woods with its view of the river, perhaps because at that time she was in love with life.
There was good hunting to be had in the surrounding country and each day the King and his bride rode forth, returning in the evening to cards and other entertainments.
Always in attendance were the Duc de Bourbon and Madame de Prie. The latter had been installed as the chief of Marie’s ladies-in-waiting; and it became a regular routine that whoever wished to approach the King or Queen could only do so through the good graces of Madame de Prie.
Had Louis and Marie not been so absorbed in each other they would have noticed that the Queen of the Court was not Marie, but Madame de Prie, who, while she insisted on everyone’s observing the strictest Etiquette, did no such thing herself.
She would go in and out of the Queen’s apartment without being announced. She advised the Queen not only on what to do but what to wear; and remembering her father’s advice and her own gratitude, Marie willingly accepted these suggestions.
Recklessly, during those weeks at Marly, Marie gambled at the instigation of the King. It seemed a great joke to him when counting their debts they discovered them to be 200,000 livres.
‘200,000 livres!’ cried Marie. ‘Why, it is a fortune. In the days at Wissembourg we could have lived on that for a very long time.’
That delighted Louis. He proudly told her that she need not now feel the least concerned about losing 200,000 livres. They would play as recklessly tomorrow night just to prove it.
One day she came upon three of her ladies – the Duchesses d’Epernon, de Beuiune and de Tallard – gossiping together, and noticed that when she approached they grew silent. She was naturally eager to learn all she could about the Court, and these ladies, she believed, could tell her a great deal.
‘You must not fall silent when I appear,’ she told them. ‘I like to join in the fun.’
The ladies tried to look innocent but they failed somehow and, when she insisted on hearing what they had been talking about, they told her that they had discussed the affairs of the Duc de Richelieu who was said to be one of the biggest rakes of all time. He was so very handsome.
Marie, whose upbringing at Wissembourg had been a very strict one, did not immediately grasp the nature of those adventures in which the Duc de Richelieu had apparently indulged to such a great extent.
‘We were talking about the duel which the Marquise de Nesle fought with Madame de Polignac,’ Madame de Tallard eventually explained.
‘A duel between ladies!’
‘Oh, yes. It was with pistols. You see, they were both desperately in love with the Duc de Richelieu and decided on a duel.’
‘How . . . immodest!’ said the Queen.
The Duchesse d’Epernon murmured. ‘But, Your Majesty, such things happen.’
‘I hope we shall never have anything so disgraceful happening at our Court. I shall expect all my ladies to live virtuously and in a way to be an example to all. Tell me, does this immorality exist today . . . here?’ Marie pursed her lips so that she looked very prim. ‘I must speak to Madame de Prie about it.’
The Duchesse de Bethune tried hard not to smile but did not quite achieve her intentions, and Marie was shocked into sudden suspicion. Madame de Prie and the Duc de Bourbon were very friendly. They were frequently seen in each other’s company and they did appear to be on terms of the utmost affection.
Marie said tensely: ‘What is the relationship between the Duc de Bourbon and Madame de Prie?’
‘Why, Madame, it is common knowledge that she is his mistress.’
‘But . . . Madame de Prie has a husband . . .’
Her ladies looked at her blankly.
Marie realised that there were doubtless a great many things going on at this brilliant Court of which she was in ignorance.
She was deeply shocked. Her first impulse was to send for Madame de Prie, to tell her that this disgraceful association must cease. But this
There was good hunting to be had in the surrounding country and each day the King and his bride rode forth, returning in the evening to cards and other entertainments.
Always in attendance were the Duc de Bourbon and Madame de Prie. The latter had been installed as the chief of Marie’s ladies-in-waiting; and it became a regular routine that whoever wished to approach the King or Queen could only do so through the good graces of Madame de Prie.
Had Louis and Marie not been so absorbed in each other they would have noticed that the Queen of the Court was not Marie, but Madame de Prie, who, while she insisted on everyone’s observing the strictest Etiquette, did no such thing herself.
She would go in and out of the Queen’s apartment without being announced. She advised the Queen not only on what to do but what to wear; and remembering her father’s advice and her own gratitude, Marie willingly accepted these suggestions.
Recklessly, during those weeks at Marly, Marie gambled at the instigation of the King. It seemed a great joke to him when counting their debts they discovered them to be 200,000 livres.
‘200,000 livres!’ cried Marie. ‘Why, it is a fortune. In the days at Wissembourg we could have lived on that for a very long time.’
That delighted Louis. He proudly told her that she need not now feel the least concerned about losing 200,000 livres. They would play as recklessly tomorrow night just to prove it.
One day she came upon three of her ladies – the Duchesses d’Epernon, de Beuiune and de Tallard – gossiping together, and noticed that when she approached they grew silent. She was naturally eager to learn all she could about the Court, and these ladies, she believed, could tell her a great deal.
‘You must not fall silent when I appear,’ she told them. ‘I like to join in the fun.’
The ladies tried to look innocent but they failed somehow and, when she insisted on hearing what they had been talking about, they told her that they had discussed the affairs of the Duc de Richelieu who was said to be one of the biggest rakes of all time. He was so very handsome.
Marie, whose upbringing at Wissembourg had been a very strict one, did not immediately grasp the nature of those adventures in which the Duc de Richelieu had apparently indulged to such a great extent.
‘We were talking about the duel which the Marquise de Nesle fought with Madame de Polignac,’ Madame de Tallard eventually explained.
‘A duel between ladies!’
‘Oh, yes. It was with pistols. You see, they were both desperately in love with the Duc de Richelieu and decided on a duel.’
‘How . . . immodest!’ said the Queen.
The Duchesse d’Epernon murmured. ‘But, Your Majesty, such things happen.’
‘I hope we shall never have anything so disgraceful happening at our Court. I shall expect all my ladies to live virtuously and in a way to be an example to all. Tell me, does this immorality exist today . . . here?’ Marie pursed her lips so that she looked very prim. ‘I must speak to Madame de Prie about it.’
The Duchesse de Bethune tried hard not to smile but did not quite achieve her intentions, and Marie was shocked into sudden suspicion. Madame de Prie and the Duc de Bourbon were very friendly. They were frequently seen in each other’s company and they did appear to be on terms of the utmost affection.
Marie said tensely: ‘What is the relationship between the Duc de Bourbon and Madame de Prie?’
‘Why, Madame, it is common knowledge that she is his mistress.’
‘But . . . Madame de Prie has a husband . . .’
Her ladies looked at her blankly.
Marie realised that there were doubtless a great many things going on at this brilliant Court of which she was in ignorance.
She was deeply shocked. Her first impulse was to send for Madame de Prie, to tell her that this disgraceful association must cease. But this
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