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Post by huillaume on Jan 26, 2021 7:22:13 GMT
(July 1632)
Chérie Emelin,
Let me begin by apologizing myself for the short time we had in Paris before I had to leave to take my Brigade’s command, but you know what the situation of the country is, and my family lands were (and still are) threatened and without a commander for the troops, so, as much heartbreaking as it could be, it was time for me to step ahead.
I saw my family in Béarne when I stopped at home to spend a night before moving to the besieged fortresses in the border. They are all well and send you their best regards and wishes.
About combat, first of all I’m safe, and with the help of my chief-adjutant and the brave men of the RNHB we could break the siege with a sortie, despite our inferior numbers. Not as bad as expected for my independent command… now we’re fighting In the open. Lack of cavalry will specially hinder us, of course, but I hope dad’s guides (local sheepherders loyal to my family) will help us in scouting.
How is it going in Paris? Sieur d’Blancheur has written me and tols me he will marry soon (albeit he has not yet set the exact date). I guess you could host the bride’s party for Muriledis, if you think it a good idea…
I love and miss you, and I promise you to compensate for all this time as soon as I return to Paris.
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Feb 9, 2021 8:05:27 GMT
(August 1632)
Chérie Emelin,
things keep going fine here in the border. With the help of my father’s guides and local inhabitants we took some little known routes and ambushed he Spanish troops, reaching some of their fortresses that we have invested for a siege.
I hope things are also going well in Paris. I’ve heard Sieur d’Blancheur is marrying this same month. Please, make sure he receives my most effusive congratulations, though I guess so quick a marriage after knowing her for so little time would have brought some gossip...
I’m looking forward to return to your side and to enjoy again the Paris life with you. My family sends you their best regards.
Love Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Feb 24, 2021 0:37:06 GMT
(September 1632)
Chérie Emelin,
This August things have not gone as well as the preceding months. The new commander did not know the zone, nor the troops, and he made some mistakes in the planned assault that I could only partially fix, despite the good advice of my chief-adjutant. This added to the exhaustion of the troops (that I guess I undervalued myself) have lad to not being able to take the fortress, and to the death of many good men (my aide Philibert among them)
But good news are that, for good or bad, my tour of duty in the frontier has ended. My brigade will be (I guess) disbanded, and I’m returning to Paris and to your side.
I stopped again for some days at my family house (they send best regards to you, by the way), to visit them and to have Philibert buried in the family and war heroes graveyard. I’ve left some flowers for you in Ensign Jardin grave.
I’m looking forward being with you again, even while knowing it's just some short days away.
Love Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Mar 30, 2021 14:14:22 GMT
(October1632)
Cher papa,
I hope you’re all well at home since I visited you in my way to Paris. I’m staying in Paris for now, as I’ve been denied the command of 1st (provisional) Brigade in the Spanish Border (after I managed to turn defensive to offensive, now it seems someone else will take the glory). At least I’ve heard they have done quite well. I knew those hard troops would do the job.
Well, at least Emelin is happy, as I can be with her. I took her to the Royal Ball again (it has been over a year since last time), but it seems she has lost some practice about dancing in this time, and I0m afraid could not hide my anger when I found the General Inspector for Infantry there. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the Ball, and attended the Titling ceremony of our friends de la Azur and Bougiedure, that also received their Baronies
I’ll also keep my post as CPS, as the judge has found Guardsman Aubert guilty to have slandered Captain d’Blancheur, though not for what I initially accused him… He seems to be a honorable man, though, albeit with too lose a tongue. I’m sure he will have a good career.
As for the rest, I now have a new aide, the heir of the Vescomte of Maque, that has just joined my Company. I think to remember you told me about knowing his fanther, so I entrusted him the post.
Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers for me.
Your loving son
Huillaume
OOC: the Viscount never read this letter, dying on his sleep before it reached Béarne
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Post by huillaume on Apr 14, 2021 15:15:05 GMT
(November 1632)
Ma cherrie Emelin,
I hope you’re well. I’ve heard Mme Valanon has proven a good secretary and he’s helping you well with your work. I was sure I could trust you choice would be correct, and I’m glad about it.
I’ve heard Eloise has not only rejected Jaques proposal to marry, but has broken up with him. Is that true? And if so, what does she aspire to? He’s a Baron and the Governor of Paris, Mon Dieu!
Here in the Frontier, things have gone badly this month. Three have been problems with supplies, and the troops could not overcome them, and coupled with my own lack of knowledge of the area and the officers now under my command, the result was we had to withdraw to a fortress.
I’m well, nonetheless (Jean, my new aide is caring well for me and keeping me away from worst dangers, and has won a promotion for it), though I feel I lack the trust of Rank and File. If this was not enough, rumors run lose about the supply problems being due to embezzlement by the QM. I cannot believe it. But I’m afraid I have no option but to ask for an investigation to clear his name, as if troops don’t trust neither their Commander nor their supply system, thing would go from bad to worst…
I think I'm going to ask for a transfer to the Spanish Border, having heard the Brigadier there has died (God have him), as I guess there my better knowledge of the terrain and people (officers included) would allow me to better serve...
I miss you, my love, and I’m looking forward to be together this winter
Huillaue
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Post by huillaume on May 4, 2021 12:13:33 GMT
(December 1632)
Chérie Emelin,
I received you letter, and I’m glad to receive your good news. I’m only sad because I cannot be at your side in those moments, but I hope we’ll be more together from spring on, as once again my duties (and why to deny it, our economical situation) force me to remain in the Border defending the Kingdom.
This November things have calmed sown in Lorraine, and we could expel the enemies ,but they seem not to give truce and I’m moving to Savoy, where I will take command of a new Brigade. This time I’ll have again the RNHB with me, and I hope to find still there my former chief adjutant ,as we worked well together…
I really miss you, and I really hope to improve our situation so that we can spend more time together.
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on May 14, 2021 11:47:52 GMT
(January 1633)
Chérie Emelin,
I hope you are well in Paris. Here things are keeping relatively calm, and we were able to break the siege and begin field opperations, though we can hardly talk about a victory.
I received a letter from my Brother Renné telling me mum has died. Doctorss talk about his heat failing, but I know it was broken after dad’s death, and she has died of her grief. It’s a shame we had no time to visit her before.
I really miss you, and I really hope to improve our situation so that we can spend more time together ,and probably going to visit my family in Béarne..
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jun 2, 2021 17:28:45 GMT
(February 1633)
(to Emelin)
Ma chérie,
First of all, I hope you’re well in Paris. I keep missing you and longing for the Paris life, though I'm not sure to be a good company right now, until the grief of mum's passing away…
II guess you’ve already heard about the crushing victory we have achieved this month. Having those rough men of the RHNB among the troops really pays off, as they really know their trade and are very helpful. I learn a lot from them, and it seems the most we work together the better our coordination is. Sure they are (at least) partially responsible of my successes.
On the other hand, my aides seem not to last, but at least this time is (again) due to Ensign the l’Hôpital promotion (well deserved, by the way). I guess his father will be proud of him, and with good reason.
I’m now returning to Paris, but not sure if I’ll stay. The mourning for mum will not allow me (nor leave me in the mood) to attend the Royal Ball, but I would not want to offend the King not attending it… Maybe another command, if they need on In some border (most probably the Spanish one) can be In order until the morning (not the grief) is over…
I know this is hard for both of us, but staying in Paris while I would not attend any social event due to the mourning can be also hard, and even offend some people we don’t want too. We will talk about it at my return.
I really miss you, my love
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jun 23, 2021 10:02:10 GMT
(March 1633)
Cher Georges,
I hope you’re all well in Béarne, though I’ve not been able to visit you after dad and mum died (you'd probably know I had a mass for them here in Paris), as my military duties have not allowed me to. I hope to be able to pay a short visit in March, if I’m given again the Command of the Spanish Border frontier forces, as I have asked for.
You’d probably know I was made Comte of Déols thanks to military victory in the Lorraine front, but that will never mean our Béarne states will be forgotten (I guess no one forgets his natal and ancestral land), though my attention to it would not be as much as I’d like, and so I ask you to act as my eyes there.
I hope Emelin and myself will be able to visit you all next summer or autumn.
Please, embrace our brothers and kiss our sisters in my name, and be sure I’ll miss you all.
Your loving brother
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jul 3, 2021 13:26:24 GMT
(April 1633)
Chérie Emelin,
I guess you’ve already received news from the front, and things are not going well (after all, what did the high brass expect, outnumbered and without any mounted troops?). I’m well though, as the RHNB men (God bless them) kept at least their discipline and could cover the retreat of the Frontier troops, so limiting the casualties. But well, I guess we’ll have another of General Bully's Boulle's diatribes lectures in La Voix de Paris.
Nonetheless, for what I know, the Spanish are preparing to take offensive to exploit it, and I can only hope the Adjutant General will now realize his error of leaving so weak the hardest border and send a full Division, or even an Army as reinforcements (by the way, sure Jacques will go ape on it, after warning the effect the war is having on the Kingdom’s finances), as otherwise the whole southern frontier threatens to collapse.
I hope things are better in Paris, and that you enjoyed the Downs. At least you could see Lucky Star winning again (I told you this mare was good). I guess asking her to repeat in the Derby would be too much, though...
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jul 16, 2021 0:56:29 GMT
(May 1633)
Chérie Emelin,
I hope things are going well in Paris, and you feel fine at this stage of your pregnancy. I’m looking forward for this campaign to end and return to your side, and to be at your said when the baby is born.
I’m sad for what happened to Lucky Star, though. This Derby was planned to be her last race, but I expected her to breed foals for the future. Seeing the results she achieved they would have sure been good racehorses…
Here In the frontiers things have improved, as the show of force has worked, and it seems all borders are slowly becoming quieter. In the southern one, we have cornered those bloody Spaniards in a fortress, and at the time of writing we’re building the siege works, waiting for the Commander to decide if he lays a siege of orders an assault.
I miss you and dearly expectant to be with you again, with our baby with us this time
Your loving husband
Huillaume
P.S.:Please, tell Mme. Valanon that Subaltern Boucard is well and safe. I'm sure she will be glad to know it.
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Post by huillaume on Jul 31, 2021 16:44:25 GMT
(june 1633)
Chérie Emelin,
I hope you’re well. Doctor Leblanc has told me your pregnancy seems a little delayed, and the child is expected for late July early August, instead of June as we expected. As you know, I intended to return to Paris t obe with you for raising the child, but with this delay, I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to keep helping our troops for this summer, this time with the Guards , if the Royal Equerry allows me. This may we have taken some of their fortress, and it seems they are weakened enough as to go on offensive with our small force, but I guess reinforcements will not be unwelcome...
In any case, you know I’ll be there to raise him with you once born, forgetting about military adventures at least for a while. But In the meanwhile, I think it would be good for the Guards to harden a little in war, as their performance last March, even with HM leadership, was not the expected ( and for us, any more loot I could obtain will really be helpful). Maybe that’s Lord will, and the delay in your pregnancy is a sign…
Of course, I’ll miss you if so, but I look forward the time we will be together for a longer time while raising our child. .
I love and miss you
Your loving husband Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Aug 26, 2021 12:23:28 GMT
(July 1633)
Cher Georges,
I hope things are going well in Béarne. I heard this time war is occurring more East, in the oriental Pyrenees, and so far from our states, so you’re safer and quieter than last times.
As you probably have heard, ve not been allowed to march this time to war, and I profited this time to attend once more the Military Academy, so I hope to be better prepared when I am in the future.
I’m afraid my hopes to be able to visit you this summer will not be, as Emelin pregnancy will not allow us to, and the child is expected anytime soon. Maybe in the end it will be you who will visit us to know him…
Please, embrace our brothers and kiss our sisters in my name, and be sure I’ll miss you all.
Your loving brother
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Aug 28, 2021 17:59:29 GMT
(August 1633)
Cher Georges,
The child is born, and it’s a boy. He will be named Renné. You know this is a name Mum liked, and I wished to honor her with it. I hope you will be able to attend the baptism, in Notre Dame.
Renné has good lungs, I’d say (you’d be amazed how loud can cry such a small baby), and, despite all happiness to have him, I must confess lack of sleep is taking his toll (and I guess this is why I was so rude in the Royal Ball). The midwife says this is normal, and will end soon, though.
Well ,we’ll talk more when you reach Paris. Be cautious at the roads, as there are rumors about increasing banditry…
Your loving brother
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Sept 17, 2021 13:40:07 GMT
(September 1633)
Cher Georges,
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Paris and the Christening of Renné, and that your return to Béarne has been uneventful.
Paris has been shocked since you left by the news of the death of Maréchal d’Blancheur. He was commanding the Spanish Border, and I hope his loss will not affect troops morale too much.
I knew him, and even considered him a friend, and Paris in mourning him (even some King’s Musketeers, despite his Cardinal Guards background)
Please, kiss our sisters and embrace our brothers
Your loving brother
Huillaume
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