The Trousseau Page 6

  He called me Monsieur, thought Jacques. At last, I am truly free.

  ‘I have considered your generous offer, sir, and I wish to remain in Nouvelle-Caledonie. There are many opportunities here and my skills could be useful in Noumea. I am also happy to be living with the people of Noumea as they have always treated me with kindness.’

  ‘Well done, young man. Now step over to the table and sign your pardon before my notary. Here is a note from me as well, to present to the men’s clothing store. As my gift to you, please choose a new pair of boots, two new shirts and one pair of trousers to assist you in your new life. There is also a small packet of money here on the table to help you until you are paid by the Government Garden. Duphly still requires your assistance and you can continue to live in the garden shed until you take possession of your land and begin to build your own home. Enjoy and respect your freedom and you will create a fine life for yourself here with us.’

  As the commandant rose, he formally embraced Jacques then cried out, ‘To the Glory of France!’

  Jacques replied, ‘To the Glory of France! And thank you, sir, for your generosity. I will never disappoint you.’

  He signed his paper with a flourish and as waves of joy engulfed him, Jacques made his way toward the clothing shop. For the first time in many years he wanted to sing. He began to run and then to jump - free, free at last. Finally he could write to Uncle Leon and Aunt Cecine, telling them he was alive and well, with an opportunity to create a good life here. Just the thought of casting off his shabby clothing, to enjoy fresh meat, cheese and fruit again, to determine his future and earn some money, to fall in love and even to marry - all these wonderful possibilities put a great spring in his step.

  XI

  CHRISTMAS Mass was beautiful this year. The church was filled with fresh flowers, another organist had been found and the weather was sunny and cool. Clotilde walked to the church dressed in her lovely new outfit, as she exchanged greetings with everyone she met along the way. At the end of the service she was startled to see Jacques seated among the congregation. He looked so handsome in a new shirt, trousers and boots. His hair had been trimmed, instead of being tied back with a cord. He saw her and smiled as he moved toward her, confident and assured.

  ‘Joyeux Noel,’ he greeted her.

  ‘Jacques, you have received your pardon,’ she blurted out.

  ‘Indeed I have. You are looking at a free man now and one who wishes to walk with you as you return to your home. May I have this honour?’

  ‘Yes, you may.’ Yet as they left together, she suddenly became worried. Would the people of Noumea, all her pupils and their parents, accept herself and Jacques walking together? To her great relief, everyone smiled and greeted them as they made their way out of the church grounds. Others pressed toward Jacques, expressing their happiness at seeing him move freely among them. Many greeted Clotilde and wished her a Joyeux Noel. Two of her smallest pupils approached to admire the lovely dress and touch the lace on her sleeves.

  As she and Jacques moved away he suggested they make a tour of the Government Garden, as the day was such a fine one. She was delighted to accompany him as he pointed out several features she hadn’t noticed before. He also showed her the new flowers he had planted especially for Christmas.

  ‘These were sent to me on the ship that carried Satine and Germond back to Tahiti. They are flowers that have never been seen here on Nouvelle-Caledonie before.’

  ‘Oh, they are so large and colourful. I would love to make a drawing of each of them.’

  As the afternoon passed Clotilde suddenly felt very hungry. ‘Jacques, I need something to eat and you must be starving. I have cooked a small ham and would be very happy to have you join me for a late afternoon Christmas dinner.’

  Returning to her cottage, he helped her set the outdoor table as she brought out bread, cheese, sliced ham and a salad. The meal was also celebrated with a small bottle of red wine. As they shared her delicious Christmas fare, they talked on and on. Somehow it felt so easy to speak about the many things each of them had never told anyone before. They felt the presence of a friend in the other – one who would totally understand and never judge harshly. Jacques unburdened himself first.

  ‘I have always wanted you to know the true story behind my conviction, Clotilde.’ He told her of his happiness with his family and his aunt and uncle, who helped him all through his apprenticeship at the Bagatelle. Then he shared the incident about the four onions, his four year sentence and the wonderful opportunities he had experienced working with old Duphly in the Government Garden. She wept when she learned he had suffered for a crime he never committed, enduring it all with courage.

  ‘I was a tiny child of two years when someone brought me to the Mater Dei Orphanage in Paris and then left me there.Again and again I waited for someone to take me back home, but no one ever came.’ She told him about Sister Celeste, the one person who had loved her like a mother and how her death a few months before had left her devastated.

  As they spoke of their joys and sufferings, their two hearts opened to one another. A deep connection began to grow as the roots of their being slowly entwined. They drew closer together on the bench. Jacques longed to cherish and protect her. Clotilde longed to console the pain he had endured and support the talents he shared so generously. Their hands brushed tentatively. Then at last they held each other, quietly and tenderly, her head resting on his heart, until a multitude of stars appeared above them in the infinite shining heavens.

  XII

  THE Christmas holiday period passed quickly as Clotilde prepared for the final year she would be teaching in the Government School. She and Jacques spent more of their time together and he joined her most evenings for dinner, before returning to the place he still occupied in the garden shed. ‘I’m living there for the present to save money for a surprise I’ll be sharing with you very soon.’

  ‘Can’t you give me even a little hint of what it is?’ Clotilde replied.

  ‘I can tell you this much. Duphly wishes to retire from full time work and he has offered me the paid position of Head Gardener of the Government Garden. I said yes immediately, as I can carry on the work I’ve begun there and that I enjoy so much.’

  ‘Oh Jacques, that is a wonderful surprise.’

  ‘Oh, but that is not the big surprise I’ve planned to show you. You must wait a little longer to discover that secret. Did I tell you that there are two young men who have also requested to serve their apprenticeships with me?’

  ‘This is such good news. Thank goodness you will have helpers to work with you as the garden takes so much of your time during the summer.’

  Finally the day for the opening of school arrived and Clotilde welcomed her students into a very crowded classroom. It was good to be teaching again, working with these lovely children. ‘I only wonder what I will be doing when next year arrives,’ she thought to herself. On Friday after the last child had left the school, Jacques surprised her at the front door.

  ‘Clotilde, can you spend the next hour or two with me? The time has come to show you my surprise.’

  ‘At last, Jacques, let’s be off before I die of curiosity.’

  Together they walked to a large section of unoccupied land a short distance from the Government Garden. It was protected by the perimeter fence and was home to several beautiful old shade trees.

  ‘Within this corner where you see a marking on the ground I made with a spade, is a large and beautiful piece of land. It now belongs to me. Here I will build a house and develop a garden. It was granted to me by Commandant Fleurier after I chose to stay on in Noumea.’

  ‘You own a piece of land now.’

  ‘Come over to this corner and look at the place where the house will be standing. I have already found several men who will start to build it in the next week. They wish to begin work now, as their skills will be required in late April for the School of Saint Joan. We have already drawn up the plans.’

 
Jacques unrolled a large paper and placed the drawing in Clotilde’s hands. ‘You can see from this plan where the different rooms will be positioned. Walk with me as I show the house to you.’

  ‘You’ve even planned your house already. I am so excited at what you have achieved.’

  ‘This is the space for the front veranda and entrance. Right here outside the veranda I’ll plant two large flower beds, filled with bright colours. There will be a sitting room and dining room right here, next is a wash room, then three bedrooms branch out from a hallway. Finally the semi-detached kitchen is located at the back.’ Taking her hand he drew her forward.

  ‘Come along, for just outside where I stand now, will be a large covered veranda where another table and chairs can accommodate friends and become a second working space.’

  ‘And where will your garden be?’

  ‘The kitchen and vegetable garden will lie in the corner over here, to capture the sun during the entire day. And in this furthest corner I will build a shed, at some future time, to house my seed bank collection that I am planning. There is such interest in the flora and foliage of this new colony that I’m setting up a program. I’ll offer botanical materials to the National Horticultural Society in Paris. I hope one day to import new plants from the surrounding islands as well and prepare these for future collections in France. My work is well cut out for me now. What do you think of all this, Clotilde?’

  ‘I’m completely speechless. What a wonderful future you have planned for yourself.’

  ‘This is not only for me, but for us. I have something important I want to ask you and now the time has come.’ He cleared his throat then began to speak slowly, never taking his eyes off her. ‘Clotilde, I’m asking you to marry me. I love you alone and have loved you since the first day I met you, in the school garden. Make me the happiest man alive by saying, yes, to me.’

  Clotilde was shocked and delighted as she felt waves of joy flood over her. He loves me, she thought. And I love him too.

  ‘Oh, Jacques, yes, my answer is, yes. I love you so much. Yes, I will marry you.’

  With that he swept her into the air and whirled her around. Then bringing her back to earth again he took her gently into his arms and kissed her, again and again. When they finally caught their breath and faced one another a loud cheering and clapping was heard. Behind them the builders had arrived unnoticed and were celebrating with both of them.

  ‘Congratulations and bonne chance to you both,’ they cried out.

  Jacques laughingly replied, ‘Now everyone on Nouvelle-Caledonie will know the news about us, Clotilde,’ and he kissed her again. And so it was decided then and there. They would marry and build their life together, here on this beautiful piece of land in Noumea.

  The following months disappeared into a blur of activity. In early February, Clotilde and Jacques spoke with Father Gilbert and asked him to marry them. Together they selected the date for their wedding, to be on the first Saturday after Easter Sunday. Once that was settled, the business of house building and furnishing was uppermost in both their minds. Every Saturday afternoon Clotilde and Jacques walked to their land to inspect the progress of their new home. First the wooden flooring was laid, sanded, sealed and then the framing of the house began. There was an abundance of timber nearby and two sawmills had now begun working, so a constant flow of timber was always available. By the end of February the shingled roof was finished, the walls were up and the exterior timber cladding had begun. Soon the windows were framed and glass windows hung and in mid-March the inner walls and doors were nearly completed.

  ‘At the rate the men are working our house will be finished about three weeks before we are married,’ Jacques told her excitedly. ‘Next Saturday we can both walk through our new home for the first time.’

  ‘I can hardly wait to actually move through the different rooms and begin to plan what we will need to get started,’ Clotilde replied. ‘We should have our kitchen and dining room furnished as well as our bedroom. The rest can wait until later and be set up bit by bit. There is so much I will have to do, as well as teach.’

  ‘I agree with you. As we will be living at home by then only the essentials should be ready for us. You will be leaving your room behind the school and I’ll finally say farewell to my cramped garden shed.’

  ‘Vivienne has told me that we may still take vegetables from the garden behind the school until our own garden can feed us. Everything should work out very well for us, but we won’t have a minute to spare.’

  A large warehouse and storage space had been built at the end of the third business street during the previous year. Many household items brought over on the supply ships, found their way there. Settlers could purchase home wares: bedding, crockery, cutlery and cooking items to set up housekeeping. These were available on credit for families beginning their lives in Noumea. Jacques’ wages were spent primarily on paying the builders. Clotilde’s extra wages were used to purchase a new bed, dresser, a large table and four chairs. Her kitchen goods and furnishings were bought on credit, to be paid for over time. Jacques bought himself a new suit and shirt to wear for the wedding while Clotilde had her beautiful wedding dress and veil safely stored in the trousseau.

  At last the house was finished. They hired a horse cart and together collected the furnishings for their home. Two of the builders offered an hour of their free time to help Jacques transport the heavy items. Blandine presented the couple with a large braided rug she and several women had made. This would be placed in the sitting room. A smaller rug found a space next to the bed. Piece by piece their furniture was carried into the new home and set in place under Clotilde’s direction. Kerosene lamps and candles were brought out for their use at night. She and Yvonne packed dishes and cutlery into a large kitchen cupboard, together with a few cooking pots and utensils. Lastly the bed was made and a dresser with six large drawers and a framed mirror completed their bedroom furnishings. Across a corner, a pole was placed for their hanging space and a low shelf below this held their shoes. Finally the new house was ready for Clotilde and Jacques to occupy after the wedding. Both of them could catch their breath now and attend to their everyday work.

  XIII

  ‘CLOTILDE. Have you a minute to spend with me?’

  ‘Come in. What can I do for you, Henriette?’

  ‘First let me congratulate you on your coming wedding. Madame LeBlanc told me this wonderful news and everyone is so happy for you both. I’ve just spoken with Vivienne who mentioned that this school will be closing at the end of the year. I asked her if there were any sets of watercolours available and if so, could I have one. She was in agreement.’

  ‘I have several of these just sitting in the storeroom because I don’t use them with my botanical art classes. I can even give you two sets if you’d like, with an extra brush for each.’

  ‘I’m really grateful for this and in exchange I’d like to offer you two more lessons. I will meet you on Wednesdays after school.’

  ‘Henriette, have you time now to take a quick look at these two drawings. I feel confident about layering and blending several colours.’

  ‘Clotilde, these are beautiful. You have become so skilful at working with soft pastels. One day you could become a genuine botanical illustrator.’

  ‘There is one final technique I need to acquire. I can’t use a pastel to add a detail or do fine shading, as the line is too coarse.’

  ‘What you want for fine work is a hard pastel pencil. You can sharpen this and get a very delicate line that can be left as it is, or blended in. I have several of these pencils in brown, dark green and a deep red colour. You can have two of each in exchange for the painting sets. Never use black as it creates too high a contrast. Brown is more subtle.’

  ‘I’ll take up your offer of two classes as I may have an occasion to use my botanical drawing skills with Jacques’ future work. We’ll visit the store room now to collect your water colour sets and brushes. Near the end of the year ma
ny items will have to be moved to the new School of Saint Joan. I’ve been told to take another full box of pastels and a good supply of drawing paper for myself and I plan to do just that. Oh, Henriette, my life will change completely after this year is over. I’m looking forward so much to my marriage and to a happy future with Jacques.’

  ‘You will both have a wonderful life together,’ Henriette replied, putting her arms around Clotilde and hugging her.

  At last, Easter Sunday arrived. During the week before the wedding, Clotilde was free from teaching as all school children celebrated an Easter holiday. They would not be returning again for two full weeks. She and Yvonne put the final touches to the new home, bringing in food supplies and their clothing. All was in readiness for the newlyweds.

  The nuptial mass would be celebrated on Saturday morning. All the invitations had been sent and Clotilde envisaged a very full church. On Friday afternoon she took her wedding dress and veil out of the trousseau, shook out a few wrinkles and hung the dress on a satin padded hanger. This, together with a small bottle of scented hair wash, was a surprise gift from Madame LeBlanc. She filled a bath and washed her hair, drying it in the sun and brushing it until it shone. Tomorrow morning Blandine and Yvonne would arrive to dress her hair and help her into her gown and veil. All three of them would walk to the church where Jacques would meet her at the church door and present her with the wedding bouquet. He wanted to arrange this himself and would select only the most beautiful seasonal flowers. She wouldn’t sleep well tonight as her excitement grew by the minute.