The Queen and the Courtesan Read Online Free PDF Page B

few tricks myself these last few years. Have I not had two lovers fighting over me? Skilled as I am in the art of love, why have I failed to capture the King? Why does he not come to me now?’
    â€˜How can he when you are so well guarded?’
    Her head jerked up and she grew instantly thoughtful. ‘Then how can he get past Papa?’
    â€˜Ah, that is a difficulty for you to resolve. I couldn’t possibly advise.’
    Her mother quietly withdrew, leaving Henriette to restlessly pace her bedchamber, chaffing even more at the restrictions placed upon her. Then an idea came to her. Calling for pen and paper she quickly wrote a note which suggested that the King summon her father to some alleged duty away from the castle, which would leave the way open for her rescue. She quickly dispatched the missive with a loyal page.
    The plan worked like a charm. The Marquis innocently obeyed the King’s orders, and, once he had left the castle, Henry presented himself and carried off Henriette. No one dared to protest.
    She was duly installed at the Hôtel de Larchant in Paris, which had been specially prepared to receive her, decked out with new hangings and flowers in every room. ‘A pretty bird should have a pretty cage,’ Henry said, gathering her hungrily in his arms.
    â€˜I want no cage,’ Henriette softly protested. ‘Only the freedom to be every moment at your side.’ Carefully remembering all her mother’s advice, she did indeed shower him with love and fond words of affection, well laced with her own adventurous spirit. That night she gave the King all he had hoped and dreamed of, and beyond. As always, Henry was an eager lover, nor was he disappointed with his prize, and Henriette set no boundaries in her resolve to please him. She let him do with her as he willed, and even showed him one or two tricks of her own. Henry was enslaved.
    By the end of the month Henriette d’Entragues was firmly established as the royal favourite. One of her first unselfish acts was to solicit the pardon of the Prince de Joinville. But then he had previously been her lover, so she was determined to help him if she could. Henry generously granted the request, and in early November Joinville came to Saint Germain-en-Laye, accompanied by his uncle, the Duke of Mayenne, to pay obeisance to the King. Henry received him with much kindness. Soon after that, his royal mistress was presented with her new domain and granted a title to go with it. Gabrielle had been the Duchess of Beaufort, Henriette would in future be known as the Marchioness de Verneuil. Not quite so high in rank, but it was a good place to start. Henriette resolved that her next advancement would be the highest in the land, next to the King’s.

Part Two
    T HE I TALIAN M ARRIAGE

1599–1600
    â€˜ T he marriage arrangements have been successfully concluded.’ Ferdinand I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, beamed exultantly upon his niece. ‘In return I have agreed to release France from its indebtedness, the balance to be given in cash to a total sum of six hundred thousand livres , which will represent your dowry. The Ambassador has this very day been dispatched to Paris with the signed articles of marriage. What think you of that?’
    Marie de Medici gasped. Six hundred thousand livres ! How could she be worth such a sum? It terrified her. So many projects of marriage had been mooted and failed. She had once hoped to marry her cousin, Don Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano, a handsome and chivalrous chevalier , but it had come to nothing, as had this one with Henry IV, which had rumbled on for years. By now the King of France must be approaching fifty, and with a reputation for philandering, so she’d rather hoped that too might similarly flounder. No doubt he was pressed for cash, and she, as a rich royal bride, was seen as a solution to his troubles. Marie sighed. She should not complain. Was that not always the lot of