Coupvray, Île de France
Henri was sitting in his study when a great wail filled the air, coming from the entrance of the chateau, followed by hysterical sobbing that tore his heart in two. In that moment, Henri knew what had happened. Lecuyer was dead. He muttered a brief prayer for the recently deceased and grabbed his cane, hobbling his way towards the front door. There he found Daphnée prostrate on the floor, her tears staining the floor, as a messenger awkwardly stood nearby offering words of comfort.
Without a word, Henri knelt beside his wife, ignoring the pain it caused his injured leg. He wrapped her in a comforting embrace as she pressed her face against his chest. He was glad his children were already asleep, for they did not need to see their mother in such distress He knew that the next few months would be painful for them as they mourned the passing of one dear to them both. Letting his wife seek comfort in his arms, he looked over her shoulder at the messenger who was still standing there awkwardly. He extended his hand, taking the message and then motioning to the man that he was dismissed.
Once left alone in their grief, Henri struggled to his feet, his body straining to support Daphnée. Grabbing his cane again, he guided her to their bedroom, where they sat together on the edge of their bed for what seemed hours, simply holding on to each other without a word said between them. Eventually his wife tired and her sobs subsided, so he eased her into bed. Her face was still red from all the crying, but she fell into slumber soon enough.
Once his wife was finally asleep, Henri crept from the room and returned to his study. Once there, he read the message by candlelight. It confirmed some of what he already suspected, as well as new revelations that would require careful thought as he plotted his path forward. Lecuyer was dead, as he had known the moment his wife had cried out. Bonaparte had landed in France and the army had defected shortly after. Not a surprise since the King had ordered them to massacre French citizens without reason, and the Bonaparte name held much sway in France even after all this time. The King had fled, along with the entire royal family, and in the power vacuum Bonaparte had risen to power, taking over leadership of the provisional government that Henri had provided arms to. Pure chaos, but hopefully the bloodshed would finally end and the people would be given the voice they deserved, as the late Lecuyer had envisioned.
Henri could not help but give a slight chuckle at how events had proceeded. If his father were still alive today he would surely have been greatly distraught to see his son help bring about the end of the monarchy and usher a Bonaparte into power. Unlike his father though, Henri had never been a stooge of the monarchy. Surely he understood its value, and under a more enlightened monarch he would expect France to have flourished, but old mistakes had been repeated and another Bourbon was now sent into exile. Now the question was what was to come.
The greatest concern in the coming days was the socialists and far-left republicans that had latched onto Bonaparte during the end of the Second Republic. If they had their way, a reign of terror would follow, one that would see men such as him at the guillotine, their property pilfered and families murdered. It would seem then that the only man capable of holding them at bay was Bonaparte himself. His father would have hated the idea, blinded by his hatred for the Bonaparte family, but Henri saw the value in it. From what Henri understood of him, the “Prince-Liberator” as he was now called hadn’t done anything tyrannical or radical during his time in power during the Second Republic. The accounts of his efforts in America were even praiseworthy. If there was even a chance this man could provide stability to France or even unite it after so much upheaval, it was worth the risk. His father had once rallied to the June Monarchy when his true loyalty remained with the main line, so now Henri would follow in his footsteps and rally to Bonaparte even though his preference remained for a monarchy. Perhaps in time he would even find himself won over fully to the Prince-Liberator’s side as his father had been won over by the Orleans. Whatever best served France best.
For now, he had some letters to write. The next few months would be crucial in deciding the fate of France. A stable government needed to be formed, one free of the radical and violent inclinations of both the far left and right. When the time came, Henri knew he had to step into the fray if able. All he needed were some likeminded allies who would serve as the voice of reason in this new government, whatever form it took.
* * * * *
((Private -
@Sneakyflaps ))
Votre Altesse, Prince de Condé,
It was with great relief that I received words that you had not only survived the chaos that encompassed Paris, but had been called upon to aid in making important policy decisions for this provisional government. I do not know what the ultimate goal of our Prince-Liberator is, or what fate eventually awaits us nobility, but I pray this is at least a sign that we will have a place in this new republic.
Indeed, it is our place in this new France that concerns me most. I grew up watching the exploits of you and my father as you both forged a path through the turbulent times of the Second Republic. While I have my doubts another restoration is anywhere on the horizon, and perhaps that is for the best after the actions of our former king, there is still a need for men of reason to provide stability in this new government once it is formed. I feel the call at this time, as surely as my father did during the Second Republic, to speak up for those who do not wish for France to fall down the path of violent radicalism.
I do not know if you ultimately seek a more permanent role in this future government, or if you even intend to stay involved in politics at all; my father often spoke of how the Second Republic drained him of all will to stay in politics. Yet you more than any other have experience traversing such dangerous territory. I hope it is not too much to ask for advice or guidance in the days ahead, for surely it will be greatly needed.
Regardless of what you ultimately choose to do, I hope that we may be able to work together going forward.
Know that you are always welcome at the Château de Coupvray, as well as the hôtel de Rohan-Montbazon if God has been kind enough to spare it.
- Henri de Rohan, Prince de Rohan
* * * * *
((Private -
@m.equitum ))
Votre Altesse, Prince de Polignac,
I pray that you are well and that the events that shook Paris have not caused you too much distress. I heard that you were in Paris as they transpired and can only imagine the horrors you must have witnessed. The king was most merciless in crushing the protests, and the radicals were quick to attempt to turn the protests into something much more sinister. Good men died those days, and now the rest of us must pick up the pieces.
I bring this up because I am curious as to what you intend to do in the coming days. Perhaps you intend to seek a quieter life outside France, assuming those in power let you, or to retire to your estates in peace? Or do you intend to stay involved in the nation’s politics once a new government is formed, provided you are able? It would be good to see a man of your morals providing sound advice in contrast to the insatiable radicals that will soon rear their ugly heads.
As for myself, I find now to be the time to step forward into the political realm. We will need good men willing to stand for moderation and sound judgement in the coming days. When that time comes, I hope that I will hear your voice alongside my own.
Know that you are always welcome at the Château de Coupvray, as well as the hôtel de Rohan-Montbazon if God has been kind enough to spare it.
- Henri de Rohan, Prince de Rohan
Monsieur de Rohan,
I hope this letter finds you well and does not come as too great a surprise to you. Similarly, I hope that you have not forgotten my acquaintance, being introduced through Monsieur de Conde several years ago as we were. While my motivations for contacting you are many, I hope that we will be able to discuss certain matters with which France will be dealing in these letters. Hearing only pieces of information from Berlin as I have been, I worry greatly for the security of our country.
What thoughts do you have on the matter? I believe it would be naive to imagine the monarchy's return when it has lost all dignity in the eyes of the people, but my opinion is that of a man who has not been in France for years. Am I wrong to believe that our only option henceforth is a republic? And if I am not, what must we do to ensure that it not fall victim to jacobinism?
Again, I hope that you and your family are in good health and have found safety and security.
Cordialement,
MONTVICQ.
((Private -
@Firehound15 ))
Monsieur de Montvicq,
I admit I was surprised to receive your letter. I do indeed remember you through our mutual friend, the Prince de Condé, although I must have seemed a child at the time and thought I would likely not have left much of an impression. I am fortunate that I was not in Paris when recent events occurred, and thus avoided the worst, although I have lost my father-in-law to the street warfare that plagued the city for days. I will miss him dearly, but there is a time to mourn and a time to act.
That you would seek my advice on such a subject is a great honour, and I will do my best to convey my opinion on the matter. You are not alone in your concerns for France. Our former king (and I do stress former) may have well irreparably damaged the image of the monarchy as an institution. I do not expect to see yet another restoration in my lifetime, or at least as long as Henri lives. We will have a republic now, or if Bonaparte decides it, an empire. Those of us who once supported the monarchy must now choose either exile, and thus be seen as being party to the tyrannical actions of the king, or to work within this new system. The latter seems the only choice if we wish for a stable France.
I expect once the new government takes form, one that may well be shaped to work against us, we must be ready to stand strong and provide a voice of reason in government. There are many in France who care not for the radical ideas of these socialists that will soon be clamouring for power and attempting to tear up the very fabric of our society. They need people to represent them that will provide a more moderate view. I intend to be one of those people, and I hope there will be others that share a similar mind that I may work with to ensure France does not succumb to Jacobinism as you so fear.
I have already reached out to a few friends and associates to gauge their thoughts on the matter, and your letter tells me there are others like us doing much the same. I expect we may find that there are still some of us who while once loyal to the monarchy, now find ourselves cast adrift after heinous actions of our former king and thus willing to stay in France and seek our fortunes in this new republic.
If you choose to return to France, know that you are welcome at the Château de Coupvray. I would invite you to my home in Paris, the hôtel de Rohan-Montbazon, but I’d refrain from staying in the capital until things have settled down.
- Henri de Rohan, Prince de Rohan
