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luzulaTo everyone who gave me feedback on my writing problem, here are some of Catherine's letters where you can probably see where I'm going with this. : ) Can pretty much be read as a snippet of original fic. And no, the whole story is not in this style, only the epistolary parts...
Bordeaux, 3rd June 1758
Dearest Alison,
If my Letter is abrupt, 'tis from the great Shock I have lately receiv'd: the Ship my Husband sail'd on has been taken by an English Privateer, and he himself kill'd in the Battle. I cannot even convey what I feel, from the numb'd State of my Emotions: God only knows I have often complain'd of him, but that he should die! 'Twas never my Wish, I swear to God!
And so many Tasks await me, I feel paralys'd: I must tell the Children, speak to Philippe's Agent, obtain Widow's Weeds, write to his Parents...oh, I am good for nothing! Pray for me, dearest Alison; and I promise you'll have another Letter soon from
Your loving Friend,
Catherine
Bordeaux, 10th June 1758
Dearest Alison,
'Tis late in the Evening, and I have found Time at last to write these Lines to you; as you'll understand, this last Se'nnight has been fraught with Duties and Tasks for which I was not at all prepar'd. I feel I have been living in some comfortable Existence where, tho' I had the Responsibility of running the Household and seeing that the Children are properly car'd for, still I was shelter'd from the Vicissitudes of Life, that can plunge one into Ruin at any Moment.
I am sorry for Philippe's Death. Tho' we were not the best match'd of Spouses, still he never chastis'd me physically, nor was he a Drunkard, and he never stinted me on Money, if only because he understood that my Appearance reflected his own Consequence. He was never unkind with the Children altho' I know Jean felt the Weight of his Expectations. But whatever my Feelings, he is gone, and I must deal with my Widowhood as must the Children with being Fatherless: I wish I had more Time to soothe their Fears.
I wrote immediately to Philippe's Parents and, in the Days before their Arrival, knew I must prove myself both respectable and capable of being Jean's Guardian until he comes of Age in four Years. 'Tis by no means a Certainty—I have heard of Widows who, because they were deem'd flighty or irresponsible, were denied this Charge. I've had some few of my Gowns dyed black and order'd others along with the necessary Accoutrements—however the Inheritance is settl'd, there is no need for me to fear the Expense, for the Funeral and Mourning is always charg'd to the Husband's Funds (tho' in this Case, the Body is lost and there will be no Funeral).
If not for Thérèse, I might not have known of this very pertinent Fact, for her Brother is a Lawyer and she has learnt much from him—what a Pillar of Support she has been to me thro' this whole Business! 'Tis much to my Advantage that the Marriage Contract was drawn up in Paris, for Bordeaux practises Roman Law and I should have been limited in Widowhood to my Dowry (which you know was not large) and perhaps an additional Quarte du Conjoint pauvre. Instead, my Contract awards me half the value of the conjugal Community of Goods, with the other half being the Children's, which I, if appointed Guardian, will hold for them until Jean is of Age.
But as the Estate cannot be settl'd until any outstanding Debts are paid, I had an Interview with Philippe's Agent. The Estate appears to be not much encumber'd, tho' the Cargo on the last Voyage was lost, which was a substantial Amount—thank God Philippe did not own the Ship itself! It appears he paid a Premium for the Cargo, but on Account of the War, the Insurance Company refuses to pay; this seems questionable, since the Premium was paid after the War began. I have ask'd the Agent to employ Philippe's usual Lawyer to enquire into the Matter.
All these Pains well repaid me, for when my Parents-in-Law arriv'd Yesterday, I was able both to give a good Account of the Estate and to present myself as a proper Widow in full Mourning—taking care also to appear receptive to their Guidance. And all the while with Apprehension in my Heart, for if I should not be appointed Guardian over my own Children, I don't know what I should do! I've never had much to do with my Father-in-Law, but I was vastly reliev'd to hear him comment favourably to my Mother-in-Law upon the Actions I have taken, so it appears my Pains have answer'd.
But I have not yet told you the most surprising Interview I've had this Se'nnight! Two Days ago I went to the Agent's Office and, finding a Woman there before me, offer'd to wait outside. But, however, upon seeing me she appear'd greatly desirous of avoiding me, and quit the Office; the Agent at first refus'd to tell me who she was, but when press'd, he own'd with great Embarrassment that she was Philippe's Mistress!
Having never met her, tho' I knew of her Existence thro' my Maid, who tells me all the Talk of the Household, I immediately sent a Boy running after her. He manag'd to persuade her to meet me, and I ask'd the Agent to let us talk alone. You may imagine the Awkwardness of this Interview—she fear'd, quite naturally, that I resented her, and it took some Time to persuade her otherwise! But 'twas very interesting to meet her: she is a Singer at the Theatre, a few Years younger than I, and feeling no Need to compete with her for Philippe's Favours, I can admit that she is quite beautiful. She had learnt of Philippe's Demise and was naturally distress'd—her Attachment to him seems to be genuine.
With great Hesitation, she finally own'd that she had sought out the Agent because she was concern'd for her financial Situation: Philippe had paid her a monthly Sum for her Expenses, which are not truly cover'd by the Theatre. Tho' he had assur'd her that her Situation would be secure, she had no Guarantee of this, especially now that he is gone.
Neither the Agent nor Philippe's Lawyer know of any Will of his, so she is, it seems, quite right to be concern'd! I cannot help but be vex'd with him: could he not, if he keeps a Mistress for ten Years, make some Provision for her when he runs such Risks at Sea? I gave her my Word that I would, if 'twas within my Power, see that some reasonable Settlement was made upon her when the Inheritance was drawn up. We can, I think, afford that without any Hardship.
She was profuse in her Gratitude, but I could hardly tell her my Reasons: now that Philippe is gone, I feel some Measure of Guilt that I was not in some Sense a true Wife to him, and cannot blame him for seeking elsewhere that Affection which I could not give him. Altho' I doubt she must know the latter already.
And that concludes my Tale so far! My Fingers are cramp'd from so much writing, but I feel better for having unburden'd myself. Oh, how fatigu'd I am, and my Head aches—if I could only lay it down in your Lap, and you stroke my Hair...but you are far away in Scotland.
That reminds me, there is no Barrier now against my Repayment of your Visits: well, except for the War, and the Decorum I must display as a Widow. So it may be Years still; but despite the Time and Space between us, I faithfully remain
Your loving Friend,
Catherine
Don't worry, he's not actually dead! : ) I figured out I could achieve everything I needed by having him be presumed dead instead, and then have relationship development happen between them when he returns...
Bordeaux, 3rd June 1758
Dearest Alison,
If my Letter is abrupt, 'tis from the great Shock I have lately receiv'd: the Ship my Husband sail'd on has been taken by an English Privateer, and he himself kill'd in the Battle. I cannot even convey what I feel, from the numb'd State of my Emotions: God only knows I have often complain'd of him, but that he should die! 'Twas never my Wish, I swear to God!
And so many Tasks await me, I feel paralys'd: I must tell the Children, speak to Philippe's Agent, obtain Widow's Weeds, write to his Parents...oh, I am good for nothing! Pray for me, dearest Alison; and I promise you'll have another Letter soon from
Your loving Friend,
Catherine
Bordeaux, 10th June 1758
Dearest Alison,
'Tis late in the Evening, and I have found Time at last to write these Lines to you; as you'll understand, this last Se'nnight has been fraught with Duties and Tasks for which I was not at all prepar'd. I feel I have been living in some comfortable Existence where, tho' I had the Responsibility of running the Household and seeing that the Children are properly car'd for, still I was shelter'd from the Vicissitudes of Life, that can plunge one into Ruin at any Moment.
I am sorry for Philippe's Death. Tho' we were not the best match'd of Spouses, still he never chastis'd me physically, nor was he a Drunkard, and he never stinted me on Money, if only because he understood that my Appearance reflected his own Consequence. He was never unkind with the Children altho' I know Jean felt the Weight of his Expectations. But whatever my Feelings, he is gone, and I must deal with my Widowhood as must the Children with being Fatherless: I wish I had more Time to soothe their Fears.
I wrote immediately to Philippe's Parents and, in the Days before their Arrival, knew I must prove myself both respectable and capable of being Jean's Guardian until he comes of Age in four Years. 'Tis by no means a Certainty—I have heard of Widows who, because they were deem'd flighty or irresponsible, were denied this Charge. I've had some few of my Gowns dyed black and order'd others along with the necessary Accoutrements—however the Inheritance is settl'd, there is no need for me to fear the Expense, for the Funeral and Mourning is always charg'd to the Husband's Funds (tho' in this Case, the Body is lost and there will be no Funeral).
If not for Thérèse, I might not have known of this very pertinent Fact, for her Brother is a Lawyer and she has learnt much from him—what a Pillar of Support she has been to me thro' this whole Business! 'Tis much to my Advantage that the Marriage Contract was drawn up in Paris, for Bordeaux practises Roman Law and I should have been limited in Widowhood to my Dowry (which you know was not large) and perhaps an additional Quarte du Conjoint pauvre. Instead, my Contract awards me half the value of the conjugal Community of Goods, with the other half being the Children's, which I, if appointed Guardian, will hold for them until Jean is of Age.
But as the Estate cannot be settl'd until any outstanding Debts are paid, I had an Interview with Philippe's Agent. The Estate appears to be not much encumber'd, tho' the Cargo on the last Voyage was lost, which was a substantial Amount—thank God Philippe did not own the Ship itself! It appears he paid a Premium for the Cargo, but on Account of the War, the Insurance Company refuses to pay; this seems questionable, since the Premium was paid after the War began. I have ask'd the Agent to employ Philippe's usual Lawyer to enquire into the Matter.
All these Pains well repaid me, for when my Parents-in-Law arriv'd Yesterday, I was able both to give a good Account of the Estate and to present myself as a proper Widow in full Mourning—taking care also to appear receptive to their Guidance. And all the while with Apprehension in my Heart, for if I should not be appointed Guardian over my own Children, I don't know what I should do! I've never had much to do with my Father-in-Law, but I was vastly reliev'd to hear him comment favourably to my Mother-in-Law upon the Actions I have taken, so it appears my Pains have answer'd.
But I have not yet told you the most surprising Interview I've had this Se'nnight! Two Days ago I went to the Agent's Office and, finding a Woman there before me, offer'd to wait outside. But, however, upon seeing me she appear'd greatly desirous of avoiding me, and quit the Office; the Agent at first refus'd to tell me who she was, but when press'd, he own'd with great Embarrassment that she was Philippe's Mistress!
Having never met her, tho' I knew of her Existence thro' my Maid, who tells me all the Talk of the Household, I immediately sent a Boy running after her. He manag'd to persuade her to meet me, and I ask'd the Agent to let us talk alone. You may imagine the Awkwardness of this Interview—she fear'd, quite naturally, that I resented her, and it took some Time to persuade her otherwise! But 'twas very interesting to meet her: she is a Singer at the Theatre, a few Years younger than I, and feeling no Need to compete with her for Philippe's Favours, I can admit that she is quite beautiful. She had learnt of Philippe's Demise and was naturally distress'd—her Attachment to him seems to be genuine.
With great Hesitation, she finally own'd that she had sought out the Agent because she was concern'd for her financial Situation: Philippe had paid her a monthly Sum for her Expenses, which are not truly cover'd by the Theatre. Tho' he had assur'd her that her Situation would be secure, she had no Guarantee of this, especially now that he is gone.
Neither the Agent nor Philippe's Lawyer know of any Will of his, so she is, it seems, quite right to be concern'd! I cannot help but be vex'd with him: could he not, if he keeps a Mistress for ten Years, make some Provision for her when he runs such Risks at Sea? I gave her my Word that I would, if 'twas within my Power, see that some reasonable Settlement was made upon her when the Inheritance was drawn up. We can, I think, afford that without any Hardship.
She was profuse in her Gratitude, but I could hardly tell her my Reasons: now that Philippe is gone, I feel some Measure of Guilt that I was not in some Sense a true Wife to him, and cannot blame him for seeking elsewhere that Affection which I could not give him. Altho' I doubt she must know the latter already.
And that concludes my Tale so far! My Fingers are cramp'd from so much writing, but I feel better for having unburden'd myself. Oh, how fatigu'd I am, and my Head aches—if I could only lay it down in your Lap, and you stroke my Hair...but you are far away in Scotland.
That reminds me, there is no Barrier now against my Repayment of your Visits: well, except for the War, and the Decorum I must display as a Widow. So it may be Years still; but despite the Time and Space between us, I faithfully remain
Your loving Friend,
Catherine
Don't worry, he's not actually dead! : ) I figured out I could achieve everything I needed by having him be presumed dead instead, and then have relationship development happen between them when he returns...
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-28 10:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-29 09:54 am (UTC)