A response to your gracious note

[Madame Heloise D'Armagnac]

Madame Bonnett

It was with surprise and great happiness that I received your unexpected note regarding the position of Matron of the Hostel. I would be delighted to serve if your ladyship believes I might contribute to the welfare of the poor wretches of the Hostel.

In my youth, I was fortunate to spend time with my grand mother, the Viscontessa di Monte Venera, near Turin in Savoy. My grandmother used her strong personality and abundant talents to care for the poor who lived on her estate. I was graced with the opportunity to understand the truly dire circumstances that some unfortunates must suffer. My grandmother had great compassion and I hope that I might prove worthy of her example.

I must admit though that some aspects of the life of these poor women remain a mystery to me. Though a widow, I must confess that all of the benefits of marriage were not within my experience. My much beloved late husband suffered some health issues that impeded marital relations. His untimely death deprived me of his wit and company as well as the opportunity to experience motherhood. However, I will do everything I can with the whole of my body, mind, and spirit to serve the Magdelenes, the Hostel, yourself as my benefactress, and His Majesty our sacred king if you might see your way to allowing me to serve.

Forgive my youthful experience and exuberance. I am and will remain your humble servant.

Respectfully,

Mme. H. D'Armagnac

[Valerie Valanon]

Mademoiselle D´Armagnac,

if I were to consider you as the Matron of the Hosel, I would like to get some insight into your principles of belief. You see, the Hostel is a Parisian institution, which probably has saved numerous lifes of women, who did not have the luck to get a profound education. I therefore have to make sure, that under your guidance the Hostel will stay as it was, the best chance for women in unfortunate life situations to regain control of their own lives and, if possible, get some better chances in the near future of their lives.

Please inform me if either the first or the second week of November is acceptable for the two of us to get acquainted with each other. I would like to invite you in one of those weeks, preferably in the first week, to my club, the Fleur de Lys.

Respectfully

Valerie Bonnett
Vicomtesse de Tercis

[Madame Heloise D'Armagnac]

Madame La Vicomtesse

I am once again grateful to receive communication from you. Your ladyship honors me with the work of your pen, and I a young widow of next to no standing. Your graciousness demonstrates the very reasons are Most Gracious Queen has appointed you Principal of Mme. Duschene’s Academy. I know I have much to learn from you.

As for my principles of belief, I can say that I was raised as a Catholic and a faithful subject of the King. My father served with the King's late father, Henry IV, after the late King's return to the true faith. My brother and sister and I were raised to understand the value of service to God's annointed King, the teachings of our one Catholic faith, and the value of good character and sober behavior. I find in the days since I have put away the black veil of mourning for my late husband, it seems that not all of Paris has had the fortune of my upbringing. I begin to realize how important good breeding, good education, and a spirit of service have been in my own moral formation.

I have also had the blessing of a good education. I can read and write in French and Italian. I struggle to read Latin so I do prefer works in translation. I have passable skills in mathematics as least so far as practical matters are concerned. These are the results of my years in the Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Ardor. My mother and sister instructed me in dancing and etiquette as best they knew, but I suspect I have much finishing yet to do, perhaps under your own tutelage. However, I was brought up to understand the value of how things should be done and how they should not be done.

I am yet young and lack practical experience, other than as a wife. However, my grandmother the Vicomtessa di Monte Veneri engaged me in her charitable works from the age of 11, so I do understand some aspects of the suffering caused by material poverty. I am, to be frank, less aware of the effects of moral poverty which you allude to in your letters. I feel confident however that the example of my parents, the teaching of the Sisters, my attendance at Mass, my Catholic faith, and my own strength of character have armed me to take on such a role as the Matron of the Hostel. I can guarantee that were I appointed, I would dedicate my heart and soul to the work of the institution.

I would be honored to discuss my values or any other topic that your ladyship would care to interrogate me about at the Fleur de Lys. I am somewhat embarrassed in front of your generosity to admit that I have purchased tickets to the opening of the theatre in the first week in November. My late husband felt the theatre to be infected by reckless and troublesome ideas. And so, at the age of 20, I must admit that I have never seen a theatrical production. This attendance I feel to be part of a larger education I am now dedicating myself to gain as best I might. If my attendance at the theatre would reflect poorly on my candidacy, I would forego the experience instanter. However if I could prevail on your generosity once more, would it be possible to set a rendez vous for the 2nd week of November?

I await word on what you think best.

Respectfully,

Madame H. D'Armagnac

[Valerie Valanon]

Chere Mademoiselle D´Armagnac,

of course it was uncourteous of me to assume, your timetable would allow you to join me during the first week of November at my club, when all of Paris is bustling with the news of the opening week of the Johi Theatre. I myself had overlooked my own appointment there, so your consideration of course is correct. Have you ever have the opportunity to attend a play by Lord Balls? He is well known for his witty dialogues while at the same time he still keeps the dignity included needed in times like these. I myself have had the unsurpassable joy to co-author an opera with him some months ago, when I had been pregnant. As I recall, it was not too badly accepted. Indeed I am looking forward to his first procuction at the Johi Theatre. We may even meet there during the opening week.

As for our meeting, I have changed the reservation at the Fleur de Lys to the second week of November and am looking forward meeting you. And by the way, I feel the same about Latin. Honestly, it sometimes gave me a headache during classes at the convent. Be assured, that it does not matter concerning administring the Hostel. But we should of course discuss such matters at the club.

Respectfully

Valerie Bonnett

Vicomtesse de Tercis

[OOC: Invitation to Fleur de Lys changed to 2nd week]

[Madame Heloise D'Armagnac]

Madame La Vicomtesse

I write again in thanks for your generosity in placing your faith in me by appointing me Matron of the Hostel. I feel a great work is ahead of me and that perhaps the Holy Spirit works through your hands to provide me the grace of a new vocation. There are no words for my gratitude. I hope that my diligent work might serve as testimony to my gratitude for your kindness.

My spirit is called to make a great work of my time at the Hostel. I have much to learn but hope that I might have much to bring to bear to aid the poor wretched women of the Hostel. So much to do before Christmas! I am looking forward to the ball (I do love dancing!) but have to arrange a move to the Hostel and the sale of my home so the month ahead is looking full. Perhaps in the new year we might meet again that I might garner your advice and wisdom regarding my ideas for the dependent women of the Hostel.

I read with surprise comments in La Voix about our dinner at the Fleur de Lys. I am learning how tongues do wag in Paris! I have trouble understanding why a married noble woman and a respectable widow raise eyebrows when dining in public. Is there some mystery that I have yet to understand?

Respectfully

Mme. H. D'Armagnac

Matron of the Hostel

[Valerie Valanon]

Dear Madame D´Armagnac,

although I oftimes try to understand the customs and conventions here in Paris, I may have found a clue which could possibly explain the behaviour regarding our meeting in the Fleur de Lys. My husband told me about it and who am I not to rely on his counsel. So it has to do with the so called tradition. One has to take into account that more or less everything, which is called tradition, is in fact nothing else than a way to say: Do not change anything. And since more or less only men were to been seen in that exclusive club, two women not in male companionship would seem to them as the beginning of the end of time itself. But that is only my personal interpretation. Whether this theory is correct, I may not say for sure. But it seems not too far away from the truth.

Nevertheless, I have enjoyed the evening and I would be delighted to repeat it at some time in the near future. Even including the gossiping afterwards.

Yours sincerely
Valerie Bonnett