My Dearest Mother,

You must be full of worry after learning that I did not return with Sua Eccellenza from the Coeur Fair. The Principe had me working so hard loading and unloading, fetching this and fetching that during the fair, by the time we were ready to go my body was exhausted! With the wagon packed, I waited while he was still hob-knobbing with his new-found friends and making his goodbyes. For but a moment, I lay my weary bones beneath the wagon to rest before we began our long journey back to the villa. When I awoke, the fair grounds were deserted and the stars shown brilliantly in the night sky.

I had been abandoned!

You can now set your heart at ease, Dear Mother, knowing that I am safe and sound. Though it has taken me a long while to earn enough coin to purchase ink, pen, and paper and to afford the postage to be able to send you this despatch. Lucky for me, the Duchesse de Provence had room in her bakery for several more bakers, and my experience growing up in the villa kitchen afforded me well the chance to become gainfully employed.

Now, I spend my nights kneading and rolling the bread so that those during the day have plenty of soft fresh bread with a nice hard crust that seems so typically like the French themselves. During the day I rest so that I may begin baking again in the evening all afresh.

Dearest Mother, I regret that I must now say goodbye as my single sheet of paper has come to an end. Sleep with golden dreams knowing your daughter shall be safe until Sua Eccellenza returns for next month's fair in the Duche de Coeur.

Your loving daughter,

CeCe