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Authors: Lila di Pasqua
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could impress her father. With her affections now stronger, her desire for him keener than ever before, she couldn’t simply finish her week with Tristan and let it end there. She decided to cut the time short, gamble, and possibly gain something more permanent.
Thus, the need to escalate her plan.
Claire cocked her head to one side. “Is that the only reason? You’re going to have Balzac removed just to have easier access to your lover?” There was something in Claire’s eyes that gave Elisabeth unease. A certain knowing look—as though she was seeing inside her heart. Impossible. She hadn’t become that transparent about her feelings for Tristan.
Had she?
Dismissing the notion as absurd, Elisabeth continued, “No. As a matter of fact, there is another reason. Antoine de Balzac is no better than the rest of the men at court, and well you know it, Claire. He shouldn’t be the Captain of the Musketeers if he is corruptible, which he is. And what’s equally worrisome is that he and Veronique are now lovers.”
Not exactly the primary motivation driving her plan, but it was all she was ready to admit to and far easier to voice than her undying love for Tristan.
Claire frowned and gave a nod. “Veronique only welcomes Balzac into her bed because of his esteemed position. As the commander of the Guard, he is close to the King. She wants to get close to the King through Balzac. She wants to replace you in His Majesty’s affections, become his favorite daughter, and reap the benefits that come with it.”
Unfortunately, that was true.
Elisabeth had better apartments, better treatment from the courtiers, more influence than her lesser siblings. Veronique wanted to take that from her.
It worried her. In truth, deep down inside it terrified her. With the ruthlessness of Veronique and others at court, if she lost her standing with the King, God only knew what would become of Claire. Or her.
“We cannot let Veronique succeed in her schemes,” Elisabeth said. It was all about survival. Those who didn’t have the favor of the King were treated poorly and had a miserable existence at the palace.
Elisabeth had Claire to think about. To protect. Even when she was married to the Duc, Elisabeth had protected Claire and had kept her sister with her at the Duc’s château, away from the glittering corrupt court of Versailles.
If Veronique ever managed to win favor and any kind of influence with the King, she’d cause undue misery to Elisabeth and Claire, simply because she could. Simply to exercise her power. A power Elisabeth had, but never abused in her privileged position.
Born months apart, Veronique and Elisabeth had always been rivals. Elisabeth’s mother had replaced Veronique’s mother, Diane, as the King’s favorite mistress. Diane had spent the rest of her days trying to gain preferential treatment for her daughter she couldn’t get for herself.
Since her mother’s recent death, Veronique had not relented in her ambition to advance her status at court. It motivated her every action. Her every move.
Veronique was using the unwitting Balzac in her plot—positioning and angling—trying to get close enough to the King to affect his choice, to influence the King in selecting a powerful husband for her. Elisabeth didn’t care who Veronique married, though she suspected Veronique had someone high ranking in mind. If Elisabeth hoped to secure a better match for herself this time around—and a good match for Claire—she couldn’t lose her standing.
Once Claire had a good husband, she’d be safe. And Elisabeth could then breathe a sigh of relief. Elisabeth’s betrothal to the Duc had been a surprise. She hadn’t known her father had been in talks with the man or she would have delicately swayed the King away from Roussel.
This time she knew the King was looking for husbands for his unwed daughters.
This time she was doing something about it.
Elisabeth turned toward the window again and spotted
Thus, the need to escalate her plan.
Claire cocked her head to one side. “Is that the only reason? You’re going to have Balzac removed just to have easier access to your lover?” There was something in Claire’s eyes that gave Elisabeth unease. A certain knowing look—as though she was seeing inside her heart. Impossible. She hadn’t become that transparent about her feelings for Tristan.
Had she?
Dismissing the notion as absurd, Elisabeth continued, “No. As a matter of fact, there is another reason. Antoine de Balzac is no better than the rest of the men at court, and well you know it, Claire. He shouldn’t be the Captain of the Musketeers if he is corruptible, which he is. And what’s equally worrisome is that he and Veronique are now lovers.”
Not exactly the primary motivation driving her plan, but it was all she was ready to admit to and far easier to voice than her undying love for Tristan.
Claire frowned and gave a nod. “Veronique only welcomes Balzac into her bed because of his esteemed position. As the commander of the Guard, he is close to the King. She wants to get close to the King through Balzac. She wants to replace you in His Majesty’s affections, become his favorite daughter, and reap the benefits that come with it.”
Unfortunately, that was true.
Elisabeth had better apartments, better treatment from the courtiers, more influence than her lesser siblings. Veronique wanted to take that from her.
It worried her. In truth, deep down inside it terrified her. With the ruthlessness of Veronique and others at court, if she lost her standing with the King, God only knew what would become of Claire. Or her.
“We cannot let Veronique succeed in her schemes,” Elisabeth said. It was all about survival. Those who didn’t have the favor of the King were treated poorly and had a miserable existence at the palace.
Elisabeth had Claire to think about. To protect. Even when she was married to the Duc, Elisabeth had protected Claire and had kept her sister with her at the Duc’s château, away from the glittering corrupt court of Versailles.
If Veronique ever managed to win favor and any kind of influence with the King, she’d cause undue misery to Elisabeth and Claire, simply because she could. Simply to exercise her power. A power Elisabeth had, but never abused in her privileged position.
Born months apart, Veronique and Elisabeth had always been rivals. Elisabeth’s mother had replaced Veronique’s mother, Diane, as the King’s favorite mistress. Diane had spent the rest of her days trying to gain preferential treatment for her daughter she couldn’t get for herself.
Since her mother’s recent death, Veronique had not relented in her ambition to advance her status at court. It motivated her every action. Her every move.
Veronique was using the unwitting Balzac in her plot—positioning and angling—trying to get close enough to the King to affect his choice, to influence the King in selecting a powerful husband for her. Elisabeth didn’t care who Veronique married, though she suspected Veronique had someone high ranking in mind. If Elisabeth hoped to secure a better match for herself this time around—and a good match for Claire—she couldn’t lose her standing.
Once Claire had a good husband, she’d be safe. And Elisabeth could then breathe a sigh of relief. Elisabeth’s betrothal to the Duc had been a surprise. She hadn’t known her father had been in talks with the man or she would have delicately swayed the King away from Roussel.
This time she knew the King was looking for husbands for his unwed daughters.
This time she was doing something about it.
Elisabeth turned toward the window again and spotted
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