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Final autopsy report regarding the body found in the Canal.
From: Dr. P. Panacek, surgeon
To: Madame M. T. Milneaux - Vendramin.
Dear Madame,
I sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to examine the corpse found in the Venetian Canal near your palazzo. I am sending you a full report of my findings. One sign of warning must be mentioned: these results are puzzling and may even upset you.
The person brought to me was female, midst her twenties. She was dressed in a quite expensive and high quality gown, wich my dear fianc recognized as being designed by the famous designer Lady E. Luik from Paris. She was not wearing any jewellery.
First sight showed us a corpse who definitely bared the signs of being in the water for too long. The skin was all wrinkled and withered.
Her skin color was very pale, certainly a noble lady for sure, spending more hours inside the palazzo's than outside in the open air. One should expect a bit of a blue - greyish aspect of the skin, because we assumed that she was drown, but that sign was remarkably absent.
There was a clear state of rigor mortis. The body was cold. The expression on her face was one of great fear. What did she saw in her last minutes? What went on in her mind?
No other signs of injury could be found. No signs of bleeding, nor massive blood loss, also no signs of hematoma.
First i opened the thorax, taking a look at her lungs. They were both filled with water, what should emphasize the theory that the lady in question drowned.
Then i made an incision in the abdomen, revealing the intestines. I cut open the stomach and found the rests of her last meal, still intact. No signs of digestion already started. She ate some chicken, and tomatoes and drank some red wine.
The lady must have died quite short after having dinner. I took some samples and sended them to my new friend monsieur Eleas LeRoux, a promising medical student, apothecary, and herbalist who recently arrived at the Duch Du Coeur, for further examination.
Then suddenly something took my attention. I found traces of lipstick on her right inner thigh, and after closer examination i also found the same lipstick traces on the inside of her right ankle. Very strange indeed. Had she been with her lover just before the accident happened? Did they had dinner together?
But dear Madame, the most shocking fact came a bit later, when monsieur LeRoux came running to my practise in a state of high exaltation. He came telling me he found traces of arsenic in the remains of the mysterious lady's last dinner !!! He assured me that he had checked and double checked the results. He was quite clear about the fact that the food (or wine) contained a high dose of arsenic. I suggested him to take contact with sir Joshua, our potion-master to find out more details about the substance used.
Madame, these findings are clear. My conclusion is firm: the lady in question was poisoned, and probably fell (was pushed?) into the canal were she drowned...
The expression of fear on her face suggests the fact that she realized in her last moments the person who was with her wanted her death. Her former lover???
Madame, please warn the authorities... We have a coldblooded murderer among us....
Yours sincerely, Dr. P. Panacek.
The tables were set and the ballroom decorated as we waited for our guests to arrive. We didn't know what to expect...often events which are for sponsorship don't go well. Imagine our surprise when people started pouring in from not only the Duchy but from many other courts to lend their support to our Performing Arts Academy! During the course of the afternoon over 50 people came to the event and bid on the donations so generously provided from people in and out of our royal court communities. Duc Bedrich and I, along with Baharat Atlas and the Academy members want to give a huge hug to everyone who came and participated! Your generousity will enable us to bring more exciting live events to the Duchy in the coming months. We already have plans for another Art contest and a Music Festival and many other artists are being lined up to perform. You can be sure your donations will be well spent. Thanks to you all again and here
are some pictures from the event. Duchesse Skye
Prince de Carpgne to Charlotte-Hlne de Carpgne, 26 April 17--
Charlotte chrie,
Please dear sister do not chide me for my conspicuous silence! Marriage is taking up remarkably little of my time - my wife prefer to spend her days in the company of Messrs Bhmer and Bassenge than with myself, although I am loath to complain at being afforded the freedom I fully expected marriage to stifle without even a final gasp.
My friend the Comtesse de Noailles passed comment that our father has been frequenting the corridors here at Versailles. It is for his attention that I enclose the bill for my linens - the numbers at the foot boggle the mind and I cannot fathom if they are livres, louis, francs or even pounds. In any case, he will no doubt deem them wantonly excessive as ever he does, but I must protest in my defense that since I began sending my linens to England to be laundered there has been a world of difference to my toilette! The precision it brings to my appearance cannot be overestimated or indeed overvalued, and I am more than willing to pay thrice this amount for the effect, so help me God!
As discussed previously I have now secure myself a small property close to Versailles, of modest proportion, granted, but entirely suited to my needs and a great relief as retire from court. There I can wear my hair in wild disarray, leave my cravat unpinned and even let my stockings wrinkle!
Be certain I never had recourse to such drastic debauchery, but the freedom to do so is very heaven.
I have little else to report. Pray have father expedite funds to clear the piffling duns I enclosed with the utmost speed. They are holding my household linens hostage and I am required to appear at court barely four days hence!
With love and greatest affection, your caring brother
WL
As postscript, Louis has been a great success at court and sends his best regards also.
2 juin 1785
I've finally reach my new summer home in the Aquitaine. The Villa is breathtaking with roses in full bloom. The scent is heavenly which allows one to slip into the perfect state of mind. So far I've had dance class, laughed over some trs ridicule gossip with a dear friend, played some very modern music and even started on a new dress in my artiste studio. The villa also came with a Shepherd and a small herd of sheep. I was invited by the Shepherd and his family to participate in one of the oldest pastoral traditions: the transhumance. The transhumance is the annual walking of the herds up to their summer mountain pastures. Migration of the sheep herds happens all over Europe: in the Alps, the Apennines, in Corsica, Switzerland, and Spain. I have procured some very sturdy shoes and walking staff for this occasion. The mountain trails can be very tricky.The shepherd that tends my flock is an "caractre intressant." He comes daily - herding stick in hand, black beret eschewed shadowed closely by a gigantic pair of Great Pyrenees herding dogs le patou. The dogs make quick work of rounding up the sheep. The sheep trot fast their little hooves clicking along the trail. I watch from my bedroom window as the long white river winds out of the far pasture and towards the mountain meadows for the day. Life here is easy and beautiful cher journal. I feel la joie de la vie at every moment! I may just stay here forever and enjoy my little piece of paradise found.
Thanks to the warm and caring welcome of His Majesty King William and Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of Orange Nassau, our first fencing tournament has been an enjoyable and exciting event!
But no thanks to the Highwaymen and Pirates who blocked some roads and harbours, preventing many to log in on time, or to log at all! What was the Linden Police doing? 
)
The tournament took place in the elegant gardens of The Isle of Roy, with the background cries of seagulls and the majestuous flight of a falcon over us. Refreshements were available for fencers and spectators.
What a graceful setting! Everything was ready for the competition, on the three pistes!
In the first duel, Sir Trasgo Beaumont, the famous painter, took the lead; but her Majesty the Queen Wilhelmina(Susanah Tigerpaw), with her unremittable perseverance and consistent fencing,finally won the last points.
Captain Paco Gothly, a brilliant swordsman from the Court of Spain, defeated Dr Pekel Panacek, one of the champions of Le Duch de Coeur( no doubt Pekel missed the relentless encouragements of his Fiance... )
At the same time, Mademoiselle Hera Poliatevska was so upset and blushing: she never had met a King before! and we saw her so confused and sorry when she defeated His Majesty The King of the Netherlands ( Roy100 Allen), an excellent fencer himself! No, Hera, it was not a crime of lese-majesty:)
Finally, Tatiana, Duchesse de Provence, arrived later:She had been delayed by the unfortunate encounter of this gang of highwaymen, who prevented her to join us in time: she disbanded this mob, by herself alone, with the sole help of her sword ! (Well, so she said..). Was she tired and short of breath after these efforts? I eliminated her from the competition( though with difficulty): this Myron has no mercy !
The next round opposed Queen Wilhelmina-Susanah Tigerpaw, to Hera Poliatevska, and Captain Paco Gothly, supported by charming ladies from Spain, to myself: Both duels were long, fierce and so close...: in the end, Hera and Myron were qualified for the final duel, which was won rather easily by Mademoiselle Poliatevska, undoubtedly the best fencer of the day.
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Hera was a young girl in the vicinity, who was always around and willing to attend our fencing trainings...I asked her one day, as a joke, if she would like to fence with us? She did, and it was not a joke anymore! I am so proud I recognized very early her gifts at fencing, helped her developping them, and became her Fencing Master. She may not be " une Noble Dame de Qualit" but she certainly is a woman of many noble qualities, including her skill with a sword. I take it as my duty to encourage talent wherever it comes from, Nobility or Tiers-Etat,, men or women...I lost the tournament yesterday, but nothing could have made me happier than to see my " disciple" surpassing her Master, as Hera did, and I was more proud than if I had won myself !
She received the prize of 1500 L$, so generously awarded by the Court of Orange Nassau to the winner, from the hands of the King himself, and under the kindly eyes of the Queen. Her heart must have been beating so fast then!
But this tournament would not have been half as enjoyable, if we had not been graced by a numerous and cheerful attendance:Her Excellency La Contessa Rezzonico, who speaks so many languages so well, Her Grace the Duchesse de Rochefort, who came all the way from Versailles and is a keen observer of this fencing game she masters perfectly,the newly-wed Baronesse de Coeur Maria Louisa and her husband Captain Fletch Kidd ( next time you HAVE to fence , dears),Madame de Tancarville, Ladies Oona Riaxik ( a future fencer?) and Summer Serendipity ( a fencing beginner) from Coeur,Senoras Sevilla Abbot and Marliz Lenroy from Spain, not to forget my sweet and beloved Lady Candace, who was so helpful with organisation and welcomed our friends...A jolly and refined company , Indeed !
After the tournament, some of the guests and the Royal Couple danced the evening away in the huge and prestigious Ballroom of The Court: a peaceful and charming ending for a perfect day !
We will have more fencing events in other Courts in the future, and we will come back to the Netherlands some day. Do not be impatient In the meantime,please join the Royal courts Fencing Group, and attend its meetings: it's a good way to entertain oneself, to practice adequate baroque roleplay,to meet old friends and make new acquaintance !
In the hereunder painting,Hera Poliatevska,on the left, receives her prize from the hands of The King and Queen
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Bastia, to say the least, is uneventful, but the people are incredibly polite. I stepped back from a market stall and bumped into a woman, but it was she who apologized. Strange people. I purchased a scarf at one of the shops, it's very soft but too warm to wear even in the hot weather. It has been good to use to keep the draft off my neck at the inn while I sleep though. I can guess it was not woven from the finest of threads, the craftsmanship would be laughed at in Veneto, so even I am a bit dazzled that I even bought it.
The docks are probably the most impressive spectacle to witness in this city. The entire pier is made of wood however it is so well kept I would think it was rebuilt every year. I heard from the innkeeper that many ships stop briefly at Bastia for any needed repairs and supplies, mostly French and Spanish ships who do not wish to mettle with the larger Italian cities.
I have already sent word to aunt Franca, so perhaps I will be lucky enough to receive a Loredan welcome. As well, thinking about Bastia, aunt Franca, and the Loredani tradelines... I have been wondering about the family in general. It seems Venezia is the only place besides Genoa where the Loredani are so organized, in terms of having a head of the family. Those in Spain, France, Britain, the Greek Isles, the Germanics, Russia, the Ottomans... they seem to be like... strays almost. The Genoese Loredani however, I feel are more brethren than all the rest,
I suppose I am not quite so sad to leave Bastia, as I have family to look forward to. And the prospect of a new trade agreement.
Aboard the barquentine vessel, the Pio San Matteo, with only a few guards to keep the restless sailors at bay, I felt myself at an unease. I was traveling from Valencia to Liguria hoping that Genoese trade might be much more fruitful than that from Spain. One would assume that such a short voyage would go without much hassle or obstacle, but of course, all-loving God must have a sense of humor. Halfway into the sailing, in the dark of night, a terrible storm brewed. I am most certain that the sailors have dealt with much worse, but seeing as in this case there was a woman on board, namely myself, they decided it be prudent to throw me overboard.
Of course it is easy to imagine I wasn't very pleased at the sailors' demand to my person being thrown to the waters. It was my six mercenary guards against perhaps twenty or more of them. Suffice to say I locked myself in my cabin whilst my mercenaries turned the sailors into mince meat.. Though I must note that I need to send word to the family of one of the men, as he did not meet kindly with a sailor's pistol. Oh well, one less mercenary to pay at the least.
Now while my men are brilliant guardsmen, I did not really expect any of them to be capable sailors. If we were not so close to Corsica, I would fear being adrift for days... Heaven forbid that occur.
Now I find myself stranded in the city of Bastia for the next few days. The attitude here is different than I expected. While the Loredani family is well known in Liguria, I did not expect them to be aware of my family here. I must make a note of the Bianco Leccio inn, as in this... less developed area of Europa, it is a haven for some slight luxury. Most fortunately, the innkeeper knows my great aunt Franca who apparently is a frequent vacationer here. While I have only met dear aunt Franca only once as a child, I have heard much about her, she is only married into the Loredani family- and is widowed to boot.
I don't recall uncle Alvise being a very kind man, most likely aunt Franca murdered him. I like aunt Franca a bit more now.
My dearest darling Maria,
You are gone! How can I begin to express my sorrow at what I can only hope will be a temporary parting! Alas, I am sated that our paths were able to cross once more before you departed. How is the estate? And the husband? Both frightful and as cold and inhospitable as one another, I should expect.
And just guess who is your replacement at court? My dearly-remembered Duchesse de 'Farce', it seems! Oh how we have laughed about her in absentia, never imagining this day would come! She is virtually toothless, practically hairless and quite deaf as a post - I am now lying here with a snifter of warmed brandy to soothe my strepped throat from making myself heard. Despite all this, her eyes - and, unfortunately, her memory - are as sharp as a rapier, and able to do equal damage.
Need I remind you of our history! Egads, the woman dropped me in the pissoir as a child! You know the continual difficulties I have with finding perruques to fit correctly - it is all her doing! She is most irritating - and, what is worse, I fear she has lodged herself permanently at Versailles!
The above understandably makes the need for my own estate - or at very least some form of retire away from court - all the more pressing. Incidentally, madame, if I were to take such a place (and believe me the lease is all but signed) would it not be easy for us to meet once again there and continue our harpsichord lessons? I remember always how you discouraged me from hammering away at the keys, and with that memory in mind I even now try to temper my technique to suit your demands, albeit with far lesser than your fine instrument at my disposal.
On the subject of which, I dread to confess that the Comtesse de Noailles is searching for a suitable matrimonial match for myself. I felt if you could not hear it from mine own lips, my quill would be the next finest. Despite my urgings to the contrary (in the somewhat rash letter I penned and which you find enclosed), I am certain the Comtesse will heed my father's hypocritical suggestions and pair me with a girl so bashful her cheeks never need know the rouge-pot, so modest her neckerchief reaches her ears, and so virginal one would need to take a pick and shovel to bed! I look forward to the altar as one would the scaffold.
Enough from me-- if you wish more, madame, you will need write to me. Or better yet, visit my new lodgings when they are secured.
I kiss your hand, madame.
WL
Prince de Carpgne to Comtesse de Noailles, 11 May 17--
Madame la Comtesse,
I write to you on a most urgent and pressing matter - the subject, broached most recently by my father, of a suitable marriage for myself. I will be blunt: you are well aware of my father's reprehensible conduct, and I know your aid in this matter is of loyalty to my late mama and your great friendship with her, alongside your affection for me, rather than your sense of duty to my father.
I am sure my father has emphasised his own insistence on a guaranteed virtue for my wife-to-be. However, it is impossible for me not to be aware of how difficult a task this may prove in a court such as this!
Allow me to facilitate your search, madame. My father's request, as usual, is really quite unreasonable and I feel no heed should be paid to his insistence on a convent education and other virtues of the soul.
I myself have few requirements. I ask that she is delicately built - I see no reason why a woman should be built like a man-o-war merely to bear seed?! Beauty would be pleasant, but is by no means a requirement. A dowry, however, is a must - alongside an income of at least 500,000 livres and a substantial family fortune. I ask that her colouring be fair, so as to harmonise with the brocade I am having woven for my matrimonial suit
As an aside, I must stress it really is fine madame! Four weavers have collapsed from exhaustion and three further have lost their site due to the intense brilliance of the fabric! It will be the sensation of the court. Alas, I digress.
Above all, speed is of the essence. The ladies and gentleman of my circle have already begun to cast aspersions on my character and delicate temperament, and the only way to silence the whispers is to expedite my marriage as soon as possible.
I will be forever indebted to you for your help in this task, madame.
I am always your most humble and obedient servant,
WL