DrabbleWriMo 17: Hearth

[igenlode]

It turns out that 'shenanigans' is potentially less jovial and more accusatory (e.g. "he was trying to conceal his financial shenanigans") than I'd assumed, so I can use that to cover the safe-conduct business, coupled with 'obscure' and 'passion'. That will at least have the important part of the plot established, and I can spend the remaining nine prompts in picking out assorted details from the rest, if necessary. I still have no idea what I'm going to do with 'umbrella', 'herb' and 'medicine'. 'Flawed' isn't exactly ideal for the final prompt, either, so I might have to cut it short at the discolouration of the steps...

Valentine had not expected enemy troops to occupy the village at La Vergne. And though she had longed for Gaston to come, she had not expected him now, alone, and at such a dangerous moment.

Already soldiers could be heard outside in the garden, with others bursting in to search the house. Marthe thrust the guest behind the hangings, and ran to the window. Valentine, by the hearth, saw with anguish that her husband's feet were visible; cast a brocade cushion down to hide them, and flung herself into a chair, pretending to sew.

Despite the warmth, her hands trembled.