Another two months passed with little progress. Jacqueline continued to see the food prices rise a lot more. And of whispers in the streets about a movement, the first was the price of grain, and the second was about what they discussed in the estates general. And of course, of their representatives too,

She took a seat, careful to travel not too much in style. They were wealthy, but they only had enough wealth to qualify. She had simplified it much. Godefroy had little time for it, as he attended meeting after meeting, getting more and more frustrated.

“If it’s fine, I’ll like to continue with contributing for alms.” She smiled, as she had always done so, but now so more often. Besides, it would help.

“Then I thank you, Madame, for your contribution.” The priest had smiled, taking the chest filled with coins, as they would then distribute it.

She was faithful, for that was one thing that would never hurt her, and charity helped her to feel important. Politics was a man’s domain, but philanthropy could be hers. Women were wealthy patrons of the arts, patrons of churches and of the poor. That was how they showed their taste. But she preferred to do this.

Then, the priest had left to return her contribution.

Then, her father, Leandre Morel, visited her at her house in the mornings and afternoon, treasuring them more often, as he rarely saw her after her marriage. Now that she was in Sarponne, he had all intentions of visiting as much as he could.

Sometimes, it was just her and they often just ate lunch and not talk about anything. After having either Percival or Godefroy meant the conversation would turn into an almost argument.

They took a lot of them together, and preferring to talk about other matters. Such as the family, the poor, and, of course, inevitably the situation came.

“It’s a good idea, although it may not do much, but it’s better than nothing.” Leandre agreed.

“It’s how I’ve always done things, and I felt adequate when I gave out alms. I did not learn how to dance, sing or entertain well; but I knew how to balance books and be a delightful hostess. Above all, I pitied them. With some money, I decided it was time to help and improve his presence. His mother agreed.”

“Marie agreed?” He gave a smile, remembering the woman that he was in laws with. She was far from pleasant. A noble and proud woman, who had been far from amiable, and never taught her the ways she would expect as a noble. “It’s been such a long time. I forget that you’ve been married for ten years. It seems only yesterday that I just gave you away.”

Her father concurred. “There is news, my colleague the Monsieur Lauper. But he was the only one who the city actually liked.”

Then, a courier came inside. “Madame, the city rioted for the dismissal. Seigneur would come home later, perhaps when it died down.”

“What did they take?”

“A public building filled with firearms, and they’re going to the famous prison.”

Godefroy had told her about the prison, how it only kept the noble prisoners without ever needing more than an order from the King and signed by his secretary. They could seize anyone and hold them without trial, and with no chance of repealing it.

A woman could only hope for a convent, as her confinement for nuns made much gentler guards than any of the prisons. Thirty prisons, but the symbol had been the fortress, or rather the Fortress of Saint Cloud.

But they always lived in fear of it being used, and why so many toed the line. If they were rebellious, they might face it being levied down upon them. But heads of noble families often used it to discipline sons for their misconduct without compromising the honour of the family or sometimes against excessive spending as they kept everything a secret other than it being on the orders of the King.

There was a famous prisoner, that she knew, who had been taken in by his own mother-in-law so that he would no longer disrespect the family. It’s been twelve years.

She had learned it, for it may become of use to her.

“And they did a successful job.”

She wanted to see it. She peeked outside; the people filled the streets, hearing the news and eager to see the display; men proud of showing a bloody head on display about their triumph. Staring at it had made her pale, but she had been to the birthing bed three times and blood was no stranger to her.

All of them there, with a bloody head on a pike.

“That is the governor,” Leandre said. “He didn’t deserve that fate, but with that crowd, it would be too long.”

But if she wasn’t hurling into a chamber pot by now, she would be fine. She would not throw up over this gruesome sight. But to say that she wasn’t disturbed would be wrong, but only her father knew her worry. But even he had a troubled look on his face.

“Pére, what do you think this means now?” She asked. She had to ask.

For the first time in her life, she saw her father pause. Then he continued. “With that, even I have a hard time imagining what the future might bring. I assumed the dismissal might bring outrage, but this choice changes everything. For in the future, the people of Sarponne would march and change anything to their favour.”

“I remembered that the National Assembly demanded for feudalism to be abolished, will they get there now?” She asked. It was a prickly topic. Her husband had been against it. But they would welcome it as it removed taxes from them.

She had some happiness for them, and believed that the nobles could pay taxes and still keep their wealth, privilege, and status. But her husband and his family did not and stubbornly held onto any of their rights as much as they pleased.

She had said little, other than to follow what her husband’s opinions were, but it was a shield, for she had little to think about it.

“They will get that soon, otherwise any who oppose may end up being a head on display. And that threat would get most to sign anything you wish except their death warrants.”

It was not a declaration to be taken lightly, for they had already done so once they could do it again. She stared, watching as the promise of a predictable future staring away, as they showed the bloody head to more and more people.

Now aware of the power they wield to change the tide of events, and next time, they would not forget it. But she heard the chants, too. They were demanding the abolishment of feudalism.