Morgiannette, Mariette & Minnette

by Digger McFoogle

This is the story of Marriette, the young girl in the villiage of Moucouton, and her sisters who all fight for France but in very different ways. They yearn to be together, but realise that duty comes first. In letter format

5. 1796

1796

Minn.

I found myself dreaming of her again. Her smile, her beautiful features, taken away forever....Archie, too is dead. He passed away on a recent trip to the Indies.At last it is over, I believe...

I have news. Such news would have excited me in the past, yet now it feels empty.... I am with child. Courtenay, who returned to me, thank the Lord, is most excited of the news. I try to feign enthusiasm, but Minnette, I cannot stop thinking of them both... I miss my dearest Marie, and I am starting to believe that my child's father is Archie.

I think Courtenay knows he is not the father. Yet he seems to stand by me, therefore I know he loves me truly. Yet still it does not seem to matter. All I see is them, both fair and beautiful, both innocents in over their heads....

We must keep fighting though, Minn. I will fight till my last breath, for now we are avenging her death also.

Respondez-vous

Morgan

My Dearest Morgiannette

The news about the baby is very pleasing. Maybe you can name it after Marriette.

I have reason to believe I am being followed. Oh, perhaps it is my mind playing tricks again, but I could swear on mama's grave that I am being watched.

I have felt it since my friends were killed last year. Every turn I take I can hear them, so close....

I have worried about it for such a long time, but with the invasion and the untimely death of out dear sister it had not been a priority of mine. What shall I do? What if the government has discovered my link with the information found out by Lt. Hornblower? They will not stop until they have found me, and then what will become of you, ma soeur cadette? Oh, what has our dear Marie started....

I shall update you when I have news.

Respondez-vous

Minn.

Chere Minnette,

I pray for you daily. We must be wary of this . Courtenay has told me that Hornblower has already risen to the rank of a 1st leiutenant on a new ship. He is rising fast, and could bring us all down.

My health is still good, and the baby is progressing well. My hand-maid, Lottie, is ever so good to me. She has been with me for many years, and alone knows of my dealings with Archie. She is convinced the baby shall be a girl, and has suggested the name Marianne. Tis all the fashion round London, says she, to conjoin two names, and she had heard me say Marie in my sleep.... I cannot say how much I still miss her.

You must be wary, mon amie. If I should loose you aswell I would not know what to do!

Respondez-vous

Morgan

Chere Morgianette,

They have not yet left me. I fear greatly for mine and Pierre's safety, so I have entrusted him to Jean. I pray he will keep him safe.

I am afraid I must be more infrequent in my letters to you. If they intercept my letters, we might loose everything. Times are dangerous, my dearest! If one of us should be discovered...

I will not dwell on the possibilities. For all your optimism, Miss Morgan, you can tell when true danger is near.

Keep alert

Minn.

Dearest Minn,

I have waited two months to respond to your letter, but I cannot wait any longer. I miss you most dreadfully, especially now in the isolation of my condition.

I am big and round and exhausted. The baby is due to be born in a matter of weeks, or so my physician says, and I am in blooming health.

Oh, how I wish I was in France right now. Spring is such a pleasant time. Instead I am to stay out of sight inside my room whilst Courtenay entertains the masses in the ballroom below. Oh how I long for a ball!

How is the condition in Paris? It sickens me to think of you in hardship, seperated from the man you love and your beloved child. My child is not yet born, and yet I cannot think of life without my little Marianne or Archibald.

Courtenay suggested the name if the child was male. Yet there was no harshness when he mentioned it, instead he seemed slightly sad... If it is a boy it shall be called Archibald George, after our illustrious King. How odd.

I still pray for your safety. You must inform me of your present condition, I lie awake every night sick with worry over you. You must at least get me word of how you are faring.

Respondez-vous

Morgiannette

My dearest Morgan,

They have not ceased to follow me yet. However, my largest worry now is not of myself, but of Pierre. Oh Morgan, they have taken him away!

It is not Jeans fault. He took him far into the south of France, far away from both Paris and me. However, he was tracked by the government, and now they have him imprisoned. I do not know what they have done with Pierre.

Oh Morgan, I wish I could write more, but I feel their eyes on me more every day.

Vive le Repulique, for even now I will not cease to fight for it!

Minn.

My dearest Minnette,

I have a daughter. Oh, I wish you could see her. Marrianne is the fairest baby you have ever seen, light and gay as an angel. She is weak, however, yet the physician tells me there is every chance she shall live.

I myself am not yet recovered. I will not tell Courtenay, yet I still have not stopped bleeding since her birth, a month ago.

Methinks I shall be fine, it is only slight bleeding after all. I am more concerned f how you are faring. How is your search for Pierre ? Surely he will not be harmed. Maybe he has been entrusted into the care of another family? You must not give up

Respondez-vous

Morgan

My Dearest sister,

Jean is dead. Charged of crimes against the people.

This is now becoming farcical. My lover is dead, my child is missing, not at the hands of the enemy, but at the hands of the republique that I myself helped to create!

Oh, my dearest Morgan, I cannot think. Such betrayal is beyond me. We have fought for our cause, we have lost for it, yet they still doubt us? Oh, to be with you right now would bring me such comfort.

Your health is also a worry to me. I know you, Morgianette, the optimist, but you would not withold the truth of your condition from me, would you? If you are ill, pretty Miss Morgan, I must know. To be sent a message from somebody else would be too much. in your next letter I expect you to tell me what is truthfully happening to you, ma soeur cadette.

I shall send more information soon.

Respondez-vous

Minnette

My dearest Minn.

I bear good news. Marrianne is out of danger. She is growing stronger by the day, and is now a bouncing babe with rosy cheeks and playful laughter. I love her so it almost makes me weep, for she reminds me of the two people I loved most in the world. It is now apparent to me the resemblance between Archie and the child, for her eyes are the same brilliant blue of his, rather than the dark brown of mine and my husbands. However, all visitors remark on how startling the resemblance between her and her fathers brow, so perhaps she inherited her eyes from our dealy departed Marriette. Either way, I am growing unsure that I will see her grow into either's resemblance.

I am weak, Minnette. Even now, three months since her birth I have not yet left my bed. My physician tells me I am out of danger of dying from blood loss, yet my heart has been weakened forever. I shall no longer be able to ride, and he has called for my daughter to be taken out of my care.

As for the grand parties I wished to attend, that will be no more. No dancing, no playing the harpsichord or harp, I am even limited to my time for reading and singing. Courtenay has brought me a carrying-chair, so that I may be able to receive visitors or make a short enterance at balls set in our own home. He told me that it would be a crime to deny society the wit and charm of Gloria Brittania. Yet it still sits in the corner of my room, as I feel weaker every day. Oh, sweet Minnette, I am still yet a girl, and I have been reduced to this! The physician even doubts if I shall be able to cope with producing more children.

I am scared, Minnete.

Respondez-vous

Morgiannette

My dearest sister,

I wish that I could be with you now. The thought of my lively beautiful young sister being reduced to such makes me weep bitter tears.

I, at least have some good news. I have found Pierre. He is in an orphanage, suffering greatly and being made to work in a laundry.

Oh, Morgan! I am so afraid! Still I feel my hunters breathing down the back of my neak, and all this time I weep for you and Pierre!

I must hear more from you, my dearest.

R.S.V.P

Minn.

My dearest Minnette,

I am glad you have found Pierre safe, yet you must recover him from the orphanage; they are dangerous places.

I am feeling slightly better, though still weak. I have now used my chair to be presented at an army ball at our own home. I sat and entertained for almost an hour, though it tired me greatly. Courtenay noticed my hardships and sent me back upstairs.

He is not as fond of me as he was; he does not visit me every day as he used to. I fear that the physicians news that I may not be able to conceive any more children may have affected his adoration of me. Or perhaps he tires of me, as I am not as sparkling as once I was. He has, however, decided to fetch me a companion, a Lady Amelia Metzger. She is a sweet lady, around four years my senior. I see her every week, and in between those weekly visits I have dear Lottie to keep me company. It was sweet of him to think of my loneliness, though I am no longer permitted by him to see my little Marrianne.

You must reply to me, for I am still terribly lonely.

All my love,

Morgan

Morgan,

You are right, I must retrieve Pierre. I am not sure of how I shall do this, but I must, god I must.

You must be careful not to exhaust yourself, Morgan. You will get strong again, I know you shall. Then you will be able to have more children.

My shadows have not yet left me. They follow my every move. I do not know how long it shall be before they strike. I have to be constantly alert, which is tiring.

I must stop writing; if I stay here too long, who knows what could happen.

All my love

Minn.

My dearest Minnette,

What pain I am in! My legs have become weaker and infected my body with poison. Oh Minnette, I fear this may be my last battle.

Father has come to visit me already. He has delared that Marianne must be bought to me as I wish. Dear sweet man.

Courtenay says nothing, yet he stares so, sometimes at me, sometimes at Marianne, often at the physician. I can hear them talking outside my bedroom door. They talk often about death.

God, Minnette, it is such pain! Yet it was unprecidented, as the physician believed truly I was making a recovery. I fear greatly for Marianne now, and what Courtenay shall do with her if I deteriorate. I pray he has heart to keep her with him, yet I doubt it more every time I catch his cold gaze. I love him so still, I shall tell him that every day till my death. My dearest sister, I feel now I cannot offer any optimism. I surely am to die. Doctor Carew has been trying to counter the infection by giving me a medicine of somekind, but it only serves to make me more nauseous. I refuse laudanum, as it makes me see things oddly, and though it dulls the pain I am too afraid of what I might say.

I love you, Minnette. This shall be my last letter, as even now my hand shakes and my mind blurrs. Write to me still, for perhaps your hand will keep my mind from madness. I will think of you always and see you in heaven with our beautiful sister and my dearest boy.

Love,

Gloria

Ma Soeur Cadette,

Oh dearest Morgan! Please continue to fight, for I cannot bear the thought of loosing you, not now, not with all that is happening around us.

Pierre has been taken out of the orphanage. I can only presume they have found my letters to you. I fear he is lost forever!

I have decided to travel to London. I know it is a risk, but I have nothing left to stay for here. Tell your servant girl Lottie to expect a French visitor. I cannot loose another sister without saying goodbye! I prepare to travel within the next month. Wait for me, ma cherie.

I shall come

Minnette

My dear Madam,

My mistress has informed me of your imminent arrival. However, her condition gets worse every day, and I must beg you to reconsider your visit. I feel that the hand of death is upon her.

Oh madam, since writing the above something terrible has happened. I was changing my ladies sheets when I managed to spy on Dr Carew's mixture lying on the table. Madam, I have reason to believe she has been poisoned! I took a moment to read the various bottles surrounding her, and I spilt a little on my finger. An hour later I could hardly stand. Oh madam! Why would any person wish harm to my mistress!

I shall not leave her, yet I must beg of you to think of your safety and stay well clear of this place.

Yours Faithfully,

Lottie Cooper

Dear Madam,

My mistress Gloria has died this afternoon. I am leaving the house after I have delivered this letter.

My master has asked to see his daughter Marianne. He had not seen her for over a month, but my mistress begged him to love and care for Marianne as much as he has her. I have been praying for the girl ever since this wretched business began. I can only hope he shows mercy on her.

There is now no reason for you to visit this place. My mistress is dead and Marianne will be cared for, either here or at Kerriton heights with Lady Hammond. You must stay away from here now. My master will not admit any aquaintances of my mistress, and is set to take a new wife within a year, most probably Lady Amelia Metzger, my mistresses German companion whom he hired at the start of her illness. In my opinion it is him who has killed her; there are far too many coincidences otherwise.

I do hope you shall receive this letter, as my friend Rosie believes that no letters are leaving the house.

Yours Faithfully

Lottie

Morgan,

Still I have not heard from you or Lottie. I must assume that I shall be welcomed when I arrive. Unfortunately, this will now not be until next year in January.

I have located Pierre. I know at least he is safe. He has been adopted into the care of an important family who have no heir. There is no way I can get him back, but I do know he is safe, thank the lord.

How is your health? I pray for you daily. It fills me with sorrow to think of you in your weakened state. But I know you shall recover, no matter what you say. We DePaviel's are survivors.

My shadow still plagues me. I often wonder what they plan to do. They still have not struck; what is it I know? It drives me mad not knowing.

I shall write soon.

Minnette

Morgan

I am going to arrive in around two months time. All arrangements have been made.

We shall be together! The thought warms me so, for I have missed you, my sister! I remember you, back now ten years and more, gathering flowers to give to maman and singing like a nightingale. I will never forget how confidently you walked up to le Marquis and gave him a rose, and his face! He was shocked, at first, then he smiled. It was the only time I ever looked at him with no anger. He took your rose and wore it in his lapel, proclaiming you "L'enfant Fleur". You always were the most charming of us.

We Shall be together, ma soeur.

Minnette.