Finally, there is an event in the book created out of whole cloth. On June 4, 1572, Jeanne d’Albret was seized by a fever that was to be her final illness. On her deathbed she went unvisited by any member of the royal family, though they made a great show of paying their respects when she lay in state. This behavior probably contributed to rumors that Jeanne had been poisoned, even though an autopsy by the royal physicians suggested she died of tuberculosis. I added a fictional visit to Jeanne as she lay dying because it seemed a dramatic moment for the discussion in which the Queen of Navarre asked Margot to promise to be kind to her son, a pledge that led to unexpected places.
The Valois dynasty’s last years were plagued by bloodshed, betrayal, scandal, and fanaticism, and marred most shamefully by the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. But the best of the Valois came into her own during that massacre when she saved the life of Henri of Navarre, who would become Henri IV of France. Henri le Grand granted religious toleration to the Huguenots, brought discipline and regularity to the finances of France, increased the prosperity of his subjects, and became one of the most beloved kings in French history. Marguerite de Valois may have been ill treated by her family and slandered by history, but her forgotten strength, faith, and resourcefulness paved the way for France’s salvation—a legacy worthy of any sovereign queen.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
An author may put the first words of a manuscript on the page, but it takes a team to produce a novel. My faithful critique partners, Frances and Kate, see things in my manuscripts that I am often too close to recognize, and their honesty and humor in commenting on my work not only helps me to make my books better but keeps me sane. I am immensely grateful for the support, guidance, and hard work of my agent, Jacques de Spoelberch—a gentleman in an era when they are increasingly rare. I am thankful also for my editors, Toni Kirkpatrick and Jennifer Letwack, whose enthusiasm for Médicis Daughter equaled my own.
Finally, my husband, Michael, and my parents, Barbara and Henry, believe I can do anything and everything, and all have been exceedingly patient while I tried.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SOPHIE PERINOT is the author of The Sister Queens. A former attorney, Perinot is now a full-time writer. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia, with her three children, three cats, one dog, and one husband. You can sign up for email updates here.
ALSO BY SOPHIE PERINOT
The Sister Queens
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Part One: Si jeunesse savait … (If only youth knew…)
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Part Two: Amour de Seigneur est ombre de buisson.… (The love of a great man is either momentary or dangerous…)
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Part Three: La mort n’a point d’ami … (Death hath no friends…)
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Sophie Perinot
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.
An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.
MÉDICIS DAUGHTER. Copyright © 2015 by Sophie Perinot. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Www.thomasdunnebooks.com
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Elsie Lyons
Cover photographs: woman © Elisabeth Ansley / Trevillion Images; castle © Victor Torres / Shutterstock; wreath © vectorkat / Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Perinot, Sophie.
Médicis daughter: a novel of Marguerite de Valois / Sophie Perinot. — First edition.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-250-07209-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-8348-2 (e-book)
1. Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry IV, King of France, 1553–1615—Fiction. 2. Catherine de Médicis, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of France, 1519–1589—Fiction. 3. Henry IV, King of France, 1553–1610—Fiction. 4. Guise, François de Lorraine, duc de, 1519–1563—Fiction. 5. Saint Bartholomew’s Day, Massacre of, France, 1572—Fiction. 6. France—History—House of Valois, 1328–1589—Fiction. 7. France—History—16th century—Fiction. 8. France—Court and courtiers—Fiction. 9. France—Kings and rulers—Fiction. 10. Nobility—France—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3616.E7446M43 2015
813'.6—dc23
2015034669
e-ISBN 9781466883482
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: December 2015
Médicis Daughter Page 44