After finding the behavior of some gentlemen, most recently the Marquis de Menars, troubling, I have determined a plan which I hope will at least give me some vengeance. If they take a lesson from the experience I will be both gratified and surprised. M- is somewhat younger than I, so one might be inclined to forgive his faults as the mistakes of youth, but as with all children I believe it is important to correct defects as soon as possible.
There was a dinner party tonight at the home of Mme de Sainte-Juste, and M- being invited I made sure I wore my prettiest anglaise, with the largest of my parrures to draw his gaze to my decolletage. I arrived slightly late, and made great show of greeting my hostess warmly. I was seated across the table and down by two chairs from M-, but managed to catch his gaze several times quite by accident. I smiled, jested with those on either side of me, and was sure to contribute to conversation as wittily as I could.
We retired to the salon after dinner, and I sang gaily, played cards, and found myself by degrees surrounded by several admirers, one of whom was M-. Teasing G- about his stock I touched him playfully under the chin. I left my fan on the harpsichorde and asked M- to retrieve it, thanking him off-handedly when he returned it to me. I inquired of C- the fate of his latest mistress, and declared I should never be so easily captured or dismissed by any man; a decree which I know will only inflame them to try harder.
When the first guests began to take their leave I excused myself saying I had an engagement with some letters. M- said that I should not trouble myself with something so unpleasant, and stay an hour more with them. I deemed him sweet but insisted upon returning home. Retrieving my manteau from a servant, I suggested that perhaps he would care to attend my lever tomorrow morning at noon. He enthusiastically agreed, not realizing that I had extended the same invitation to two others earlier in the evening, for 11am. He will find himself frustratingly surrounded by rivals come morning.
Now to write Christine, for she will find great amusement in all of this. I only hope the rest of the plans unfolds as smoothly.
Olympe, Comtesse
I've read here nearly an hour. You write very well Madame. I appreciate the effort you have put in making it entertaining for your readers.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to call again. All the very best and a lovely weekend.
Thank you, Simone! I'm always flattered when another writer finds entertainment in my work. I enjoyed your post on Women of Letters in the Regency.
ReplyDeleteMadame la Comtesse,
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to comment as of recently. Sadly I admit I have just started to really read your letters and diary posts. I had read a few but not as often as I should have been! I also had not started from the beginning. Recently I picked up Evelina by Frances Burney. Now I am completely torn between your letters and hers! I have started your blog from the beginning and I am currently in rotation between the two. I love it! I am only in the later June posts but I am trying to quickly catch up! I find your letters and diary lovely.
I wish society still wrote letters. I think it would greatly improve the average person's ability to communicate in a much more intelligent manner...instead of the texting and shorthand computer version of what we call communicating. I am of course guilty of the LOLs and Hehe's!
Thank you again for the delightful story.
Your most humble and most obedient servant,
Jossilynn von Parx
Mme Von Parx,
ReplyDeleteWhat a kind note to send me! I am so glad you are enjoying the diary and related information. Even in the modern age my best friend and I still send each other letters, in fact I just wrote one to her today. I do agree that it ought to encourage good writing skills, though in my case not good handwriting. I hope you find the rest of the diary as entertaining as the beginning.
Cordially,
Olympe etc.