The curtains were thrust open to reveal the sunlight which cast brightly upon a large rumpled bed with a body beneath the flower-printed, silk covers. The body stirred and in moments a head of curly black hair popped from underneath the covers. The woman rubbed her piercing blue eyes and blinked them twice at her surroundings. She sat up to look about and then fell heavily back onto her pillows. Servants began to move in as well as a few chamber maids who began to air out a dress and dust miscellaneous objects of the bedroom. The noise from the hallways grew louder with each passing moment until a man walked into the room with excitement written upon his face.

The Duke of Orléans tiptoed over to his wife and brushed the stray hairs from her face in fascination at his new wife. "Caroline, my love, you must get up…the King has summoned you to accompany him with the princes and princesses of the blood to meet Madame la Dauphine."

Caroline sighed as she rolled out of bed with her nightgown scrunched up about her thighs. Phillipe raised his eyebrows in fascination but Caroline only sighed.

"Can a man not look at his wife?"

"Seeing as we are newly married that is all you want to do…stare at me until I feel like I want to take a bath…"

Phillipe threw his head back and laughed at his pretty little wife's joke but Caroline was not amused. "Really now…more comments like that and you shall pay."

Caroline took hold of her dress and studied the stitching. It was one of her best dresses. The dress was of a light crème and had blue lace around the top with blue flowers patterned onto the gown. "You have chosen a crème dress for me?"

Phillipe waved off a maid who offered him tea that was most likely imported from China or some place else that was vouching for France's favor. "Yes, it is your best color."

Caroline sighed but her attention was distracted by the racket coming from the hallways. A maid closed the door without having to be told and left the couple to peace.

"Must we live at Versailles?"

Phillipe chuckled as he grabbed his wife hand. She stared down into his dark eyes as he stared into hers and for a moment they understood each other. He was of a noble face, at least more encouraging than her brother's face. His jaw line was handsomely etched and his pointed nose perfectly centered on his face. His eyes were of normal size and were aged portraying his intellect. "Would you like me to take you to Orléans?"

Caroline broke out into a smile. "That would be wonderful!"

"Then I shall plan for it. It may take a while…"

"How long?"

"Two years at the least."

"Two years!"

An exasperated Caroline disappeared behind a screen and shoved on a chemise before stepping out once again to the freezing cold to have a newly entered maid tie on her corset. "What could the King possibly want of you? You have been working harder than most men at court and still you-"

"Dear, as much as I want to hear you complain I must meet with the King before he leaves for the border. I will see you tomorrow."

He kissed her cheeks and in an instant he had vanished into the hallways leaving Caroline in a fret of hateful behavior. She was trapped forever in this golden cage with all the other women of her sex with no way to get out except to escape to her husband's château in Orléans.

Caroline sighed and lifted her arms above her head for her small pannier to be fitted over her hips. Her petticoats and bodices were soon in place. Her ribbons and her diamonds in tact and her hair pinned up, she finally slipped on her heels and peered into the mirror. She looked fantastic, but what did it matter? This Marie Antoinette was said to be far prettier than most women at court. Caroline chortled. How could an Austrian be prettier than a French woman? Caroline decided she would just have to see for herself. Taking a quick back glance at her mirror, she stood straight, gathered her skirts, and left out into the bright hallway of Versailles…

A/N: Well, there you have it. If you have any questions about Marie and the life she led...ask me. It's not like I read those biographies for nothing...oh and review to tell me what you think.