Read Online The Ruby Talisman by Belinda Murrell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Belinda Murrell
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revoir.’
‘No, your Majesty!’ called Tilly. ‘Please save yourself. Save your children.’
The Queen glided forward gracefully, head held high, still carrying her son on her hip and holding her daughter by the hand. The retinue of black-clad ladies and gaggle of lap-dogs flowed behind her.
Tilly stared after Queen Marie-Antoinette longingly.
At the rear of the group was a young lady-in-waiting, about the same age as Amelie. She stopped beside the girls with a great air of importance, greeting them with an airy ‘bonjour’.
‘Bonjour, Mademoiselle Jeanette,’ greeted Amelie, curtseying in reply. ‘The Queen is very brave, is she not?’
‘The Queen is most upset,’ whispered Jeanette, peering over her shoulder to make sure no-one could hear her gossiping. ‘She has just received the Duchesse de Polignac. The Queen insists the Polignac family flee to Switzerland today, as she is terrified the Duchesse is in danger. She is to be disguised as a maid.’
The girl giggled at the absurdity of the Queen’s best friend dressed as a servant.
‘The Duchesse so far refuses to go, so the Queen will beseech the King to order their departure,’ continued Jeanette excitedly. ‘All is panic in the royal apartments. No-one knows if Versailles will be next. If the King’s troops could not defend the fortress of the Bastille, how could they ever defend Versailles? The Queen wishes to flee somewhere safer and has ordered us to start packing, but the King refuses to go.’
‘Why will he not go?’ demanded Amelie.
‘He says his duty is to stay here at Versailles,’ Jeanette replied. ‘He insists that he will not be a fugitive king. He says the people love him like a father.’
Tilly stamped her foot in frustration. ‘But what about his duty to his wife, the Queen, and his own daughter and son?’ insisted Tilly. ‘Doesn’t he realise that they will die if he doesn’t do something!’
The girl shook her head in sympathy, brow creased with concern.
‘You may well be right, but for once the King will not be swayed. It seems not even the Queen may convince him.’
Jeanette realised the royal party were nearly out of sight and she dashed after them, flinging a hasty ‘au revoir’ over her shoulder.
‘Will the King and Queen escape?’ asked Amelie.
‘No,’ replied Tilly firmly, a great weight upon her heart. ‘The King dithers and refuses to accept the situation, so when they finally try to escape it is too late. I told you. They will be guillotined.’
She thought about her own attempt to warn the Queen. Could I actually change history by urging King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette to escape? What if the whole history of the French Revolution was changed by my actions? What would that mean to the world now?
8
The Chevalier’s Proposal
The girls went to the Great Hall, where the palace kitchens were located, and begged some brioche with hot café au lait. Mimi helped herself to an orange, which she ate delicately with her tiny, wizened paws.
They felt so much better after some food. Their petitdéjeuner was interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of the Chevalier, Amelie’s intended husband.
He bowed a formal greeting to the girls, fluttering his handkerchief and simpering at Amelie. ‘Bonjour. My condolences, Mademoiselle de Montjoyeuse. I am extremely pleased to find you. I called on your apartment this morning but found no-one at home. Excusez-moi. I know this is irregular, but...’ he glanced at Tilly meaningfully, flicking open his snuffbox and taking a delicate sniff. ‘Perhaps mademoiselle would allow me the indulgence of a private word with Mademoiselle de Montjoyeuse?’
Amelie glared at Tilly in alarm, begging her not to leave.
‘Monsieur could have nothing to say that cannot be said in front of my ... ma cousine,’ replied Amelie, holding herself stiffly. The Chevalier bowed and took Amelie’s hand in his, kissing the top of her glove. Amelie had to restrain herself from
‘No, your Majesty!’ called Tilly. ‘Please save yourself. Save your children.’
The Queen glided forward gracefully, head held high, still carrying her son on her hip and holding her daughter by the hand. The retinue of black-clad ladies and gaggle of lap-dogs flowed behind her.
Tilly stared after Queen Marie-Antoinette longingly.
At the rear of the group was a young lady-in-waiting, about the same age as Amelie. She stopped beside the girls with a great air of importance, greeting them with an airy ‘bonjour’.
‘Bonjour, Mademoiselle Jeanette,’ greeted Amelie, curtseying in reply. ‘The Queen is very brave, is she not?’
‘The Queen is most upset,’ whispered Jeanette, peering over her shoulder to make sure no-one could hear her gossiping. ‘She has just received the Duchesse de Polignac. The Queen insists the Polignac family flee to Switzerland today, as she is terrified the Duchesse is in danger. She is to be disguised as a maid.’
The girl giggled at the absurdity of the Queen’s best friend dressed as a servant.
‘The Duchesse so far refuses to go, so the Queen will beseech the King to order their departure,’ continued Jeanette excitedly. ‘All is panic in the royal apartments. No-one knows if Versailles will be next. If the King’s troops could not defend the fortress of the Bastille, how could they ever defend Versailles? The Queen wishes to flee somewhere safer and has ordered us to start packing, but the King refuses to go.’
‘Why will he not go?’ demanded Amelie.
‘He says his duty is to stay here at Versailles,’ Jeanette replied. ‘He insists that he will not be a fugitive king. He says the people love him like a father.’
Tilly stamped her foot in frustration. ‘But what about his duty to his wife, the Queen, and his own daughter and son?’ insisted Tilly. ‘Doesn’t he realise that they will die if he doesn’t do something!’
The girl shook her head in sympathy, brow creased with concern.
‘You may well be right, but for once the King will not be swayed. It seems not even the Queen may convince him.’
Jeanette realised the royal party were nearly out of sight and she dashed after them, flinging a hasty ‘au revoir’ over her shoulder.
‘Will the King and Queen escape?’ asked Amelie.
‘No,’ replied Tilly firmly, a great weight upon her heart. ‘The King dithers and refuses to accept the situation, so when they finally try to escape it is too late. I told you. They will be guillotined.’
She thought about her own attempt to warn the Queen. Could I actually change history by urging King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette to escape? What if the whole history of the French Revolution was changed by my actions? What would that mean to the world now?
8
The Chevalier’s Proposal
The girls went to the Great Hall, where the palace kitchens were located, and begged some brioche with hot café au lait. Mimi helped herself to an orange, which she ate delicately with her tiny, wizened paws.
They felt so much better after some food. Their petitdéjeuner was interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of the Chevalier, Amelie’s intended husband.
He bowed a formal greeting to the girls, fluttering his handkerchief and simpering at Amelie. ‘Bonjour. My condolences, Mademoiselle de Montjoyeuse. I am extremely pleased to find you. I called on your apartment this morning but found no-one at home. Excusez-moi. I know this is irregular, but...’ he glanced at Tilly meaningfully, flicking open his snuffbox and taking a delicate sniff. ‘Perhaps mademoiselle would allow me the indulgence of a private word with Mademoiselle de Montjoyeuse?’
Amelie glared at Tilly in alarm, begging her not to leave.
‘Monsieur could have nothing to say that cannot be said in front of my ... ma cousine,’ replied Amelie, holding herself stiffly. The Chevalier bowed and took Amelie’s hand in his, kissing the top of her glove. Amelie had to restrain herself from
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