The French Bride (14 page)

They stood together while Katherine made her way into the little circle. After a few moments she beckoned to them. The group had dispersed, revealing the charming figure of the Comtesse du Barry seated in an armchair, with her exquisite ankles crossed on a footstool, looking as fresh and lovely as a newly opened rose in her famous pink-coloured dress, wearing a wig dyed to match. She smiled at them, as nonchalant as a duchess and quite indistinguishable from one except that the neck of her gown was so low that it exposed her breasts to the nipples.

‘Madame, may I present my daughter-in-law, Mme. Macdonald.' Anne made a slight bow, exactly right in proportion to her own rank and the importance of the favourite who responded by smiling broadly at her.

‘I've seen you, madame,' she said. ‘I've often admired your jewels; they've made me look to my own, I can tell you.'

With difficulty Anne kept her eyes on the lovely face and above the level of that outrageous décolletage.

‘Comtesse, you don't need jewels. Nature has already adorned you enough.'

Du Barry laughed; it was a gay sound and the King looked up for a moment, pleased to see that his mistress was being amused.

‘Thank you, madame; one doesn't often get a compliment from another woman. Your mother-in-law, Mme. Macdonald, tells me you have a magnificent hôtel in Paris which you're going to open for our entertainment. What a good idea! I'm sure it will turn everyone green with envy.'

‘I am giving a ball to mark the occasion,' Anne said; the favourite was very easy to talk to. She affected none of the chilly and majestic airs that had made her predecessor, Mme. de Pompadour, so hated. ‘It would do me great honour if you consented to be present. I shall send you an invitation if that is agreeable to you.'

‘Very agreeable,' Du Barry responded. ‘If it suits His Majesty, of course. Depend upon it, madame, I shall be there if he allows me – if he goes himself, I mean. I am dying with curiosity to see your new house. This place stifles me! I shall be delighted to get out of it for an evening.'

She nodded to Anne and Anne withdrew. The introduction was over; she saw Katherine smiling at her; she had done well. The favourite liked her. Louis would come to the ball and her place as one of the most important hostesses in Paris was assured. As she moved away she looked at Francis; the same expression was in his eyes as on the previous evening, a look of boldness, even of recklessness which she had never seen before. As they passed each other, Anne's lips moved.

‘Be nice to her.'

He gave a tiny nod, and then she saw him bending over the Du Barry's hand. Francis had seen many beautiful women; he had seen the King's mistress as often as he had seen the King, in those long weary weeks while he kicked his heels at Versailles and went hungry to make his meagre money last. But he was unprepared for the power of her attraction at close quarters. He was a man and he knew too what was expected of him. He gazed deliberately at the beautiful bosom and then raised the look until it reached her lovely face. The bright eyes sparkled into his with the coquetry that was as natural to her as breathing. Her appraisal was as bold and as admiring as his, and she showed it by laughing; she was one of the few women at court whose teeth were perfect.

‘Captain O'Neil, my daughter's agent, madame,' Katherine said. ‘He has waited a long time at Versailles for an opportunity to meet you.'

‘What do you want, monsieur? I can't make you
my
agent, unfortunately. The King wouldn't like it, even if I might! How long have you been here?'

‘Two months, madame,' Francis answered coolly. ‘If it weren't for the charity of Mme. Macdonald in giving me some employment, I should have been forced to leave after the first fortnight. I find court life very expensive.'

‘I'm glad you found someone to befriend you,' the Du Barry winked. ‘Now tell me, Captain, whose name I can't possibly pronounce, what is there to know about you?'

‘Very little madame,' he answered. ‘My family were exiled from Ireland by the English after fighting for the Catholic House of Stuart. I have neither lands nor fortune; I have been a soldier all my life, fighting for whomsoever would pay me. I came in the hope that I might offer my sword to His Majesty.'

‘Have you any friends here?' she asked him.

‘None, but Mme. Macdonald.'

‘I'm tired of sitting down, monsieur. Give me your hand and escort me to the other side of the room.' The Du Barry got out of her chair, moving as gracefully as a dancer, and a mischievous look at Katherine, she walked away on the arm of the O'Neil. They paused by a window. To his surprise he saw that the mocking little face was quite serious.

‘If you haven't any friends, monsieur, you already have enemies. I've heard a great deal about you and Mme. Macdonald. I like her and I like you. If you want a commission from the King, I'll get one for you. But you know you'll lose her?'

‘No, I won't,' Francis said very quietly; there was no pretence, no flirtation between them now. ‘Once I've a position of my own, I'll take her with me.'

‘Good,' she said. ‘I'm glad of that. Her husband's a swine.'

‘There's no reason in the world why you should help me, but I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life if you do.'

‘I've never done anyone a bad turn.' The Du Barry smiled up at him. ‘Sometimes I like to do a good one if I can. I can remember what it was like to be without friends and without money. I've a sharp instinct for Versailles, my dear Captain, and I smell the wolves gathering about you two, I can't tell why. There's been too much talk about you and Madame there. It will be better for you both to go away together as soon as you can. I'll get your commission out of him—' She nodded towards the King. ‘You'll have it within the month. Take me back to my chair now before he looks up and sees us. He gets more unpredictable every day.'

Francis gave her his arm once more and handed her into the armchair with a bow as low as he would have given to the dauphine herself.

‘Madame,' he said as he kissed her hand. ‘Consider me your devoted servant – for life.'

‘If I ever need a strong sword arm, I'll remember you,' she said gaily. ‘
Au revoir,
Captain.'

‘I must congratulate you,' Katherine said to him as they walked down the corridors together. ‘You made exactly the right impression on her. I'm sure she'll help you.'

‘I believe she will, madame.' Francis looked directly into the beautiful face and the penetrating blue eyes that were openly examining him. ‘I must thank you with all my heart for your kindness in arranging that introduction. First so much kindness from Madame herself, and now from you too. I wish I could repay it.'

‘You can, Captain.' Katherine spoke very quietly; Anne was a little ahead of them and she began to walk more slowly so that the distance widened between them. ‘You can repay any small favour I or Anne have done you by insisting that Anne is more discreet with you. Please!' She saw the angry flash in his eyes and she held up her hand. ‘I know perfectly well your friendship is entirely innocent; what I do know is the amount of gossip that is spreading about you, especially since you entered my daughter-in-law's service. Everyone says you're her lover. Captain, whether you are or not. I'm only afraid that my son may decide to take the rumour seriously. Having met you, I feel you might well be a match for him, but I tremble to think what he would do to Anne. For her sake, get your commission and leave as quickly as you can. In the meantime, I wish you'd resign your position with her and move out of the hôtel!'

Francis walked on slowly side by side with her. ‘I have never met your son, madame,' he said at last, ‘but from what I've heard of him, I agree that it would go very hard with Anne if he suspected anything. For that reason alone I have no intention of leaving her alone. As for my commission, I believe I shall get it, and I shall leave Versailles at once. As for your son, I warn you, if he accuses me or molests Anne, I shall certainly kill him!'

‘Yes,' Katherine said quietly. ‘Perhaps you will. That would be a happy solution for everybody. I will leave you both here.' She came up to Anne and kissed her. ‘Good night, my child.' Then she turned to Francis and gave him her hand. ‘I know you will see my daughter safely back to Paris,' she said. ‘Good night, Captain.'

Outside in the long avenue leading to the Cour de Marbre, two carriages passed each other, one setting out for Paris, the other returning from a trip to the Trianon; Louise learnt forward and looked out of the window as they passed; the postillions carried torches, and the arms of Anne de Bernard Macdonald were clearly visible on the panels of the coach that swung away from them. She could also see the outlines of two people sitting together inside it. She leant back and looked at Charles who was sitting with his eyes closed. They had been gambling at the Trianon and he had lost rather a lot of money, while she had won. He was not in an agreeable mood, but she felt the opportunity must not be missed. The spy at the Hôtel de Bernard had not sent any information and Anne was beginning to suspect the woman of prolonging her employment and withholding what she knew.

‘What a pity you were sleeping,' Louise said. ‘You have just missed seeing your wife and her lover driving back to Paris!'

The pale eyes opened and in the dim light they glittered at her. ‘My wife and her lover … is that what you said, or was I dreaming?'

‘That's what I said,' Louise persisted. ‘I've no doubt you know all about it – everyone else in Versailles does!' She looked down at him, and though she was afraid, she went on, slightly mocking him. He would probably hit her, but it wouldn't be the first time and it would be worth it.

‘I must say, you surprise me, Charles. I never imagined you'd allow yourself to be made a cuckold so openly! There they were, driving away together in her coach for all the world to see.… Still, it's no affair of mine. I suppose she's entitled to amuse herself, even if she is being very indiscreet about it!'

‘Are you by any chance jeering at me, my dear?' he asked her. ‘Or is this some joke in your peculiarly bad taste? Do tell me, before I do something you might regret.…'

‘I'm not jeering,' Louise said. ‘I'm telling you the truth. I've hinted at it often enough and you never took any notice. Now it's the talk of Versailles; he's been dancing attendance on her for weeks and she's taken him into the hôtel to live with her; she calls him her agent! Everyone is convulsed at the effrontery of it. I'm sorry if you're angry with me, but I really thought you knew what was common knowledge everywhere.'

‘Well, I'm going to surprise you. I didn't!' He made no move towards her; it was impossible to tell what he was going to say or do. But she, who knew him so well, sensed the intensity of his anger as if it were lightning that flickered and darted in the coach. After a moment he pulled on the string in the roof and the panel slid back; the second coachman's head appeared above them.

‘Stop the coach!' Charles snapped. The coach pulled up, the horses stamping a little in their harness. He turned to Louise. ‘Get out,' he said.

‘What! What do you mean, get out?'

‘I mean that I'm going to Paris and I haven't time to waste taking you back to the palace. You must pay the penalty of your unpleasant tongue. A walk will do you good. Get out.'

‘It's nearly a quarter of a mile,' Louise protested. ‘Charles, you know I can't walk … my shoes will be ruined; if I'm seen I'll be a laughing stock! Please, I beg of you, let me come with you if you won't take me back!'

‘If you're a laughing stock, then you'll be keeping company with me, if what you've said is true. I'm not prepared to argue with you. Open that door and get out before I throw you into the road.'

He leant forward and flung the carriage door wide. One of the postillions sprang down, and after a moment's hesitation, Louise gave the man her hand and climbed out. She stood in the road looking up at Charles; her face was terribly pale and her mouth trembled.

‘I will never forgive you for this,' she said. He pulled the door shut and shouted up through the roof panel.

‘Drive on! Take the Paris road and hurry!'

The porter at the gates of the Hôtel de Bernard was half asleep when the carriage drew up in front of them, and the postillion jumped down and pulled on the bell rope. Grumbling, the porter came out of his shelter, demanding to know who asked entry at such a late hour. It was past two o'clock and his mistress had only just returned. He had been told to close the gates for the night.

‘Open up, you old fool,' the postillion shouted. ‘Your master, M. Macdonald, is outside! He'll have your hide if you keep him waiting!'

‘I serve the marquise,' the old man retorted. ‘Macdonald means nothing to me!' But he opened the gates, still grumbling loudly, and then sprang back as the carriage swept through, almost knocking him to the ground. At the door of the hôtel the same scene was repeated; after some delay a sleepy footman let them in, and Charles stood in his wife's house for the first time. He gave one swift glance round him, and then turned to the footman.

‘Where will I find Madame at this time?'

‘Upstairs, monsieur, in her boudoir. She ordered us to shut the house for the night.'

‘Take me there,' Charles said. ‘But open your mouth to announce me or make any commotion and I'll run you through on the spot!'

He followed the footman up the wide staircase; the house was very quiet. At a door on the first landing the man paused.

‘Wait by the head of the stairs,' Charles ordered. ‘I may need you again.'

He turned the handle of the door very quietly and then flung it open so hard that it crashed against the wall. He stepped forward into the little yellow and white boudoir; it was empty. The next moment a door at the far end of it opened, and he saw Anne standing in her nightdress, staring at him and turning very pale.