Before Versailles by Karleen Koen Page B

And this,” Choisy touched the knot of ribbons, “is quite original. The queen’s ladies will be biting the insides of their mouths not to complain. As for this,” he put a forefinger on the patch beside her mouth, “it’s very naughty. The old cats will disapprove, but I love it.” He wore several patches; one in particular was quite unusual, a coach pulled by horses. It covered most of his right cheekbone. There were no earrings tonight, and his hair hung to his shoulders like any other man’s.
    Louise took a drink of wine. “I’ve been thinking—”
    “Thinking?” Choisy interrupted. “Stop that at once. You are here to look beguiling and act vacuous, and don’t forget it. Once you’ve found a husband, you may then find a mind.”
    Trumpets from the music gallery sounded, and everyone stood back to make way for the king and queen, followed by the king’s mother. The queen mother wore black and pearls everywhere. In her day, she had been the best-dressed woman at court. She still dressed splendidly, but no one was watching her anymore. Madame had everyone’s eyes, and after her, the queen. The young queen displayed diamonds in her fair hair and around her neck and at her ears, and her gown was of a pink summer gauze with more diamonds, but her expression was remote and distant.
    “Why doesn’t the queen ever smile?” Fanny whispered.
    “Perhaps she feels shy,” Louise whispered back.
    “Shy?”
    Both Choisy and Fanny hissed the word. It had no meaning for either of them. They were noticed by those nearby, and Fanny glared at Choisy, and he pinched her arm, which made Fanny squeak, which made the king turn in their direction.
    Louise blushed and dropped even lower into the curtsy she was making. If his majesty were to approach them, she knew she wouldn’t be able to think of a single thing to say to him.
    “Safe,” said Choisy. “Adonis has passed us by.”
    “Who is Adonis?” asked Louise.
    “The king, my ignorant one. I must find you a book of mythology. Didn’t they read in the Orléans household?”
    Fanny shot up out of her curtsy. “If you’ve gotten me in trouble, I will never forgive you.” She flounced away.
    “Remind me to be afraid if she ever becomes important,” Choisy said.
    “I want to ride out tomorrow.” They were riding out nearly every morning while the palace slept. Louise was trying to locate the place where she’d seen the boy in the iron mask.
    “We should stop.” Knowing she would argue and not wishing to, Choisy began to talk of something else. “The dancing is beginning. You’ll be besieged with partners, so save the courante for me.” The courante was a lively dance loved by the king.
    “So, my flower doesn’t change this gown at all?”
    “No one will notice. They won’t be able to get past your shining eyes.”
    He blew a kiss to her. Like Fanny, he was in his element. Another in her element was his mother, who waved to Louise with an imperious ringed hand, and Louise walked over to pay her respects.
    Madame de Choisy kissed her on both cheeks. “You’re looking quite blooming. This,” she tapped her fan on Louise’s shoulder, touching the golden curl, “is lovely. I’m going to instruct my maid to curl my hair so tomorrow, as will every other woman of taste here. That patch is very improper, but I see you’re all wearing them, Monsieur, too. Quite amusing. Anything Madame does must be charming, but perhaps you go too far? Yes? You went swimming today?”
    “We did.”
    “Word is you took your hair down to dry it while sitting in the gardens with gentlemen about.”
    Louise’s mind scattered in a dozen directions. They’d all done it. It had been Madame’s idea. She’d been the first to pull pins from her wet hair and shake herself like a cat, but Louise wasn’t going to say that. It would be tattling.
    “The queen mother has gotten word of it, my dear, and she doesn’t like it. Now you know I’m the last to lecture, but I