Lt.General le Comte Alain de Mylcandonai, His Majesty's Inspector-General of Cavalry, to Lt.General Christophe-Armand Tournage, Royal Governor of Provence, Greetings! Mon Cher Chris, I was devasted to learn to of the irreconcilable differences between Lucy and yourself which have resulted in your forthcoming annulment. What can I say, my friend? No-one knows more painfully than I what fickle creatures women can be. It was also with great sorrow that I learned of your resignation from the Horse Guards Brigade and request to His Majesty that you be given the governorship of some province as distant from Paris as possible. I understand that the driving force behind this decision, in addition to your difficulties with Lucy, was the shame you feel at the sorry state to which the regiment has fallen of late. Please, I beg of you, don't insist upon shouldering all the blame for this yourself, mon ami. De Custaad knew full well what he was doing when he submitted his unauthorised commssion purchase and was obviously _banking_ upon the fact that your new responsibilites at Brigade would not leave you the leisure to delve into his actions too deeply. We did have a campaign to conduct at the time, remember? Similarly with Du Pain, who obviously felt that where one knave had paved the way another might easily follow. I'm confident that both of these utter cads will reap their just desserts in the fullness of time, however, without need of self-imposed exile on your part. Words cannot express how much I will miss you, mon cher ami. The years we spent fighting side by side in the Dragoon Guards - when it was still a regiment to be proud of - were the happiest in my life and will always remain amongst my fondest memories. Your quick grasp of tactical situations, sound advice, and ready jests in the face of even the most extreme adversity will be sorely missed indeed. Nevetheless, I can but wish you every success with your new responsibilities. The province of my birth is fortunate indeed to find itself in such steady hands and it will be a brave Savoyard who violates the borders with you to contend with. That your self-imposed exile is of a temporary rather than permanent nature, however, is the fondest hope of Your Old Friend, Alain
