Dear Monsieur Auzenne,

It has come to my attention that your household occupies two daughters who are of age. As a man of wealth with an appreciation for beauty I would be so bold as to ask as for their current marital status. Knowing of your noble sacrifices during the Franco-Prussian War, I took particular interest in your family and your no doubt noble and virtuous daughters.

You may have heard about my work in architecture, rebuilding and upgrading some of the finest buildings in France. I can assure you that currently I am in an advanced financial situation and would be more than capable of providing to your daughter's every whim. As a man without a next of kin to leave my legacy to I am sure you understand my urgent need for a wife.

I look forward to hearing you reply.

Yours Sincerely,

Erik Destler

Dear Monsieur Destler,

My family were graced to hear of your interests in wedding one of my daughters, they are after all our greatest treasures and achievements in life; and achievements of which we have many. They are both yet to be wed. However God is not on our side at the moment. You mentioned your admiration for our valiant efforts and contributions during war time- I am sure you are aware that we lost.

I am afraid Monsieur, that we are in debt now to the Germans and it is mostly my money that has been drained to pay for collateral damage our country caused during such a war. It is a grievous time indeed. Of course, if Monsieur was able to lend 100,000 francs for our 200,000 franc debt then I would have no choice but to give you one of my daughters hands for your immeasurable kindness.

Yours Sincerely

Rene Auzenne

News passed quickly in the Auzenne household. All it took was one of the gossiping Chamber-Maids to 'accidentally' pry open the letter with a sharp letter opener and 'accidentally' read it aloud to all the other servants in the household. Then when that news reached the ears of Madame Auzenne, her two daughters and her three sons- Monsieur Auzenne was not the most popular.

The family sat around the dinner table in silence. People picked at their food, sending each other awkward looks as their father and head of the family (Rene Auzenne) tucked in joyously. "Why are you all not eating your food?" The man laughed, patting his eldest and recently widowed son Maurice on the back. The man shot him a look with his intense cold, blue stare. It was then that the man was able to read the room.

"Ah, so you all have heard." He sighed and reclined in his chair somewhat as the attention of the entire family settled on him. Rene was not a man to be desired. The belief that something only gets better with age seems only to apply to wine in his case; for this man was plump, round and fashioned a short scraggy beard that contained a mix of: white, blonde and grey wiry hairs. He was aged significantly. Though his beard hid most of the wrinkles on his face, he still had to squint past his bushy eyebrows and through his narrow spectacles just to gaze upon the inevitably disappointed faces of his family.

Deciding that he'd rather not see their disappointed faces- he removed his spectacles and took a deep breath. "I know that it is not ideal-" Almost as if she was waiting for him to explain himself, his beautiful wife Rosalina chirped up and interrupted him.

"Not ideal!" The woman was usually so delicate, with her thick flowing blonde hair- so white, almost as if it were snow. With skin like porcelain and eyes like honey she was everything a man could wish for. Not to mention her smile, so warm, so motherly- and you would expect it for someone who gave birth to no less than five children. But the ideal wife and domestic Goddess was gone. "You are practically selling off one of our daughters as if she were some sort of-of-of common slave!" The man put a hand to his face and sighed deeply.

"Oh for God sakes Rosalina- do not be so dramatic. The man has money and the means to pay off our debts so we can keep up our current lifestyle." That's when the youngest of all the Auzenne children, Tristan slammed a hand against the table and laughed.

"Keeping up our current lifestyle! You cut off all of my money and insist I stay in this boring house. I am not a woman you know! I have needs!" For the youngest, he was certainly the tallest and most handsome of his brothers. He had the classic Prince Charming look, tall, dark haired, with a chiseled jaw line and deep green eyes that women just swooned for. But he was certainly the brattiest.

"Excuse me." A small voice poked up from the other end of the table, "It isn't a woman's choice that she stays stuck inside the house. It is piggish men like you who shackle them to the domestic lifestyle you deem them only capable of." She sat up from her slumped position in the chair. "Besides, your 'needs' are only ever satisfied by costly women of the night. You deserve to be cut off for your piggish ignorance." Elise gave big talk for a small girl. The family looked at her and sighed- she was always a strange and difficult child. Constantly bringing in this 'feminism' that she read about in books.

"Father," Another one of the Auzenne daughters, Angeline tried to deter them from questioning and pestering her strange sister. "if one of us is to be married, is it me or Elise?" Angeline was a sweet girl, she looked the spitting image of her mother. Except her cheeks were chubbier and rosier and her eyes were big, bold and had that same honey glaze. There was a certain playfulness in her smile that Elise loved so very much. But it was gone now.

"You are the eldest my child, besides," He cast a curious look down the table to Elise- she always sat so far away. "I don't think Elise is ready for marriage yet." Everyone always considered Elise to be quite... strange. She had little customs and habits that one would consider silly or weird in a Lady. Yet her beauty showed no bounds.

There was a sadness in Angeline's expression when her father said that. Almost like she were a wounded animal. It upset Elise to see her sister so... Well upset. Because no one in that room really knew what was going on, they would least expect Elise to know- but she did.

Dear Monsieur Auzenne,

As a businessman I understand your financial pain. Your loyalty to France even now inspires me and drives myself to become a better man. I would of course love to help you out. But 100,000 francs Monsieur is to little- I will give you the 200,000 francs that you need to make yourself and your family comfortable. This is if you agree to never pay me back this sum.

Send your most beautiful daughter to me, if we are wed in three days from the time you receive this letter then I will give you all the money you require. Only allow close friends and family of the bride to attend as I only want it to be a small service, the church we are to be using is phenomenally splendid and expensive but only houses a few. Only the best for my bride to be.

Yours Sincerely

Erik Destler

The Auzenne household was all a buzz for the next day or two. The servants were excited to be fitting Angeline for her dress and preparing food for after the ceremony- for the guests only of course. The schedule was busy and with Rene Auzenne in Paris organising business ventures with his new-found wealth- it left all the preparations up to Rosalina and Elise. Secretly, their mother Rosalina was proud of her daughter for finally getting married. But Angeline was not.

Elise had watched from her window each time Angeline had met up with the young Count in the Estate but only a miles reach from their home. In their rose garden, they would meet. Angeline's face lit up how Mother's face used to light up when she saw their father. And his in turn would do the same. It was young love- as fresh and pure as it could be.

It was such a romantic setting. Far off from the house, secluded and lit only by the lantern he would bring with him. Bushes surrounded them- closing them off from the world and making them isolated. Not that they needed it, simply being around each other the rest of the world seemed to collapse away. Roses coiled around the bushes near the grass where they sat. Vibrant reds and yellows that stood out from the lush greenery that below and around them.

Although Elise could never hear them talking as they lay down in the grass and stared up at the stars- she could imagine them whispering sweet nothings to each other and teasing at the prospect of marriage. Once, she had even see the young, dashing Count with the shockingly red hair get down on one knee. There was no ring. Yet still Elise could see that look in her sisters honey eyes. She loved him.

That night, as Angeline met up with the young Count in the garden there was no light in her eyes. In fact, that light disappeared down her cheek with the tear that fell from it. The Count cried too. He got down on his knee again, this time not for a proposal- this time he was begging and shouting. When they eventually calmed, they sat and talked for what must have been hours on end. Perhaps flirting with the idea of escape. It had to end eventually though- so with one chaste kiss the Count went his way, and Angeline came back.

Elise sat on her bed. She knew that she wasn't much to this family, if anything she was quite the hinderance. Always getting ill and costing them money, humiliating them at public events. If there was anything she could ever do to this family that was useful- it was this. So she picked up her pen and began writing.

Dear Erik Destler,

I know this is quite out of the ordinary, but my Father refuses us contact with you until the day of the wedding- which I think is frankly idiotic. But I digress. My family had arranged for you to marry my sister, Angeline. However she would make you a horrible bride. She's small and stumpy, bulges in all the wrong places and has a rather disgustingly pungent odor about her. Not to even mention the oily skin and that little growth she has on the end of her nose that looks like it could be growing another person entirely. So unless you are into a woman who looks more a monster than woman, you will have to marry me.

Of course, for this exchange I do have some requests. Firstly, I would like an unlimited supply of paints in an array of textures. Do not deny me of this, I know full well you have the money and you are an architect in needs of varying colour and textured paints. Secondly, whilst as your wife I would be willing to share a bed with you I would require my own working space. If you are indeed as rich as you claim to be I expect my own private study of sorts dedicated to painting and music. The last is an easy request and that is permission as an independent woman to wear whatever I please. These demands are non-negotiable and should you decline then I will refuse to marry you. That would leave you with the option of marrying my terrifying sister.

The choice is yours.

Elise Auzenne

Of course her family were mad when they found out the extent to which she stretched the truth and demanded for things. Her father of most was angry and returned immediately to their home. In the end she was yelled at and reprimanded and told to write a letter of apology. But being able to watch Angeline and the Count in each others arms again, with that glint in their eyes was worth any punishment.

Dear Elise Auzenne,

Your sister sounds terrible, however I am sure you are over exaggerating the extent of her foulness. However I admire your ambition and drive to obtain what you need- whilst your terms were put across rather rashly I am prepared to put it down to excitement or a spur of the moment action. I agree to your conditions and look forward to seeing you at the altar in but a days time.

Yours Sincerely

Erik