In the Eye of a Storm Read Online Free PDF Page B

never have to carry a message like this ever again,’ he
whispered to himself as he mounted his horse and left Montmorency. ‘I can’t
bear to see Laneve suffer so much. She is far too precious to me now.’
    Can the passing of time ever fully heal a deep open wound? Laneve
recovered very slowly from the loss of her beloved husband. Small pieces of
news reached now and again about the ongoing arrests and beheadings. It seemed
that Madame la Guillotine had an insatiable appetite for royalist blood.
    Laneve often wondered if now she and Malande should also think of
leaving France. But where would they go – to London, Berlin or even to Prague?
Perhaps the time is not right yet to leave. We will wait a bit longer.
    Finally in September, Viotti paid her a long overdue visit. He arrived
looking very tired and worn as his coach had taken the longer, safer route on
the back country roads.
     ‘Laneve, you must read this pamphlet that has just been published
by the royalist gazetteer, Gautier. We have both been viciously attacked in his
publication, Journal de la Cour et de la Ville. He then read aloud to
her:
     
    ‘This shifty Viotti, a Jacobin violinist and music director of the
Theatre de Monsieur has for his Penelope - a woman named Laneve de Marais, a
disgraceful harpsichordist. She marvelously seconds the anger of this reptile
as he gazes shamelessly at her breast. She hires him with her comical credit to
flood the theatre with trite pieces and will end up by playing these pieces
herself if she hasn’t already done so.’
     
    Both Laneve and Viotti were furious when they heard Gautier’s
slanderous words. ‘I have made a difficult decision and have come to tell you
that my music and belongings have all been packed and sent on ahead. I will
continue from here to London,’ Viotti told her.
    ‘I dare not stay any longer in Paris. The opera which I direct has
closed down completely and my services are not needed in this mad city. I
wanted to speak once more to you, as you have been my friend, my lily of
inspiration and a magnificent musical partner. I will always treasure the
memories of the many concerts we played together. These have given me some of
the happiest moments of my life.’
    ‘Oh, Giovanni, stay here tonight for a farewell dinner with me, then
rest and you can continue on safely before dawn tomorrow morning.’
    ‘I have my violin with me and we will allow ourselves one final chamber
music performance after our dinner. I will retire early and be off before you
rise in the morning. You must promise me one thing only – that you too will
begin your preparations for departure. After this damned pamphlet, neither of
us will ever be completely safe again.’
    And so they spent their final moments together in joyful friendship,
filling the chateau with their beautiful music for the very last time.
    After Viotti had departed, Laneve called Malande to her. ‘We must begin
our plans now to leave France together. But before we can do this I have
something to show you.’
    On her bed Laneve had placed several pieces of valuable jewellery: the
three stranded pearl necklace Mama had given her before her death, a diamond
necklace, bracelet and earrings, (her wedding gift from Rene), three smaller
pins encrusted with gemstones, several unset gems and a number of small gold
ingots.
    ‘I will place these in a strongbox, it will be locked and each of us
will keep a key. If I’m arrested you must hide this box in a safe place until I
return. You may not go with me to prison and this is an order, as I need you to
remain here at the chateau. If we are able to escape together before I’m taken,
we will dress as common women, slip away in a plain coach, and sew these jewels
into our clothing before we leave.
    Tomorrow we begin to make these plans to be away this coming Sunday.
Tell no one, Malande. Your lips are now sealed.’
    ‘Yes, I will do exactly as you have told me.’
    The next day Laneve received a scribbled