Rebellion in Her Touch
Copyright© 2026 by Rachael Jane
Chapter 11: A New Identity
By the time Henri returns home that evening, nobody can confuse Jeanne’s gender. Colette took the simple step of telling her maid Sophie of Jeanne’s revelation, and within the hour all the house servants knew. To some the news was of merely confirmation of what they suspected before, but a few of the older male servants were aghast at how they had spoken and served Jeanne as though she was a man. They recall that some of their language was inappropriate to use in front of a bourgeois lady. However, long before Jeanne arrived in Lyon, she was well versed in the language used by men between themselves.
With his household fully aware of Jeanne’s true self, Henri has little option but to accept the loss of Jean-Paul, and to welcome Jeanne. His acceptance of Jeanne doesn’t necessarily mean that he will allow Colette to continue a romantic relationship with her. Colette isn’t the only one nervous about his decision. Same-gender relationships aren’t illegal, but they are socially unacceptable in all but the most Bohemian of communities.
That Henri doesn’t throw Jeanne out of his house, nor immediately dismiss her from her job at the factory, underscores the uncertainty wracking through Henri’s mind. Arguably Henri’s continued hospitality is because it would be ungentlemanly to throw a young bourgeois lady out on the street without someone to look after her. However, Henri realises that there is more to his inaction than simple etiquette. Henri hasn’t seen his daughter this happy since childhood, and he acknowledges that her relationship with Jeanne is the cause. Colette has accepted Jeanne’s deception without complaint, and Henri admits to himself that it is shock rather than anger than is influencing his thoughts at the moment. He also acknowledges that it must have taken significant courage for Colette to tell him the truth. In a strange way, that makes him proud of his daughter.
Henri wouldn’t be the successful businessman that he is if he couldn’t make critical decisions under pressure. After weighing the pros and cons of different responses to the situation, Henri decides to give Colette and Jeanne is tacit blessing to their continued relationship. Needless to say, his decision is greeted with relief and joy.
There remain a number of obstacles to be overcome. Social respectability needs to be maintained; so no sharing a bedroom while Jeanne and Colette live in Henri’s house. Jeanne cannot simply continue in her role at the factory. While Henri might accept Jean-Paul becoming Jeanne, there are those working in the factory who would not be so tolerant. Industrial unrest is always bubbling under the surface of normality, so Henri has no desire to spark unnecessary strife. Then there is the likely response from Louis.
The first obstacle is easily overcome since Jeanne can no longer reside in the section of the house designated as men’s quarters. A room adjacent to Colette’s room is provided and Jeanne moves in there. The fact that the two rooms have an internal door linking them is quietly overlooked.
As regards work, then Henri announces to his staff that Jean-Paul has departed, but his sister Jeanne has accepted a position as Henri’s secretary. Some may be suspicious of the sudden change, but the ruse is generally accepted without challenge. Jeanne pretends to be ignorant on how the factory runs, but she soon acquires a reputation for being a fast learner.
The third obstacle ... Louis ... is harder to manage. It’s several days before Louis returns from his latest travels. He’s suspicious of Jeanne at once, but his judgement is clouded by his ingrained desire to fuck any woman he hasn’t yet added to his conquests. Again, Jeanne shows her skill at deception. Her flirting with Louis draws his attention away from the burgeoning relationship between Jeanne and Colette. More than once, Louis thinks he has Jeanne ready for plucking, only to be thwarted at the last minute. It becomes a game that Colette and Jeanne play at Louis’s expense.
Eventually Louis starts to grow tired of unwittingly playing Colette’s and Jeanne’s game. The sudden availability of Anaïs among the pool of unattached women for Louis to fuck diverts his attention elsewhere. In Anaïs he has found his ideal woman, and their passionate liaison soon removes Louis as a problem for Jeanne and the D’Aubigny family.
Although Henri, Colette and Jeanne establish a workable living arrangement, it soon becomes clear that it can only be a temporary solution. Even loyal servants gossip to outsiders and before long the relationship between Colette and Jeanne is the subject of malicious gossip. Most people treat the situation with indifference, but some of the more religiously minded start to make life difficult for Henri. Jeanne can’t help noticing the hypocrisy in the complaints. Married men denounce Colette’s and Jeanne’s relationship while happily bedding a mistress or two on the side.
“I think it’s time we moved to Paris,” says Jeanne to Colette one evening as they lie next to each other in bed.
“Has your inheritance been released?” asks Colette.
“I asked the executors to sell the jewellery and artwork I inherited, and most of it has now been sold. I can ask them to give me what they’ve have so far. It’ll be enough for us to establish ourselves in Paris.”
“I’ll ask my father for some money,” replies Colette. “Like your father did for you, he will have put money aside for my dowry. Hopefully he’ll release that to me even though we cannot marry.”
