Characters featured in the first series of chapters concerning pre-adolescent years
1770
Lise- Élisabeth Isabelle de Rousseau, daughter of Jean-Jacques Rousseau; born 1759
Maxi- Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre, disciple of Jean-Jacques Rousseau; student at the Louis-le-Grand School in Paris; born 1758
J.J. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Enlightenment philosopher
Robbie- Robert François de Rousseau, Lise's elder brother; born 1755
Rèse- Thérèse Levasseur, Lise's mother, seamstress
NeNe- Anne Henriette de Colbert, Lise's childhood friend, noble-born, born 1757
Bonbon- Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre, Maxi's younger brother; born 1763
After singing the Kyrie Eleison and Benedictus, Lise was introduced to the owner of the Paris Opera House, Monsieur Lafayette. Unfortunately, Maxi could not be there to see her because J.J. had made sure that the young boy attended the lesson that the philosopher was teaching that day. Nearly a week had passed since Lise had first started her singing lessons and the two children saw each other every other day. It didn't feel enough to them, so they tried to see each other every day, but unfortunately they had their things to do. After studying under her father, Maxi was going to be going back to Louis-le-Grand for the rest of his studying to become a lawyer.
"Mademoiselle Rousseau, Madame de Beaufort here tells me that you have been performing extraordinarily this past week." Lafayette boomed, his mouth breaking into a wide smile as he looked down at the young girl.
Lise blushed and looked down at the floor. She felt embarrassed and just a little shy.
"Oui, monsieur."
The man smiled at her. "I would love to have you in the Paris Opera House. Usually we would only allow a girl of fourteen to enter, but since Madame de Beaufort has vouched for your ability, I'm willing to make an exception."
Lise brightened up when he said this, her eyes shooting up to his. "Oh thank you Monsieur!"
Lafayette led her to the stage, setting her to stand in the middle and face the many chairs in front of it.
"My dear, we are actually getting our cast ready to perform Proserpine. Our former lead soprano walked out, so we have no one as our lead soprano. I want to audition you for the role of the lead female. We will have you sing 'Ma chere liberté' in which Proserpine is found lamenting her loss of freedom after being kidnapped by Pluto."
Lafayette motioned to the conductor, Monsieur Lefevre, to start playing the piano. As the first notes of the aria sounded through the vast hall, Lafayette began to conduct Lise through the notes. Madame de Beaufort gave her a script. Lise looked down at it, looked at Lafayette, then began her aria.
Maxi ran to the Paris Opera as fast as he could, hoping to catch Lise there before she left. He heard a piano playing softly in the distance and a voice singing. It was there that he ran and as he went through the great double doors, he beheld a wondrous sight.
Lise stood there on the stage of the theatre, singing an aria.
"Ma chere liberté que vous aviez d' attraits ! En vous perdant, helas ! Que mon ame est atteinte de douleur, de trouble, et de crainte ! Ma chere liberté que vous aviez d' attraits ! Faut-il vous perdre pour jamais ? Ombres que j' interromps, souffrez ma triste plainte, ce n' est pas pour mon coeur que vos plaisirs sont faits."*
Maxi stood there in awe, watching this girl sing her heart out. Her hands were outstretched with her palms up much like the first time he had seen her sing.
He couldn't believe that Lise could sing so beautifully.
The man at the piano stopped playing and the conductor stopped as well. Lise immediately ducked her head, a heavy blush spreading over her cheeks. Silence reigned in the room before the conductor began clapping.
"Brava! Magnifique! That was beautiful, Mademoiselle Rousseau. My choice is made. I want you to be our new female lead!"
Lise was stupefied. Maxi thought she was going to topple over at any minute.
She did.
Maxi watched her as if in slow motion and before he even knew what was happening, he was running to her side. He was halfway onto the stage when she hit the ground.
"Lise!"
Madame de Beaufort laughed.
"Young man, this is the fourth time that I've seen you here-"
She stopped upon seeing Maxi kneeling beside Lise and holding her in his arms. She watched as he moved her bangs out of her face and kissed her forehead tenderly. Madame de Beaufort approached him slowly, touching his shoulder.
"She's alright, just fainted from shock," she said, giving him the best sympathetic smile she could muster.
It was at that moment that Lise came to, shaking her head to clear it.
"Maxi!"
He was tackled to the floor when Lise jumped at him, hugging him with all the strength she had.
"Lise! Air! Air!" Maxi managed to choke out before she let him go, her blush returning. He straightened himself out as Lafayette approached them.
"Mademoiselle Rousseau, I apologize if I stunned you for a moment, but do you still want to become our lead female?"
Lise nodded her head yes and Lafayette smiled.
"Splendid! We shall start rehearsals as soon as possible!"
Lise had returned home with Maxi beside her to tell her father the good news. When J.J. and Rèse heard, the house erupted in celebration. Rèse embraced her daughter and showered her face with kisses as J.J. swept her up into his arms. Robbie smacked her on the back and hugged her and Maxi kissed her.
"I think a celebration is in order. For the success of my fille!" J.J. announced over supper.
"Élisabeth, your father has planned to hold a dinner ball for you. You should feel proud," Rèse said as she speared a piece of pork.
Maxi smiled at Lise as he bit into his cheese. Lise however did not look happy.
"Papa, would it not be modest though? After all, we are not wealthy. How will we be able to pay for this?"
J.J. glanced at his daughter, his smile turning sly. "You just leave it to me, Élisabeth."
January 13, 1770
I am now the new female lead at the Paris Opera House. My father was so proud of me that he is going to be hosting a ball in honor of my achievement, but I keep worrying that it will plunge him into debt. I don't want to be the cause of my father's poverty. If it comes to it, I will use what earnings I get from singing to help him. I love my papa and I do not want to see him suffer for me. Nor do I wish that for Maxi either.
Lise
Lise sat at her bed after signing her name in her diary, reading over the freshly inked page. Her mind just would not stop worrying. What if her father did go into debt? What if he couldn't make any money for himself? She did not want that for her father. Tomorrow she would convince him not to have the ball.
A light tap sounded from her window. Did someone throw a rock at her window? She got up from her bed and opened the window, looking out into the dark streets of Paris. Down at the bottom stood Maxi, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight.
"Lise!"
"Maxi! What're you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Lise looked at the clock which read fifteen minutes past ten.
"I….just wanted to see you, ma chère."
Lise smiled down at him. "I'll be down in a moment."
She grabbed her cloak and wrapped it over her dress, smoothing out the wrinkles. Truth be told she was supposed to be asleep, but she stayed up late without her parents knowing. She opened the door to her bedroom quietly and snuck out into the hallway, going down the stairs and skipping the ones that creaked. She slowly opened the door and slipped out. Once the door was shut, she threw herself into Maxi's arms.
"Ma chère, I have been waiting for the moment when we would be utterly alone," he murmured as he kissed her gently, then deeper. Lise wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. When Maxi broke the kiss, Lise noticed his eyes were filling with tears.
"Mon coeur*, what is the matter?" she asked, kissing his lips softly.
"I…I must return to Louis-le-Grand. My summons came to me today, I did not want to tell you just yet because I was afraid you would be upset-"
Maxi didn't get to finish his sentence because Lise kissed him again, pressing her lips against his own incredibly soft lips.
"Maxi, I am not upset. Even if you must go away for a while, we can still write to each other and see each other when we can," she said, stroking his cheek. Maxi smiled at her words.
"Indeed. I am always allowed to leave on Samedi* and Dimanche*."
Lise smiled at that before kissing him once more. "It will not be all bad, ma chère."
Maxi took her hand and kissed it. "Lise, I would not leave you willingly. I will miss you over these days, but know that I will write to you every day!"
"And I you." She hugged him tightly, sighing with content.
Maxi pulled away from her so that he held her at arm's length, looking into the face that haunted his thoughts and his dreams. He kissed her again gently. Lise ran her hands through his brown hair, stroking the soft strands and curling them around her fingers. He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, his breath coming heavy in his chest.
"Farewell Élisabeth," he murmured against her forehead.
"Farewell Maximilien."
He kissed her forehead and ran his hand over her cheek before turning and walking off into the darkness, leaving Lise behind. She gathered her cloak around her, silent tears running down her cheeks. Even though Maxi was just going back to his school, it felt like he was leaving her forever. He was going to write to her every day, he said. She knew he would. Lise turned to go back into her house, closing the door behind her and locking it before going upstairs and into bed.
January 13, 1770
It hurt to tell Lise that I was going back to Louis-le-Grand. I promised her that I would write to her every day, and I intend to keep that promise as well as see her Samedi and Dimanche. She deserves that at least. All I know is that once I graduate from Louis-le-Grand, I will ask her father for her hand.
Maxi
Rose Lillian Marshall
