In the Eye of a Storm

by Mary Mageau

  ‘Daniel’s brother, who lives in Paris, has just stopped by to visit him. I always make sure that he has plenty to eat when he comes as Edouard has grown very thin.

  Daniel tells me that there is such a shortage of bread and it costs so much to buy, many of the poor now don’t have any bread to eat. Edouard says that a wage for a day’s work is 7 sous and 4 deniers of which 2 sous and 6 deniers will only buy one loaf of bread. Just the other day a crowd dragged a baker from his shop and killed him because he had overcharged them for his bread. Paris is filled with terrible stories.’

  ‘I fear for the people of France - for all of us,’ Laneve retorted. At that moment the hoof beats of two horses reached their ears. As the two women reached the roadway they glimpsed the back of Dunod, the Count de Charnade and another rider galloping into the courtyard entry.

  ‘Every time Dunod comes to visit us he brings another piece of terrible news. Come, Malande, let’s hurry back to hear him. With his arrival at such a full gallop something must be very important.’

  Entering the chateau and placing their flowers in a vase of water a housemaid appeared. ‘Madame your presence is requested immediately in the drawing room.’

  Moments later Laneve smoothed her hair, took a deep breath and entered. Rene stood with his back to her addressing the count and his escort. A servant placed four chairs near the large windows. After they all took their seats she felt an uneasy feeling pass through the room as Dunod related his story.

  ‘On October 5th rumours spread through Paris that the king and queen were hoarding all the grain. Incited by the revolutionaries, a mob of 6,000 men and women, wielding knives and axes decided to march on the Palace of Versailles. Luckily a young courtier, the Duc de Fronsac, heard of these plans. He ran from Paris through the woods to the palace to warn the king and queen of the crowd’s intentions.

  As Marie Antoinette was the object of the crowd’s rage, she decided to sleep alone in her bedchamber that night. Marie Antoinette also gave an order to the royal children’s governess, the Marquise de Tourzel, to take the children straight to the king if there were any disturbances.

  In the early hours of the morning the angry crowd broke into the palace. The queen, together with two of her ladies-in-waiting narrowly escaped through a secret passageway before the doors were broken down. The crowd surged into her royal bedchamber and completely ransacked it.

  By now the royal children, the queen and several guards had reached the king’s chamber and the doors were locked. A large crowd gathered in the courtyard demanding that she come out on the balcony. Marie Antoinette appeared in her night gown and robe, accompanied by her children. The crowd cried out for the children to be sent back inside. Then the queen stood bravely, all alone for nearly ten minutes, while muskets were pointed at her. She bowed her head and stepped back. Once inside she collapsed.

  Her behaviour greatly calmed the crowd but the women still demanded bread and food. They all insisted that the royal couple and their children must leave Versailles and return to Paris, to be closer to the people.

  The king reluctantly agreed, and after dressing in their travel clothing the royal family made a triumphal entry into Paris. They have now been placed under house arrest in the Tuilleries Palace.’

  All in the room were completely silent as this latest news was taken in. It was too much to even consider.

  ‘God help us all,’ Rene spoke softly.

  ‘And I must be away too, to share this dreadful news with many others.’ So Dunod and his fellow rider mounted again and galloped away as quickly as they had come.

  Laneve and Rene sat in silence, neither of them speaking for a very long time. At last she put her arms around him saying, ‘Hold me, Rene, for I fear that our time of suffering will begin soon.’

  Autumn gave way to winter, one of the coldest that Laneve had ever remembered. She mused by the fire as a March wind howled outside, occasionally rattling the panes. Although Christmas had been peaceful this year it still remained very quiet. Fewer guests now visited the chateau, as people preferred to stay safely at home. Laneve’s concerts with Viotti had almost ceased yet they still managed an occasional performance in the fine estates nearby.

  Stories of the food shortages in Paris were never ending and thankfully their root cellars were stocked with produce from the chateau’s garden, providing them with a good supply of fruit and vegetables. All the chickens and geese were safe in a warm barn, so eggs and poultry were available for everyone at the chateau.

  Malande entered the room where Laneve had drawn up a table and two chairs. She carried two bowls of steaming soup on a tray.

  ‘Laneve, I have a surprise. Cook has sent us some tasty potato soup.’

  ‘This is wonderful, so much better than a hot cup of tea.’

  ‘And I’ve also brought you a letter. A young courier just rode up with it.’

  Laneve opened the letter as she exclaimed aloud, ‘Oh, how wonderful. It’s from Marie. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen her. How quickly time passes as Marie’s child must now be nearly four years old. I’ll read it aloud so you can hear it too, Malande.’

  Laneve, ma cherie,

  So much time has passed since we were together and I miss you very much. I am once again carrying a child, our second. It is due in five months. Giles and I have made the decision to leave Paris and journey to Normandy before our baby is born. His aunt has a large home near the Norman coast and if this present terrible situation reaches us there, we all plan to make our way to London. As you know Giles’ father was an architect working for the King, as was my father, so suspicion has fallen on all of us.

  The other day someone on the street yelled out at Giles, ‘There goes another royalist.’ A crowd began to gather, with some of them holding sticks and clubs. Thankfully an empty coach passed by just then and collected him. As soon as he returned home, we began to pack. When you read this letter we should be well on our way to the safety of Normandy.

  I have also received a letter from Dussek, who has established himself in London. He urged us all to leave France. He sends his fondest wishes on to you, Laneve and to Rene.

  I miss you so much my dear friend. Please take care of yourselves and do plan to leave France if events get worse. Stories of the arrests and executions have even reached England now.

  I hold you in my arms and kiss both your cheeks.

  Love from your dear friend,

  Marie

  Laneve burst into tears as Malande rose to comfort her. ‘I will miss Marie so much now that she too has left. Thank heaven I have you close to me, Malande. You have become much more to me than a companion. You are a true friend and now, a sister of my heart.’

  ‘Laneve, you know that I will always be here for you whenever you need me.’

  ‘I want you to know that if Rene and I should leave our home here, you will come with us. You are part of our family now.’

  Time passed quickly as all went about the business of maintaining a large country estate. Then on a beautiful day in the late summer of 1792 Rene summoned Laneve with news she had hoped never to hear. ‘I must tell you that once again an angry mob of people invaded the prison in the Tuilleries. The royal family has now been moved to the Temple prison under tight security. Outside the prison, a mob continuously calls for their deaths.’

  Rene looked into her eyes as he addressed her. ‘Together with a small group of diplomats, I have been ordered to travel to Italy immediately. There we will visit the Holy See in Rome, in the hope of persuading the pope himself to intervene. As France is a loyal Catholic country he may be able to save Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis from the guillotine. I will leave tomorrow but I will return as soon as this mission is completed.’

  ‘Oh no, Rene, do you have to undertake this?’

  ‘We will travel with an armed guard and I should be quite safe. I have secured a courier who will deliver my letters to you every week. If anything untoward should occur in my absence, Dunod wil
l look after you as he will be remaining here. I must now be away. Have courage, dear heart, for you will be safe here until I return.’

  Laneve had barely enough time to say goodbye before Rene too had left her. She and Malande were alone.

  VII.

  Christmas had come and gone bringing little cheer as Laneve waited for Rene’s return. Nearly six months had passed since his departure for Italy and her concerns for his safely were being felt by all.

  Malande suddenly burst into the study with a joyous cry. ‘Laneve, at last, a courier has just left you a letter.’ Passing the letter to her Laneve tore it open, hoping to see Rene’s familiar writing.

  Instead it carried the following brief message, with no signature.

  On January 6, 1793 King Louis XVI of France was executed. The king remained quiet and regal with his hands tied behind him as he mounted the steps to the guillotine. A huge crowd was in attendance and when he suddenly turned to speak to them, a loud roll of the drums covered his voice. He was hurriedly laid down and within the following moment his severed head was held up before the people. How they cheered and shouted. He has been buried in a common grave like all the others, with his head placed between his legs. Vive la Republique!

  ‘So it has come to this,’ cried Laneve as Malande wept openly. ‘Who sent me this dreadful message and what has become of Rene? I have heard nothing since his last letter, which I received in September. In it he recalled the discomfort of the back country roads, taken to avoid the parties of mounted rangers. The loss of a wheel from one of the coaches kept them all waiting for hours in the rain until a farmhand could be found to help with repairs. He and his party had nearly reached Lyon where they would cross the border then move straight east to Turin and south to Rome. By now he should be returning on his way home, yet I’ve received no word from him. I have finally asked Dunod to send an investigator who will discover what has happened to them all. We should hear something within the next month or two.’

  Spring arrived and filled the gardens with cherry blossoms and scented flowers. The warm sun lifted the spirits of both women who enjoyed filling the rooms with bouquets of freshly cut flowers to welcome Rene when he returned.

  Finally, Dunod made his long awaited visit to the chateau. Laneve welcomed him into the drawing room once again. ‘Oh Laneve, this room has been the setting for so many distressing messages from me and I’m afraid that what I must tell you will bring you no joy. Please be seated as I share what I have learned.’

  ‘You have no happy news for me?’

  ‘I have been told by the investigator that the Marquis de Marais and his party safely made the crossing into the Italian city states. But before they could even reach Rome, a group of Austrian revolutionaries captured and arrested them all.

  Their diplomatic papers were taken from them and read. It was decided to charge them all as spies. None of the Austrians were sympathetic to Marie Antoinette and her enemies now reach into every corner of Europe.

  The entire diplomatic mission was imprisoned, interrogated and finally executed. Rene and his party have all been buried in an unmarked grave near the grounds of the Dungeons of Mantou.

  I am so deeply sorry, Laneve, to be the one to bring this news to you. There is nothing more I can say to give you any comfort. But I did learn that Rene died with all the dignity and courage befitting a member of the French nobility.’

  On hearing this news, Laneve lost consciousness as she fell from her chair to the floor.

  Malande and the servants came running to attend to her as Dunod quietly made his own way to the door.

  ‘I hope I will never have to carry a message like this ever again,’ he whispered to himself as he mounted his horse and left Montmorency. ‘I can’t bear to see Laneve suffer so much. She is far too precious to me now.’

  Can the passing of time ever fully heal a deep open wound? Laneve recovered very slowly from the loss of her beloved husband. Small pieces of news reached now and again about the ongoing arrests and beheadings. It seemed that Madame la Guillotine had an insatiable appetite for royalist blood.

  Laneve often wondered if now she and Malande should also think of leaving France. But where would they go – to London, Berlin or even to Prague? Perhaps the time is not right yet to leave. We will wait a bit longer.

  Finally in September, Viotti paid her a long overdue visit. He arrived looking very tired and worn as his coach had taken the longer, safer route on the back country roads.

  ‘Laneve, you must read this pamphlet that has just been published by the royalist gazetteer, Gautier. We have both been viciously attacked in his publication, Journal de la Cour et de la Ville. He then read aloud to her:

  ‘This shifty Viotti, a Jacobin violinist and music director of the Theatre de Monsieur has for his Penelope - a woman named Laneve de Marais, a disgraceful harpsichordist. She marvelously seconds the anger of this reptile as he gazes shamelessly at her breast. She hires him with her comical credit to flood the theatre with trite pieces and will end up by playing these pieces herself if she hasn’t already done so.’

  Both Laneve and Viotti were furious when they heard Gautier’s slanderous words. ‘I have made a difficult decision and have come to tell you that my music and belongings have all been packed and sent on ahead. I will continue from here to London,’ Viotti told her.

  ‘I dare not stay any longer in Paris. The opera which I direct has closed down completely and my services are not needed in this mad city. I wanted to speak once more to you, as you have been my friend, my lily of inspiration and a magnificent musical partner. I will always treasure the memories of the many concerts we played together. These have given me some of the happiest moments of my life.’

  ‘Oh, Giovanni, stay here tonight for a farewell dinner with me, then rest and you can continue on safely before dawn tomorrow morning.’

  ‘I have my violin with me and we will allow ourselves one final chamber music performance after our dinner. I will retire early and be off before you rise in the morning. You must promise me one thing only – that you too will begin your preparations for departure. After this damned pamphlet, neither of us will ever be completely safe again.’

  And so they spent their final moments together in joyful friendship, filling the chateau with their beautiful music for the very last time.

  After Viotti had departed, Laneve called Malande to her. ‘We must begin our plans now to leave France together. But before we can do this I have something to show you.’

  On her bed Laneve had placed several pieces of valuable jewellery: the three stranded pearl necklace Mama had given her before her death, a diamond necklace, bracelet and earrings, (her wedding gift from Rene), three smaller pins encrusted with gemstones, several unset gems and a number of small gold ingots.

  ‘I will place these in a strongbox, it will be locked and each of us will keep a key. If I’m arrested you must hide this box in a safe place until I return. You may not go with me to prison and this is an order, as I need you to remain here at the chateau. If we are able to escape together before I’m taken, we will dress as common women, slip away in a plain coach, and sew these jewels into our clothing before we leave.

  Tomorrow we begin to make these plans to be away this coming Sunday. Tell no one, Malande. Your lips are now sealed.’

  ‘Yes, I will do exactly as you have told me.’

  The next day Laneve received a scribbled message from Dunod. She read it aloud in disbelief.

  Laneve, I am on my way to Berlin. This morning one of my stable hands reported that a group of revolutionary guards were making their way toward our chateau. I asked him to give me his clothing, his old horse, and to leave two fresh horses for me in the Charnade Forest.

  I only had time to pack some gold and jewellery in a small sack, with bread and cheese to sustain me on my journey. After smearing my face with dirt and letting my hair hang loose, I was able to ride in my disguise past the marching guards and make my way into the woods without bei
ng recognized. I was off on a fresh horse before they reached my front door. I will ride night and day until I’m safely away from France.

  Now, I say this to you with urgency. You and Malande must leave immediately. Take only what you need and travel to Berlin. When you reach the city, go to the French Council General located at Unter den Linden. He will know where to find me. And now perhaps I should not say this, but I must tell you that I have the deepest feelings for you, Laneve. Meet me in Berlin and let me care for you there. I will wait for you.

  Your ever faithful and loving,

  Dunod

  VIII.

  The time for planning was now well and truly over – the time for action had arrived.

  ‘Malande, we are leaving tonight after darkness falls. There is little time to prepare so please go and pack several plain dresses, shawls some night wear, shoes and toiletries for both of us. Place them in the sea chest I showed you. Never mind about sewing jewels into our travel dresses. That can come later. I will speak to our cook and housemaid while I send Daniel to secure a small coach and two horses for our departure’

  ‘And I’ll be away now, Laneve, to begin our packing.’

  ‘Come back here within two hours to talk with me again. We have no time to lose.’

  Both women went about their preparations with great haste. Laneve’s quick planning left her no time to worry or become frightened. Her mind was calm and collected as she continued her plans for their departure. Both women held a final meeting as the shadows lengthened to signal the coming sunset.

  ‘The sea chest is packed and I’ve also gathered some provisions for our coach travel: bread, fruit, cold meat, cheese and a bottle of wine. We won’t go hungry on the way.’

  ‘Well done, Malande. I’ve spoken to our cook and she will leave soon to join with her sister and husband. The couple have an inn near the village and will be pleased to have her help in the kitchen.