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The Flight to Fanciful ~ Part 1 The Meeting

Silas Becker arrives aboard ship at the island of Rocca Sorrentina. He shields his eyes from the sun and surveys the island with a keen eye and can't help but notice the lovely scenery and the warm breezes. After disembarking, he strolls a slight distance away from the dock and notices a cat on a bench and reaches over to give the black feline some attention. Becker laughs quietly as the cat begins to purr and bat at his hands with ebony paws. Standing once again and leaving the cat to bask in the sun, he gazes around and tries to decide what to do next.

Reaching into his pocket, Becker checks for the letter, and hopes to come across one Professore Stern, in hopes of meeting with him as soon as possible. He has some business to attend to here as he is acting as agent to his employer, Lady Leena Fandango, who hopes to move to the island if accomodations are available for her. Looking back towards the dock, Silas Becker spies a man off in the distance and decides to walk towards him and ask about the whereabouts of the Professore. By chance, the gentleman near the wharf cordially introduces himself as the very Professore Stern that Becker seeks.

After exchanging pleasantries and the reason for Becker's arrival, Professore suggested meeting in the library of the Villa, a large and beautiful building up on the hilltop. The library was quite grand and after the men were sitting comfortably, the Professore graciously offers some wine, which Becker happily accepts.

The discussion begins with Becker offering Professore Stern the letter from Lady Fandango so he was assured of his credentials. Silas Becker explains that Lady Leena wished to move to the island to escape the coming winter in England and that she has visited here in the past. Her friend, Lady Aphrodite MacBain, resides on Rocca Sorrentina and spoke highly of the climate and how much she enjoys living on the island. Professore Stern commented fondly about Lady MacBain, she is held in high regard by himself and the others that live here and asks some questions of the character of Lady Leena. Becker assures him that Lady Fandango is quite respectable, although her parents have passed away, she comes from a good family.

Professore mentions an apartment in the Villa, just upstairs from where they were sitting, hoping it is what she is looking for. After sipping the last of the wine, Becker stands and accompanies him to tour what he has to offer. The apartment is perfect and will fit Lady Fandango's needs quite nicely. The rooms are formal yet cozy and well appointed with furnishings. Professore Stern assures Becker that Lady Leena may use what is contained in the apartment as it pleases her. Becker enthusiatically agrees to the arrangement so that the apartment will be hers once she arrives to the island.

Professore Stern politely requests that Becker follow him to see a gentleman, Don Alphonso, his assistant, who handles the business dealing of the island. Both men exit the apartment and Becker follows the Professore down some winding steps to finish his business, happy that Lady Leena has found a new place to call home. Don Alphonso was a bit of an eccentric fellow and didn't talk much so Becker follows the lead of Professore Stern, who encourages a rather grim Don Alphonso into showing Becker the contracts and necessary documents. Professore Stern takes his leave for Becker to conclude his business, and the two men shake hands. Professore asks that Becker meet him in the cafe for some coffee, run by none other than Lady Aphrodite MacBain, Lady Leena's friend, so that they can talk further about the history of the Rocca Sorrentina.

Following his nose and the scent of delicious coffee, Becker escapes Don Alphonso's grumbling and finds Professore seated in the cafe with the coffee in front of him and the setting sun behind. Becker takes a seat and is quite impressed as Professore Stern recounts the history of the island with a wide mix from the Greeks and Roman, the Spanish and the current situation as a part of the Kingdom of Naples. At one point, he shares that a Prince of the island has sadly disappeared but left instructions for the island's continuity. Professore Stern acts as magistrate of Rocca Sorrentina after doing the long lost Prince a favor. He opened up a bit of his own history as being from Piedmont with his own credentials as not only magistrate of Rocca Sorrentina but also as a diplomat. Becker couldn't help but wonder about what the favor could be, and toasted Professore Stern with genuine respect.

Becker shares a bit about himself, a simple country boy being from Cornwall, England and mentions that it's the same area that Lady Leena's family is from. He's happily in Lady Leena's employ and is quite content with his station in life. Professore Stern seems to be quite a force to be reckoned with, Becker thinks to himself. After a bit of further pleasant conversation, Professore Stern excuses himself to attend to some duties of Rocca Sorrentina and the men rise up from their seats bowing, and say pleasant goodbyes to each other.

Becker sits back down, sipping his coffee and knows he needs to write to Lady Leena straight away so she may make the arrangements for her move. She had confidence in Becker, rest assured, so she's probably already packing in her eagerness to get here, Becker couldn't help but smile to himself. He breathes a quiet sigh of relief that he got the job done and his duties to her have been fulfilled. After finishing his coffee and walking back to his cabin on the ship, Silas Becker puts quill to paper, happily writing to Lady Leena to let her know her new home awaits her.

Tartuffe gave the guard at the gate a letter . As he made to walk through the open gate . Hearing voices he turned to his left only to see her ! . Passing the time of day with a man in Mulberry velvet he could overhear the man complimenting her and his heart raced in his chest . Quickly he passed through the gate wishing to put as much space between them as possible . The apartment door creaked open stiff with months of neglect. Allthough the furnishings were covered in cloths the air in the rooms was fusty . Tartuffe pulled the cloth from a cabinet in the corner and his mind was filled with images of a scene months earlier when the Comte de Chiverny had sent his ruffians to take possesion of the rooms and their contents. He was curious as to why his furniture , hangings , and pictures remained.

Moving to the window he could watch the scene he had watched earlier . She was still there and so was the popinjay in Mulberry velvet , Tartuffe continued to watch the one he called Columbine her look still grave behind a mask of etiquette . Should he send her a note? Had she recognized him ? Would she still want him ? . All these questions clamoured inside his head . Perhaps he should write to her at least to explain his absence for so long. He sighed ,

After a few discussions with my friends in SL, I decided to do something to keep our baroque RP alive.

Matisse and me had the Idea to create a Group for everyone......

This Group is for all Roleplayers, who like to create their own Baroque life in Secondlife. We like to give the opportunity in changing locations to hold different events like....Music-, Coffee or Tea Salons, Horseback ridings, Balls etc. We look forward to your creative Ideas. The group shall be an open and non obliged community, where everyone is welcome who wants to keep the Baroque Era in SL alive.
Please keep in mind, that we would like to support the Baroque Era ....so no Fantasy Baroque...there is a time frame and there should be appropriate clothing and a baroque etiquette, also no merchants who only would like to use the group as a public relations tool.

You find the Group under inworld search : Societe de Baroque

Este grupo es para toda la gente en Roleplay, que les gustan crear su propia vida barroca en SecondLife. Nos gusta dar la oportunidad de cambiar de lugar para celebrar diferentes eventos como .... Music-, caf o te Salones, Cabalgatas, Fiestas etc. Esperamos tus ideas creativas. El grupo ser una comunidad abierta y no obligada, donde todo el mundo es bienvenido que quiere mantener la era barroca en SL con vida.
Por favor, tenga en cuenta, que nos gustara apoyar la era barroca .... as que no Fantasa barroca ... hay un marco de tiempo y debe haber ropa adecuada y una etiqueta de estilo barroco, tambin no hay comerciantes que slo deseen utilizar el grupo como una herramienta de relaciones pblicas.

Ce groupe est pour tous les Roleplayers, qui aiment crer leur propre vie Baroque dans Second Life. Nous voulons donner la possibilit de changer de lieu, de tenir diffrents vnements comme ....Salons de Musique, caf ou th, quitations, spectacle de danse, etc. Nous attendons avec impatience vos ides cratives. Le groupe est une communaut ouverte et non oblige, o tout le monde est le bienvenu, qui veut garder l're baroque en vie sur SL.
Veuillez garder l'esprit, que nous tenons soutenir l're baroque .... donc pas de fantaisie baroque ... il y a un laps de temps et il devrait y avoir des vtements appropris et une tiquette baroque, donc aussi aucun marchand qui voudrais seulement utiliser le groupe comme un outil de relations publiques.

Diese Gruppe wendet sich an alle Roleplayer, die ein Interesse daran haben ihr Barockes Leben in Secondlife zu gestalten. Wir mchten so die Mglichkeit geben an wechselnden Orten verschiedene Events zu veranstalten, Z.B. Musik-, Kaffee- oder Teestunden, Ausritte, Blle...etc. Wir freuen uns ber eure kreativen Ideen. Es soll sich dabei um eine offene und nicht verpflichtende Gemeinschaft handeln, in der jeder willkommen ist, der mithelfen mchte das barocke Leben in SL zu bewahren !Bitte habt dabei im Hinterkopf.....das wir das Barocke Leben erhalten mchten, d.h. keinen Phantasie Barock....es handelt sich um einen gewissen Zeitrahmen,entsprechende Garderobe und Barocke Etikette und soll nicht Hndlern dazu dienen ihre Produkte zu vermarkten.

"So...Burly...what happened to you and Signor Rinaldi?"

"If it please your Excellency...I shall offer my full and truthful report. We were on our way to the wharf in the lagoon to take ship and follow the Englishman, Gandt. But mid-way to our destination, in passing a dark alley, we were asked by a young woman for help with something...and upon following her through the dark alley we found ourselves in a small square. I do not recall the place, as it was unfamiliar to me in the dark..but instead of someone needing help we found it swarming with many, many banditi...large, young fellows, very vicious and desperate..."

"I see...and these men...did you recognize any of them?"

"No Excellency, there were so many...two dozen at least...but they all had the look of very cruel fellows...gypsies and other cutthroats."

"Ah...and they did seek to rob you and Don Arrigo?

"Yes, they demanded our purses and weapons and our shoes...but we did not comply..."

"No?"

"No, Excellency. In point of fact, we advanced upon them at once...Don Arrigo led the way... he was most brave."

"I see. So you took on these ruffians...and how did it go?"

"Oh very well at first...together we bloodied a great many of them and sent them howling...but..."

"But..?"

"Well, Excellency, there were so many of them...and they were armed exceeding well with musketoons, and cutlasses, and all manner of dreadful weaponry...they forced me into a corner...and while they held me occupied, I could see them overwhelm Don Arrigo...he went down fighting, but I could see them carry him off..."

"In what direction?"

"oh...um...well I was so busy fighting, I could not really say for sure, but I think it was towards the canal that was nearby...I tried to follow but with their great numbers they forced me back..."

"And of course, you did not make it to the ship to follow Gandt?"

"No Excellency, the ship she was long gone ere I made it to the wharf. And seeing no sign of Signor Rinaldi anywhere, I thought it best I return at once to the headquarters to make my report."

"Alright...let's summarize what we have here...you don't know who any of these dozens of attackers were...you don't know where the attack took place, and you don't know in what direction they carried off Don Arrigo...Have you anything else useful to add?"

"No excellency. That is my full and honest report of the facts to the best of my recollection."

"Very well. This is most regrettable. And by the way...that's a nasty bump on your head there...you might wish to have that seen to...possibly a good bleeding might help. You may go."

"Thank you, Excellency. I do hope Signor Rinaldi is well...he is a most brave and..."

"Burly...just go..."

"Yes, Excellency."
~

Achille was very much ready to be done with Venezia. He had just one last duty to perform, and then he could get back to someplace where it wasn't damp all the time and people could be trusted. But that one last task still remained to be done, and it was not going to be easy.

He was looking at his options and making his plan -- or what passed for a plan under the circumstances -- when he heard a knock at the door of the old tavern.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"Saturnines. Here on behalf of Signor Foscari."

Achille unbarred the door and let the man in. A few things about his appearance struck Achille immediately: Saturnines was rather foppishly dressed, in fact even more so than Achille recalled from the last time he had seen him. He also was wearing a sword -- an old-style heavy bladed rapier. This was not a normal thing for Saturnines.

"Hello Saturnines. I am grateful Signor Foscari got our message," said Achille. "Is there any possibility of some help with this situation?"

Saturnines looked around the shabby tavern common room with the expression of someone who was trying to not to breath in a bad smell. Then he looked at Achille and smiled that greasy sort of ingratiating smile that stewards and head-waiters tend to specialize in.

"Indeed he did. But he already had been making some preparations. He has his own set of informants, you know -- much better than those his son has cultivated, of course -- and he was assuming you would be in need of some assistance with the process."

"How much do you know?"

"We know that Mercury Gandt is leaving on a ship for Ravenna this morning, and that when he gets there he will be traveling to Roma on some assignment for the Sbirri. We also know that some police operatives will be following him, just to make sure things turn out to their satisfaction. And judging from your message, it would seem that is part of your problem."

"Exactly. We too were given the impression that someone would be tailing Signor Gandt, and my job is to delay those fellows enough to make sure they don't get on that ship to Ravenna. Devi is on her way to get on that ship as well, to make sure Don Mercurio keeps going in the direction we want him him to...but if those Sbirri men are also on board, the riskiness of this enterprise is vastly increased. Does Signor Foscari have some resources he can make available to me?"

Saturnines smiled a thin, wicked little smile. "Oh yes indeed, he does. Quite a few resources actually...and quite honestly, we think we can do better than merely delaying those Sbirri fellows for a little while. Much, much better, in fact..."

********************

The sun was just coming up as Arrigo Rinaldi and one of his men were proceeding along on their way through the dimly lit streets, heading towards the wharf on the lagoon. The Sbirri officer was feeling pretty good about his decision to follow Mercury Gandt to Roma himself. If there was indeed a large shipment of muskets for Hungarian rebels in that city, he wanted to see it with his own eyes, as he had with the heavy bronze cannon that had already been intercepted, inspected, and then sent on their way. He wanted there to be no mistakes, and he wanted to be as certain as possible that the Conte Foscari's suspicious secret activities actually were all about helping rebels who would hurt Austria. and not about something that might be dangerous to the Republic, such as consorting with freemasons.

The man he had picked to go with him was no genius, but he would come in handy, especially as they would be traveling through the Papal states, which these days were beset with banditi and desperate, unpredictable peasantry. He wasn't sure of the man's real name...everyone at headquarters just called him "Burly" or "that really big guy." Both were apt descriptions. Rinaldi was confident he would have no issues with mere banditi or simple peasants along the way, thanks to Burly.

As they came to a corner, they noticed a very shapely, attractive young lady. She seemed to be concerned about something, and she requested their assistance, assuring them it would not take long. They had plenty of time to get to the ship...and besides the lady was very, very pretty, so with very little convincing, they agreed to follow the young woman through a dark passageway...

The lady was in fact, the young and undeniably pretty wife of the elder Signor Foscari. And the fact that she accosted these two men at this particular time and on this particular corner was no coincidence....

~

Arrigo Rinaldi, second in command of the Sbrri secret police of Venezia, was shuffling through some maps and papers on his desk at Sbirri headquarters when he heard someone enter. He looked up to see one of the thugs he had assigned to follow Hugo and the women to Sorrentina.

Glancing at the unfriendly face of the Doge in the grim painting behind his boss's desk, Vito the thug looked very uncertain. "Hello Signor Rinaldi," he said tentatively.

Rinaldi was surprised to see him. "Ah number 49, where in the name of beelzebub's backside have you been?"

Vito coughed and looked around nervously.

"and take off your hat, damn you, show some respect!" Rinaldi added sharply.

Vito whipped his hat off his head and held it in his hand, sheepishly muttering in a low voice "I am here to report Signore..."

Rinaldi cut him off. "Damned right you areyou were supposed to following the merchant and those two doxies"

"We did Signore," Vito answered, "even to their ship and out of the harbor."

"And?"

"We, um ..... well .... ," Vito's gaze wandered and he twirled his hat, nervously.

"Yes?" Rinaldi was growing visibly impatient.

"We were detained, butbut... but all is not lost, Signore!"

"DETAINED?!!" Rinaldi roared. "By whom?"

"Men from Rocca Sorrentina, they surprised us, Signore."

Vito thought that Rinaldi was going to strike him, but he gathered his courage and went on. "They said we were their guests," as his gaze dropped to the floor once again.

The Sbirri officer swore under his breath and shook his head. After a pause he spoke a bit more calmly. "So ...they locked you up?"

"Yes Signore, I have never in my days heard of a guest being locked up like that!"

"Hmph, they probably called it protective custody or something like that. At least that's what I would have done."

Vito chewed on the inside of his lip, waiting for what would come next.

Rinadli sighed. "Did you at least get to see who those people were going to meet?"

"We were not permitted to roam the island .... but I did hear some things."

Rinaldi was about to explode once more, but Vito's last statement prevented the detonation. He was suddenly very interested in what Vito had to say. "Oh? what sort of things did you hear?"

"I heard that the man Dieter and the women made it there safely."

This time, Rinaldi did explode. He slammed his hand on his desk and bellowed, "SAFELY??!!! Do you think I care two busted coppers if they are healthy or not?!!"

Vito winced and cringed but he made up his mind to go on. "There is more ..... if it would please you for me to say?"

"Please me? it would please me if ye choked on your own tongue, you scrofulous sore on society's backside! Didn't you learn anything useful, you wretched lackwit?!

"They have cannons, I heard the guards whispering ..... they thought I didn't hear, but I did!"

The Sbirri officer's expression immediately changed to something more receptive. "Wait...did you say... cannon?"

Vito nodded vigorously. "Yes!! The island has cannons, new cannons ... how many I do not know, but I heard them say it, in hushed tones."

"New cannon? from where?"

"They did not speak of where the cannons came from.But yes, newly delivered cannons,...but not stayingwaiting to go somewhere else....uh...they spoke of revolution,"

"Revolution...hmmmany hint of where they are going?"

"One of the guards whispered 'Vienna,' Signore ......um... it is in Austria, yes? I do not know what they meant, I did not hear the whole part of the conversation."

Rinaldi sighed once again. And then he almost smiled. Not quitebut almost. "Yes, you dolt. It's in Austria. Well, in spite of yourself you seem to have stumbled on to something useful."

This was a great relief to poor Vito. He puffed out his chest and smiled. "The Signore is pleased that we escaped to tell you these things?"

Rinaldi suddenly felt a wave of suspicion. "Tell me...just how did you escape?"

Vito beamed proudly. "The customs officers were to take us to Naples, I think, and they weren't looking after we landed and we ran off into a crowd, Signore."

"Neapolitans? They were taking you to the mainlandand it was on the mainland that they were inattentive and you slipped away??"

Vito nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! We ran away in the confusion in order to keep serving you and the Republic!"

The wheels inside Rinaldi's head were turning over and over, mixing his preconceived notions about southerners with things he wanted to hear. His fears were now allayed. "Yes, yes, the Republic thanks youand I will simply thank God that they put you into the hands of some fellows actually stupider than you two are."

Vito felt like things were looking up. He was in fact starting to wonder if there was any chance of getting paid

Rinaldi was looking thoughtful. Suddenly he gestured to Vito. "Here now, step closer, 49."

The thug cautiously inched closer to the man behind the desk, halfway expecting to be struck with some heavy, blunt object.

But instead of a club, Rinaldi extended some coins, gold ducats, shining in his hand. His voice was calmer than it had been during the entire conversation. "You have done reasonably well, 49. And you show good loyalty in coming back"

But just as Vito began to reach for the money, his boss snatched the coins back, closing his fist around them. "BUT do not make these kinds of mistakes again, you hear?" he snarled.

Rinadli looked Vito dead in the eye as he said this. Vito realized he was a very lucky man. As he nodded humbly, the Boss reached out once more and this time pressed the coins into his hand.

"Thank you! A thousand thanks, Signore!" Vito bowed over and over again. "I shall try to do better, Signore, all for the Sbirri and the Republic!"


Rinadli waved him away. "You will, I'm surenow be off. Go have a drink, but keep your damned mouth shut, and be back here in the morning for a new job...you understand?

Vito backed away slowly, still bowing as he went ..... "Si, Signore!"

As Vito scurried away to find the nearest brothel and a drink, Rinaldi sat at his desk once more and began writing a memorandum:

" My dear Don Cristoforo:

We have received corroborating evidence from a reasonably reliable source that confirms the other information we have received regarding the Conte Foscari's activities. As your Excellency will recall, Gandt had given us more information about another shipment of guns from the previously mentioned foundry. That proved correct and we did find the cannon which were being shipped at the time and place Gandt had directed us to. We now have been told by one of the operatives under my supervision that the guns are in fact being shipped by an indirect path through southern ports, and are ultimately destined for rebels in the Austrian empire, just as Gandt had reported.

So it appears that we now can safely conclude that the secretive business being engaged in by the Conte Foscari is not so much involvement with freemasons, but instead is in support of rebels in Austrian territory, most likely Hungary. As your excellency so wisely directed, we shall permit these activities to proceed, as they will in effect serve only to confound our less than friendly neighbors to the north. It also indicates that we can indeed trust Gandt and allow him a little longer leash. As you suggested, he seems to be the perfect agent to gather information on the other arms that the Conte is reportedly shipping from Roma, as he seems to be known and trusted by those involved. And if something bad happens to him, it is no skin off our noses. I shall, with your permission, prepare the papers for him to leave the city and proceed on our behalf to Roma"

~

Chateau de Montsoreau, Normandie, France

5th of August, 1774.

Chere Mme,

I hope you have been well there in Versailles. I miss your company in *our* home. I hear the weather in Versailles is nice. Here, in Normandy, it has been fairing fine as well. I enjoyed a cool sea breeze in your garden that I dedicated to you on our wedding day. I must say that my days have been passing rather slowly. Of course, I sometimes visit the ports to maintain the business but I would really like it if you could please leave behind your court life and return to *our* home. There is undoubtedly a lot to explore here. . .

I must say to you truthfully that I am asking you this on persistence of my mother. She finds your absence "unacceptable, not fit for a young doting wife". She obliged me to persuade you to retire from court life. And I believe that to be right decision.

Of course, I know how you would miss your friends and family but they can always visit you here. And I am sure you will be welcomed here by everyone. So please, ma femme, return to the Montsoreau chateau, to your family and home.

Veuillez recevoir, Madame, mes salutations distingues.

Votre mari le Marquis.

((referred to this letter ))

Chateau de Versailles, France,

9th of August, 1774.

Ma chere soeur Jacqueline,

As I write to you this letter, I am already preparing all my luggage and myself to leave Versailles most likely for the last time. You may be surprised even after all the things that happened last month, I know.

It all started two weeks ago. I was sorting my daily-arrived letters when I suddenly saw a letter with the Tancarville seal on it or, to be more exact, my husband the Marquis'. I knew that something different was about this letter than the usual ones he would send me almost everyday. There was one obvious hint to be suspicious about - a rose with a pale pink silk ribbon tied to it which was attached to the letter. I hurriedly opened the envelope with my letter opener and quickly read the content of the letter. . . My mind was blank for a moment and the letter even fell down from my hand. But after picking up the letter I read again, most thoroughly this time. He was saying that my mother-in-law, Comtesse de Fraisac et Montreuil, was complaining why I was not at the marquis' side and fulfilling the duty of a doting loving wife. And so he (or to be precise, his mother) wished that I would leave the court life behind and live in my "real home" - in Montsoreau chateau far in Normandie - immediately.

*dried tear drops on the paper slightly staining the ink letters*

Cherie, how lamented I was! I could not imagine leaving my beloved Versailles and my beloved friends behind just to stay forever with my husband in cold Normandy. Of course, I do not hate the Marquis in the least, I am just afraid to be alone there surrounded and looked upon by my in-laws and unable to see my friends, my family and you! I have been anxious, frustrated and scared since then and even now I still am. I just cannot make myself calm. I feel like I am blinded by the veil of the society and its words and being moved around like a mere pawn on the chessboard.

I felt so lost all this time and I ironically remembered our Maman's words: "Do not fear my child. If fate throws at you pain and torture, keep it in and find ease in God as he is always with us and you can trust him. I am sure he will lead you to your salvation from whatever shall be your obstacle in the future." I did not believe truthfully her words perhaps because I was so young.

The past week I felt as if I was in a dessert, so exhausted unable to choose where to go and unable to do anything, until I realised that crying and lamenting would not result in anything. Self pity would never help. I shall tolerate for . . .

It seems I cannot write at all, Jacqueline. And I am sorry I'm leaving this chapter half-finished.

I hope you will understand me more than you do already.

Please visit me, ma soeur, as much as you can as I will miss you most dearly and as I am sure it will take a long time before I get accustomed to the people there. . . That is, if I ever will be at all. I will miss you terribly when I "return" to my "home".

Je t'embrasse.

Ta chere soeur,

Anne-Sophie.

Versailles, 6 August 1774

My beloved sister,

The past weeks has been rather dull, for I felt ill and was forced to stay at the countryside resting. The few court gossip that reached my ears during that was not of great interest to me. It seems a marriage for Mme Clotilde, one of His Majesty's sister, is being planned. It do seems consistent, since the girl will soon turn 15. But her weight may be a issue on future negotiations, you know how beauty is more praised than one's virtues in our day and age.

As for the youngest one, Mme Elisabeth, she is too young to think of a marriage perhaps, but she's been growing quite fast, and its becoming a very lovely young lady. Her self-willed and haughty personality is being slowly taken care of by the admirable sub-governess Mme de Mackau. The child still display some of her unappropriated behavior, but I do believe this will soon fade thanks to Mme de Mackau and Mme de Marsan's efforts. After all, I do believe the court is not in need of more self-willed Mmes.

I purposely left the most interesting fact to report in the end of this letter. As I had just returned to court this week I heard rumors that much interest me. The court musician has been seen around the palace, and it seems he will in fact move back to court. I believe I don't have to tell you how this news fill my heart with the most sincere feelings of happiness, though I am also much anxious to our probable meeting in the near future.

I shall host a salon this friday, and I have been wondering if he shall be there or not. In the case of the former, I pray that I will behave properly, hiding my feelings behind smiles and nodding, as noble ladies as ourselves ought to do in such situations. If the latter happens, I must say I will be deeply sad, and shall wait eager for the next opportunity to meet him again.

Perhaps I will join the Comtesse d'Artois this night in gambling, I am in great need of a few moments of mindless distractions to bring my spirits up.

I kiss you and dear Anne most tenderly.

Your devoted sister,
( previous letter )