Becoming Lisette: A Novel (The Queen's Painter an Historical Romance Book 1)

by Rebecca Glenn

  “I don’t see how.”

  “Because I am the one who has arranged and paid for them, not Le Sèvre. He has no say in the matter.” Amante left the sofa and began pacing again.

  “But −”

  He abruptly interrupted Lisette, “You will continue to attend your lessons.” His voice had completely changed. Lisette had never heard him use that tone with her before. He was giving orders like she was one of the soldiers under his command.

  “I am not one of your soldiers,” Lisette said.

  “But you will continue with the lessons!” Amante was now shouting at her. His voice was threatening as he gestured with his hand, similar to the way an army commander would issue an order to a subordinate. Lisette did not want to leave herself vulnerable. She had already felt exposed earlier in the night.

  Lisette stood. “I’ve already told you that is no longer possible.” She turned to leave. “Good night, Capitaine de Chaumont.”

  His expression immediately softened as if he had just realized what he had done. He came up close to her. “Lisette, I didn’t mean to upset you.” His voice was soft and gentle again. “I only want what is best for you, ma chérie.” He pointed to the couch where they had been sitting. “Come back and sit with me.”

  “I must go,” Lisette said as she quickly walked out of the room. She moved swiftly to make sure he couldn’t come after her. She quickened her pace as she approached the foyer. She didn’t want to be stopped by anyone, least of all Marguerite. Lisette wasn’t eager to explain her abrupt departure.

  Lisette left the Salonnière’s and hailed a fiacre. She boarded the carriage and closed her eyes. She had hoped to calm her mind, but she couldn’t stop thinking about how Amante had spoken to her like she was under his command. Her head pulsated with pain. As Lisette pictured Amante’s face, the pain worsened.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  October 29, 1773

  The next day, Lisette’s head felt better. The throbbing had subsided and the lump had nearly disappeared. She hadn’t received any help from Amante, so she knew she had no choice other than to obey Le Sèvre. Lisette would stop attending lessons, but not until she told Briard herself. She would go one final time.

  Today, Lisette didn’t want to be delayed. Where is she? It is nearly noon, Lisette thought. Rosalie was always late. Lisette saw people scurrying in every direction and wondered, Why can’t Rosalie hurry? Lisette was about to give up and walk to the Louvre by herself when she saw Rosalie sauntering down the street, her head hung low.

  “I am sorry for my lateness. I have a very good reason.” Rosalie barely looked at Lisette while she spoke.

  When Rosalie finally did meet her gaze, Lisette could see that her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying.

  “Aren’t you going to guess my reason?”

  “Just tell me.” Lisette never liked playing this game. The week before, Rosalie had hounded Lisette until she had guessed the type of flowers Rosalie would carry at her wedding. Lisette wasn’t in the mood to play it today.

  “Please, just guess,” Rosalie insisted.

  Lisette knew that Rosalie would not stop until Lisette relented and participated. She realized it was the price of peace and quiet. “Because you were meeting with your betrothed?” Lisette guessed. They started down the street.

  “No, but close.” Rosalie was crestfallen, like she was going to burst into tears at any moment.

  “You were meeting with your dressmaker?”

  “Wrong again. I know you’ll get it this time.”

  “I give up, Rosalie. You know I have never been engaged or married.”

  “The hairdresser. I was supposed to have an appointment with the best hairdresser in all of Paris.” Rosalie paused as her eyes filled with tears, then she slowly continued, “But he canceled saying that he had more important clients to serve.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to find another hairdresser.” Lisette couldn’t think of anything else to say to her.

  Rosalie had begun to cry. In between sobs she said, “But there is no one as good as Léonard!” Rosalie cried harder.

  Léonard…Lisette thought. She knew that name. But where had she heard it? “Marguerite!” Lisette bellowed.

  “What? I said Léonard, not Marguerite,” blubbered Rosalie.

  “Marguerite de Tougereau knows Léonard…very well. And I know Marguerite. I could get an introduction for you.” Lisette waited for Rosalie’s reaction.

  Rosalie immediately stopped crying. “You would do that for me?”

  She appeared so sad to Lisette. “Of course,” Lisette said as she took Rosalie’s arm in hers.

  They walked with their arms locked the rest of the way. Rosalie’s spirits had lifted. She had returned to her old self and was prattling on about every detail of her wedding hairstyle. As she listened to Rosalie blather on, Lisette realized she was going to miss her friend.

  They made their way to the Louvre and into the building without any trouble from the male art students. As they walked toward Briard’s studio, Lisette was relieved not to encounter the boys. Briard was out in the hall waiting for them.

  “Rosalie, go in and begin preparing a canvas. I have some business to which I must attend. I will be back soon,” he said.

  When Lisette followed Rosalie, Briard stopped her. “Lisette, I need to speak with you, alone.”

  He already knows. He is going to tell me to go home now, Lisette thought. I won’t have a final lesson.

  Briard regarded her carefully. “After today, I cannot teach you anymore. Your step-father has been clear on that matter. Since he is your guardian, I must respect his wishes. He has made it very plain that if I don’t, he can make my life extremely unpleasant. You cannot come back to see me here at the Louvre again.”

  Lisette looked at him without saying anything. She held back her tears.

  His expression was kind. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue with today’s lesson. You are here. Go in and get to work. I need to take care of some Académie business. I’ll return shortly.” He smiled at her.

  Lisette watched him walk away, unsure of whether she wanted to go inside at all.

  She peeked in and saw Adélaïde preparing her canvas while Rosalie chatted. Then she noticed the statue in the middle of the room. Milo of Crotona, Eaten by a Lion. Lisette recognized the statue that had been completed one hundred years earlier by the French sculptor Pierre Puget. Puget had skillfully captured the tragedy of the celebrated Olympian athlete who had met a terrible death at the end of his life. Lisette’s throat tightened and her legs felt heavy, but she went into the studio.

  “Briard is attending to urgent business. We are to prepare our canvases. He expects to return shortly,” Adélaïde said flatly.

  “Yes. He told me. I spoke to him in the hall,” Lisette responded.

  Rosalie was explaining her wedding day pouf to Adélaïde. Lisette watched Adélaïde listen respectfully, but it was obvious to Lisette that Adélaïde only wanted to work. In the past months of their lessons, Lisette had grown to admire Adélaïde. Despite hailing from the wealthy, powerful and noble La Valette family that accorded her an effortless existence, Adélaïde had impressed Lisette with her earnestness. When in Briard’s studio, Adélaïde was a conscientious art student. Besides her interest in painting, Lisette knew little else of this young woman. She almost never discussed personal matters. She would politely respond with brief answers to Rosalie’s questions and then promptly return to work. Lisette knew that Rosalie was bothered by Adélaïde’s curtness. However, as her social superior, Adélaïde wasn’t obligated to say anything to Rosalie. Of course, it didn’t stop Rosalie from talking about herself, whether or not anyone else was listening. Rosalie had not begun preparing her canvas. Instead, she had taken out a sketchpad and was drawing her wedding hairstyle.

  Lisette hurriedly stashed her belongings in the corner of the atelier and then began stretching her canvas. She would be ready to sketch when Briard
returned. Lisette had tuned out Rosalie’s voice and was thinking about the Puget statue. Then she heard Rosalie say the words, “last lesson.”

  Gaping at Rosalie, Lisette asked, “What did you say?”

  “That today is my final lesson. I need to make wedding preparations…and my affianced doesn’t want me distracted by the lessons. Isn’t it wonderful?” Rosalie resumed sketching her wedding coiffure.

  Lisette felt like Rosalie had punched her in the stomach. I would give anything to keep going, Lisette thought.

  Suddenly, Lisette had an urge to run out of the studio. I can’t do this, she realized.

  Lisette stepped over to the corner, gathered her belongings and headed for the door. Rosalie was babbling and Adélaïde was focused on her canvas. Neither of them said anything to Lisette as she quickly left the studio.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  June 23, 1774

  Lisette, stop fidgeting with that necklace!” Jeanne reached across the carriage, grabbed both of Lisette’s hands and placed them in her lap. “Your father went to much trouble for you to wear that necklace today,” Jeanne said as she tapped the top of Lisette’s hands, as if to remind them to stay put.

  She was not accustomed to wearing necklaces and this one was particularly bulky. On loan from Le Sèvre’s shop, its thick gold chain held alternating emeralds and diamonds. Le Sèvre had wanted both Lisette and Jeanne to wear his latest jewels, so that nobles could picture how they would look on beautiful women.

  Lisette hadn’t noticed that she was touching the necklace until her mother had scolded her. Lisette’s hands had always had a mind of their own, even from the time she was small. She didn’t want to look down at her scarred hands, but she was keenly aware of them now. They felt heavy on her lap as she fought the urge to touch Le Sèvre’s necklace again. Lisette wanted to reach up and remove it. The necklace felt tight around her neck, like a snake coiling around its prey.

  She glanced across the carriage at Le Sèvre who sat next to her mother. He stared at the passing landscape, lost in thought. Lisette supposed that he was thinking of the business he was hoping to conduct today at Versailles.

  She turned her head to look out too. They were on the Avenue de Paris approaching the palace. Lisette had never visited Versailles before, so she did not know what to expect. It was the first event in weeks that had excited her.

  For the past eight months, indifference had slowly crept into her life and nearly consumed her. Week after week, Lisette spent all of her hours painting portraits of Le Sèvre’s clients. There had been no more punishments, but there had also been no lessons, no allegory paintings and no outings to Le Brun’s or to the Salonnière’s. Every day for the past eight months, Lisette had been living entirely under Le Sèvre’s control and each of those days she felt less like herself.

  Lisette saw her reflection in the carriage window. She barely recognized the young woman looking back at her.

  “Stop that! I spent an hour arranging your coiffure. Leave it alone!” Jeanne reached over again and pulled Lisette’s hands away from her hair.

  Lisette realized that her hands had crept up to her head and her fingers were twirling the little wisps of hair at the base of her neck.

  For today’s visit to Versailles, Le Sèvre had insisted on both Lisette and her mother wearing a headdress a tapé with two single curls. Their hair was piled up on top of their heads and embellished with accessories. Her mother had jewels and feathers embedded in hers, while Lisette wore a single ribbon of taffeta that matched her gown. Le Sèvre had also selected both of their dresses, shoes and jewelry. When Lisette had complained to her mother, Jeanne had told her to accept the circumstances. Lisette remembered their conversation exactly as it happened:

  “Husbands often choose their wives’ clothing and accessories. I for one am grateful that I have a husband who cares enough about me to choose my gowns,” Jeanne said.

  “But Papa never chose your dresses, Mother,” Lisette said.

  “He never gave me jewels either. In exchange for my agreeable nature, François selects beautiful jewels for me to wear.”

  “But he is only using you to exhibit his jewelry, Mother. How long do you keep any of the pieces?”

  Lisette had ended their conversation shortly after making this last point, realizing that she would not convince her mother of anything.

  Lisette regarded her mother. She was stunning in her plum silk gown.

  Then Lisette watched Le Sèvre inspect her mother. He was fixated on her forearms. Jeanne’s gloves weren’t quiet covering the bruises. They weren’t particularly noticeable to someone who wasn’t looking for them, but nonetheless, the purple-green splotches were still visible.

  “Jeanne, I thought you were going to wear the longer gloves today….the ones that I selected for you,” Le Sèvre said.

  “I was. But just as we were leaving the house I noticed a large brown stain on the thumb of the right hand. I didn’t think you would want me wearing tarnished gloves,” Jeanne replied.

  Le Sèvre grumbled, but dropped the issue. He shifted his attention to Lisette. “We are nearly there. You will behave yourself today, Lisette,” Le Sèvre commanded her.

  Lisette said nothing and peered out of the carriage. They had passed through the outermost gate and were slowing down to go through the first of the inner gates. There was so much to see. Lisette wanted to set up her easel and capture the scene.

  The outer courtyard was full of vendors of every variety. Lisette saw men and women selling flowers, fruit, and many other wares. Some talked, some shouted and others laughed. There were people walking in every direction, while noble ladies and gentlemen were being carried in bright yellow sedan chairs. That is strange, the sedan chairs in Paris are never that color, Lisette thought.

  Le Sèvre repeated himself, “Lisette, are you listening to me? I worked tirelessly for approval to sell my jewels today from the Bâtiments du Roi. It took months to get my license approved by the Marquis de Marigny. I will not have you embarrass me.”

  Jeanne turned to her. “Lisette, respond to your father.”

  As Jeanne said the word father, Lisette felt the necklace constrict her air again. It grew tighter around her neck. Lisette managed to shake her head up and down. “Yes.” Lisette could barely speak.

  Jeanne glanced at Lisette and then at Le Sèvre and back to Lisette again. Jeanne’s nervousness was apparent. “It is a good day to be outside the city. Paris is a flurry of activity with everyone making preparations for Corpus Christi.” Lisette’s mother tried to ease the tension inside the carriage.

  When neither Lisette nor Le Sèvre responded, she continued talking. “The streets are being cleared today for the holy priests to carry the Blessed Sacrament tomorrow. It will be truly miraculous.” Jeanne went on about how much she was looking forward to watching the procession that would honor the Eucharist.

  Lisette was only half-listening. She was much more interested in seeing the palace of Versailles as it came into view.

  After entering the Minister’s Courtyard, their carriage stopped. Not being noble, they could not travel by carriage any farther. They could either walk or be carried by sedan chair to the entrance of the palace. There were two more courtyards to pass through, the Royal Courtyard and then the Marble Courtyard. Once inside the innermost courtyard, they would have to pass inspection by the palace guards before being allowed inside.

  Le Sèvre descended the carriage first, followed by Jeanne and then Lisette. Jeanne pointed to the men waiting with yellow sedan chairs. “François, there are three chairs,” she said.

  One of the vendors approached Le Sèvre. “Monsieur, for you and your lovely women, I give you the price of six livres for three chairs.”

  Le Sèvre ignored the man. “We will walk,” Le Sèvre said as he moved toward the entrance.

  Jeanne and Lisette followed him to where they would need to pass inspection. As they waited in line for the guards to evaluate those who had arrived before the
m, Lisette observed a variety of people entering the palace. She saw courtiers, noble ladies and gentlemen, merchants and even craftsmen. The palace guards seemed to allow anyone to pass through if they were properly attired, ladies in gowns and men with swords.

  Le Sèvre and her mother had been discussing the inspection for days. Lisette and Jeanne would have to wear suitable dresses. Le Sèvre had bought them both new gowns for the occasion. He had also bought himself a sword. Not being a nobleman, Le Sèvre had not previously needed a sword. He was unwilling to rent one at the palace gate, saying that it was important to create a strong first impression with anyone he might encounter at Versailles, customer or not.

  When it was their turn to be inspected, a guard in a long, dark blue coat with red trim and red culottes with white stockings motioned for them to move closer. Lisette and her mother went ahead of Le Sèvre. The guard quickly looked at them and nodded. “You may pass,” he said briskly.

  The guard then looked at Le Sèvre’s sword hanging against his hip. “Go ahead,” the guard said to him.

  The three of them entered through the main doors and into the front foyer. Le Sèvre and Jeanne walked quickly toward the staircase that lead to the merchant’s room on the upper floor. Lisette lagged behind.

  “Stop dragging, Lisette! We must not keep them waiting,” Le Sèvre snarled.

  Lisette surveyed the hall. She was struck by the dark green, purple and brown marble on the floor, on the wall columns and on the door frames. As they ascended the stairs, Lisette noticed the gilding on the wrought-iron and bronze banister. She saw it again in the gilt-lead sculptures that were neatly tucked into a niche on the landing of the first floor.

  They entered the small merchant room and Le Sèvre rushed over to one of the few remaining empty stalls. The other luxury marchands had already claimed their spaces. Lisette noticed merchants selling books, lace, gloves, fans and jewels. Le Sèvre wasn’t the only jeweler at Versailles today.