The party set out and, while the hunt was on, the rain started. No one minded a little rain, but this was a cloudburst, and someone – there may have been an ulterior motive in this – suggested that the party take cover, adding that not far off was a château where they could be sure of being hospitably received.
The King agreed that this was a good idea, and the Duchesse was of the same opinion, so to the château the party made their way.
The Duchesse’s rage was so great that she could hardly control it when she saw that the châtelaine was the pretty young woman who had followed the hunt in her elegant garments and her attractive carriages.
‘Sire,’ cried this creature, curtseying in a manner which would not have shamed Versailles, ‘I am overwhelmed by this great honour.’
The King’s eyes glistened, for she was indeed charming.
‘It is good of you to say so,’ he replied. ‘I fear we inconvenience you by calling upon you thus unexpectedly.’
‘Your Majesty would be welcome at any time. My only regret is that we have not had the opportunity to prepare for this great honour.’
The Duchesse was regarding Madame d’Etioles coldly. ‘We were not warned that there was to be such a rain-storm,’ she said, implying that only such a storm could account for their presence in the home of one who was clearly not of the nobility.
The King seemed to think this ungracious, and he murmured: ‘I am beginning to rejoice that the rain came when it did.’
Madame d’Etioles, retaining her dignity, ordered her servants to bring refreshment for the hunters; and while they took it she managed to remain at the side of the King; but the Duchesse on his other side would not allow the forward young woman to say very much, and continually contrived to turn the King’s attention away from the hostess to herself.
As soon as the rain stopped, she declared, they must go on their way, so the King not wishing to offend her agreed.
‘This,’ said Madame d’Etioles, raising her glowing eyes to the King, with a look which held a certain dedicated expression, ‘is the most important day in my life. I shall never forget that the King called at my humble château.’
Louis murmured gallantly: ‘I, too, shall remember.’
Madame de Châteauroux was drawing him away and out to their horses. She was determined that such a contretemps should never be repeated.
That evening the King was in a mellow mood and ready to be entertained. He was extremely gracious to the Duchesse, as though to make up for his mild interest in the pretty young woman of the afternoon’s adventure.
Card-playing began and, during a lull between games, one of the party, Madame de Chevreuse, said artlessly: ‘What a pretty creature that woman was! I mean the one who gave us shelter this afternoon.’
There was silence about the table but the King smiled reminiscently.
‘Madame d’Etioles,’ went on Madame de Chevreuse, ‘was so exquisitely gowned that one would have thought she was a lady of the Court.’
The Duchesse suddenly realised that the King was more than a little interested in this woman who was placing herself in his path at every opportunity. She felt very angry with Madame d’Etioles who, not content with intruding on the hunt and luring the King into her château, had succeeded in forcing her way into this party.
She brushed past Madame de Chevreuse and, having heard that lady complain bitterly of a diabolical corn on her right foot, the Duchesse brought her own foot down heavily on the spot where she knew that corn to be. With all her weight she pressed upon Madame de Chevreuse’s foot.
There was an agonised scream, and Madame de Chevreuse lay fainting in her chair.
‘I must have trodden on her foot,’ said the Duchesse. ‘We will call her attendants and have her taken to her bed. She will recover there.’
Madame de Chevreuse was taken to her room, but everyone present had seen the light of battle in the eyes of the Duchesse.
The name of Madame d’Etioles was not to be mentioned in the King’s presence again.
Shortly afterwards notice was conveyed to the lady that she must not appear in the forest when the King was hunting. If she did so she would incur the extreme displeasure of the Duchesse de Châteauroux, and steps would be taken to make that displeasure felt.
Chapter VIII
THE KING AT METZ
Louis had decided to join his armies and take an active part in the war of the Austrian Succession.
On the death of Fleury he had chosen the Maréchal Duc de Noailles as his mentor for, determined though he was to rule himself, Louis could not easily cast off the influence of his upbringing. Since he had become King of France at the age of five, he had been surrounded by men older than himself on whose wisdom he had been taught to rely. So he had to find a substitute for the Cardinal.
De Noailles, who had had the confidence of Louis Quatorze, advised Louis on policies similar to those which had been carried out under his predecessor; Noailles reminded the King that his great-grandfather and Henri Quatre had never allowed themselves to be ruled by favourites to the disadvantage of the state. Louis decided to follow this rule.
His subjects were delighted to see the King in the lead, and they marvelled that one possessed of such intelligence should have allowed himself to be governed by the Cardinal for so long. They did not at that time understand the inherent indolence of Louis’ nature, and that fatalism which was beginning to grow within him. At this time, when he was learning to understand the glory and stimulation of being a King in more than name, Louis was unaware of these qualities which unless kept in check could destroy him or France – perhaps both.
The English had entered the war on the side of France’s enemy, and Noailles was alarmed at the fight put up by the infantry of George II.
France at this time had a considerable number of men in the field and was engaged in activities on three fronts – in Alsace, on the Rhine and in West Flanders. Noailles was in charge of the Flanders army, and it was to this front that the King decided to go.
This decision was widely discussed at Versailles and the Queen longed to accompany her husband. It was not, she believed, an unnatural request. Queens had followed their husbands into battle before, and there was useful work which she and her ladies could do.
She longed to ask Louis to take her, but since his friendship with Madame de Châteauroux the relationship between them had deteriorated rapidly. They had come as close to quarrelling as was possible to such a man as Louis. She had objected fiercely to the position which the Duchesse occupied as maîtresse-en-titre and which seemed to put her above the Queen. Louis had retorted that she must accept Madame de Châteauroux.
Marie had been unable to control her temper; she was more fiercely jealous than anyone would have believed possible. As for the King, he could not forgive her for having so continuously refused his uxorious attentions. He pointed out that she had no right to prevent others accepting what she had declined.
Thus they were not on speaking terms, except of course in public.
But now that he was going to the war she was afraid for his safety and, made anxious as she was by the bad news of little Thérèse-Félicité from Fontevrault, she was determined to do all in her power to accompany him. So she suppressed her pride and wrote a note to him asking him to allow her to go with him in any capacity which he thought fit. She begged him not to ignore her note.
Louis did not ignore it, but he replied that her place was at Court, and she could serve no useful purpose by following him to war. Moreover the Exchequer could not stand the expense of her journey.