Fall 1632-1636

She turned up at their doorsteps one summer morning, when the children were still asleep and Binet had just left. So Alanete welcomed her and because the young woman was looking for work she immediately offered to hire her as a handmaid. After all, looking after two small children while also taking care of your husband's affairs was anything but easy and taking somebody into service had been Alanete's  want for a couple of months already. Thus and so the young peasant girl was perfect. Her name was Albine and she came from a nearby village. Alanete didn't suspect a thing.

And so, Albine's new life began, far from her old family. Dressed like any other young girl serving in a worthy house, the new maid quickly adapted to what life in Paris meant. Except that she wasn't exactly a young girl and the advocate whose servant she became was no stranger for her. Fortunately for her, nobody, not even the advocate himself, seemed to notice her resemblance with the gypsy woman that was the mother of the girl a young merchant's son used to love more than ten years ago.

Her secret safe from everybody around her, Albine continued to work, taking care of the two small children, cleaning the house and cooking for the Boucher family, like that had been her plan from the very beginning.

Of course, nobody connected her presence with her master's recent sleepless nights.

Two days after her arrival, Binet's nightmare begun. It wasn't the fact that he was getting close to no sleep that really bothered him. It was the fact that every time he closed his eyes, he saw her ; heard her voice calling for him ; saw her hip gently swaying every time she bent to pick up one of the children, her thigh so carelessly uncovered every time she prepared for bed. It soon became an obsession, watching her almost every minute he spent awake.

It went like this for three more years, with him continuing to secretly watch her, with her continuing to pretend not to notice. Until one night, coming home late, with his wife and children asleep, Binet dared to open the door to Albine's room and she dared to open her eyes, letting him slip under the sheets beside her.

Six months later he woke up one morning only to learn that she was gone.

Ninon de l'Enclos

Name: Anne Martine Boucher
Nom de plume: Ninon de l'Enclos
Born: 1605
Traits: Intelligent, Ambitious, Charismatic, Charming, Confident, Creative, Cultured, Daring, Graceful
Romantic History: Unknown
Husband: Nicolas Merlot
Parents: Binet Boucher and Gervaise Boucher
Aspiration: Pleasure
Character Alignment: Neutral
Class: Courtesan

"Feminine virtue is nothing but a convenient masculine invention."

Born Anne Martine Boucher in Charonne, she was nicknamed Ninon by her father at an early age. She grew up in a tug of war between the religiosity of her mother, and the free-wheeling attitudes of her father. It was easy to see which parent would win out, although Martine loved both her parents.
From an early age, Martine was determined to remain independent and unmarried, even if her decision ruined her parents' plans for her future.
When she was 12, Martine declared to her father that she was no longer a girl, but a boy. Amused, her father had his tailor make her an outfit consisting of breeches, doublet, and boots, taking her out riding in the park dressed in her new garb. He also educated her like a boy, teaching her history, philosophy and lute playing.
Despite her mother's best efforts to turn her into a god-fearing pious woman, she was determined to live a life of pleasure, both physically and mentally.
A few years after her mother's death, she had to come at a decision about what she wanted to do with her life: either to marry or enter a convent. To her horror, her father decided for her and she found herself married to an ignorant bourgeois man whom she came to hate after only two years of marriage. Not even the birth of their two children could save Martine's marriage, so, one summer morning, one hour before sunrise, Martine left her family and made her way to Paris, where she arrived one day later.
Fortunately, she went to her older brother's house, where she met with his wife, Alanete. The young woman understood Martine's choice and decided to help her, by introducing her sister-in-law to an old friend whom she knew back from the years spent in Convent.
Only one year later, Anne Martine Boucher, known as Ninon de l'Enclos, became one of Paris' most famous courtesans and patron of the arts.

Children
Gaubert Merlot (1629)
Victor Merlot (1630)

This character's profile is based on the informations about Ninon de l'Enclos.

Binet Boucher

Name: Binet Boucher
Born: 1601
Traits: Unfocused, Good, Clumsy, Unmotivated, Patient, Affectionate, Caring
Romantic History: Ysane Benoit (Love Affair), Albine Benoit (Love Affair)
Wife: Alanete de Peyrac
Parents: Binet Boucher and Gervaise Boucher
Aspiration:
Character Alignment: Good
Class: Bourgeoisie (Advocate)

From early childhood, Binet knew that as his father's oldest son, everyone had high expectations from him. And he never ceased to satisfy those expectations. He went to school, helped his parents with their trades and looked for his younger siblings.
Of course, the fact that he learned how to write and compute didn't transform the young boy into a genius or an intellectual and he knew that all too well. Despite fulfilling everyone's expectations, Binet never considered what he really wanted from his life.
His affair with Ysane, a poor girl from their village proved to be his way of evading from the adults' complicate world.
Unfortunately for both of them, sooner or later, Binet had to face his responsibilities, leave the village and go to school in Paris. His parents had other plans for him and soon, the young man became an advocate, married with a nobleman's bastard slip.

Children
Houguette Benoit (1622-1624 ; love-child, born from an affair with Ysane Benoit  )
Géraldine Benoit (1628 ; love-child, born from an affair with Ysane Benoit )
Gérald Benoit (1628 ; love-child, born from an affair with Ysane Benoit )
Amelie Boucher (1630)
Vincent Boucher (1633)

Alanete de Peyrac

Name: Alanete Boucher (née de Peyrac)
Born: 1612
Traits: Calm, Candid, Capable, Responsible, Caustic, Competent, Cultured
Romantic History: None
Husband: Binet Boucher
Parents: Joffrey de Peyrac de Morens d'Irristru and Symonne de Peyrac
Aspiration: Family
Character Alignment: Good
Class: Bourgeoisie (born as the illegitimate daughter of a Count)

Even if her mother died when she was very young and she was raised by her father's wife, Alanete never blamed anybody for the unfortunate death. Nor for her father's marriage, because Alesia always considered her and Caroline her own children.So Alanete grew up and became a dutiful daughter and when the moment for her to get married came, she accepted the first proposal.
Being her father's illegitimate daughter, she already knew that she will never enjoy the same privileges Alesia's daughter will grow accustomed to, so she convinced her father to arrange her marriage with the oldest son from a bourgeois family who wanted to work as an advocate in Paris.
With the money from her dowry, her husband's family bought a house somewhere in Faubourg Saint-Honoré and the two newlyweds soon found themselves on their own.
Her husband proves to be a capable advocate and in their first year he managed to acquire a vast clientele, while Alanete learned how to take care of the house and children, while she secretly also concerned herself about her their family's finances.Thanks to her, their first years in the city increased their capital.

Children
Amelie Boucher (1630)
Vincent Boucher (1633)

Lorence Boucher Dupuis

Name: Lorence Boucher
Born: 1603
Traits: Negligent, Loquacious, Lively, Hospitable, Obstinate
Romantic History: None
Husband: Junien Dupuis
Parents: Binet Boucher and Gervaise Boucher
Aspiration: Knowledge
Character Alignment: Neutral
Class: Middle Bourgeoisie

Rarely have two husbands been so suited to each other as Lorence and her husband, Junien.
When their parents arranged their marriage in 1620, the two of them simply accepted.They already knew each other, practically being raised together.Getting married and merging the two families' wealth was the most logical thing to do.
Even if at the beginning, life in Paris was quite challenging, in a couple of years the two of them managed to adjust and own a flourishing tavern and a well-sited house.
Now Lorence loves meeting people and organizing feasts for florists and musketeers.

Children
Gustave Dupuis (1621)
Gabriel Dupuis (1622-1625)
Herbert Dupuis (1623)
Lucien Dupuis (1624)

Fall 1600-1604

Binet, leaving for a few weeks.As a merchant, he travels a lot.

Gervaise, expecting her first child.

Gervaise with her first-born-son, Binet.He's a very healthy boy, although he doesn't seem too smart for his age.Even so, his parents are happy that he survived until now and, unlike many other families, they haven's lost any child.

Binet in his crib.

Gervaise, taking care of her daughter, Juliote.Unfortunately, few years from now on, her parents will discover the girl's poor mental health.

Gervaise with her other daughter, Lorence, a healthy baby girl.

The Boucher Family

Name: Binet Boucher
Born: 1577
Traits: Trustworthy, Hard working, Impatient, Ambitious, Bold, Reserved
Romantic History: None
Wife: Gervaise Boucher
Aspiration: Fortune
Character Alignment: Virtuous
Class: Merchant
Even if he married Gervaise only because she belonged to a very wealthy family, Binet tries to be a good husband and father.Being a merchant isn't exactly an easy thing, especially when you have to be away from home for days, but the money he earns provide the food for his growing family.

Name: Gervaise Boucher
Born: 1577
Died: 1623
Traits: Reserved, Quiet, Hard Working, Simple, Idealistic, Shy
Romantic History: None
Husband: Binet Boucher
Aspiration: Knowledge
Character Alignment: Evil
Class: Merchant

Gervaise comes from a wealthy family of merchant, so everyone was sure that she was going to marry someone above her station.When her parents received Binet's proposal of marriage they didn't even bothered to consider it, but it just seemed like their daughter had different plans.
She got pregnant with Binet's child so she had to marry him.Now she spends most of the time at home, taking care of their children and sewing dresses for noble ladies.



Children
Binet Boucher (1601)
Juliote Boucher (1602)
Lorence Boucher (1603)
Martine Boucher (1605)
Andry Boucher (1610)