London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
December, 1st
December, 1st
Adalene Béringer walked the streets of the great capital of the Empire. She had been born and raised Montreal, the largest city in British North America. But now she understood just how small the city truly was. Montreal boasted a staggering population building towards one hundred thousand inhabitance. London, she did all she could not to gape in awe at what stood before her, London may have held all the population of all the world so far as she could tell. Everything about the city, about it's people, about the way they moved, dressed, hurried in the streets, seemed... more than she had known back home. She was from a "well to do" family, her clothing the latest fashion to reach the shores of the colony, her hair in the popular fashion back home. But here among the "well to do" of London, she felt as if she were the same poor farmer's wife her grandmother had been, dressed to work on the land, and covered in it's mud, dirt, and other unmentionable things.
Her husband, Lucien Béringer had been chosen to attend the Conference of London, that would be taking place come January. He too was from a good family, and had seen much more of the colonies than she had. Growing up in Montreal, living in Quebec City, working in Kingston and Toronto. Adalene smiled looking at her husband's face, like her, nothing he had seen in his years had readied him for London. At least, in this, she was not alone. She tightened her grip, her arm locked in his pulling him close. He looked down, his green eyes sparkling under his mop of black hair, some of his features hinting at a distant Canadian Indian ancestor, clashing greatly with her own porcelain skin, blue eyes, and nearly white hair. Her husband leaned in, gentally kissing her cheek, causing her to flush a deep red she knew would be seen by all the people in the streets.
That at least, was in one way the Canadiens, and many Canadians were "more" than their counterparts in London. She saw, with some pride English men and women scowling and the display of affection that was so readily shown on their streets. She did not, could not, bring herself to care for their opinions on the matter. As if it make the point to herself, and to her husband she spoke as if nothing were in anyway out of place.
"What is it, that the Conference shall be covering?" She asked in the French of Quebec. The language drew the attention of one man who heard it, an almost shocked look on his face, that made Adalene smile openly.
"From what I understand," Her husband responded also in his native language. "we will be discussing the nature of our nation with the English Colonial Administrators." He nearly spat at the thought. He, along with all the Parti Rouge, held no true hope that the "Republic" was achievable. So rather, they were simply to fight for the greatest freedom they could readily gain. "Compromise." Lucien spoke the word almost in confusion. It was not quite a curse, but nor was it anything else. Adalene, again holding her husband close to her smiled and spoke calmly.
"Compromise is not so bad, oui?" He slowly turned to face her, as if she had denied the existence of God. "What it is, I mean, Monsieur MacDonald, he has compromised with us has he not?" Her husband had done much to inform her of what had taken place in the first conference he had attended. He, and some of the party, had seen the "compromise" as a loss. But rather, Adalene had show him the light, of the victory it truly was. They had insure that Bytown, or Ottawa as it was now called, would not dominate all the nation. The battle they had fought had been won, with the power gained for the regions, the Parti Rouge had ensured the existence of the Canadien for the foreseeable future.
He had calmed after that, standing in that light.
Adalene watched as her husband thought over her statement on the Premier. He would get there, sooner or later. Before they had walked another block, he was nodding as if to himself. "Yes, yes, you are correct as you often are." He smiled again, looking back to his wife.
"Now," She took his hand in hers. "Tell me, again, for I have been confused and forgotten what it was you had said on the crossing of the Atlantic. What is it that the Parti is pushing for, if not a republic?" She lied between her teeth. She remembered well what her husband and Mr. Brown had been speaking of, but wished to review it and add in her own thoughts. Lucien would be far more likely to hear her words, and heed them when it was simply the two speaking in private.
"Monsieur Brown, he of course supports Confederation as a whole. He is English after all, I am sorry, no he is of course Scottish, but in this case there is very little difference." That, may have been true, but Adalene did not always find it so. The Scottish, both in Canada and in Europe had always been more kind to the French than their English counterparts. Her husband continued. "Monsieur MacDonald, Monsieurs Cartier and McGee wish to ask the Parliament in London for a Monarch of our own. It is whispered, that Queen Victoria and Prime Minister Temple support this measure." He ran a hand over his thick unruly hair.
"And the thoughts in your mind?" Adalene asked interested honestly.
"I... am not sure." He said openly. "It is true that a republic would be ideal. But, as that is not an option, I am left as the English say "Between the devil and the sea"." He spoke the last words in English.
"Is it possible, tell me, to limit the power of the crown?" Adalene asked, guiding his thoughts.
"Well, yes of course." Lucien said looking sideways towards his wife. "There is a long history in England of such things. From the Magna Carta until this day." He spoke as if she should have known at least something on the subject. Which of course she did. Adalene nodded, and smiled softly, then simply waited. "Unless..." Her husband said slowly.
"Hmm?" She asked resting her head on his shoulder.
"It maybe... non, non, they would not accept such a thing." He shook his head slowly holding his chin.
"What is it my love?" She asked rubbing his thumb with her own.
"Perhaps, using the history of England as a backbone, we could, both the Grits and the Parti Rouge, argue for yet a further weakening of the powers of the Monarch. So it maybe that Canada would have only a King in name, and name alone." Lucien was lost in thought suddenly. When he was in such away there was no force in Heaven or Earth that could draw him back until he was well ready. Adalene smiled deep within herself. Lucien was a brilliant man, a good politician, a good diplomat, and a good Canadien.
But like all men since the first rising of the sun, he sometimes needed to be shown a path before he knew to take it.
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