In the Eye of a Storm (5 page)

Now, I say this to you with urgency. You and Malande must leave
immediately. Take only what you need and travel to Berlin. When you reach the
city, go to the French Council General located at Unter den Linden. He will
know where to find me. And now perhaps I should not say this, but I must tell
you that I have the deepest feelings for you, Laneve. Meet me in Berlin and let
me care for you there. I will wait for you.

Your ever faithful and loving,

Dunod

VIII.

The time for planning was now well and truly over – the time for action
had arrived.

 ‘Malande, we are leaving tonight after darkness falls. There is
little time to prepare so please go and pack several plain dresses, shawls some
night wear, shoes and toiletries for both of us. Place them in the sea chest I
showed you. Never mind about sewing jewels into our travel dresses. That can
come later. I will speak to our cook and housemaid while I send Daniel to
secure a small coach and two horses for our departure’

‘And I’ll be away now, Laneve, to begin our packing.’

‘Come back here within two hours to talk with me again. We have no time
to lose.’

Both women went about their preparations with great haste. Laneve’s
quick planning left her no time to worry or become frightened. Her mind was
calm and collected as she continued her plans for their departure. Both women
held a final meeting as the shadows lengthened to signal the coming sunset.

‘The sea chest is packed and I’ve also gathered some provisions for our
coach travel: bread, fruit, cold meat, cheese and a bottle of wine. We won’t go
hungry on the way.’

‘Well done, Malande. I’ve spoken to our cook and she will leave soon to
join with her sister and husband. The couple have an inn near the village and
will be pleased to have her help in the kitchen.

Our little housemaid, Anne, will go to her aunt’s home on the outskirts
of Paris. I’ve given both women an extra month’s wage and money for their
travel. Daniel has secured the coach.

He and Edouard will stay right here. There is work for them to do and
food to eat. They feel quite happy and safe. Now let’s both sit down while I
explain something else I want you to hear.’

Malande brought two glasses of wine and some cheese as Laneve placed
two chairs near the large windows. ‘I have never told you that some time ago I
received an official letter from Captain Bernard Sarrette. Perhaps you remember
him as he often attended our concerts.’

‘Yes, I do. He too is a fine military band musician.’

‘Several years from now the new
Conservatoire Nationale de Musique
will open its doors for the first time. It is envisaged that this school, under
the direction of Bernard Sarrette, will be the finest in Europe. Imagine my
amazement when he and his colleagues invited me to be the head professor within
the keyboard faculty.  I will be required to teach both harpsichord and
the fortepiano to a select group of students.’

‘Oh, how wonderful. What an honour.’

‘After speaking to Rene, I have said yes to his request. In 1795 I will
have a new position and paid employment. Now if we flee from here and reach
Berlin safely, I will have two years in which to see if the revolution dies
down enough for me to return to France.

If instead, I am arrested, it is my hope that I will be acquitted to
begin this work. And so, we leave together tonight for Berlin unless something
else happens to the contrary. If I am taken away you must hide in the secret room,
under the back kitchen stairway, until all have gone.

Stay here with Daniel and Edouard until I return again. Should you hear
of my death, then take the contents of the strongbox and use the jewels to make
yourself a new life. The contents will be yours, in appreciation for your love
and friendship toward me.’

‘Laneve, God willing we will leave together tonight, but I will accept
the conditions you have given me.’

‘Now let us go to the dining room as two cold plates are waiting for
us. We must eat quickly and be away from here.’

As the two women shared their last meal together at the chateau they
became aware of a commotion in the driveway.

Daniel suddenly burst into the dining room. ‘Madame, there are several
soldiers, members of the Revolutionary Guard approaching the chateau’s main
door. They are carrying muskets.’

‘Malande, you and Daniel must run now and hide. They will be looking
only for me.’

‘Laneve, I can’t do this. I won’t leave you.’

‘I order you both to leave immediately and pray that one day I will
return. Now be away quickly!’

The door to the kitchen had just closed when armed men burst into the
dining room. Laneve stood calmly facing them. 

‘Laneve, Marquise de Marais, we are here to place you under arrest.
Through your royalist connections you have become an enemy of France. We have
orders to take you away and imprison you in
La Force
where you will
await your trial and sentencing.
Vive la Republique!’

IX.

Days moved into weeks and weeks flowed into months as Laneve braved the
darkness, the damp and filth of her prison. She made friends with many of the
other women who shared a large cell with her. They comforted each other and
divided their few possessions among those who had none. They also prayed
together as one by one they were taken away.

On one occasion, Edouard made a brief visit with news from the chateau.
‘No revolutionary guards have returned so we are all feeling quite safe. Two
weeks ago someone broke into our chicken yard and stole five hens. Later I
found two in the forest so we still have fresh eggs.’

‘Has there been any damage done to the chateau from looting?’

‘We are fortunate because we are far back from the road and well
screened by trees and the surrounding woodlands. I also brought a large hound
from my former master. His ferocious bark keeps intruders away.

Malande has stored root vegetables from the garden for the winter. We
don’t have a great amount of food to eat, but we’re not starving. We sometimes
share eggs, potatoes, carrots and onions in return for fresh meat.

But we all want to know how you are? You look so thin now.’

‘I am continuing to survive and I feel that my trial will be announced
soon. Only then will I know if I’m to be released or condemned to death.

Be sure to thank Malande for sending me the warm shawl and a white
linen cap. I’ll save these items for my trial as my other dress has a tear in
the shoulder. You must leave now as a guard is approaching but carry my loving
affection back to all.’

Two weeks later, the news reached Laneve that her trial would take
place the following afternoon. She barely slept that night, then prepared by
brushing her dress and arranging the white cap and shawl.

After saying goodbye to the women who had shared so many days with her,
two guards appeared and escorted her to the Tribunal of Public Health.

The large room was filled with onlookers and those who attended the
trials as a form of entertainment. In a corner sat a tall distinguished man,
who carried a sheaf of papers. Two judges and a secretary summoned her to the
centre of the room as one of them spoke loudly.

‘Laneve, the Marquise de Marais, you have been identified as being of
the nobility and of having royalist connections. It is our duty to the Republic
to condemn you to death by the guillotine. Is there anyone in this courtroom
who wishes to speak?’ The onlookers laughed and jeered.

‘I will speak,’ cried the tall man who rose from his seat and addressed
the judges. It was Bernard Sarrette, who in fear for his life had attended
court proceedings as an impartial observer, specializing in cases of suspect
artists.

‘I am Bernard Sarrette, Director of the new
Conservatoire Nationale
de Musique
. In my hand is an official letter from the most august Committee
of State Education and Finance, requesting that the accused standing before
you, the Marquise de Marais, be released to teach the harpsichord and
fortepiano at the new
Conservatoire
.

 She has already been hired to begin her teaching term in 1795.
The school will be the best in Europe and will give service to the Republic and
the entire country. This very woman, as you all know, is perhaps the finest
pianist in France. It is the wish of the committee that she be spared to
undertake these duties.’

The judge sneered as he said, ‘If she is truly so talented then let us
hear her play. Send the guards outside to carry in the harpsichord from the end
of the hallway, so our musician can prove herself to us.’

The instrument was placed in the centre of the courtroom as Laneve
slowly made her way to the bench and sat trembling before the keyboard. Silence
settled over the room.

For one brief moment she was reminded of that day when she played her
first recital at the Chateau de Laungier. She was only thirteen years old then,
at the beginning of her public musical life.

That same joy strengthened her now as she slowly lifted her hands to
the keyboard. Laneve began by playing a familiar fragment of melody, one that
she skilfully hid within an intricate accompaniment.

‘What is that? It sounds familiar, but I can’t place it,’ someone spoke
aloud.

Next, she added more phrases to the melody, building and enhancing it
with technical feats of arpeggios, repeated notes, trills and double octaves.

One by one the faces of the crowd lit up in recognition until Laneve
coupled all of the keyboards together, playing this music in mighty block
chords.

‘It is the
Marseillaise
,’ they cried as one by one their voices
began to sing, joining with the music.
‘Allons enfants de la Patrie,’
rang through the room as many shouted, ‘Again, play it again!’ On the last
chorus of this triumphal march, several men removed their wooden clogs beating
a drum rhythm on the benches to add to the excitement of this wonderful moment.

When the music had finished, all in the room rose to their feet
shouting, ‘
Bravo
, and
Vive la Republique!’

As the excitement passed and the judges conferred, Laneve was summoned
again to the centre of the room.

‘Citizen Marais, your musical talent has saved you this day. You may
now return to your family home, to practice and study in preparation for your
work with the new
Conservatoire
. We admonish you to become a good
republican. Your trial is over now – you may leave.’

Bernard Sarrette approached Laneve as she kissed his hands in grateful
appreciation.

 ‘How can I ever thank you enough for risking your life to save
mine,’ she cried out to him.

‘Laneve de Marais, I have a coach ready to take you straight to your
home in Montmorency. We all look forward to welcoming you to the new school in
1795. Go now in safety and in peace.’

He assisted her gently into the coach as she clung to his arm, shaking
and in a state of shock. Could this be true – that she was free at last?
Bernard Sarrette firmly closed the door, signalled to the driver, and watched
her move safely away.  

As the streets of Paris began to recede behind her, Laneve collapsed
into a sleep of total exhaustion.  Slowly through the night she was borne onward
- to Malande, Daniel and Edouard, to her home and to freedom.

X.

Early morning sunshine bathed the kitchen bench as Malande peeled
onions, carrots and potatoes for a roast dinner. One of their few hens had
stopped laying so Daniel had wrung its neck, plucked it and prepared it for the
cooking pot.

Weeks have passed since we had a real feast like this thought Malande
as she seasoned the dish with herbs, salt and pepper and a generous splash of
red wine. She covered the pot securely and placed it on the wood burning stove.

In a few hours we’ll eat like kings and the leftovers will be finished
tomorrow. As she wiped the bench surface Edouard suddenly burst into the
kitchen, crying aloud to her.

‘Malande, come quickly! A coach has just stopped at the front door and
Laneve is inside. She is alive.’

‘Oh,
Mon Dieu
, our darling has been saved. She is with us
again.’

Daniel had joined them on the run as he too let out a cry. ‘
Merci,
Bon Dieu.
Our marquise is home again.’

Laneve was greeted with joy and relief as she was lifted from the
carriage. The coachman told them how he had collected her from the Tribunal of
Public Health late in the previous afternoon and how he had driven all through
the night to see her safely home.

‘She slept almost the entire way,’ he told them. ‘Her clothes were so
ragged I thought she was a serving girl and now I learn she is a marquise and
mistress of this chateau.’

‘Oh Laneve, you look so look so thin and so tired.’ Malande held her
close, kissing her again and again. ‘Thank heaven you have been acquitted and
that you survived these months in that terrible prison.’

‘I had only a little money so I bought us each a small baguette for
breakfast. Otherwise we have eaten nothing,’ the coachman replied.

‘This noon we will all have a feast as I’ve prepared a roasting hen and
vegetables. Bottles of wine will be opened and we will all celebrate together.’

‘You must also stay here this evening and have a night’s sleep before
you return to Paris,’ Laneve replied. ‘Thank you, coachman, for the care you
took of me on this long journey to my home.’

Then arm in arm, Laneve and Malande made their way into the chateau
while Daniel released and fed the coachman’s horse.

‘Come along to our cottage and have a glass of wine with my brother
Edouard and myself. I have a little bread and some cheese. You can tell us all
about what is happening in Paris.’