Chapter 10: Return to the Manoir de Barbarac

After the proceeding of the royal court had concluded, Rodmilla and Marguerite returned to the inn. It was mid-morning the next day before they checked out of the inn and returned to the Manoir de Barbarac.

When Rodmilla and Marguerite arrived at the Manoir de Barbarac, Danielle met them at the door.

“Madame, Marguerite, in consideration for your positions as my father’s widow and stepdaughter, you are welcomed to live here as long as you wish. Of course, as my guests, you will be expected to observe a few reasonable rules,” Danielle said.

“What rules?” an irritated Marguerite asked.

“Whatever I decide. You will be expected to do your share of the household duties, such as assisting with cooking and cleaning. I would hope that you would wish to do this anyway and that more definite and stringent rules will not be required.”

“I am of noble blood; I don’t do the work of servants,” Rodmilla replied.

“Yes Madame, but I am certain that even you must eat. In any event, neither I nor the servants are going to gratify your every whim. Now I know you both have been through a trying experience and that you must tired, so you are not expected do anything for the rest of the day, but after that, I hope that you will wish to do your share.

“Marguerite, I thought it was appropriate that I should have my room back, the one I had before my father died, so your things have been moved to the first guest room. Now if you both will excuse me, I have work to do.”

“What about our bags?” came Marguerite’s whine as Danielle started walking away.

“You have my permission to take them to your rooms,” Danielle replied from too far a distance to observe the seething expressions on both Rodmilla’s and Marguerite’s faces.

Rodmilla was looking over a copy of the appraisal list from the Merchant de Gaucourt that Danielle had left. She wanted to see if there were items she might wish to exchange. Rodmilla was still fuming over how much of her property had been taken when Marguerite entered.

“Jacqueline has all my jewelry, even my gold brooch, and she won’t return any of it,” Marguerite whined.

“We’ll see about that,” Rodmilla replied as she marched to Jacqueline’s room.

“Jacqueline dear, what is this I hear about your not returning Marguerite’s jewelry?”

“Mother, I can’t do it unless I have Danielle’s permission. Otherwise, Danielle will reclaim her share,” Jacqueline replied.

It was too much. With Marguerite and Jacqueline a few steps behind, Rodmilla found Danielle and roughly grabbed her by the shoulder, turning her as she shrieked, “You stupid, dim-witted girl! Why, the whole thing makes me sick! It is mean-spirited, Danielle, and I will not have it in this house!”

Breaking Rodmilla’s grip and pushing her back, Danielle composed herself and replied, “Madame, please calm down. Has something upset you?”

Danielle’s calm response infuriated Rodmilla even more. She began to slap Danielle but thought better of it. Trying to hide her anger, Rodmilla said, “You cannot prevent Jacqueline from returning Marguerite’s jewelry. It is not right!”

“Madam, it was not right that, for the last ten years, you favored Marguerite over Jacqueline and me. Nevertheless, Father Pasquerel said we should share equally. It was my wish that Jacqueline, not Marguerite, have my share. If Jacqueline wishes to share with that selfish girl, then my only stipulation is that she first returns my share to me. My decision is final. If you don’t like it, I suggest you take the matter to the King.”

Marguerite let out a gasp, “Why, you egotistical little leech!”

“Maybe you will feel better after you have eaten and had a rest. Lunch will be ready in a half-hour,” Danielle replied as she walked through the kitchen door.

Rodmilla and Marguerite were so upset at their change in status that it was supper time before they decided to eat. Seeing Maurice, Louise and Paulette, Rodmilla complained, “What are they doing at the table? You can’t expect me to eat with servants!”

“Madam, they are part of the household,” Danielle replied, “Of course they eat with us. Now if you object, you are free to wait until we are finished and eat what is left over.”

The pleased looks on the servants’ faces irritated Rodmilla even more than eating with them. Nevertheless, she was very hungry, so both she and Marguerite sat down at the table.

The next morning Rodmilla ordered Maurice to prepare the carriage.

“Have you gotten Danielle’s approval?” he asked.

“Would these insults never end?” Rodmilla wondered.

After ordering Maurice to come with her, she found Danielle. “I have some business to attend to and Maurice refuses to prepare the carriage for my transportation,” Rodmilla said in a voice she was only barely able to keep civil.

“I’m sure Maurice will take you wherever you wish provided you pay his wages for the day,” Danielle replied.

Ticked-off almost beyond her ability to control her temper, Rodmilla acceded. Rodmilla had prepared a petition to the King for redress of grievances to (1) restore her title; (2) grant a wife’s right to at least one-half of the Manoir de Barbarac; and (3) reduce her debt to le Pieu from $250 to $145 gold francs—the amount she had originally received for the merchandise.

Her first stop was Isabelle. After telling the butler her reason for visiting, she was led to the parlor. “Wait here while I see if Isabelle is available,” he said.

Isabelle made Rodmilla wait in the parlor for two hours. When she finally came down she said, “Rodmilla, what a surprise. How long have you been waiting?”

“Two hours.”

“Why wasn’t I informed?” She said, turning toward the butler and giving him a knowing look.

After listening to Rodmilla, she continued, “Yes it is just dreadful that you were treated in such a manner. Of course, I will speak to my husband about it. I am certain he will want to get other nobles to sign your petition.”

Then hurrying her out the door she said, “Look at the time, I’m late for an important meeting. But please, do come again.” {Isabelle was implying, but not stating, "If you want more of the same."}

When Rodmilla rang and asked for Celeste, she was told, “Madame isn’t home, but if you will go to the back, I’m sure the cook can fix you a plate.”

“How dare they treat me like a common beggar?” Rodmilla muttered to herself.

By nightfall, Rodmilla had only collected two signatures, and those were from untitled nobles. Most people were not available, and the few who were had all sorts of excuses such as, “I would be happy to sign it after you have it properly drawn-up.”

That night, after being rebuffed in her efforts for signatures on her petition, Rodmilla wrote to relatives in Belgium asking for loans to pay her debt to le Pieu. However, her parents were deceased, and the rest of her family in Belgium was still offended by the way Rodmilla had treated them. While never doing anything truly outrageous, Rodmilla often treated family member with slights and failed to contribute her in family functions. Basically, she was always a taker and never a giver. Under these circumstances, 250 gold francs was such a large sum that Rodmilla’s letters went unanswered.

Monday, two days later, Danielle went to see some bankers. With a clear title from King Francis to the Manoir de Barbarac, Danielle negotiated with the bankers for credit to draw up to 1,200 gold francs at 12% per annum for ten years. The bankers were willing to lend more, but only at a higher rate. Danielle understood that borrowing involved risks of foreclosure, and so she hoped to limit her borrowing to not more than 600 or 800 gold francs. Still, it was good to have the additional credit in case it was absolutely required.

The manoir had slightly over 800 acres with 500 acres of old-growth forest. However, during the last ten years, most of the land that had been cleared was now covered with small, young trees and heavy undergrowth. Less than 20 acres remained cleared for crops, grazing and orchards. Danielle’s father had once told her that land cleared late in the year would be subject to much erosion. However, since the trees that needed to be uprooted were small, there was ample grass, weeds, and other underbrush that could be cut close to the ground to protect the soil.

It would cost three gold francs an acre to clear the land. A crew of four men with sickles and a team of horses could clear an acre in four or five days. With the harvest completed, many farmers from nearby villages were glad for the opportunity to earn extra money. Before long there were over 20 crews clearing the land. Danielle contracted to clear 150 acres of the flattest and best land for grazing and growing crops. It would take five to six weeks, and cost 450 gold francs before the 150 acres would be again suitable for grazing and planting crops. As the manoir became productive again, additional land would be cleared by the farmers that Danielle hired.