27
CHAPTER 36
As they were just finishing an early supper Louis signaled for a servant. She had thought they were going to see a small musical performance down the hall, but Louis seemed to have something else on his mind. In came a page carrying a small, wooden box. Louis took it from him and kneeled beside where she sat.
"I had it commissioned with the royal jeweler months ago after you said you wanted it. Though it was the strangest idea I ever heard at the card table, I found it quite endearing." Inside was a single gold louis coin hanging from a delicate, gold chain.
"Oh, Louis, this is beautiful! Thank you. I can't believe you remembered. It really is the perfect way to keep you with me always." Some girls had a picture of their husbands in their wallet or as the background of their phone, but she got her husband's face stamped on a gold coin. This was the coolest marriage ever.
He took her hand as they walked from the dining room. The performance was only an hour long and they could not be more anxious to return to their room for the night. The servants were dismissed before they even stepped into the bedroom. They were quite capable of ripping off each other's clothes without any assistance.
Tumbling into bed, between kisses, Louis asked, "Are you going to give me a lot of babies?"
She sat frozen in thought, sitting on his stomach. Children had been mentioned, but babies were something far more shocking. She was changing the future of the world every minute she was in this century. Bearing this country an heir to the throne would drastically change the future. For better or worse she did not know.
Looking at it on a positive note, Louis and she were married. It was only natural to have babies next. If she was going to be queen she had to understand that she was the single hope for the future of France. Besides, if she were not meant to change the future, then God would never have sent her to the past.
"My love," she began, "I will give you as many babies as you want of me."
"I would be happy with six or seven."
She could not stop her eyes from widening; that was certainly a big number to have without a single epidural. "Well…sure, I guess."
His head cocked to the side. "But then I am not quite sure. Too many children can pose a burden on their parents if they are not equally desired. I, myself, find multiple children quite tiresome. Elora, you know me the best, how many children would I like?"
"Louis, I don't think God could have given me a better gift than you." She took the time to kiss him, as he rolled her beneath him. "You are the best thing to ever come into my life. As to children…three, maybe four.–Yet, given the way I'm feeling right now with you on top of me and thinking about the lifetime of nights we have to spend together, we might have kids enough to start our own baseball team."
"Elora, I do not fully comprehend your phrasing, but I understand enough."
ooOoo
Colbert was glad the royal honeymoon lasted only a fortnight, then it was back to Versailles. He had handled all affairs of state during that brief time. The royal couple could not have looked happier or more refreshed upon their return. He liked his queen well enough, but it was now his job to help guide her as he did for the king for so many years.
The first night of their return he needed to speak with the king about an urgent matter of state. The Belgians were threatening to break their treaty because of a land dispute. There was nothing he liked less than to have to get between the king and the Minister of War. The Belgians were frequently quarreling about this same occurrence. This was not so much of high concern, but his king needed to know immediately.
Colbert went to see him in the queen's chambers, but the guard at her door said the king was not there, that he was in his own chamber. So, he thought, the king must be bored with the queen already to not be in her bed. He had not expected King Louis to tire of her so quickly; they had not even been married a month. He had warned the king about the likelihood of this happening.
If Louis did not take the queen regularly how would he ever get her with child? He would now have to remind the king about his duty to the queen. Louis should at least know his royal duty to bed her habitually until she was fattening with the heir to the throne. He marched himself straight for the king's bedchamber. He knocked at the door, stated his name, and heard King Louis chuckle. A brief moment later he heard the king say he could enter.
What he saw when he entered the room forced him to gasp with shock and embarrassment. King Louis was standing quite naked before him with a great grin on his face. Beside him was Queen Elora, with only a sheet clumsily wrapped around her naked body.
"Your…majesties…I…" He was speechless for the first time in his life.
"Colbert, Elora and I were just discussing matters of state."
The queen held in a giggle as she moved a pillow in front of the king's fully erected male member.
He forgot to bow as he ran from the room. As the door closed he could hear them break into laughter. Protocol was for the king to go the queen's bed when he felt the urge to. It was clearly explained to her that it was inappropriate for her to go to the king. She was willfully disobeying protocol. Why did Louis not follow this protocol, he knew better? He would have to speak to them both tomorrow on the matter, but he doubted his input would have any bearing on how they decided to spend their nights together.
ooOoo
Elora was contemplating her plans for France. Since she was now queen she could really make a difference. But should she make a difference? She would surely change the future. It was not like she was attempting to create penicillin three-hundred years ahead of schedule; though this thought kept coming to her. Even small changes could have a massive effect on the future. Ever since she came to France she felt bound like a dog on a leash, unable to let herself be fully free. If she were she might make changes with the effect of herself not even being born or something similarly terrifying. She had worried about this for too long and she was tired in living in fear of the future. She had to think about what was best for the present.
When she returned home to Versailles as queen she saw and experienced the celestial city as she never had before. This improved viewpoint was agreeable, even though things were not as perfect as she would have liked. She enjoyed the familiar friendly faces she knew. The friends she had before she became queen were the only true friends she really had here. She was befriended by so many now, who only pretended to like her. The company she kept was enjoyable enough, but she still preferred Chris or Thérèse or even just sitting with Suzanne beside her.
Philippe was not going to be asked back to Versailles until the summer. He would have to remain secluded in the country until then. It did make her feel more comfortable not having him around, but there were brief moments when she missed him.
Thérèse was one of her ladies maids, which made the idea of ten members of nobility doing everything for her somewhat bearable. If she was not by Louis' side, she was paired up with either Thérèse or Suzanne the majority of her free time.
Affairs of state were so grueling. There were meetings, parties, afternoon teas, and other related social events. She received so many invitations to everything imaginable. By sending proxies she did not have to attend all, which she was prone to do more often than not. For pleasure, the royal couple attended cavalry tournaments, equestrian displays, concerts, and plays.
Louis and she could not spend one night apart. She loved his attention, for he was an attentive husband. She could never imagine a better marriage; delight ruled the day and love the night.
In his room one night, after they had just made love, Louis decided to speak to her about something that at one time or another had troubled him.
"Elora, when the time comes that we are both in heaven we shall be together. There was a time when I feared we would not meet in the hereafter, but now you are queen, by right under God, our eternity is certain."
She could not imagine a stranger conversation to be having, but she went with it. "Why would being queen have anything to do with my place in heaven? All of God's children a created equal."
"But not all end equal. Both you and I are ordained by God. We have been chosen to sacrifice our lives to maintain God's justice in this realm. Therefore it is certain we will be rewarded in heaven."
"Let me get this straight, Louis. This crown," she motioned to the imaginary one on her head, "guarantees me a spot in heaven?" Louis nodded. That was sort of a cheat. "Shouldn't it be what I do with this crown that determines whether I go to heaven or hell?"
"Elora," he took a breath. "Let us not quarrel. We are destined for each other. God would never change his mind."
She got out of bed to warm herself by the fire. He followed her. As he saw her shiver he took her nightgown and robe off the nearby chair and began to dress her.
"Elora, there is something else that has been weighing on my mind.–If by chance, you do go back to the twenty-first century, I would like to know conditions of how you, the Queen of France, will be living?"
"Back home, no one would recognize me as a queen. I would live comfortably as I always lived, without all the grandeur you have indulged me with here."
"That is precisely what I thought."
Her eyebrow lifted with suspicion. What exactly was he planning? Louis took her by the hand and walked to the wall to left of the bed. He pointed to a gilded flower, which had a slightly different engraving on it than all the rest along the wall. Louis pushed it in and as he did a part of the wall opened. It was a door!
"Oh my God!"
Louis chuckled, "I thought you would like that."
"Who knows about this?"
"Only the architect and myself and now you."
Holding a candelabrum he led her into the dark, secret hall. The hall was narrow yet there was ample room to walk through. The air in the halls was somewhat smoky to breathe, but it was not enough to irritate the senses.
They passed a small spiral staircase. "This leads to the upper chambers," he added.
Louis brought her deep within the passage to what looked like a dead end. He pulled out a stone on the side wall. He reached his hand in and turned a latch. Immediately the end wall opened to reveal a small room.
"Neat!" Elora whispered.
"What do you use it for?"
"Nothing, as of yet. We are the only ones who know this room exists. You must be sure to tell no one. I shall hide here a small, but precious treasure if it comes to that. You shall never have to want for anything in your life, no matter what comes. You shall always have the means to live like a queen as you rightly deserve."
"Louis, your generosity overwhelms me. But what would my parents think of my going on a trip to France and coming home with a handful of antique, gold coins? How could I possibly explain my sudden wealth?"
"Will you not tell your family the truth of it?"
"Yeah and then I'll be locked away in a padded cell with a thorazine drip and electro-shock therapy."
"What do you mean?" His tone was concerned.
"They'd never believe me. They'd definitely think I'd gone insane.–Louis, things are very different in the future. It is much easier to prove I am from the future than to prove I lived in the past."
"If I could believe you, then your family would certainly. I am certain of it."
"Perhaps they would, but I will never have to worry about that because I'm not going anywhere. I am sure I will never have cause to come back to this room again." She hugged him. "I really hope I don't."
He kissed her, as if to seal certainty to such a declaration. "As do I, my love."
ooOoo
The days passed, as they always do. Louis and she were in a meeting with the ambassador from England when a page approached Louis with an express letter. As Louis read the note his expression grew more and more grave. When he said nothing to her plea to know what it said she knew it must be bad news. She hoped it did not mean war.
He finally handed the note to her with a concerned stare. She grabbed the note and quickly read that Prince Philippe's country chateau had burned to the ground last night. Philippe could not escape the fire, which spread rapidly. He had been killed!
Her hand slapped as it went to her mouth. "No!" A sudden feeling of despair came upon her. It was like a velvet drape had fallen over her eyes for a moment.
Louis rose from his throne when she did. She took his arm with need and decision. "Take me to my chambers, Louis." As they cleared from the great hall and walked toward her room, they had some degree of solitude. "How could this have happened? Couldn't something have been done? Isn't it possible he could have escaped the fire?"
"Elora, I am sorry you are in such a state. Nothing could have been done to prevent this. He could not have escaped."
In the night she had a nightmare about Philippe's death. She had been in Philippe's house sleeping. As she woke to the smell of smoke she ran outside to safety. She could see from where she was Philippe was still inside the house; banging against the window, trying to escape the fiery flames. He was calling out to her, begging, but she could not hear his words. She could not help him. By some unseen presence, she was forced to stand by and observe the destruction. She just watched as the fire consumed the house and her brother-in-law.
Louis was sleeping peacefully beside her when she woke gasping for breath as if she had been the one suffocated by the smoke. She laid in the cold, dark bed staring at Louis. She could not fall back asleep the rest of the night.
The next day the funeral commenced. Philippe's remains were sealed in an elegant black casket. They walked behind the carriage to the church in the town. The mass was brief and those who attended were rather unaffected.
Louis wore black, which was the proper attire, but she could see no sign of grief. He had not yet shed a tear that she had seen. It seemed she felt more remorse than even Louis did. She took into understanding that he did not get along with Philippe. Most fights in the recent months between the two were started because of her. Yet this could be no excuse for not mourning the loss of a brother.
When she spoke to him about Philippe he expressed no hint of regret or a wish that they had gotten along better. He did not reminisce about their childhood. Any sign other than his basic dispassionate manner about his brother would have satisfied her. After the funeral, he acted as he did before Philippe's death.
Louis wanted her to go hunting with him the next day, but she fervently declined. She had no interest in viewing or participating in a hunt, especially not the way she was feeling. He still wanted her to join him because he would likely be staying overnight at the lodge and he did not want to leave her alone at the chateau. He knew very well she would not be alone. She did not particularly want to spend the night without him either, but it would just be for one night, so she encouraged him to go without her and clear his mind.
He left the next day with little encouragement. She summed up Louis' sudden need to hunt as a subconscious means of distraction; perhaps a way to avoid coping with Philippe's death. She hated being left alone while she was feeling so blue, but such was life.
That night she woke to Louis coming in her bedroom. She had not been expecting him to come home so soon. He did not get into bed or say anything to her; he just stood beside the bed holding a candle.
"Louis, tell me about it tomorrow. Just get into bed."
Then Elora heard his breathing and knew he was not Louis. Her heart began to pound so hard that was all she could hear. She could not even take a breath. She did not want to be kidnapped again. Fear persuaded her to avoid looking up. Her eyes were fearfully curious though. She finally looked up to see Philippe!
"Oh my God!" Elora scrambled to the other side of the bed. "A ghost?"
"Elora, please do not scream. Do not be afraid…I'm alive."
"No, you can't be. We were told you were dead. We had your funeral. Someone would have told me if you were still alive."
Philippe's image did not fade away though. Slowly, she walked over to him and put her hand on his warm, sturdy chest. He was alive! "But you're dead. This must be a dream. My dreams have been blackened by image of your ghost.–Please tell me this isn't a dream!" She gripped his shirt in desperate agitation.
"You're not dreaming. I am alive, Elora." He tapped her hand with his, as a means to comfort her anxiety, but her heart was beating too quickly for that.
"Oh, Philippe." Elora hugged him. "I knew you would have escaped the fire.–Does Louis know?" she asked eagerly. Perhaps that was why he was not mourning properly.
"No, he does not and I wish you would let it remain that way. No one must know. I am not safe."
"Why should I keep it a secret? Why do you say you're not safe? You didn't fake your own death did you? What are you up to now?"
She stepped back from him, remembering he was the same Philippe who sent her off to die from Chartres. She lit another candle and put on her robe.
"You will not believe me," came his reply.
"Come sit down by the fire and tell me everything."
"All right.–It was late at night and I could not sleep. I was taking a walk in the west garden. With a blink of an eye the entire chateau was up in flames. No one was able to get out.–Elora, the fire was no accident. It was set with malicious intent by someone we know." He took a breath and she noticed he was trembling. He looked so scared. "I saw the king's guards fleeing the scene. "
She stood and drew toward the window. The room was suddenly stifling and she found it hard to breathe. She was calling into question everything she knew about. Was Philippe really insinuating Louis was in some way responsible for the fire? It would explain Louis' strange behavior, but to even look down that road was ridiculous. If he were going to kill Philippe he would have done so right after he found out he was responsible for her kidnapping. Philippe must have saw wrong in the darkness.
"Louis is not capable of that. I know him; he would never kill anyone. You must be mistaken, Philippe."
"I am not." He shook his head resolutely.
Though he seemed rather certain, she was not quite so convinced. "If you believe Louis was trying to kill you why would you come back here?"
"To seek you out. I knew you would be the only one to protect my life."
"So you want me to keep my husband from trying to kill you?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes, I tell you Louis wants me dead.–I beg you not to tell him I'm alive."
She could not promise that. "I cannot keep such a secret, especially from Louis."
"What if I run away from here tonight? You will have no way of proving it."
"I would still tell him. My word would be proof enough. You should tell him though."
"What, so he can finish the job?"
"So he can have his only brother back. I promise you I will not let him harm you."
"With you on my side he would not dare. You give me no choice. I will tell him."
She nodded her head in satisfaction. "So where were you planning on staying tonight?" He only tipped his head and looked about the room in response to her question. She huffed, not liking what she was about to say. "You may stay here for tonight only. I will see Louis in the morning when he returns. I shall not tell him you are alive yet. I will leave that to you.-Just make sure you're out of sight when the servants enter in the morning," Elora said as she threw him a pillow, closed the curtain around her bed, and climbed in.
"By the way, how did you get in? There are guards at my door."
"I waited until they fell asleep."
Lovely! Those guards really did a lot of good being there. She was not sure she was doing the right thing letting him stay, but it would only be for a few hours and he would tell Louis tomorrow.
The next morning she went to speak with Louis. She did not know how to question her husband for murder, but she had to know. She greeted Louis, giving him a quick kiss upon the mouth. They left the room to take a walk about the chateau.
"I have reason to believe the fire that killed Philippe was caused intentionally," she said hesitantly.
"What reason?" Louis asked warily as he turned to his wife.
"I was told someone saw men on horseback riding away from the scene."
"Who told you this?" he pressed.
She thought he looked worried or was it just curiosity? "Do you have any idea who those men were? You can tell me, Louis, I won't be mad."
"I haven't any idea who they were. Philippe had many enemies."
She was almost afraid to ask, "Were you one of his enemies?"
"Elora, he was my brother."
"Answer the question, Louis."
"No, I was not his enemy, even though he alleged so much of me."
She believed Louis. She had to; he was her husband. Philippe had to have been mistaken. Louis could never have done what he was accused of. It was dark that night, how could he possibly identify men in uniform at a distance? It was not as if he could read their coat of arms at a hundred feet away.
"Louis, what would you do if Philippe were alive?"
"I would take him in my arms and tell him never to leave here again."
"Truly!–If he were to walk in this room this very day you would welcome him?"
"Of course. Do you feel better now, my love?"
"Yes, much. Louis, come with me." Elora nearly dragged him back to her chambers with her. They went into her bedchamber and she began to look for Philippe. She searched behind the curtains, in her wardrobe, and under her bed but found no one. She wondered where Philippe had slinked off to.
"Where are you?" she questioned, but Philippe did not answer.
"I am right here," Louis said as he pulled her into his arms. He seemed to think she brought him in here for a quickie.
"No, Louis we can't." She broke away from his kisses.
"Why ever not?"
Because your dead brother may be hiding in this room, she wanted to say.
He touched her cheek and said softly, "We have not been intimate since…"
"Since the news of Philippe's death." She had not noticed until now, but he was right.
"I have missed you." Louis said earnestly, with sad eyes that penetrated her heart.
She looked about the room once more. There was nowhere else he could really be hiding that she had not checked. The likelihood of him still being there and not saying anything was slim. She finally nodded her head and rolled into bed with Louis.
ooOoo
Philippe moved through the servant's passages until coming to Elora's secret salon up in the attics. Judging by its condition she had not been there for some time. Now as royalty she must have been finding it hard to sneak away. He did not like hiding in the queen's chambers alone. He still felt the need to remain elusive, which is why he snuck out shortly after Elora left this morning.
He decided he would make his appearance this evening. Elora did not want a public scene, but he felt it was necessary. Louis was unpredictable and now that he wanted his blood, there was no telling what he would do if it was only he that gained knowledge of his living.
He knew Elora would find him when she had a moment to think about it and behold she appeared at lunch time with food. He could not remember the last time he had eaten. She had a great deal of food folded in a handkerchief and a bottle of wine under her arm.
Though she was immaculate, without a hair out of place, there was certainly a warm glow in her cheeks that had not been there this morning. He made mention of it, but she only laughed it off not giving him any answer.
She told him she had brought Louis back to her room to see him, but was disappointed to find he was not there.
"You should not have done that. I'm glad I was not there. I told you I would tell him, but I will do it my way."
"Okay, but do it soon because I don't want to have to keep sneaking you food. It's killing me keeping this from Louis."
ooOoo
After dinner Louis sat with his queen sat on their thrones before the dancing began.
"Elora, what were you going to tell me this morning?"
"Oh, nothing. Well, it's not nothing, but I can't tell you now. It is good news though." Elora kissed him on the cheek.
He jumped off his seat and was embracing her in that same breath. The words 'good news' were enough for him. He knew exactly what she was about to say. "Oh, Elora, is it that you think you have conceived?"
She released him from the embrace just enough to look into his eyes. "No, I'm not pregnant. This news is even better!"
What disappointment! He thought for sure she would be pregnant. She still wanted to tell him something, but he was still mourning the idea that they were not expecting a child. "I cannot imagine anything better than you with child."
If Elora replied he did not take notice. Louis was far too concerned with the sudden presence of a cloaked man entering the room. Without introduction the outlandish man quickly approached the dais where they stood. He swiftly pushed back the hood. Every soul in the hall gasped. Prince Philippe stared directly into Louis' eyes.
"A ghost!" Louis shuddered and drew back. What devilish business was this? Was Philippe still to haunt him even in death?
"A peculiar ghost I am, of flesh and blood," Philippe rasped.
"Elora, are you seeing this!"
"Yes, Louis, I see him. Though I wish he had not presented himself so recklessly."
"You knew?" he questioned; still quite distressed.
"Yes."
Philippe took another few steps toward them, as if he could not be more dramatic at that moment. He bowed to him and said, "I survived the fire, Brother."
Louis walked down to him slowly, knowing he had to, but despised the idea of it. "Thank the Almighty, for it is a miracle you are alive."
Louis embraced him. They were a family again. The room full of courtiers began to clap. He was not sure how happy he was at this revelation. Things had been peaceful with him dead. With Philippe dead he did not have to worry any longer about his threats or hostilities; especially toward his lovely Elora. Now his anxieties had returned. He would discuss with his advisors what was to be done with the prince. He would have to occupy him with something, now that he had returned to Versailles. He knew of the perfect diversion too. He would look into finding Philippe a wife.
ooOoo
Elora was a little worried about Louis. He was more shaken up than she thought he would be. This was what Philippe had wanted and she fed right into it, like a mouse to the cheese. He really was a manipulative stinker. He always got his way.
Louis would be joining her in her room in moments. She knew the first thing to do would be to hug him and apologize for not telling him of Philippe right away. He would never reproach her she was certain, but he still deserved an explanation.
He was announced and entered the chamber in less than a pleasant mood. "Louis, I…" His angry stare and rigid stance, caused her to hesitate. She moved closer to him to take his hands in hers, but he moved away from her touch. This did not bode well for her.
"Elora, I do not know where to begin. I never imagined you would be the one to put this marriage in jeopardy. You have dishonored me. Your concealment of Philippe's life was beneath you. You have proved deceitful and untrustworthy. How could you put me in this situation? I am your husband and king, yet at this moment I wish I were not.–What have you to say?"
She should have cried for forgiveness. She should have stopped him at every stabbing word that came out of his mouth. Louis had never said anything this cruel. Before this night he had idealized her. Now because of this, which really was not such a terrible thing as he was making it out to be, he tells her off. Even though her actions may have been erroneous, her intention had been to make everyone happy, but Louis refused to see it that way. He was making her out to be a conniving, sneaky wife.
"Incidentally, Elora, I suppose you were concealing my treasonous brother in your bedchamber. How long has that been happening? I saw the way he looked at you tonight and it was the look of a man whose lusts had finally been sated. Is there something else on your conscious you feel you need to share with me?"
This is what he had been leading up to, adultery. She began to shake her head slowly. Then looked at him through an angered brow she lunged at him with incredible speed, but he was ready for her. He grabbed her by both wrists and pushed her aside with force. This was not the Louis she knew. He actually pushed her! "You ass!" she screamed. She did not want him to see her cry, but she could not help it. The pain in her heart was devastating.
"So tell me your pathetic side of the story, Elora," he bellowed. "Make me regret these accusations. I want to hear some excuse for your behavior."
She took a deep breath, never feeling more hurt or furious. "Get out of my room!- Now!"
"Where do you expect me to sleep? In my chambers? Alone? If I go back to my chambers tonight I will not be alone. Fidelity is always something you demanded of me. All I ever asked of you was to be a trustworthy companion. You could not hold up your end, perhaps now I will follow your example."
"You can go to the kennels and sleep with your dogs for all I care! Just get out of my room!"
"No, I have made my decision. I will not be leaving this room tonight. You are my wife and will behave as such when and wherever I command."
She rolled her shoulders back, trying to control some semblance of her temper. "Not on your life!" He wanted to hurt her; well two could play at that game. Wounding Louis' pride was the easiest way to distress him. She removed her wedding rings and threw them at his feet.
His anger equaled hers by now. "I command you to pick those up."
"Oh really, well command this!" She flung a lit candelabrum at him. "Stay the night cause I'm not coming back!" she screamed as she ran out of the room.
The candelabrum hit him; she knew it! She hoped it left a mark! Maybe the wax got into his eyes and permanently blinded him or his robe caught on fire. She did not care to look back; she liked imagining the worst at the moment. She could have gone to Suzanne's chamber, but that was too close and Louis would think to look there. She was about to go to her secret room in the attics, but just could not imagine lying up there in the cold all night.
She thought of all the times he had been angry with her and he always recovered from such feelings very quickly. She had run around the chateau with the guards, she had let Philippe kiss her, she wrote up the prisoner's reports the wrong way, she talked back to him, she punched him on two occasions; all of this he let go. Now that they were married were things so different?
She had wanted to apologize, but he kept pointing fingers. He said he could not trust her now, she was always embarrassing him, and the worst thing, he accused her of being unfaithful to their vows. He practically spelled out that he thought she cheated on him with Philippe. She should not have let him stay in her room last night; she could see that now. She should have used protocol and summoned Colbert and the Bishop and had a letter sent to Louis at the lodge. She had just wanted Louis and Philippe to work things out peacefully.
She ran down the halls, until she was sure Louis was not following her. She took the long route just in case. She knocked on the door loudly until she heard movement within. Thérèse's maidservant opened the door.
"Your Majesty," she curtsied and made way for her.
Thérèse had already been in bed, but did not even bother to put a robe on before pulling her into a comforting embrace.
ooOoo
Early the next morning, Thérèse sent her servant to request an audience with her cousin, the king, before he held morning council. She waited in the main hall at eight o'clock; she had not woken so early in years. Elora had been so distraught last night she hoped after speaking to Louis the situation would not be as dire as Elora had made it seem.
The king was just finishing breakfast when she was presented to him. He had several red marks on his face, which he had tried to cover with powder and failed miserably. It did not look like Elora's fingernail marks, but the queen was certainly the culprit.
"Your majesty, thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I have known you all my life and regarded you as a brother. I have never asked you for anything, but now I find I must. Her majesty, the queen, came to me last night. I understand it is no business of mine, but she is in no condition to come speak to you herself."
"Her condition cannot possibly be as dreadful as mine.–Her ineptitude and her poor judgment has proved too much for me to bear."
"What has made you feel this way?"
"My dear, Thérèse, you know Philippe had been a thorn in my side since we were all children. He practically kills Elora and she continues to consort with him. I know it is not love, but it still maddens me. She constantly takes things upon herself without thinking of my feelings. She always has to play the peacemaker. After what she did last night I could no longer keep it to myself. I had one too many drinks before entering her chambers, which led me to tell her these things. I demanded explanation, but she did not give me one. Cousin, I do not know how to mend this."
"Elora loves you and no one else. She is young and very inexperienced with life. She has a hard exterior which makes her seem so strong at times, but then at times like these, when her belly is exposed, I see how fragile she truly is. She was going to apologize before you accused her of infidelity, which is perhaps the only accusation that you could throw at her that she could not tolerate. You are in love with each other; it should not be too great a challenge to forgive each other. You must set this right before your troubles become known to the court."
ooOoo
Louis went in search of Elora. She was scheduled to sit with him at noon for the new comers at court to be presented. He could not wait three minutes, no matter three hours. Everywhere he looked he was informed he had just missed her and no one knew where she had gone off to. Lord Michaud said he saw her going out into the gardens, toward the canal. He searched for her for so long, but it had snowed the previous evening and his gardeners had neglected much of the property. It was barely three inches of powdery white snow, but he was not wearing the appropriate footwear for such an endeavor. He could barely feel his toes.
There were boot marks in the snow in all directions, so looking for her in that manner was of no help. He gave up and sat down on a bench in the Colonnade. The paths in the Colonnade were also not cleared of the snow. He looked in the direction where he had kissed Elora for the first time. How exciting that moment had been. The thrill of the moment when he found out she loved him as dearly as he did. How undiscovered their relationship had been up until that moment.
Though he had learned much since that first kiss he still did not completely know his wife. She said it was uncommon for girls to marry at nineteen in the future. Had he made a mistake marrying her? Perhaps she was too young for such a commitment.
Her reaction when she left him last night led him to think about his own actions. His words of chastisement hit her to the core. What had he done? Did Elora want to end their marriage over this? They could not divorce, though she probably thought she could. She could not just stop being queen, not in this century.
"I thought I might find you here," came Elora's voice from behind him.
He turned to see her standing some distance from him. Her face was serious and somewhat sad. He went to say something, but she stopped him as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Louis, please let me say this. You said your share last night...it's my turn now." She slowly began walking toward him. "You deserve an apology and not just for the wax burns on your face. I messed up; everything you said last night was true, except about me having an affair with Philippe. It doesn't matter what I thought or what my intentions were, I kept something very important from you and that's not something you do to your spouse. I thought everything was so perfect between us, nothing I could do would hurt you. I got careless, without knowing it. I love you so much…I need you…please don't stop being my husband. I need my best friend. I will do anything if you will only forgive me."
She went to her knees, burying her face in his lap. His heart softened. They had been searching for each other this morning, each with an apology in mind. He lifted her head and wiped away her tears with his handkerchief. Her eyes were always such a vivid green when she cried.
"What makes you say all of this, Elora?"
"I went to the church and prayed all morning about it. The Lord always heals my wounded heart and whispers to my soul when I am lost."
"You are my life, Elora." He fondled her chilled cheeks with his hands. "How can I not forgive you? You are the only thing I love in this whole world. I never meant to hurt you so badly. I was jealous and distraught. Please allow me to return these rings to your finger and promise me you will never again take them off." He slipped the glove off her left hand and slid the rings back on. He kissed her hand before they stood.
"Louis, I will die before taking these off.–Louis, I also swear never to hide anything from you again.–Since I'm being honest today, you should know Philippe snuck into my room the night before last. He practically scared me to death when I woke."
"So he was in your chambers," his voice went deep, as it always did when he spoke of his brother.
"Yes, but certainly not in my bed. He seemed truly afraid for his life. He said it was you who tried to kill him, but I think he is mistaken."
"His accusation does not surprise me, but as you say he was certainly mistaken."
"And maybe you'll see to it that Philippe can't sneak into my room again. I don't really want to be alone with him. After every conversation with him I feel somewhat manipulated."
"I will see to it personally.–Do not allow what I said yesterday to affect you. You are a good queen and you do have good judgment, just not where Philippe is concerned."
"Let's go inside. It's grown quite cold out here," Elora suggested. She held out her arm for his, completely bewitching him with her smile.
It was too cold of a day for most of the courtiers to venture outdoors for fresh air. He and Elora walked slowly, treasuring their solitude.
He chuckled to himself and Elora demanded to know what was so amusing. "I was just thinking about what you said last night. Did you really want me to sleep in the kennels?"
She laughed. "Well, you were acting like an arrogant puppy, so where else should I have suggested?"
"I can hardly believe my own daring saying such words. I've been afraid of your wrath since you threw the first punch the day we met, yet I still antagonized you."
"You had every right to be upset, but I did not expect you to be such an ass."
"I will never be so disrespectful of you, my wife, again."
"That is a promise I will expect you to keep." She kissed his cheek.
"I suppose I cannot ask you to promise never to strike me again?"
"No." she shook her head with a playful smile. "But you should not be afraid of me. I mean, 'what could a little woman like me do to a king?' You know?" How could she dare bring up his idiotic words from that first day they had together.
"Ha! Elora, if I knew then…"
"You would have done the same thing," she finished.
"That is assuredly the truth."
They laughed and went inside for some hot chocolate. It was as if they had never quarreled in the first place. Elora was a complete angel. He would have to make time to make a visit to the chapel and praise God once again for His good graces, primarily the gift of his wife.
ooOoo
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed Chapter 36! I always find this chapter rather exciting. I'm never quite sure if Louis was really behind the fire or not. I figure it's best to let you decide if he is capable of something so underhanded.
Will update soon! Thank you for your continued support and all your encouraging words. As always, I appreciate feedback! Please leave a review and let me know what you think!
Merry Christmas,
L.B. Tempia