Chapter 8 – There is No Escape
Dearest Mama,
How are you? Is everything all right back at home? It seems so long, too long, since I last wrote, even longer since I last saw you! Is papa well? Catrin? Seren? My little sisters are probably growing up so fast, and I can't even see them. It breaks my heart, but I could never go back to how it used to be! I bet most of the women back home would faint dreadfully if they knew what sorts of things go on here! As my beloved Toulouse says [he's a funny little man mama!], once you enter, there is no escape.
You wouldn't believe the exciting things that have happened over the past few weeks! There's a Duke arriving in the next few days, and Harold has been telling us that if all goes well, he'll finance the show that the bohemians are writing! I really hope that he's nice, for Satine's sake. Satine is the Sparkling Diamond, remember? She's ever so lovely, and a truly amazing actress! One time, Nini [Bitch Queen of France] was attacking her, and Satine had –all- the claws out! Then as soon as Harold popped his head around, she seemed to sort of change. It was like all the hatred melted and she became so sweet and perfect. It was quite surreal I can tell you!
Satine's a real sweetie though when she's around with us. She does that a lot now; she likes to just sit in our room while we're getting ready and things like that. You wouldn't think it, would you, the Diamond hanging around with a lowly bunch like us! We're nothing compared to her; nothing compared to Nini for that matter!
I have two words to say to you:
Jonathon Parker
Mama, I do believe in love at first sight! Jon is everything and anything I could have ever dared to dream about. He's dashing, charming, sweet, adorable, funny, rich [cough! cough!], polite, caring and a million of other beautifully perfect adjectives! We met a few weeks ago, and since then my life has been in a whirl of rose-coloured happiness. We've been everywhere, for picnics, boat rides, horse rides, shopping trips; visits to Paris and I even stayed at his chateau in the countryside! It was only for a short weekend, but it was the most tranquil place I have ever been to. There were gorgeous flowers in bloom and the sun shone continually for the whole two days! We walked everywhere during the day holding hands and in the nights I rode in an expensive carriage! I felt like such a lady.
There is only one small problem: me. Whenever I am with him, I feel prickles of anticipation and anxiety for unknown reasons. I'm scared, and I'm not sure whether I truly love him. Without trust there is no love, yet I can't hide my feelings of trepidation and I can't stop feeling the way I do. I'm being pulled in two directions inside, my heart going one way while my head is taking me the other.
In other news; love is in the air! Carmine, Bella, Karita and I are all infatuated with our latest men! Sugar has yet to meet someone, and to be truthful I am rather worried about her. She is only a year younger than I am; yet she seems to mature, yet at the same time, she seems to be still a child. There was a fire a few weeks ago, and Sugar went back for her mother's box of things. Now, the poor child keeps saying that she can smell smoke, and when we are all in the room I can see her looking around like a frightened rabbit, almost as if she's surrounded by invisible flames that will not go out. I am probably being over-sensitive, but Sugar is such a close friend of mine and I wouldn't know what to do if I lost her.
Carmine is mad with us all! Well, not really, but she's annoyed because we've started calling her 'Camrin' and 'Camrinita'. It was my fault, I had a bread roll in my mouth and when I called her, it came out like Camrin. Bella, Karita and Sugar heard me and now it's becoming a habit. Oops!
Ooh! How could I forget? Satine used our song in one of her performances! Do you remember the song that we all made up ages ago? The 'Red Room' song? Well, Harold adored it and now Satine uses it in her show! She wears the most gorgeous outfit, a burgundy corset and matching top hat, and when all the lights go out, the trapeze is lowered, a scarlet spotlight follows Satine while we all dance underneath! It's amazing, and I think it's the best song Satine does [I am not being biased! Honest I'm not!]
In other news, my skirt is has fallen apart! My beloved gypsy skirt is completely ruined, some club footed man stepped on the hem and now all the trinkets keep falling off when I'm dancing. It's a disaster! Luckily Bella gave me one of her old ones which I've updated, we're practically the same size, and it's beautiful! A midnight blue corset [now embroidered with sparkly stars] with a matching skirt, which has silver panels and ruffles echoing in the underskirt. I feel like a princess when I wear it! I'm also saving up for a new one, and I'll give you the longest letter when I finally get it! I'm looking for a red one; I need to live up to my 'Scarlet Starlet' title!
In more Jon news, he gave me the most beautiful necklace yesterday. It's real silver, with a choker of tiny silver leaves each embedded with real diamonds. The centre is a round blue sapphire which leads down to a pendant of more diamond leaves and at the very bottom is a giant midnight blue sapphire the size of my little finger. It's exquisite, and it matches my new can-can outfit perfectly! It must have cost an absolute fortune, but Jon says that I am worth it. He makes me blush, and believe me when I say that it's near impossible to do!
Well, I had better love you and leave you, seeing as I'm due on stage in a mere hour and you will not believe how hard it is to get my corset on! Give my love to everyone at home and tell them that I miss them with all my heart.
Love,
Ariella xxx