Philippa Carr - [Daughters of England 09]

by The Adulteress

  ‘Hush!’ said Armand in a mocking voice. ‘You speak treason.’

  That evening the four of us played a card game while we listened to the rain spluttering on to the windows of the hôtel. The streets were quiet; it was very different from what we had expected it to be and rather an anticlimax to all the fuss there had been about the royal wedding.

  The next day my parents returned to the hôtel. My mother was ecstatic about the reception at Versailles. Sophie and I made her tell us all about it. It had taken place in the chapel of the Palace and my parents had been very honoured to be present. This was because some long way back my father had a blood connection with the royal family.

  ‘Poor little Dauphin!’ said my mother. ‘He looked most disconsolate in spite of his gold-spangled net garments. Most unhappy and uncertain. She looked enchanting. She is a most attractive girl … so fair and dainty and she was beautiful in a white brocade gown with panniers, which made her look so graceful. We went through the Galerie des Glaces and the Grands Appartements to the Chapel, where the Swiss guards were assembled. Those dear children! They looked so young, they made me want to weep as they knelt before Monseigneur de la Roche-Aymon. I thought the Dauphin was going to drop the ring and the gold pieces he had to bestow on the bride.’

  ‘What about the fireworks display?’ I asked.

  ‘Oh, that is going to be later … in Paris. In a week or so, I imagine. There was so much disappointment about it. It has to take place or the people will feel they have been cheated. What do you think? The little Dauphine made a blot on the marriage contract as she signed her name. The King seemed quite amused.’

  ‘They will be saying that is an omen,’ said Armand. ‘What with the storm and the blot … they’ll really have something to work on. And wasn’t there an earthquake somewhere on the day Marie Antoinette was born?’

  ‘In Lisbon,’ said my father. ‘What has Lisbon to do with France? The people will like her. Oh yes, they will cheer her, for she is very pretty.’

  ‘And that counts for a great deal with the French,’ I put in, which made them all laugh.

  Then my mother went on to describe the reception presided over by the King.

  ‘How old he is getting!’ She sighed. ‘It is a good thing that there is a Dauphin to follow on.’

  ‘A pity the boy is not older and more of a man,’ added the Comte.

  ‘Boys grow up,’ my mother reminded him.

  ‘Some take a long time doing it.’

  ‘Oh, it was so beautiful,’ went on my mother. ‘Although it was so dark outside it was as light as day in the Galerie. I don’t know how many candelabra there were and each had thirty candles. I counted them. The young people looked adorable sitting at the table which was covered with green velvet decorated with gold braid and beautifully fringed. You should have been there. As a matter of fact the people were so disappointed because of the cancellation of the fireworks display that they were determined to see something and broke into the Palace. They stormed up to the Galerie and mingled with the guests.’ She turned to my father. ‘Do you know, at one time, I felt rather frightened.’

  ‘No need to be on such an occasion,’ my father answered. ‘The people are pleased about the wedding. As a matter of fact, they are quite fond of the Dauphin and are longing for the King to die so that his grandson can take his place. They long to turn du Barry out on the streets, and as soon as the King dies that is what they will do.’

  ‘I heard the Dauphiness made a little gaffe which is amusing the whole court and beyond,’ said Armand. ‘When she saw the du Barry close to the King she was interested and asked what was the function of the beautiful lady. “To amuse the King”, was the answer. “Then”, said our little girl, so anxious to please her new Papa, “I shall be her rival”.’

  Everyone laughed.

  ‘There was a shocked silence,’ the Comte said. ‘But Louis knows exactly how to deal with such situations in whatever else he fails, and all agree that he has the most gracious manners at Court. He patted the hand of the little Dauphiness and said he was delighted that she had become his little granddaughter, and poor Marie Antoinette was quite unaware of the social error she had committed.’

  ‘She won’t be for long,’ said Armand.

  ‘Well,’ added my mother, smiling at Sophie, ‘weddings are in the air. I wish the greatest happiness to the brides and their grooms.’

  The date of the fireworks display had now been announced. It was to take place in the Place Louis XV and already workmen were busy setting lamps along the Champs Elysées; and in the Place Louis XV itself, a Corinthian temple was being put up near the King’s statue.

  It was exciting to be in the streets during those May days. People who had goods to sell were making the most of the occasion. The well-known markets were busy and new ones had been set up wherever it was possible to do so. Salesmen and women were everywhere; medallions of the royal bride and groom were on sale with the flags of France and Austria; at every street corner there was a coffee woman, and lemonade-sellers who seemed to be doing a good trade with the thirsty people of Paris as well as those who had come into the city from the surrounding country.

  It was impossible not to be caught up in the mood, and as the sun was shining after the great storm, it was good to be out.

  Charles suggested that the four of us take a stroll down the Champs-Elysées to see how the decorations were progressing. Then we could wander into the Place Louis XV to take a look at the much talked-of Corinthian temple. The people would be amusing in any case.

  So Charles, Armand, Sophie and I set out that morning.

  We were all full of high spirits. Armand was quite amusing in his cynical way although he said he hated the people- ‘the unwashed’, he called them. He said the smell of them offended him. He was a very fastidious gentleman.

  Charles warned him. ‘Don’t let them see your contempt, my dear fellow. Even on such a day as this, with all their loyalty to the crown they could easily take offence.’

  Sophie was radiant, but my feelings were mixed. I was elated because I enjoyed Charles’s company so much and I kept telling myself that when they were married they would go to his estates in the south and I should not see them very often. That would be good, because I did not really like the man.

  But that morning I was determined to enjoy myself.

  We strolled along. A band was playing somewhere. From a building fluttered the flags of France and Austria, reminding the people that the country now had a reliable ally through this marriage, which would mean more to France than the happiness of two young people.

  We strolled down the Champs-Elysées. It was going to look beautiful tonight with all those lamps aglow. In the Place Louis XV figures of dolphins were being set up and there was the grand medallion of the Dauphin and his bride. I stood beneath the bronze statue of the King on horseback surrounded by figures representing Prudence, Justice, Force and Peace.

  Charles was beside me. ‘You look good there, sister Lottie,’ he said. ‘Tell me, are you prudent, just, forceful and peace-loving?’

  ‘Perhaps I have not lived long enough to discover.’

  ‘A very wise answer,’ he commented. ‘It is not always easy to be prudent and just, and if your are going to show force can you be peaceful?’

  ‘I suppose one must aim to have these qualities.’

  ‘As long as one tries perhaps that is good enough. It is not always possible to succeed though, is it? You are looking at me severely, Lottie. I don’t know why you do that so often, when you know you really like me very much.’

  Sophie was coming towards us and I saw the watchful look in her eye. There was a hint of the distrust she had always had of herself before the coming of Charles.

  ‘We were talking about the statues,’ I said, ‘and Charles was saying how difficult it was to have the four qualities they represent.’

  Charles took her by the arm. ‘Come, Sophie,’ he said, ‘let us look at them more closely and yo
u tell me what you think of the workmanship. It was Pigalle, I think … but I’m not sure.’

  He drew her away from me and was smiling into her face with such love that she was completely satisfied.

  When we left the Place Louis XV we walked leisurely home and on the way we passed a stall on which several kinds of ornaments were displayed. Among them were some delicately fashioned flowers in silk. The colours were beautiful and Sophie gave a cry of admiration.

  ‘Why,’ she said, ‘that is just the colour of my lavender gown.’

  ‘I believe you really like it,’ said Charles. He picked it up and held it against her dress. ‘Enchanting,’ he went on, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. The saleswomen—there were two of them—applauded. Charles gave them one of his quick speculative glances which I noticed he bestowed on women, and these two were young and one quite pretty.

  ‘My lady must have it, do you not think so?’ he asked.

  The two women laughed and said the lady had a very kind admirer.

  Charles paid for the flower and handed it to Sophie. She looked so happy as she took it that I felt a little lump in my throat. I hoped fervently that she would always remain in blissful ignorance of the kind of man he was.

  He had picked up another flower. It was a red peony—a most lovely shade of scarlet.

  He held it against my hair.

  ‘What do you think?’ he asked the salesgirls.

  ‘A beautiful flower for a beautiful young lady,’ said the elder of them.

  ‘I agree,’ said Charles. ‘Don’t you, Sophie?’

  Sophie stammered: ‘Y … yes … yes …’ But I saw the uneasy look in her eyes again and I wanted to say that I would not have the flower. But that would have made the whole matter too important, so I took the flower and thanked Charles.

  Then we made our way home, but I felt a little of the joy had gone out of the morning for Sophie.

  I wished I could warn her that she must not show jealousy, for Charles was the kind of man who would be irritated by it. Her only happiness lay in taking what came her way and being grateful for it, not to ask questions, not to probe, to shut her eyes to what was not meant for her to see. Then she would have a chance of being happy—and only then.

  How could I tell her that? How could I tell her that I spoke from experience of what her fiancé was really like?

  I did, however, try to show her that I did not treasure my flower as she did hers. I had an opportunity when Lisette came to my room as she was in the habit of doing—although lately I had seen less of her.

  Sophie was with me, wearing the flower pinned to her dress and Lisette noticed it at once.

  ‘It’s lovely,’ cried Lisette. ‘I believe artificial silk flowers are becoming very fashionable.’

  ‘Charles bought it for me,’ Sophie explained. ‘From a stall in the street.’

  ‘You’re a lucky girl. He does dote on you, doesn’t he?’

  Sophie smiled happily. ‘We were walking along and came to this stall. Nothing else on it caught my fancy but the flowers … they were very pretty.’

  Lisette examined it. ‘It is so cleverly made,’ she said.

  ‘He bought one for Lottie.’

  ‘He had to … because I was there with Armand,’ I explained quickly.

  ‘Where is yours?’

  ‘I put it somewhere. I forget where …. Wait a minute. I think it’s here.’

  I wanted to convey to Sophie that it meant nothing to me that Charles had given it.

  I brought out the flower.

  ‘What a lovely rich colour!’ said Lisette.

  ‘I don’t think it will go with anything I wear.’

  ‘Nonsense. Red is one of your best colours. It makes you look darker and passionate.’

  ‘What rubbish.’

  I took the flower from her and threw it into a drawer.

  Sophie looked relieved. She could never disguise her emotion. Dear Sophie, she was so easy to deceive. Surely that arch-deceiver whom she was to marry would manage with the utmost ease.

  All was well. Sophie had a good chance of achieving the happy marriage which was so necessary for her.

  It was about two days after the incident of the flowers when Charles called at the hôtel. Sophie had gone with my mother to the dressmaker to discuss her trousseau, so when Charles called it aroused no comment that I should be the one to receive him.

  He seized both my hands and kissed them.

  ‘Lottie!’ he cried. ‘How glad I am to find you alone!’

  ‘Was it accident or design?’

  ‘A bit of both,’ he admitted. ‘I believe Sophie is at the dressmaker with your Mama.’

  ‘You are well informed.’

  ‘It’s a good habit in life. Now I want to take you some- where. I have something to show you and you will really want to see it.’

  ‘Where would you take me?’

  ‘Only for a walk through the streets, I promise you.’

  ‘A walk? But why … ?’

  ‘You will see. Come, get your cloak. We haven’t a great deal of time.’

  ‘Were you going to show this to Sophie?’

  ‘Certainly not. There is no reason why she should be particularly interested.’

  ‘Then why … ?’

  ‘Curb your curiosity and hurry. I don’t want us to be too late. I promise to have you back in the house within an hour.’

  He had succeeded in exciting me as he always did.

  ‘All right,’ I agreed. ‘But it is only to walk in the streets.’

  ‘That is all … on my honour.’

  ‘I am glad to know that you possess some.’

  ‘I am always known to be a man of my word.’

  What harm was there? I was not allowed to go out alone, but I would be under the protection of one who was soon to be a member of the family. He would not dare behave in any but a reputable way. He was considerably in awe of my father and it had become clear to me that the Tourvilles wanted this marriage very much. So I put on my cloak and we went into the streets.

  I was unprepared for what he had brought me to see and when I heard the sound of drums I was surprised and interested because a crowd of people had gathered. They were laughing; some cheered, some jeered.

  ‘It’s a procession of some sort,’ I said.

  ‘You wait,’ said Charles. ‘You’ll see an old friend of yours.’

  He gripped me firmly by the arm, for the crowds were pressing round us and when they were too close he put an arm about me to protect me, I could not protest because I could see that the gesture was necessary. But I did feel an intense excitement as I was held close to him.

  Then I saw. First came the drummer and with him a sergeant who carried a pike. Following these two was a groom leading a donkey and seated on this donkey, her face turned towards its tail, a crown of plaited straw on her head, was Madame Rougemont. There was a large placard hanging round her neck and painted on it in startling red letters was the word PROCURESS.

  She sat there impassive—her face that mask I had seen before - white lead and carmine. Her head-dress had slipped a little but it had been elaborate. I did not understand half of what the crowd was yelling at her but it was mostly bawdy comment on her profession.

  My eyes were fixed on Madame Rougemont, who sat the donkey with an air of unconcern, looking straight ahead of her with a certain dignity which I could not help admiring. I was expecting someone to pull her off the donkey at any moment, but no one did; and the crowd really was quite good-humoured. The drummer went on beating his drum and someone broke into a song which the rest of the crowd took up.

  ‘I can’t hear the words,’ I said to Charles.

  ‘That is just as well,’ he answered with a grin.

  Then he took me by the arm. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘That is enough.’

  ‘You brought me here just to see that, didn’t you?’

  ‘I took you out because I enjoy your company and I know you do mine. That was an extra
pleasure.’

  ‘Not much of a pleasure for Madame Rougemont.’

  ‘I think it happened to her once before.’

  ‘It did not make her give up her profession.’

  ‘Good Heavens, no! It would take a great deal more than that to make such a good business woman give up such a profitable profession.’

  ‘How shameful to be paraded through the streets like that … with everyone knowing …’

  ‘Save your sympathy. She’ll be back at her work tomorrow.’

  ‘Not now that it is known … won’t something be done about it?’

  ‘I think that is hardly likely.’

  ‘But isn’t what she is doing against the law?’

  ‘I’ll tell you something, Lottie. She has friends in high places. She runs a very fine establishment near the Cours de Reine and it is patronized by many powerful men. They would not want to see it disbanded, which I suppose it would have to be if she were convicted.’

  ‘I see. So if she were a poor procuress she would be a criminal?’

  ‘It could be so. But what will happen is that she will dismount from her donkey and go back and carry on with her business.’

  ‘It is so … unjust.’

  ‘But prudent. And she is a forceful woman and no doubt peaceloving. You did admire those statues, didn’t you and you wanted an example of all qualities in action. My dear Lottie, our King had his own procurer until lately. Why Le Bel, his valet de chambre, was avid in his search for those charms which would appeal to Louis’s jaded appetites. The secret room on the north wing of the palace was kept for them alone. It was called Le Trébuchet, the snare for birds; and there the young girls were kept that the King might visit them when it pleased him. That was before the Parc aux Cerfs was founded because it was considered better for Louis to have his girls outside the palace. The whole of France knew it. Such matters cannot be kept secret. So who is going to be unduly shocked by the activities of Madame Rougemont?’

  ‘If the girls go willingly I suppose it is not the same as if they are taken by force …’

  ‘Force? That is not the gentleman’s way. You can be sure that all those little girls in the trébuchet and the Parc aux Cerfs went willingly enough. A period of service … and then the rewards. It was irresistible.’