July 26th, 1783

Happily the wedding day has come and gone, and today the last of the wedding guests has departed. The music, the laughter, the happiness were all, indeed, complete, and even the sour disposition of Maman's husband could not spoil it utterly.

I am saddened at Christine's journey north to her own impending nuptials in Sweden, as we cannot know when we shall see each other again; but we will not be bereft of company for long as the Marquis de Menars and his new wife, dear Clementine, will be joining us at Saint-Saturnin in a few weeks.

We ourselves travel south to that happy place in two days where I shall have to ask after little Hercule, the son of my former maid, Pauline. I cannot imagine how he has grown. Perhaps soon I may hope to have a son of my own. For now I fill my time with preparations for travel, the paying of my remaining debts in Paris, and plans for either renovating Portaberaud or building a new home for my dear Mercoeur. We have not settled on a name for this dream chateau, but then it is not certain of what Thierry's income will consist, for he cannot go back to the Ferme now that he is enobled; and yet the title does not carry with it a benefice. Perhaps our friend, Msr. Poisson, can be of some assistance here. We have invited him to visit us as well, but it is unlikely that he will accept the invitation as he rarely leaves Paris.

I must cease daydreaming and attend to the demands of the day. There is much for which I am grateful, and much to which we may look forward.

Olympe, Marquise de Mercoeur et Comtesse d'Auvergne