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

by Rebecca Glenn

  Lisette looked over at the chaise-lounge on the other side of the room. It was cluttered with her nightclothes and a bed sheet. I should sleep at home tonight, she thought. Her mother had been asking Lisette to spend more time at home. Jeanne had told Lisette that she was still uncomfortable being alone, but she had grown accustomed to life without an abusive husband. Lisette knew that her mother had endured great trials in the past several years, not only losing two husbands in that time, but also her house and many of her possessions too. As a convicted thief, Le Sèvre forfeited his home and much of his personal property. Lisette was pleased that she could provide her mother with a new house and replace many of the items she had lost when Le Sèvre went to prison. While not on the most fashionable street, the house that Lisette could afford to buy for them was still very posh. It was a stand-alone house with three floors and two servants. Lisette had insisted that Henri and Mademoiselle Tothier remain with their household.

  The knocking resumed. This person is not going away, she realized.

  Lisette opened the door. It was Amante. Lisette had wondered why he had not come to see her immediately after Le Sèvre had been jailed. There was no longer any reason for him to stay away. Lisette had tried not to be hurt by his absence, but it had been difficult. There was so much that she had wanted to say to him. She had so many questions. Maybe today she would get some answers.

  “Amante. Come in.”

  “I heard about Le Sèvre. How are you?” Amante asked.

  “Better,” Lisette told him.

  Amante smiled. “You must have felt such relief when you heard the news of his death.”

  “Death?” Lisette felt like he had slapped her in the face.

  “You didn’t know?”

  Lisette shook her head. She began to sway.

  “Come, let’s sit.” Amante helped her to the chaise-lounge and sat down next to her. “It happened yesterday in prison. The rumor is that the Duc de Chartres was responsible. The Duc has never taken kindly to people who steal from him, or even attempt to steal from him.”

  “He is really dead?” Lisette still wasn’t sure she had heard Amante correctly.

  “Yes, dead,” Amante said, nodding his head.

  Lisette sat back on the chaise-lounge and closed her eyes. She inhaled and then exhaled deeply. It was finally easy for her to breathe again and her insides were no longer twisted. Le Sèvre was really gone…forever. She opened her eyes and saw Amante. She found it difficult to look away from his dark eyes.

  “He didn’t have long to rot in jail. About a month, if I’m correct,” Amante said.

  Lisette thought for a moment about Amante’s words. He knows exactly how long Le Sèvre was in jail?

  Lisette looked right at him. “If you knew Le Sèvre had been arrested and taken to For-l’Évêque why didn’t you come to see me?” She stood and moved to the other side of the studio. “Are you still upset with me for not listening to you and taking your advice about the license?”

  Amante let out a low laugh and followed her. He reached out and touched her cheek. “No, ma chérie. Nothing could be further from the truth. How I have wanted to see you…to touch you…to kiss you.” He leaned in and lightly touched his lips to hers.

  Lisette wanted to kiss him back, but she controlled herself. “I don’t understand. What stopped you?” Lisette asked him.

  Amante leaned in again and gently whispered in her ear, “Shhh. All that matters is that I’m here now. My sweet Lisette.”

  As he kissed her earlobe and moved to her neck, her protestations faded. The more he kissed her, the weaker her resolve to push him away. She could feel her body going limp at his touch. Amante kissed her passionately. A warm feeling shot down the length of her body causing her legs to wobble. His tongue was soft and sweet in her mouth. She found it difficult to concentrate on anything but him.

  “I want to make love to you, Lisette,” he said softly as he scooped her up in his arms.

  She didn’t fight him.

  Amante carried Lisette over to the chaise-lounge. Once Amante had laid her down on the long chair, he began unfastening the back of her dress. Before he had finished, he leaned down and kissed her again. In between kisses, he whispered, “Lisette, I have missed you.” He moved his hand up inside her petticoat and stroked her inner thigh. He finished unfastening her gown and the bodice fell to the floor. He pulled off her linen chemise and then his own.

  She closed her eyes, but sensed him looking at her nakedness.

  “You are so very beautiful, Lisette.” He kissed her again and cupped her bare breasts. His hands were warm and strong. “How I have longed for this day…when we could make love. I don’t know when it will come again.”

  As soon as she heard these last words, Lisette bolted straight up. “What do you mean?”

  “Shhh, ma chérie, lie back and enjoy my lips on you,” Amante said, dismissing her question. He gently moved her down onto the chaise-lounge.

  Lisette sat up again. “Are you going away? Is that why you don’t know when we’ll be together again?”

  Amante sat up too. He faced her and was silent.

  “Tell me. I have a right to know the truth,” Lisette said as she pulled the sheet to cover herself.

  “Yes. I have to leave Paris,” he paused and then added, “…France.”

  “Why? When will you be back?”

  “You have a lot of questions.” Amante leaned in like he was going to kiss her.

  Before she could push him away there was a thundering knock at the studio door followed by a booming voice. “Capitaine de Chaumont! It is urgent. You are needed right away, orders of Général Truclot.”

  “I must leave you, ma chérie,” Amante said as he threw on his chemise.

  “Right now?”

  “Yes, the army will not wait,” he said as he adjusted his waistcoat.

  “When will you be back?”

  “Whenever Général Truclot gives me orders to return.” He smoothed his hair and stood. Amante held both of her hands. “My sweet Lisette.”

  Lisette pulled her hands out of his. Général Truclot, she thought. She remembered what Le Sèvre had said to her just as he was being taken away by Monsieur Roche, Ask Capitaine de Chaumont about Général Truclot.

  Lisette stood up. “This is Le Sèvre’s doing,” she exclaimed.

  “I have to go,” Amante said firmly.

  “But he is gone. You don’t have to leave,” Lisette said, trying to get Amante to understand that the threat no longer existed.

  Amante took a step forward and held Lisette tightly in his arms. “Ma chérie, I’m afraid I do not have a choice.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then her lips.

  She returned his kiss, locking her lips with his.

  The soldier knocked again, this time so violently Lisette thought he might break the door. “Capitaine de Chaumont!”

  Amante gently pulled away from Lisette and stepped to the door. He hesitated, turned around and said in a low voice, “I love you, Lisette.”

  Amante opened the door and left with the soldier.

  Lisette went to the threshold and watched them walk down the stairs and out of sight. She stood in the doorway staring at the empty stairwell. I love you too.

  Lisette stepped back inside the studio and collapsed on the chaise-lounge. Peering out of the room’s small window, she saw no clouds, only a hazy, gray, lifeless sky. Lisette turned her head away from the window and toward the other side of the studio. At first, she saw only piles of supplies and empty canvases, but then she noticed it − her old sketchpad. It had been months since she had drawn in it last…not since her visit to Versailles the previous summer.

  Pulling herself off the chaise-lounge, Lisette rescued the sketchbook from a stack of papers. She thumbed through it until she saw the sketch of the Queen. How becoming she is, Lisette thought. She smiled as she remembered the impromptu sitting with Antoinette and wondered if she would see the Queen again.

  Will sh
e have me back to Versailles? Will she have me paint her?

  Thank you for purchasing and reading Becoming Lisette! If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate a review at your favorite book retailer site or book community such as Goodreads.

  Thanks!

  Rebecca

  About the Author

  Rebecca’s experiences organizing art museum exhibitions and teaching college Art History courses motivated her to write historical fiction. She continues to be inspired by the untold stories of women from history. When not writing, Rebecca enjoys discovering new places and foods, especially those that involve France. Rebecca lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and three children.

  For more information about this book or to contact the author, please visit: rebeccaglenn.com/

  Coming Soon!

  Don’t miss the next two installments of the Queen’s Painter Series: