Free The Trousseau by Mary Mageau Page A

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.’
    â€˜You own a piece of land now.’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜You’ve even planned your house already. I am so excited at what you have achieved.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜And where will your garden be?’
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜I’m completely speechless. What a wonderful future you have planned for yourself.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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