CHAPTER 19
Jacques and Céline had been coming to the Chateau de la Grande Côte since they were born in 1783.Their parents had inherited the chateau from an uncle just after Jeanne was born in 1780.They all liked the clean air and the freedom and the children loved being able to ride their ponies without their parents or even a servant accompanying them. In Paris they would have been unable to leave their house without an adult to look after them. All three were good riders and loved taking the horses down to the sea near the lighthouse or inland to the moulin. In the summer of 1792 it seemed particularly good to be free after the terrible things that had been happening in Paris.
After two weeks the children had forgotten all about the terror in Paris and were looking forward to enjoying the warm sunny days by the sea. One morning they came downstairs dressed for riding and saw their mother sitting at her embroidery frame. It was good to see her in pretty dresses again and with her long blonde hair tied up, but the children felt that their mother was always sad these days when she had once been so happy. Before the revolution she had played the piano and sung to the children and the Parisian house always rang to the sound of her laughter.
“May we take the ponies to the sea today maman?” the twins asked together.
“It looks as if you have already decided to,” replied their mother, looking at their riding habit and smiling.
Jeanne looked over her mother’s shoulder at the beautiful tapestry she was making. There was the mill, the lighthouse and the chateau and all the peasants working in the fields.
“Was it really like that, maman?” asked Jeanne.
“Yes, many years ago. The moulin could still work today if we had enough people on the estate and the lighthouse must be kept working, of course, for the fishermen and sailors. It is fortunate that old Gerard loves his work so much and can think of nothing he would rather do than keep the light burning. Of course the damsel and the unicorn are not real. They symbolise purity, but she looks lovely do you not think, my dear?”
“Yes maman, lovely. And the unicorn looks a little like Palome, except for the twisting horn, of course!”
Their mother looked up from her embroidery and gave a wave as the children walked through the huge oak door and into the bright sunlight. Jeanne helped Jacques and Céline take their animals from the stables and led them across the courtyard so they could go through the little stone gateway that would lead them in the direction of the ocean. They all mounted and walked the horses past the buildings.
When they reached the edge of the forest Jeanne and the twins rode as fast as they could towards the sea. At the lighthouse they dismounted and tied the ponies to the wooden fence that surrounded Gerard’s cottage. They knocked on the window but heard the answer coming from the back of the cottage. The children ran around to where Gerard was working on his boat.
“Ah, bonjour mes amis,” he said.
“May we have some water for the animals?” asked Jeanne, who knew that water was precious because Gerard had no well and had to rely on saving rainwater.
“We won’t take too much,” Jacques and Céline said together
“You wait here and I will bring you some water,” said Gerard. The old man walked away to the back of his cottage and returned carrying a large wooden bucket full of water for the horses. “There you are my lovelies. We can’t let you go thirsty now can we,” he said as he stroked the ponies’ ears.
Gerard was an old man but still very active. He was very brown from the sea and the wind and had whiskers that made him look like an old sea captain. Jeanne always felt safe when she was with him.
“Did you have a good journey?” he asked Jeanne. The twins had gone running right down to the water’s edge and were taking their riding boots off so they could dip their toes in the sea.
“It was very difficult for papa and maman and, when we were passing Notre Dame we all thought we might be caught, but we were not! And we travelled at night and kept away from most of the cities.” she said.
“Well, you are safe now and will not have to return to Paris until the troubles are over and Robespierre himself has felt the blade of madame la guillotine!”
Jeanne shivered, “But papa has had to return to Paris to defend his right to own the house there,” she said looking frightened. “He was summoned two days ago. Maman told the twins that he has gone to a meeting of those opposed to the revolution in Bordeaux, the Girondins, and that he will be away for three or four days. Do you think he will be safe in Paris, Gerard?”
Gerard looked at Jeanne and thought it was difficult for a twelve-year-old girl to have these worries. “Oh I don’t doubt it,“ he said with a false jollity, “he has many good friends who will protect him and this time, now that he is alone, he will be able to travel faster. He will be back next week, you mark my words!”
Jeanne hoped he was right but she was worried that they may never see their father again. When they returned to the chateau she found her mother very upset and the servants trying to comfort her. The twins were sent up to get changed and did not realise that anything was wrong.
“What has happened maman? Have you heard from papa?”
“Yes,” cried her mother. “We must be very brave. I have received a letter from a faithful servant in Paris saying that papa has been found guilty of crimes against the revolution. For our own safety we have been advised to leave the chateau and seek refuge elsewhere. The citizens know we own the chateau, my dear, and they have sympathisers everywhere even near here. My sister, your Aunt Jacqueline, has a small town house in Bordeaux. She thinks we will be safe there and can disappear into the crowds of that city where nobody will know us. I hope she is right.”
“Oh maman!” cried Jeanne, will papa be guillotined?” She had a sudden vision of her papa riding on the dreadful tumbrils and having his head cut off while grinning, toothless old hags sat knitting. She could hardly bear the thought.
“I don’t know what will happen,“ replied maman, “but we must put some things in a trunk and leave tomorrow. And, Jeanne, I have a very special task for you before we leave.”
The servant had left now to pack for the family and prepare supper, so maman could speak to Jeanne without being overheard. “Before we left Paris your papa had this box made,” she said pointing to a small wooden casket. “It is not exactly as it seems,” she explained as she turned a small silver key in the lock and opened the rounded lid.
Inside all Jeanne could see were some old letters and other documents, some red sealing wax, ribbon and quill pens made from pheasant feathers. Under these were two small bottles of black ink. He mother lifted out the contents and pulled out a small wooden peg. As soon as she did this a secret bottom drawer slid out revealing the true valuables in the casket. Jewels, that Jeanne had seen her mother wearing in Paris, and some gold coins.
“We must leave these for your papa. We will have Jacqueline’s help in Bordeaux. Papa has many friends who will help him and if he should escape from Paris he will need them. He will not be able to take anything valuable from our house in Boulevard St. Germain and if he arrives here he will still be in danger but, with these, he will be able to escape perhaps to Spain and then to England. And if, God willing, he arrives safely in England, he will send for us.”
“But what is the special task, maman?”
“When we leave here, Jeanne, the chateau will be left with only our most faithful servant Charles guarding it, with the help of Gerard at the lighthouse, of course. They can be trusted implicitly but we may have other servants who are spies for the revolution. You will cause less suspicion if you ride your pony one final time before we leave at dawn. If I ride out at a time like this it will cause great suspicion. We must tell no-one and then no-one will be hurt.” Jeanne listened to her mother and realised that she wanted her to hide the jewels.
“Jeanne, I want you to hide this box at the moulin and then leave a message for papa here at the chateau. Only you must know where you hide the box and the message. It is a grav
e responsibility and one that only you can achieve. You must leave immediately. Here is the box. Hide it under you riding cloak. And here is the key to the moulin. Don’t fail Jeanne. It could save papa’s life.” Josephine leaned over and kissed her daughter and then went to the piano to play the beautiful music her father loved so much.