French Kiss

By Dianna Diverno

A tragic, beautiful love story about Madam Victoria and her lovers

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dianna Diverno
• Release date: Jul 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781393294344

Book preview

FRENCH KISS

DIANNA DIVERNO

Tragic, dramatic novel, on the basis of which there is script and a theatre show. Dianna Diverno found herself in the role of the main character during theatre performances.

The character of Victoria Bouvier was so colourfully portrayed in this novel that it is considered as one of the best love novels of  Dianna Diverno.

Victoria Bouvier is a widow who mourns the death of her husband who was a pilot, Paul Bouvier. She is obsessed with Balenciaga dresses and cream de la cream of Paris. She has several unhappy loves behind her, and in the end it seems that she will find her peace next to the great Paris seducer. However on the night on their engagement she cannot stand the happiness in her life and decides to end her life in a tragic manner. Novel that will bring sorrow to you and make you cry at the very end.

"Strength of a woman that withstands any love

is something most worthy of admiration on earth"

(Stendhal, novel About love)

––––––––

FIRST CHAPTER- Madam Victoria Bouvier

Paris, 27th March 1966

Small drizzle was falling on red rooftops of houses in Val de Marne. The street was empty, the roadway was wet, only few cars passed along. The flower seller in the flower shop Jacqueline with hasty and swift moves brought the displayed flower inside the flower shop. The flower shop was located on the corner and was always very busy. The florist wore a white apron and a hat on his head.

-Bonjour, monsieur Rove! -yelled out madam Victoria Bouvier who walked by the store Jacqueline in fast steps and rushed toward her apartment. She wore a grey, old coat, high heels and instead of an umbrella, she covered her head with some newspapers that she found along the way, on a bench. 

-Bonjour, madam Bouvier! -said the seller, who gave no attention to her. For a moment he looked towards her. She was running across the street.

There was no time for their standard and customary, pleasant talk about Paris, weather and flowers.

Victoria Bouvier ran inside the building number 35, made from red brick with huge, massive, black doors at the entrance that squeaked when they were moving. She caught her breath when she was in the hallway. Despite the fact that she was running, she got wet. She placed the newspapers in the trash can, but first she quickly looked at the cover page where there was a picture of a politician Clément Jilmerie cutting a ribbon.

-Ah!-she exhaled and moved up the stairs.

Apartment with four bedrooms that she inherited from her husband Paul Bouvier, was located on the last floor of a four storey building, there was no elevator, and madam Victoria always said that it is ideal for maintaining a slim figure.

That afternoon she was at the cemetery. She visited the grave of her late husband and cried her eyes out. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. When she entered the apartment she was overwhelmed by a known scent that she used. She put away her coat on a hanger and took her shoes off.

Jacqueline Polac was in the living room and she was cleaning out the closet. Jacqueline was her maid since her marriage with Paul Bouvier. Jacqueline had long brown hair that was always tied in a thick braid, clean, pretty face, regular nose, and widely set apart brown eyes, bordered by lovely eyelashes. She wasn’t married. She had a long relationship, but her fiancé was, on business, located most of the year in Brussels.

-Ah, Jacqueline this rain is pouring! - said madam Bouvier when she entered. She took the band off and with quick, hasty, practiced moves she spread her beautiful, long, light brown hair. While walking she started to take her clothes off, and in her panties and bra, she walked to the closet from where she pulled her favourite white coloured house dress. She put it on and felt more relaxed. She turned to Jacqueline and smiled.

-That Clément cut the ribbon again!-she said it like a bolt from blue sky.

-What Clément?

-The politician, friend of our mayor-Victoria sat down on the bed.-I took one newspaper along the way and shielded myself with it from the rain. I saw the picture there-dreamy glare shined in her eyes. She lay down on the bed; she was feeling pain in her ankles.

-Are you alright madam?

-I am great

-You look tired and melancholy.

- I was at the cemetery. Every time I visit Paul’s grave I get sad. Women are like that, broken for the loss of a man that they loved, destroyed by the war that raged, devastated by the sorrow and loneliness- she stroked her hair.

-But don’t be sad, madam Bouvier- Jacqueline approached her. Apart from being her maid for many years, you could say that Jacqueline Polac is one of rare people that knew madam very well. They would often stay up until midnight by themselves in the living room, listening to chanson by Ives Montand from the movie Let’s make love and talk about loneliness, sorrow and love

-Remember the invitation that madam Valentina Boulogne gave to you.

-Yes!-madam Bouvier jumped in excitement.

- It will be great. I got some fantastic material that I took to Friedrich. I want a lovely dress with low-cut, which expands in a wide brim from the waist down. I saw it in a movie. Vivien Li wore that creation. It will be a big hit of the evening.

-Even more so when you put that necklace that Miss Dolores gave to you with the pendant you got from madam Rovigne.

- And lovely perfume from lilac!-she jumped with cheerful joy, characteristic for her. –Clément will be there.

Jacqueline raised her eyebrow.-Clément?

-I just mentioned him- madam smiled.-The one that cuts red ribbons.

-Mayor’s friend?

-Oh yes!-said madam, with a dreamy expression on her face.

-He is married with Josephine. She is an artist.

-I am not interested in Josephine-madam waved her hand- It will be ravissant, beautiful time for ball!

-You are a big dreamer- Jacqueline stood up. She started to pick up clothes that madam threw on the floor just moments ago.

-Play me some chanson-said madam.

Jacqueline walked up to a gramophone and played a song by Ives Montand. Those days madam Bouvier was inspired by that singer. Especially since she saw his movie Let’s make love, which he recorded with the deceased Marilyn Monroe. The music spread throughout the apartment like a nice lilac scent. Madam Bouvier came up to the window and looked towards the street. Falling of spring rain awoke some of her memories. Now she didn’t completely let herself go to her thoughts. She listened to the song and quietly sang along with it. When the song ended she turned to Jacqueline.

-Ives was fantastic in that movie with Marylyn! The end of the movie is wonderful.

-When he proposes in the elevator?

-A wonderful and universal place for proposal. You don’t know which floor you are at, and you are saying fateful yes. Just a moment ago I imagined myself and Clément in an elevator- she turned around.

-But madam, I have to remind you that you don’t know him, nor does he know you. Besides, don’t forget, he is married-she pointed a finger at her.

-That does not matter. Besides, it can always change. I am really interested what impression I will make on him- said Victoria and turned towards the window.

-If he notices you.....

-He will notice me, you will see! - she said in a secure, confident manner and looked towards the grey sky and wet roof tops. Nothing could obfuscate the hope in her heart.

Friedrich was skinny, short man, with bold head and glasses on his face. He always wore plaid shirts and smelled like shaving lotion even though he seldom shaved. He worked in his small tailor shop from dusk till dawn; he was famous and successful tailor among the elite of rich Parisians. He was sixty seven year old. During the war he lost a son. He had only one daughter who was married and lived in Florence.

-How are your grandchildren?- asked madam Bouvier while she stood in a chair in the changing room. She felt the cold material touch her and she got goose bumps. In front of Friedrich she didn’t show at all how uncomfortable she feels. She patiently stood in one place, while Friedrich put pins in the marked spots in the material. 

-They are good. Stephaney contacted me yesterday by a letter-he said while he kept at least seven pins in his mouth.

-That is great! Florence is beautiful.

-Very.  I also have a postcard. I will show it to you later.

-Great!-she exhaled. She patiently waited for the rehearsal to end. First she waited for an hour for her turn. It was general knowledge that Friedrich is a fantastic tailor and lines were long in his shop.

-Little while longer, madam Bouvier -he put the last pin in a marine-blue material. He stepped away and put a huge mirror in front of her.

Madam looked at her reflection in the mirror for a few moments. She looked great and she knew that the creation will be the right choice.

-Satisfied?

-Yes, Friedrich - she turned around and got serious. Places that showed some skin were not even a little bit attractive or seductive. She clenched her lips. She will have to think of something. Maybe gloves are a solution?

In a fine and easy manner she