In the Eye of a Storm by Mary Mageau Read Free Book Online Page B

first is that I have been making arrangements to accept a position
through one of the Treasury Committees. It seems my skills in trade and finance
are suddenly needed. And do you remember my eccentric uncle, Hippolyte, the one
with the razor sharp wit?’
    ‘Yes, I believe I met him at one of my concerts. He was charming and
very entertaining.’
    ‘He is a financial wizard as you know, and he also managed to find
himself a safe haven in the south of France, there to wait out the revolution.
The new Department of Treasury wants him back and me with him, so I will accept
this post.  Between the two of us we could live very comfortably in Paris
again.’
    ‘Indeed we could, Dunod. And tell me now, as I’m curious? What is this
second surprise?’
    ‘I’m going to speak forthrightly to you. No beating about the bush as
they say.
    Laneve, will you marry me? I’ve loved you for such a long time and I
can’t bear to see you and Malande live alone in Paris.
    We could return home together as man and wife, as the Count and
Countess of Charnade, even though we will be known as Monsieur and Madame
Charnade. Malande will join us of course. Think on this before you speak.’
    Laneve thought quietly for a moment then simply said, ‘Oh yes, Dunod. I
have deep and loving feelings for you as well. We have grown so close together
during our time here in Berlin. Nothing would make me happier than to spend the
rest of my life with you.’
    And so they were married in a simple service at the end of that month.
Laneve wore a flowing ankle length crème silk dress with matching high heel
shoes and a wide brimmed hat. She had always been a lover of hats, and her
milliner had sewn tiny silk roses to the hat band.
    Dunod was dressed in a new brocade waistcoat, with a splendid lace
jabot at this throat, black satin breeches and his wavy hair tied back and
fastened with a black ribbon. They were the very picture of a modern young
couple.
    Laneve sipped her tea as her thoughts returned to the present and her
new home in Paris. I did love Rene. He was a kind and thoughtful husband but it
was Mama and Papa who chose him for me. Now I have chosen the man I love
myself, as so many other French women are also doing. This has been a gift to
us from the revolution.
    Dunod found a large, elegant home for them all in the city of Paris,
close to the Conservatoire .  Here Laneve could practice and prepare
for her students. One evening after their dinner, she surprised them with a new
piece of music, a Rondeau . When she had finished playing it everyone was
enthusiastic with their praise. ‘Who wrote this music? You never mentioned the
composer’s name.’
    ‘It is my own composition, one I completed several years ago.’
    ‘Why Laneve, it is superb. You have a gift for this and should keep on
composing,’ Dunod suggested.
    ‘I find it so easy to create the music at the keyboard, then I move
over to my desk, which I’ve now placed next to the fortepiano. Here I begin to
write down my ideas on music paper.
     I never told you that after my first meeting with the faculty of
the Conservatoir e, when I accepted their teaching offer, I played my Rondeau .
And just imagine -   Bernard Sarrette made the services of a music
copyist available to me whenever I needed this assistance. All he requested is
that a second copy of my music be placed in the library.’
    At last October arrived, and the new Conservatoire opened its
doors. At the official ceremony Laneve was introduced as the P rofesseur de
Premiere Classe, the highest ranking and best paid at 2500 livres per
year. Her teaching career was off to a flying start.

XII.
     
    In May of the following year Laneve also discovered another interest
that would occupy her time and thoughts. This exciting news was presented to Dunod
one evening after dinner.
    ‘Now it’s my turn, Dunod, to share a surprise with you. I am expecting
our first child. If all goes well our baby will be born in early November,