Valerie Valanon

[Valerie Valanon]

My dear Catherine,

it is as you have said. To move to Paris has given me a new prospective. And I feel my zest for life getting back. There are so many opportunities in this beautiful city. You should be here with me and see it for yourself. I know it´s hardy possible for you, but neverthelesse... I wish you would be here with me. We could explore all of Paris, dance at balls, visit the theatre, maybe an opera. It would just be wonderful enjoying life once more with you. Although i have to admit, that these days it is a little less vivid with all the soldiers at the front somewhere. But in September that will also change I guess. So one month to get to know the most fancy places to be and then next month... we´ll wait and see.

After Bernard´s death I have been in tears for a month and during the last months i haven´t got over him. You know why. I told you in length and I am grateful, that you always listened. And never told me to shut up. It must have been boring sometimes I guess. But now I feel free again. I have learned to cope with my löss and ready to move on with life. By the way, I am not the youngest person anymore. Shush, I know what you´re gonna say. Let it lie. Please.

Up to now I have not made up my mind yet what to do. Maybe I shall try my luck with one of the troupes here in Paris. They always look for talented actors I have heard. Maybe they are willing to give me a chance. The most prestigious troupe is "The King´s Men". It even sounds prestigious, doesn´t it? But maybe they only hire menfolk. Alas, I will give it a try. They only can deny my request.

Now I have cost you enough time again with reading about my woozy state of mind. I am ever thankful for having you as my trusted friend.

With love,
Val

[Valerie Valanon]

My dear Catherine,

do you remember the painting your cousin Ariane nearly destroyed, when she stumbled on that spring ball two years ago? The one with the lighthouse on it near Marseille? My poor Bernard bought it after our visit to Marseille three years ago. It always reminded me of him, but of course I couldn´t sell it or throw it away. Now I have given it as a wedding gift. Yes, I know. I maybe shouldn´t have done this. But... Í cannot grieve every day, I want to live again. Without such dark thoughts.

By the way, the wedding was splendid! The couple, Sieur d´Blancheur and his wife Murieldis, looked just as happy a couple should look on their wedding day. The drapes, the tables, everything just looked splendid. No, that doesn´t describe it correctly. Marvellous. Here in Paris the people really know how to celebrate. I can´t wait to visit a Royal Ball sometimes in the future. Jacques and I had so much fun... Oh, I didn´t tell you about Jacques? He is a sweetheart. And he can dance quite well. Not that well as my Bernard, but then he is more a soldier than a dancer. Yes, he is in the Paris Guard. We just met by chance a week ago. What should I tell you, he more or less stormed into my heart. Yes, it was pure chance. Some ignorant cart driver tried to kill me, after he beat up his horse, so that the poor dappled-grey shied and bolted. Only Jacques´ rash reaction when he dragged me out of the way of this horse probably saved my life.

He is such a dear. And did you know that he was born only some miles away from Carcassonne. You could have met each other in earlier years, probably without knowing. And now... No, I haven´t fully made up my mind about him. As I told you, he is a sweetheart and seems to love me. But I don´t know, whether I´m in the mood to marry again. Only to think of it gives me a headache at the moment. For the time being I will enjoy Jacques´ company. Every single moment of it, you can be sure. But what the future will bring, we have to wait and see...

Now I have to hurry. I hope that in September there will be a production, maybe even a ballett at the Royal Theatre. And since I have made up my mind about being part of a troupe, I will at least have a look at their next production. Maybe they announce soon what it will be. With all the soldiers back from the front, Paris will be much more vibrant than in August. Maybe Jacques will take me out to some nice party. I really can´t wait for him to show me more of Paris.

With all my love,
Val

P.S.: Last month some other gentleman from the Paris Guard, a Valentino Segal, wrote to me some letter I could only describe as a desperate love letter, I got informed just yesterday, that he had died at the front. I am sorry for him. He may have been a little bigheaded and definitely improper in his way to address a lady, but he didn´t deserve to die far away from home. I took care of his sorry flower pot and it seems, the flower is getting better now. I call her Valse, since she - yes, it must be a she! - reminds me of Désirée´s waltz. Always at the point of death and yet still surviving...

[Valerie Valanon]

Dans la Maison Valanon

Patiently she looked at him. "I am very reasonable."

"No, you´re not! You cannot understand it!"

"What makes you think, I could not understand... what?" Her voice easily rose an octave.

"Because..." He floundered for a moment, then straightened his back. "You don´t know anything about going to war, with a regular regiment."

"As you mention it, no I don´t. But wait, my late husband went to war with the Languedoc regiment. And he never showed up after..." She dabbed at her eyes, trying to hold back her tears.

Jacques rushed towards her. "Please, don´t cry. I am sorry to have made you cry..."

For the moment Valerie let him take care of her. Then she looked up at him. "But... you will be careful?"

"Of course. More than careful my darling..."

"So... when will you leave?"

"I don´t know... first I have to get accepted into a regular regiment," he admitted.

"They simply have to accept your application!" She sounded nearly offended by the mere thought, that any regimental commander wouldn´t accept Jacques in the regimental ranks.

"But... that would mean, we would have to seperate for some time. And maybe real soon."

"I know," she explained heartbroken. "But we will endure it. And think of our reunion after you spent the time at the front."

Jacques looked at her. "Will you wait for me?"

"Of course," she replied. "But please, come back and make me proud of you. I so much wish to go to the Royal Ball afterwards with a real hero of our country."

"A Royal Ball?"

"Well, isn´t there always a Royal Ball afterwards for the heroes of France?"

"I don´t know," he replied, more afraid of the thought to have to dance than of his decision to apply for a regular regiment and go to war.

"Everything will work out, I am sure," she explained convincingly. "By the way, you should apply at a good regiment."

"i wanted to apply at the Languedoc regiment..."

"No!" She nearly screamed it aloud. "Not the Languedoc!"

"But they are our own province´s regiment..."

"Maybe. But my late husband... do you want me to read every other day the lists of the dead soldiers, always expecting your name on that list?" Now she was short of crying again.

"Of course not, my darling," he told her apologizing. "Then..."

"You should apply for the Royal Foot Guards."

He nearly choked. "But... they are His Majesty´s superior regiment!"

"I know. But I may have a word with La Comtesse. Maybe she could convince her husband to accept your application." Valerie seemed confident.

"You would do that for me?"

"If it helps you, of course. I should go immediately I guess. I don´t want to be late to the meeting." He looked lovingly at her, while she turned around to leave the room and to dress up.

[Valerie Valanon]

Dear Catherine,

it is a sad occasion, that i am going to leave Paris. Georges has died. According to what i heard it has been some kind of accident. But I probably will get all the details at the end of November, when I am back home for the funeral.

Fortunately Henri will accompany me to Nimes. Apart from introducing him to my family, he wanted to give me moral support. I did tell you about Georges? How he once when I was no more than a child saved my life, when he pushed me out of the way of a rushing bull? I had stood there immobilized at top of the small hill, when the bull took aim for me. Georges got hurt, if only a little, but I definitely would have been more than only a little hurt, I can assure you.

Apart from that, he helped father out in business. I had never really got the impetus on taking over the business one day. But Georges did. Now I am not sure who will follow him, maybe Richard, the husband of my sister. But that I will probably learn when I am back in Nimes.

The last time I was in the vicinity was during the funeral of Barnard. Now it´s again a funeral. I really should travel for a more happy occasion to Nimes. Otherwise all my loving memories will evnetually subside due to those sad occasions.

I will tell you about the travel to Nimes when we are back.

With love,

Val

[Valerie Valanon]

Ma chère Catherine,

Although the occasion is a sad one, I am happy to be back in Nimes these days. I showed Henri around a little. And introduced him to my family. I must admit, I had been on edge for the journey. But he is such a gentleman, he won them over during the first moments. Now they adore him, especially my mother. He got a nice brooch for her, I don´t know from where, but it seemed to be just the right present. After the funeral, held in the Cathedral in Nimes, although the building is still under reconstruction after the partial destruction twelve years ago, we had a wake for my brother. I really was glad, that Henri was at my side, since I nearly fainted. You know, all the excitement is not the best in my momentary condition. It will be over eventually, but until then...

At least some good news arrived from Paris. Auguste has told me, that our opera will be staged in March in the Royal Theatre! it is really great news, since I did not know what to expect from it. It is my first opera and I am just glad, that we have won over the Duc of Brittany to stage it with his troupe. Yes, not my first choice, but... Next year will be exciting. In January I plan to be at the Royal Ball with Hanri. And we will host an engagement party. In February we will get married. I hope, that Father Chattan will be back until then, since I would like to ask him to do us the favour. In March then the opera and... yes, I have told you before, but my ballet soon will come to a conclusion. I hope it will be as good as I think. And in April... only Henri and my family know by now. But it will become obvious anyway in some weeks...

That´s it for now. I think I will need some rest again, before we leave for Paris. The roads are in a state close to disintegration, especially in winter with all the rain. But we will endure the travel.

With Love, Val