chin proudly and said "you had no right."
"Excuse me?"
"I said you had no right to speak on my behalf, and especially when I was not in the wrong. I did not argue with him, as you so put it, but I did disagree with him. He was stating his opinions, and I stated mine, which happened not to agree with his. I am entitled to my own opinions."
"No you are not! Not until you are married, and then your husband will give them to you," responded Matilda as she fought the impulse to start pacing in front of the fireplace.
Sophia stood there, her mouth partially open as she digested what her aunt had just said. "My 'husband' will 'give' them to me?" she said at last, her tone of voice making it very clear what she thought of that sentiment. "My dear Aunt, I would hope that my 'husband' will have enough respect for my strength of character and intellect, to not try to force me to abandon my own beliefs for his. If he does not, then I do not want him as a husband."
"Do not mistake stubbornness for strength of character Sophia," warned her aunt.
"And you, dear Aunt, should not mistake strength of character for stubbornness. I know my own mind and am capable of forming my own opinions without the input of another."
Matilda threw her hands up in the air, and settled in a chair. "I cautioned my brother against giving his daughters all they wanted, and it looks as if I was right to do so." She fixed her niece with a sharp glare. "Your sister's pretty head is full of nothing but where the next shiny bauble is to come from whereas you are as stubborn as a mule and as blinkered as a horse."
"I fear you mistake us Aunt," replied Sophia, her tone frigid.
"Really? I do not think I do. I expect that you wish this 'husband' of yours to obey your every whim and never speak his own mind," said Matilda as she folded her hands on her skirts.
"Oh good Lord no, for that would be most frightfully dull," exclaimed Sophia, appalled. "I hope to make an equal marriage, to a man whose strength of character rivals my own. I hope we will partake in full and frank discussions in which we can both speak our minds."
"Ha! Next you will be telling me that you wish to marry for love, even if it means you marry a, a shopkeeper!"
"Indeed, I feel there are worse fates which could befall me. Marrying a man I despised or felt contempt for, even though he was rich and socially above my station, for example," replied Sophia.
This seemed to amuse her aunt greatly, and it was a moment before she had recovered herself enough to speak. "Hopefully finishing school will disabuse you of these fantastical notions," she said through a smug grin, before dismissing Sophia with a flick of her wrist.
Sophia had just opened the door when her aunt said "the boy will be waiting in the entrance hall at nine, ready to take your letter of apology to the post office."
Sophia looked over her shoulder at her aunt. "Then I hope you do not want him to carry out his other duties tomorrow, for he is going to have a very long wait." She closed the door with a slam.
I have no idea, but I'm pleased to be writing again.
Anyway, I was inspired by two prompts today, and this also takes place two years before we meet the characters in it. Enjoy!
"'Sybil is entitled to her opinions' 'No. She isn't until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.'" (Countess of Grantham and Dowager Countess of Grantham, Downton Abbey) and "You are confusing stubbornness with strength, my dear." (The Young Victoria)
Lauren Sartor leaned close to her sister as they watched their aunt bidding farewell to the last of the dinner party guests. "You are in for such a tongue lashing," she whispered to her.
"Whatever for?" asked Sophia.
"You know full well what for. She is not likely to let how you spoke to Mr Thomas go without comment."
"Oh that," said Sophia as she watched their uncle dismiss the servants to go about their duties clearing up after the dinner party, before locking the front door while her aunt bid their cousins goodnight. "What can she do really? I did nothing wrong."
"She will not see it like that, as you well know." Sophia was prevented from replying by their aunt approaching them. "Lauren," she said, "you looked beautiful tonight and behaved impeccably. You may retire for the night."
"Goodnight Aunt Matilda," said Lauren as she bent forward to kiss her cheek, then with a commiserating look at her twin, she made her way to the staircase and up to their room.
"Sophia," said her aunt, her tone noticeable colder, "I wish to speak to you." She turned and swept into the drawing room, expecting Sophia to follow without question. After only a momentary hesitation, Sophia did so.
"Sit," commanded her aunt as she pointed towards an armchair.
"If you do not mind, dear Aunt, I would prefer to remain standing," replied Sophia. "It has been a long and tiring evening, and I do not wish to tarry too long before seeking my bed."
"Hrumph." Matilda did mind, but she also did not want to get side-tracked arguing over a relatively trivial matter. Not when she had something more important on her mind. "I was very disappointed with your behaviour this evening Sophia," she said instead. "I really had hoped your father and governesses had raised you better than that, although I suppose it could be the influence of your other aunt making itself known."
Studiously ignoring the sleight towards her Simtalien heritage, Sophia feigned a look of innocence. "I am not certain as to what you are referring Aunt Matilda," she said slowly.
"Do not play games with me my girl," snapped Matilda. "You know, as well as I, that the way in which you argued with Mr Thomas over the meat course, was, not only unbecoming of a lady, but also utterly unacceptable in polite company. I have apologised to him and told him to expect a proper letter of apology from you on the morrow." Matilda fixed Sophia with a stern look as she spoke. It was a look which had always cowed her own daughters, and she was more than a little surprised when Sophia, instead of meekly acquiescing, raised her chin proudly and said "you had no right."
"Excuse me?"
"I said you had no right to speak on my behalf, and especially when I was not in the wrong. I did not argue with him, as you so put it, but I did disagree with him. He was stating his opinions, and I stated mine, which happened not to agree with his. I am entitled to my own opinions."
"No you are not! Not until you are married, and then your husband will give them to you," responded Matilda as she fought the impulse to start pacing in front of the fireplace.
Sophia stood there, her mouth partially open as she digested what her aunt had just said. "My 'husband' will 'give' them to me?" she said at last, her tone of voice making it very clear what she thought of that sentiment. "My dear Aunt, I would hope that my 'husband' will have enough respect for my strength of character and intellect, to not try to force me to abandon my own beliefs for his. If he does not, then I do not want him as a husband."
"Do not mistake stubbornness for strength of character Sophia," warned her aunt.
"And you, dear Aunt, should not mistake strength of character for stubbornness. I know my own mind and am capable of forming my own opinions without the input of another."
Matilda threw her hands up in the air, and settled in a chair. "I cautioned my brother against giving his daughters all they wanted, and it looks as if I was right to do so." She fixed her niece with a sharp glare. "Your sister's pretty head is full of nothing but where the next shiny bauble is to come from whereas you are as stubborn as a mule and as blinkered as a horse."
"I fear you mistake us Aunt," replied Sophia, her tone frigid.
"Really? I do not think I do. I expect that you wish this 'husband' of yours to obey your every whim and never speak his own mind," said Matilda as she folded her hands on her skirts.
"Oh good Lord no, for that would be most frightfully dull," exclaimed Sophia, appalled. "I hope to make an equal marriage, to a man whose strength of character rivals my own. I hope we will partake in full and frank discussions in which we can both speak our minds."
"Ha! Next you will be telling me that you wish to marry for love, even if it means you marry a, a shopkeeper!"
"Indeed, I feel there are worse fates which could befall me. Marrying a man I despised or felt contempt for, even though he was rich and socially above my station, for example," replied Sophia.
This seemed to amuse her aunt greatly, and it was a moment before she had recovered herself enough to speak. "Hopefully finishing school will disabuse you of these fantastical notions," she said through a smug grin, before dismissing Sophia with a flick of her wrist.
Sophia had just opened the door when her aunt said "the boy will be waiting in the entrance hall at nine, ready to take your letter of apology to the post office."
Sophia looked over her shoulder at her aunt. "Then I hope you do not want him to carry out his other duties tomorrow, for he is going to have a very long wait." She closed the door with a slam.
