luciledesmoullins

[luciledesmoullins]

@simplicemoulins

                          ––   The worn edges of the letter resting between Lucile’s fingertips began to fray as she waltzed through the circuitous corridors of the Desmoulin’s l’Odéon residence, her light footfalls leading her into the dimly-lit sty her husband called ‘office’. Curiosity flowed freely through the Frenchwoman’s veins, as was evident in the torn scarlet seal adorning the epistle, and she frittered little time in presenting it to Camille. The address of origin intrigued her, having identified it immediately as a royal residence she could not bring herself to set it aside, nor could she very well open it alone. “ A moment of your time, mon chéri. I do believe this will be of interest to you. ” Lucile presented the missive, blue eyes swimming with thinly veiled interest all the while as she gazed upon Camille’s handsome visage. “ A letter from the palace. Have they finally summoned up the courage to issue a cease and desist, or are we summoned to attend a ball? ”

[luciledesmoullins]

Annabelle attending the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London on November 18 2018

[luciledesmoullins]

                 * / a sword or a pen is drawn by FRANÇOISE-ATHÉNAÏS ( lucille )DESMOULINS, the journalist & revolutionary of the Jacobins. they are twenty-four years old and resemble ANNABELLE WALLIS. their name draws whispers of being quite headstrong & intrepid, though too often boastful & high-handed. they would rather die than see the monarchy continue to wield its influence. — { claudia, 20+, est, she/her }

Lucile Françoise-Athénaïs Laridon-Duplessis was born the youngest daughter of an official of the French treasury in Paris, France. Little is known of her upbringing other than she seemed to have enjoyed a comparatively happy childhood and wanted for naught. Her father’s occupation as a wealthy financier allowed Lucile to relish in luxury and sumptuousness, and placed her in a position of advocacy alongside her elder sister, Adèle Duplessis. Tragedy blighted the family when, following a lengthy betrothal, Adéle flew the coup and left the family home only to nurse her new husband through a bout of consumption. Adéle was widowed within a year, and upon her return to Paris she entertained a brief engagement to Maximilien Robespierre. However, due to a heated exchange of opinions between Robespierre and the girls’ father the betrothal swiftly drew to a close. Following this, Lucile herself forged a strong friendship with Robespierre that would later gather impetus upon her marriage to revolutionary journalist Camille Desmoulins.

Through her copious and highly romantic journals, we know that Lucile was an imaginative, highly strung, mutinous girl who delighted in throwing her family into uproar by falling in love with one of her mother’s most ardent admirers, Camille Desmoulins, a journalist ten years her senior who struggled financially and wore a reputation for philandering like a badge of honour. This will remain true in my portrayal of Lucile, although her focus on romance will be lessened in order to pave a path for her political aspirations. 

Despite her father’s initial refusal when Camille asked for her hand in marriage, they eventually received consent to be united and were duly married on Christmas Eve at Saint Sulpice in Paris with the groom’s compatriot, Robespierre, as a witness. Lucile was twenty at the time and delighted in her status as a revolutionary’s wife. She has taken a great interest in her husband’s craft and has taken to writing herself, occasionally pressing for her epistles to be publicized under the pseudonym François, the masculine form of her Christian name. The couple now resides in the Cordeliers district of Paris and live quite lavishly thanks to Lucile’s impressive dowry; they are childless and happily so. 

Lucile’s personality will be developed further as I delve deeper into her character, as I mentioned previously little is known of both her early life and disposition other than what historians have been able to glean from numerous accounts written by both herself and her contemporaries – that is to say witty, coy, glamorous, intelligent, perceptive, and troublesome. This will remain true in my portrayal, perhaps to a greater degree than what was true in her actual life, and she will certainly be more involved in politics than she was in her lifetime! Anything else, feel free to enquire within! x