The Adventurer Read Online Free PDF Page B

is a
cat
box!”
    As the others in the room laughed at the king’s jest, Louis lifted the kitten out of the box, cradled him in his silk-clad arm, and scratched him behind his pointed ears.
    The kitten responded with a happy purr.
    “Your father, he knows how much I love
les chats.”
He held up the kitten before him, very close to his nose. “But what shall we call you,
petit?”
    “If I may be so bold, Your Majesty. I had taken to calling him Étoile while we were in Paris.”
    “La! C’est parfait!
Because he is so brilliant and so bright ...”
    “And he is quite a happy traveler, too. He sat curled upon the back of the coach seat all the way here, watching the scenery pass through the windows.”
    Louis glanced to where a young woman, uncommonly beautiful with large eyes and an elegant mouth, had come forward to stand beside him. She stood poised like a delicate dove. “Look,
ma chère?
Is not
le petit chat
beautiful?”
    The lady smiled and inclined her head, stroking the kitten softly. There was an ease and informality in the touch of her slim fingers as she stood beside the king, their heads bowed together. She could not be the queen, this woman, Isabella knew, for Queen Marie was some seven years older than Louis and it was quite known that since the birth of their tenth child, they did not much associate with one another. These two whispered together and when the woman laughed and reached up to touch Louis softly on the side of his face, Isabella realized she must be none other than the king’s inimitable mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour.
    It was a thought confirmed not a moment later by the king himself.
    “The marquise would be honored if you would grace us with your company this evening at a small supper in her apartments here at the palace.”
    Supper? Her father hadn’t said anything about her staying at the palace any longer than to exchange a few pleasant words and curtsies.
    “Oh, I do thank you, Your Majesty. It would indeed be a great honor, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
    Isabella heard a soft gasp behind her. She noticed several of the courtiers standing nearby open their mouths in astonishment. One of them even shook his head at her in disapproval. Apparently the king and his mistress were not customarily refused.
    She quickly explained. “I am traveling with my aunt, you see, on our way back to England. We had not planned to stay the night at Versailles, but were going to continue onward for the coast. I’m afraid we did not engage rooms for the evening.”
    “That can be easily remedied by
mon secrétaire,
Pitou. We shall find an apartment for you and
ta chère tante
here, at the palace, for the night.”
    He glanced to his right, apparently to Pitou, who stepped forward, nodded, bowed, and immediately set off.
    “There. You see, it is already settled. Now you may spend the day enjoying the pleasures of Versailles instead of stuffed away inside some creaking carriage. Then you may depart for Calais on the morrow refreshed and rested.
Oui?
And I can even provide you with company for your journey.” He waved to a man who stood across the room. The man walked quickly forward, an older gentleman who wore a rather large periwig.
    “Lord Belcourt here has been visiting us from England and departs on the morrow from Calais as well. I’m certain he would welcome the company of two ladies in his coach.”
    “Oh, indeed, Your Majesty,” the man said. “In fact, as it seems we are on the same ship, and since I am personally acquainted with Lady Isabella’s father, the duke, it would be an honor to see the ladies safely delivered all the way to Edinburgh.”
    Isabella could see no polite way of refusing. “Thank you very much, my lord. Your Majesty.” She dipped into another curtsy. “We would be honored.”
    Louis took her hand and pressed a light kiss to it.
    “Until tonight then, Mademoiselle Drayton.”

Chapter Three
    The palace gardens were every bit as grandiose and