Céleste Ridelieu

Céleste Valerie Ridelieu is the mother of Timothée and Louise Ambroise, and the wife of Émile Ambroise. As of 1788 she lives with her family on a small farm on the land of the Vallois Family.

Background and Family
Céleste's parents were both of Romany descent (Book I, Ch 2). She has a twin brother, Edgard, and a younger sister, Thérèse (Book I, Chs 3 & 8). For unknown reasons, Céleste's parents abandoned the nomadic way of life lived by most Romany people, and they lived on the land of the Vallois Family becuase that was the only thing they could afford. Not much else is known about Céleste's parents, and she seldom talks about them.

At the Chateau de Vallois
When she was sixteen, Céleste took a posistion as a chambermaid on the Chateau de Vallois's houshold staff. Shortly thereafter she became acquainted with a young footman on the staff, Gaston Junot, and they became romantically interested in each other.