*The scrawl within the blue leather bound journal is neat, small, and in highly grammatically correct Early Modern French, showing a great deal of education on the part of the writer.*

Salut,

Today was uneventful, although pleasant.  The others in the convent baked a small cake of honey and oats for me, as is normal for special occasions here since the nuns are highly conservative in their spending.  I received a letter from my honorable father the Duc de Guise wishing me joy, and from my mother warning me of his intentions to have me marry.  I think I would be content in this, however I will miss my life among the Poor Claires.  Grand-mère told me today that since this day marks me as seventeen, my years require me to move on, and while I would be welcome in the convent, a lady of my abilities would be better served as the governor of a household.

While it is deeply undesirable for me to think below my status, I do wish sometimes that the plague of aristocracy had been cured from me at birth.  My status fills me with trepidation and my future terrifies me. In all things, however, my father, both Heavenly and of this plane, knows all.

Sincerement,
Marie de Lorraine