Chapter 11: Danielle’s Trip to Spain

It was Friday morning, the day before the Feast of Epiphany (Saturday, January 6), and Danielle was making her weekly visit to the Queen. Danielle decided to show the Queen the following letter she had just received from Catherine:

Dear Danielle,

A few days after mother and I returned to our castle, we received the painting by Gustave that you gave us. Mother and I both wish to express our everlasting appreciation for such a wonderful gift. Even including expensive gifts of jewelry, I don’t believe mother has ever received a gift she values so highly. She had the painting framed and mounted in our castle. Everyone is impressed with the painting, and all the comments have been extremely complimentary. Although we know you meant for the painting to be a gift, mother wanted to give Gustave a token of her appreciation. Please give Gustave the enclosed gold francs and let him know how much we love the painting.

For my sixteenth birthday, we are going to Paris, where we will stay a few days, and then go visit my aunt, comtesse d’Auvergne, in Tours. We plan to stay there for four to six weeks before returning home. While we are there, if you can find the time, we would love for you to visit.

We will be leaving for Paris next week, either on the eve of, or the day of, the Feast of the Holy Innocents (Thursday, December 28). To reduce travel time, we will travel light and send most of our luggage before we leave. So, including our stay in Paris, our trip to Tours should not take more than three weeks. Therefore, if you can visit, a good time to arrive would be about three weeks after the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Whether or not you are able to visit us in Tours, mother told me that we may decide to visit the royal family in Hautefort again before returning home. Hopefully, one way or another, we will be able to see you again.

Again, I wish to express our gratitude for the painting.

Love,

Catherine

When Danielle arrived at the castle, she was taken to the quarters of the King and Queen. King Francis had received a letter from Charles V, the King of Spain, which read in part:

The contract for the trade agreement is acceptable, except my advisors believe that the words “will be” in Article 4 could be interpreted as “may be.” Therefore, I recommend that the words “will be” be replaced with “shall be required.” Assuming that this is agreeable, the Queen, Princess Gabriella, and I intend to arrive for a signing ceremony sometime between Feast of Saint Davie (Thursday, March 1) and the Feast of Saint Joseph (Monday, March 19). As soon as I receive conformation that the recommended change in wording is agreeable, I will be able to give you a more definite date for our arrival.

At our Embassy ball, as I understand from the Ambassador, two French girls and the daughter of General de Ortega gave an excellent performance of a Spanish dance. The performance was the talk of the entire Embassy staff. Perhaps they will be willing to give another performance after we arrive. Since, as I understand they also speak Spanish, the Queen and I would love to meet with them. Gabriella is especially eager to meet them.”

After telling Danielle about the letter from Charles V, King Francis asked if she and Catherine would be willing to give another performance for the King, Queen, and Princess of Spain.

“Your Majesty, I would be honored, the duchesse would be thrilled, and Catherine would be absolutely ecstatic. I promise, with your permission, Catherine and I will perform.”

“Danielle,” a somewhat cautious Queen Marie said, “It is a long way to Lorraine; so, if the Spanish King decides to arrive early, we might need to substitute someone from the French ballet for Catherine.”

“Your Majesty, I can assure you that Catherine will be here.” Handing Catherine’s letter to the Queen, Danielle continued, “I have just received this letter from her, and she is on her way to visit her aunt, comtesse d’Auvergne, in Tours. She should be there in about ten days. If Your Majesty wishes, I will write a letter to Catherine and her mother and you can have it delivered to them in care of comtesse d’Auvergne.”

“Yes, please do,” Marie replied.

“In honor of the King and Queen of Spain, I will give a Spanish ball, with Spanish music and dancing, and everyone is to dress in Spanish clothing,” King Francis stated.

“Your Majesty, have you made any plans for the women to obtain Spanish gowns?” Danielle asked.

“I don’t understand.”

“Please forgive me, Your Majesty, but I don’t believe you men give a lot of thought to women’s fashion so, with your permission, let me explain.”

“Well I admit that we believe that women’s fashion is best left up to our wives, but please explain,” King Francis replied.

“Spanish men dress plainly while the women dress stylishly. It should not be difficult for the French tailors to make Spanish clothing for the men. However, that is not the case for the women. First, the material for Spanish gowns is very different than that used for French gowns, with the Spanish gowns being so colorful and bright. Also, the ruffles and other extremely complicated designs will be difficult for the French seamstresses. True, both French and Spanish seamstresses have the same basic skills; however, the knowledge of the various intricate designs is acquired over years.

“It will probably be at least three weeks before you receive a reply from the Spanish King. I believe you will not wish to announce the ball until you hear from him and know a more definite date for his arrival.

“So I have a proposal: Except for notifying and inviting the Duchess of Lorraine and Catherine, please hold off announcing the ball until you receive your reply from King Charles V. That will give me time to travel to and from Spain and to conduct business with a proprietor who sells Spanish clothing, especially women’s gowns. I already have approved credit for several hundred gold francs from a banker, so I will take a letter of credit from the bank for, say, 300 gold francs and travel to northern Spain. Before leaving, I will ask the Ambassador for a letter of introduction.

“Once there, I will negotiate with the proprietor of a fashionable shop to come to France with fabric and material to make Spanish gowns. Also, he should bring some Spanish jewelry and the material for making men’s clothing. I will provide a guarantee of at least 300 gold francs in sales. This amount in sales should entice any businessman to travel to France. The person I select must speak French and be expert at advising women on the selection of gowns and experienced at giving fashion shows. In addition to gowns and supplies, I will ask him to provide several Spanish seamstresses. After they arrive here, additional local seamstresses can work under their direction.

“Before leaving, I will arrange for Jacqueline to lease a space for a fashionable shop. As soon as we return, I would like for you to announce a fashion show to be held here at the castle. This will show the courtiers much of what is available and still give them a month or so to select and purchase gowns and other items.

“For myself, I will seek a profit of about twenty percent of the total sales plus whatever taxes you believe are appropriate.

“Your Majesty, I do believe that your Spanish ball will be the talk of Europe for years to come. So with your approval, I need to start making arrangements as I plan to leave no later than Monday.”

“Marie, what do you think?” King Francis asked.

“I think it is a wonderful idea. I am convinced that it will please the Spanish King and Queen if our courtiers are wearing authentic Spanish gowns. Also, I have complete confidence that Danielle will accomplish the endeavor.” Queen Marie was amazed that Danielle’s quick mind could make such detailed planning so quickly.

“Then it is settled. Danielle, you will write a letter inviting the Duchess and Catherine, and I will give you up to four weeks to set a date for the fashion show and to arrange with a Spanish merchant to set up a shop here at Hautefort.”

After her visit with the King and Queen, Danielle met with the bankers. She explained that she wanted a letter of credit to persuade the proprietor of a fashionable Spanish shop to come to Hautefort and that she wanted to make arrangements for Maurice, acting as her agent, to draw funds so he could continue to pay for clearing the land to run the Manoir de Barbarac and for Jacqueline to rent a space for a fashionable shop. At the banker’s suggestion, Danielle accepted a letter of credit to take to Spain for a variable amount up to 500 gold francs.

After leaving the bankers, Danielle went to the Spanish Embassy. After she told Dolorita about the Spanish ball to be given by King Francis and her planned trip to Spain, Dolorita said, “From what you tell me, there will be several weeks available for practice, so perhaps we could improve on the original performance. If there is time, I believe it would be wonderful to add a Fandango courtship dance to be performed by Catherine and Lieutenant Magelhaes. We can work out the details after you return from Spain and Catherine arrives. Now let’s see the Ambassador and ask him to write you a letter of introduction.”

The Ambassador was more than willing to help Danielle and write her a letter of introduction. Also, he was pleased to be of assistance to his countrymen in trade with France. The Ambassador felt it would be best if Danielle had an escort, so he asked a major and his wife who lived in Navarra to travel with Danielle. The major’s wife was well acquainted with and would highly recommend Felipe, the proprietor of a very fashionable shop in Navarra.

Danielle waited while Dolorita spoke with the Ambassador. When she was finally invited to see the Ambassador, the Ambassador said, “Danielle, it is good to see you again. I am sorry to have kept you waiting, but I wanted to arrange for you to have an escort to Spain. I want you to meet Major Francisco Nino and his wife Arcadia. They will be traveling with you and can introduce you to the proprietors of the more fashionable shops.”

“I appreciate that, Your Excellency,” Danielle replied.

“When would you like to leave?” The Ambassador asked.

“Monday morning, Your Excellency. I need to write a letter to Renée de Vaudémont and her daughter Catherine and make arrangements for Jacqueline to rent a space for the dress and clothing shop, but this will give me more than adequate time to be ready to leave by Monday.”

“Major, will you and your wife be ready by then?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

After leaving the embassy, Danielle wrote the following letter and handed it to a page to deliver to the King and Queen.

Dear duchesse de Vaudémont and Catherine,

I received Catherine’s letter today, and the timing for your arrival in Tours could not be better. Final details for a treaty between France and Spain are being completed, and the King and Queen of Spain and Princess Gabriella will arrive for a signing ceremony between the Feast of Saint Davie (Thursday, March 1) and the Feast of Saint Joseph (Monday, March 19). The Spanish King mentioned our performance during the ball at the Spanish embassy and requested that we give another performance. Also, he stated that that he, the Queen, and Princess Gabriella wish to meet Catherine and I since we speak Spanish. Perhaps we should get with Dolorita and review our Spanish prior to their arrival.

In honor of the Spanish King, King Francis will be announcing a Spanish ball, and everyone is to wear Spanish dress. I truly believe the Spanish ball will be the talk of Europe for years to come. In view of the importance of this treaty and good relations between France and Spain, I know, if at all possible, the King and Queen can depend on you to help make it a success. Therefore, I took the liberty of telling King Francis and Queen Marie that Catherine would be delighted to perform at the ball.

Dolorita suggested if Catherine can arrive early for additional practice that, in addition to the other dances, she wishes to choreograph a Fandango courtship dance to be performed by Catherine and Lieutenant Magelhaes.

Also, there will be a Spanish fashion show several weeks before the ball, and perhaps Catherine would be willing to be one of the models for the fashion show. As soon as King Francis receives a reply from the King of Spain, you will be given definite dates for the fashion show and Spanish ball.