Chapter Sixteen

I awoke to Rose’s voice loudly calling out. “Oh, I was just going to wake her!”

I sat up, and Lucien bolted up with me. We scrambled from the bed completely naked as he grabbed his clothes off the floor. He rushed toward me to kiss me once and hand me my chemise before he dove into the little boudoir off to the side. I shakily found the head to it, throwing it over me, and pushing my hands through the arms. Not a moment too soon, as Rose and Colette barreled through the door.

“Oh, you are awake.” Rose gave a quick sweep of the room before her eyes came back to mine. She was calmed by the fact that she didn’t see Lucien anywhere.

Colette slipped an earring in her ear as she looked down to my gown strewn about the room. “Are you going to make your toilette? You don’t have to get too made up. We are going to catch the carriage home, and I am dying for a good bath.”

I nodded, and Rose turned to usher Colette out of the room. “I will help Maddy darling get ready. Why don’t you get some tea and croissants before you go? I don’t want you to get faint on your way in the carriage. I will have her ready to join you in a few minutes.”

Rose closed the door, and Lucien opened the door to the boudoir as I jumped out of the bed.

“I hope I was loud enough, though you two are quite the competition in that arena. I am surprised Colette didn’t hear you two banging about in here!” She crossed her arms, and one would have thought she was angry, but a smile whipped across her lips. “Now, Comte. You can help Maddy get ready. I will wait in the hall. Be quick about it!”

She turned and dashed out into the next room. Lucien straightened out the bow of his solitaire. He was fully dressed, save for his justaucorps, which was draped over his arm.

“We best do as she says. Here, hand me your stays.”

He quickly helped me dress. Everything was in order as we stood at the doorway, ready to part.

My heart dropped. I hate this part…

He looked me in the eyes, just as he always did. “Remember, good night not goodbye. I will see you this evening, in your own bed.”

I nodded, tears still coming to my eyes. After all this time, I still could not handle saying goodbye—good night.

“I will see you this evening.” He brushed his lips against mine and pressed them softly against my forehead.

He opened the door, kissing my cheek as he gently pushed me out.

We did not stay long. Only long enough for me to eat something, which Rose and Colette insisted on. We hugged Rose and were off, back in the carriage on the wet streets, the cool breeze blowing past us. I was so thankful to breathe in the fresh, cool air. That summer heat had finally broken! Lucien and I could stroll about in the hedge maze, if he came by during the day.

When we arrived back at the Du Lorme manor, Constanze, Yolande, and Christine were waiting for us. I was not thrilled, to say the least. They all stood in the foyer, looking much like my beloved macarons, wearing frothy lace. Constanze wore a yellow gown, Christine in pink, and Yolande in brown.

“Oh, there you are! I was told you were on your way here. Dreadful weather we had last evening!” Constanze ran toward Colette and hugged her, kissing her on both cheeks. She looked to me before she turned away, grabbing Colette by the hand, “We must have a word with you.”

“Maddy.” Colette looked back to me.

“I am going to have a bath and make my toilette properly. I will be down in a bit.” I curtsied to the other women, who just looked away from me as if I was a servant or not really there at all.

Constanze dragged Colette into the dining room, obviously off to the salon to hold their conversation.

I had a feeling they didn’t want me there, anyway. Why should I care?

I made my way up to my bedchamber, where a hot bath waited for me. I quickly took off my gown, panniers, and stays with the help of Brielle.

“Shall I open the window for you, Mademoiselle? Let some of the air in?” she asked, pointing toward the window.

“Yes, please. Thank you.”

I dipped my toe inside of the water, feeling how warm and cozy it was. I jumped in and sat down deep in the water, until it came up to my chin. I craned my neck against the tub, looking up toward the clock, which only just reached nine.

What time were we awakened at?

It must have been early; it took almost an hour to reach the manor from town.

I made my toilette slowly. I had no intention of sitting in Constanze’s company. My dislike for the woman really had nothing to do with the fact that she looked down on me or that she had planned to thrust Yolande into Lucien’s sights. It was really just because she was a terrible person. Her love of gossip and toying with people’s lives was something that really did not sit well with me, especially her total enjoyment in toying with Colette’s life. If she had not found out that the Chevalier Gautier had no intention of bringing Colette to her fête, she would not have been so delighted in having them cross paths and uncover his infidelity. Then, she lied about it! She claimed she had no idea Vachel was with courtesans, when I knew that she had been one of the ones spreading those rumors that indeed turned out to be true.

Probably the only truth that ever escaped her big mouth.

I sat in the boudoir at the frilly, lace white table, writing to my father. The sun shone through the floor length window, which was open to let in the nice, cool breeze.

Colette walked in, seemingly upset. The Gazette was under her arm as she fell lazily on the chaise longue.

“Constanze and her little friends are gone?” I asked, not looking up from my parchment.

“Hmmm,” she hummed, unimpressed. “They are.”

I looked up to her as she opened up the paper, biting at her thumbnail as she did so. “And?”

“And what?” She looked to me, her brows raising on her head.

“What did they have to say for themselves?” I dipped my quill into the inkwell, looking back to the parchment and scratching away on it.

“Nothing of interest. Just things…things I wish not to speak of.”

My brow furrowed as I frowned, but I decided to leave it alone. I turned back to my parchment.

“Ugh, Versailles. I don’t understand it. All they do there is sit around and eat. I wonder how they don’t just get horribly fat,” she suddenly called out. Then, a few moments of silence passing by. “I wonder how they stand it, people constantly aware of their business.”

“Unhappy with this life, Colette?” I asked, putting my quill down.

Her face curled in anger. “I do not like being followed around. I do not like not being able to just do as I please.”

“You do…”

“No, I mean, do as I please and not have everyone’s eyes on me, watching me, commenting on it. What about you, Madeleine. You are able to fly away from this life if you wish, back to the country. Do you really like this life?”

I smiled. “Yes, I do. I like the parties. I like the decadence. I even like hearing the gossip. Though, you know me. I only get to listen to it, not partake in it. Not that I would want to spin tall tales about anyone like that.”

She turned to me, putting the paper down beside her. “How would you feel if they were spun about you?”

“Awful, of course.” I thought back to Lucien and his words. “They don’t, though.”

She sat back, folding her hands in her lap. “Because you are one of the lucky ones.”

“What do you mean?” My brow furrowed.

“Never mind. Rose will be here soon. She said she would stop by. Shall we sit out in the garden and await her?”

I agreed. Though I didn’t really want to leave the little room, I felt it best to accompany her.

We sat on the terrace, and the weather was absolutely beautiful—a welcomed break from the almost unbearable heat. I even needed my wool shawl while we were out there. We played Piquet, and I laughed as I won a second hand. The Marquis walked out and looked straight to his fountain.

“Hello, Pa-pa. Admiring the day?” Colette asked as she started to deal the cards once again.

“Yes, you could say that. I am actually examining what we have to work with. I am going to have an architect on the grounds later in the afternoon—a new, little project for your mother.” He folded his arms and looked around the grounds, his eyes bouncing about.

“Oh? Maman wants something else done, now?” Colette looked up to me, made a funny face, and I stifled a giggle.

“She wants a section for a closed in garden. A little section with stone benches and climbing vines. That sort of thing,” He waved his hand, putting the other on his hip. “A sort of lover’s rendezvous. I don’t know. To hell with it.”

“How much is that going to cost, I wonder?” Colette rolled her eyes.

He groaned. “You do not want to know. It keeps her happy.”

Colette frowned but nodded lightly, knowing it was true. We all wanted to keep the Marquise in a favorable mood.

“When can we expect such a blessed thing to be properly built?”

He sighed. “By the end of the month.”

Colette smiled. “Oh, by Maddy’s birthday, then!”

He turned slightly but nodded. “Yes, everything is being brought in fully grown and ready to be placed. It will be hectic, of course, and a pretty penny.” He turned, walking over to us. “You two haven’t…heard things around the grounds, have you? Perhaps seen things?”

Colette’s brow furrowed, looking up from her cards. “Seen things? Like what, Pa-pa?”

“Oh, nothing,” he said, turning. “Probably just the servant’s trying to stir things up.”

Colette put her cards down, turning to him. “What do you mean? What have they said?”

He shook his head. “No, no. I don’t want you two to start worrying about things. It is nothing. Just be prepared for the architect to come by later in the day. He will survey the grounds, and we will be locked up in the office for a better part of the evening.”

We both nodded as he turned, mumbling to himself as he went back into the salon.

I looked to Colette. “A new extension for the garden?”

Colette’s eyes widened as she looked about the cards. “That is Maman. She needs to find something to preoccupy her, but that suits me. It means if I want to go out, she will tell me to ‘Go, go’ and not hassle me.”

“Hmmm.” I grabbed a little macaron, taking a bite out of it. “Best to stay out of her way anyway, I suppose.”

“Very true.” She looked down, and Toulouse pounced after a fly in the air. She smiled. “That little thing is so adorable. It was nice of the Comte to give him to you.”

I nodded. “Well, as Lucien puts it, ‘They have enough animals about Versailles.’”

She stopped, leaning toward me and looking me over. “What is going on between you two?”

My whole body froze, fear leaping within me. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that he was so…I just don’t understand how he can just…he was so interested, and now it seems like he just…I cannot believe that there is another woman, but all the evidence points to it. He barely comes by here. Though, he does write you, as you said. All around town, all they speak about is how light on his feet he is, so he is obviously in love. I want to know who this woman is.” With her last words, she pointed at me, sitting back in her seat as she turned and looked back down to Toulouse.

“They…they say he is in love? They can see it?” I asked, holding my macaron by my lips.

“That is what Stanzy says,” she said, smiling to Toulouse.

I took a deep breath, pressing my lips together as I swallowed, trying to think.

“Men,” she said before I could answer her. “Yolande is absolutely furious. She has no idea who he is seeing, and it is obviously not her. Armand said that the La Cienega’s went back to Spain, so it isn’t their little thing, either.”

“Are you thinking out loud, or am I to answer you?” I asked, almost smiling. As long as her thoughts didn’t come back to me, we were safe from anyone finding out.

“Hmmm?” She looked to me. “Oh, thinking out loud, but any input you have is welcome.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I really have nothing to add. All you need know is that nothing of interest is happening between the Comte and me.”

She frowned, her brow furrowing, “Well, that isn’t very interesting.”

I laughed. “I’m sorry, Colette, that my life is not as interesting as you wish it.”

She smiled as she bent down and picked up Toulouse. She placed him on her lap and played with his paws.

“Besides, I believe we can both agree that your life is interesting enough for the both of us.” I smiled, looking to the kitten.

She laughed out loud. “Yes, I suppose that is very true.”

“Any progress with Armand?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not really. It is the same as before—passionate embraces, but nothing more. Sometimes, I find myself so frustrated by it! At this point, we are not even a couple. He could fly off and find someone else to entertain him.”

I really did not know how to respond. She heard all my comments, all my positive words of encouragement. I said that Armand seemed like the type of gentleman that would not do something like that. He genuinely seemed interested in Colette and not just bedding her.

She always spoke of how she wanted someone to chase after her to be with her, not just her body. Now that a man was actually showing a genuine interest, that was suddenly unacceptable.

Rose came by, just as she said, for a quick visit of tea, coffee, and some cakes as well as a turn around the grounds before she went off to town for the evening, to one of the more fanciful gambling parties.

The architect, Cleante Prouix, stopped by and observed the grounds. He was a handsome man with light brown hair and a mustache, and probably the same age as Lucien. He shakily, if nervously, greeted both Colette and I. I was surprised the Marquis entrusted Cleante, a young man, with this particular project. Usually, he had older, more experienced men do his designing and building. I assumed he was another reference, just the same as Armand was.

I sat at the dining room table, making sure that I stayed out of the way. I was reading my book when he walked into the room from the salon, smiling nervously as he bowed to me.

“Oh. I am sorry, Mademoiselle. I did not mean to interrupt you.”

I shook my head, putting my book down for a moment, “No, no. No interruptions. I trust the designs are going well?”

He nodded, his dark brown eyes looking me over before he took a big breath. “I must…report to the Marquis. Excuse me.”

I nodded as he left, looking back to my book.

Colette walked into the room from the salon, seemingly watching from the doorway. She leaned against it as she crossed her arms. “What was that all about?”

“What?” I looked up at her.

“He seems to be quite taken with you.” She smiled. “He is quite handsome as well. Not as handsome as the Comte, but he is not unfortunate.”

“What are you getting at?” I sighed, annoyed.

“I’m saying that wouldn’t marrying an architect be better than a spice merchant’s inferior?” Her eyes lit up, and she ran over to the table, sitting down next to me, to my right.

“Oh, Colette. Why does everything have to come back to marriage?”

“Because! We are not young. Not as young as most of the girls who are getting married. Besides, if Monsieur Prouix were to gain any kind of standing, any kind of fame in his area, you could buy a title! The King could bestow a title!”

I sighed angrily, shaking my head as I stood. “Colette, this is ridiculous. I am not having this conversation.”

She frowned, folding her arms. “It’s not like you are attached to anyone. The Comte is a distant memory. Why would you not take this opportunity?”

“Because I am not attracted to that man. That is why!” My voice raised, and I looked over at her in utter anger.

She stood. “Do not get all in a tizzy. Goodness, Maddy. What is with you? You know what? Never mind. Go on. Go up to your bedchamber to sulk and write your father.”

She turned and walked back into the salon, the sacque back of her dark green gown billowing out like a cape.

“Suits me just fine,” I said to myself.

* * * *

I was alone in my room all evening, until I went to meet Lucien by the servant’s entrance. The sight of him comforted my eyes as we escaped up to my bedchamber, where I locked my door.

He had taken off his justaucorps, waistcoat, and stock and solitaire, and they all lay strewn across the bed. I stood before him as he turned to me, looking down to me and over my nightgown, as I had already made my couchér. Then, he looked into my eyes, stroking my cheek. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head, holding onto his hand on my face.

“No.” He frowned. “There is something wrong. Now, tell me.”

“It’s nothing,” I said, pulling on his hand as we walked over to the bed.

“Ah! Tell me, then, if it is indeed nothing.”

I sat down in front of him, shaking my head. “Ugh, Colette.”

“Hmmm, as usual. What is it this time?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“She wants me to marry the architect,” I said blatantly, my mouth scrunching to the side.

“Ha!” He laughed, his hands falling to his sides. “Is that all?”

“How is that funny?” I asked, crossing my own arms. “The things she says are upsetting, Lucien. She thinks I have no one. She thinks I am still naïve, little Madeleine with no one to love, not knowing how to love. It hurts.”

He frowned. “Do you want to tell her, then? We can if you wish.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, because that is a good idea. She would wring my neck. I want to wait at least until my father comes home. Then, I will be able to go home and not worry about being in a place that I feel unwelcome in.”

He nodded. “I see.”

I stood up and walked into his arms as he wrapped them around me tightly, taking a deep breath of his cologne. I loved the smell of Lucien.

He looked down to me. “We will speak of those things, later. Now, we should just enjoy the moment.”

He picked me up and threw me on the bed, my nightgown shifting around me. “No! No, Lucien. You can’t. Colette is in her bedchamber.”

“The door is locked.” He laughed.

I nodded. “I know, but if she hears, she will know someone is in here with me!”

He got on top of me, holding my wrists down and looking me in the eye. “There is someone in here with you, is there not?”

He kissed me lightly on the lips before kissing my neck. His hands slowly ran down my arms and to my legs, where he pulled up my nightgown. He kissed the middle of my chest over the material and then my stomach, venturing further and further down, until my eyes rolled back in my head, my hips driving upward.

I grabbed hold of one of my pillows, putting it over my face as I tried to stifle a moan. A sudden jiggle from the handle on the other side of the door to the boudoir caused both Lucien and myself to suddenly look up.

“Maddy? Madeleine, why is the door locked?”

Colette was on the other side, knocking at the door and pulling at the handle.

I sat up, jumped off the bed, and pulled my nightgown down. I pushed Lucien down on the bed and yanked the drapes around it, encasing him inside. I then tore over to the door and unlocked it, my face flushed and heated.

She looked me over, her face creased with confusion or annoyance. “What on Earth is going on?”

I shook my head, pushing my hair off my shoulder, “What do you mean?”

“You are locking the door, now?” she asked, most definitely angry on some level, though curious.

I licked my lips. “I must have done it by accident. You know I never lock that thing.”

She nodded, looking around, unsure of what she was indeed looking for. “Fine.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked, crossing my arms around my chest. My legs shook and my thighs still pounded from Lucien and his antics.

She turned, crossing her own arms. “Armand. What else? He is like a stupid kettle. He blows hot one moment and is stone cold the next.”

My mind kept slipping to Lucien, and my heart beat a mile a minute as I thought about Colette finding him. What would she say?

“I don’t know what I am to do…but I see you are off to bed. Might as well. We have an early day tomorrow…breakfast with Stanzy.”

I groaned. “Ugh. Why?”

“Why not? They are my friends.”

“They are terrible people, Colette! I bet even they get confused about who they are to hate and why. They find something new about everyone, every day. Even the Dauphine is subject to their angered little whimsies.”

She shook her head. “No, they are my friends. They are the only reason I know what people say about me.” She crossed her arms again, looking down at her feet.

“What they say about you? What do you mean? You said something like that before. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Never mind. Go to sleep. You will need it.” She turned and walked off through the boudoir, closing the door behind her.

I stood for a moment, turning to see Lucien picking his clothes up off the bed and walking toward the door.

“Where are you going? No, wait!” I ran over to him, standing in front of him.

He looked at me. “I should go. Someone else could come in here and find us.”

I shook my head. “They can find us whenever we are in here. Now, stay. Please?”

He sighed, gazing into my eyes. He looked as if he was going to say something about it, but instead he nodded, tossing his clothing on the pink velvet armchair.

I smiled as I grabbed his hand, checking the lock on both doors to make sure no one could come in while we were busy. I then led him over to the bed, pushed him down on it, and pulled his blouse up over his head and off, tossing it to the floor. I ran my hands all over his chest as he grabbed my waist, holding onto it as I leaned down and kissed him. My hair fell all around him—a blonde curtain surrounding him.

He pulled my nightgown up and over my head. The soft material ran over my body silkily. Not wasting a moment, he grabbed me—now naked—and roughly pushed me down onto the bed.

His breeches were always the last to go. They were quickly off, one of his “assurance caps” securely on, and not a moment too late. We were making love, his thrusts long and slow, and his hands on my wrists above me, holding me down.

I was breathing heavily, mainly trying to stop myself from letting out a moan. One quickly escaped me, though it was very low. As soon as I let out the moan, Lucien let one out himself, causing a quick flash of intense pleasure to run through me, and incidentally, yet another moan.

It continued like that—the sounds of one another adding to our own pleasure—until my whole body started to rock, and a pulsing building within me. Lucien’s hands let go of my own and supported his upper body as he buried his head into the pillow beside me.