Chapter Thirty-One
“I won’t go if you don’t want me to,” Diane said worriedly.
“I want you to go.”
“Are you sure? Because I’ll stay behind.”
“I don’t want you to stay behind. Go. And have fun.”
“I just don’t want you to feel left out.”
Diane’s insistence on staying with me was sweet, but she kept shooting anxious glances at the barge floating at the edge of the canal, as if it would leave without her if she took her eyes off it for a moment. She wanted to go on the group outing with the dauphin, and I wasn’t about to stop her.
“I promise that I won’t feel left out, Diane. I’m used to being alone. I prefer it most of the time.”
“But—”
“No!” I said with a laugh. “There is no way I’m going to let you miss out on a barge ride down the Grand Canal with the dauphin. If you don’t get on right now, I’ll drag you there myself.”
“I thought for sure that the dauphin would invite you too. He seems to be so taken with you.”
“I’m sure he just wants time with some of the other girls too. I’m not worried. And that doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is that the dauphin’s ardor for you is clearly heating up. He has consistently invited you on group outings, and you’re not going to miss this one,” I insisted.
“Are you really, really sure?”
I rolled my eyes and gave Diane a gentle shove toward the barge. “Yes! Now go!”
“All right. But I’ll come find you right after and tell you absolutely everything that happened.”
Diane threw her arms around me for a quick hug, then ran off toward the barge. She was the last to board, and it launched just after she stepped on. A round of applause arose from the crowd assembled around the Canal to watch the departure. A large fête was being thrown in the gardens that day, and the dauphin had encouraged the courtiers to view his entourage.
As the barge started to make its way down the Canal, cutting smoothly through the water, the group of courtiers split off into two groups. Each group took one side of the Canal to walk down as they followed the barge. Prince Louis really did adore attention.
While most courtiers took off after the barge, some remained in the gardens to enjoy the fête, their brightly colored justaucorps and dresses like flowers amongst the riotous green of the lawns and hedges. All the fountains had been turned on, a rarity saved only for special occasions, what with the difficulty of transporting water to Versailles. Even the king’s favorite attraction, the water bower, was running in the Grove of the Three Fountains.
I was absolutely fascinated by the water bower. It was one of the most talked-about waterworks at Versailles. Even Papa had loved it, and he was never the kind of person who enjoyed outdoor endeavors. At the entrance to the Grove of the Three Fountains, multiple jets on either side of the path sent water arcing over the heads of those who passed underneath. It was said that not a single drop of water touched those heads.
I had to see it for myself. The groves would provide a delightful distraction for the next few hours until Diane came back from the outing.
I snaked my way around the remaining courtiers milling about to get to one of the little paths hewn through the hedges that led to the groves, helping myself to a lemon tart off the tray of a roving servant. The king had put a great deal of effort into this fête: the dauphin must be close to choosing a bride. Why else would so much emphasis be put on the courtiers observing the outing? They wanted the nobles to see their future dauphine, whomever she may be.
It was clear that Prince Louis had favorites. Anna de Medici, Princesse Henrietta, and Duchesse Maria had been chosen for every group outing so far and solo outings on other occasions. Duchesse Maria explained her high position in the matter had to do with her father’s political wrangling and nothing to do with affection, but I hoped for her sake that there was some fondness between them.
And I was still torn between trying to win the competition and trying to find a way to be with Auguste—surely there had to be a way for us. Though he was officially fatherless, he was still the king’s son.
“No! We’re doing this! Don’t argue with me.”
The hushed whisper emanated from an opening in the path just ahead of me. I stopped to listen. I immediately recognized the voice. And my curiosity was piqued by this clandestine meeting in the gardens.
“We’ll get caught. It’s not worth it!” said another voice, also incredibly familiar.
With tentative steps, I moved closer to the opening. I was certain who was speaking, but the crass answering shout confirmed it.
“It is worth it!”
“But they haven’t been on an outing together for some time now!”
“It doesn’t matter! I’m barely noticed in this competition, and you have never been noticed. And you know he likes her—she cannot win, or Mère will be furious! We have to do this!”
The girl who had dropped all pretense of being quiet and just started yelling was Severine. I would know that whiny sound anywhere. And the other girl had to be Alexandre. But why were they arguing in a secluded area of the gardens? If Lady Catherine was going to be angry about something, it would be about her daughters hiding away and not mingling with the other nobles.
“If you want to do this, you’re going to have to do it alone,” Alexandre said, her voice strained as if she were trying not to cry. “I’m not going to be part of it.”
“That’s not how this is going to go. We’re doing this together. Mère said—”
“I don’t care what Mère says! It’s never about us. It’s always about her.”
“Fine. Give it to me, then. Come on! Hand it over.”
I crept as close as I dared to the sounds of the struggle—grunting, the scuffling of feet, and the slap of a hand on flesh. Should I have intervened? It was never pleasant to be caught up in Severine’s wrath. Just as I’d decided to intercede from a distance, a vial rolled out of the alcove and bounced off my foot. The vial was small and made of thick glass, with a metal lid that had a chain threaded through it so it could be worn as a necklace. It was the perfect size to hide under clothing. The liquid inside was a rich amber that gleamed when I held it up to the light. It was strangely beautiful, the glass itself cool in my palm. I didn’t want to take my eyes off it.
“Come back! Alexandre!”
Alexandre burst from the alcove, tears staining her cheeks. I froze with my hand still in the air, but she didn’t even seem to see me. She brushed past me without a word and disappeared into the maze of paths within seconds.