Louis the Well-Beloved Read Online Free Page B

mistresses I have?’
    ‘True enough,’ she said. ‘But what of your daughter?’
    Philippe turned on her almost angrily. ‘My daughter!’ he repeated.
    ‘You must face the truth,’ said Madame. ‘It is said that you visit the Duchesse de Berry frequently and that your affection for her goes beyond the paternal.’
    Philippe murmured: ‘My God! Cannot a man have an affection for his daughter?’
    ‘Not such a man, with such a daughter and such an affection.’
    Philippe stood very still fighting his anger; then he turned to his mother and putting his arm about her shoulders began to walk up and down the apartment. ‘Has it ever occurred to you, Maman , that these marriages which are made for us should be sufficient excuses for the sins we commit? Myself, I must marry because the King my uncle wished to find a husband for his daughter, who was also the daughter of his mistress. And my little girl at fourteen is married to her cousin, the Duc de Berry, because he is the youngest grandson of the King. There is often no affection, no friendship even, between us . . . but marriage there must be because the King . . . the State . . . so wills it. We must have compensations.’
    ‘I know it well, my son,’ said Madame. ‘I do not blame; I only counsel.’
    ‘My poor little girl,’ he went on, ‘married at fourteen, a widow at eighteen! She finds herself rich and free. I know . . . I know . . . she has made herself as notorious as her father. She makes love every night with a different lover . . . she drinks herself insensible. Careless of public opinion, she has named her friends her “roués”. She has inherited every one of her father’s sins, so she provides scandal for the Court and the whole of Paris. She has done all that – so there must be a scandal to outweigh all other scandals; therefore, says the Court, there is an incestuous union between her and her father! Maman , do you not know that I have my enemies?’
    ‘It would be remarkable if a man in your position had not.’
    ‘And some,’ said Philippe, ‘are very close to me.’
    She caught his arm in sudden fear. ‘Take care, my Philippe.’ He kissed her cheek lightly. ‘Do not concern your dear head with my dangers. I am a wicked man, heading for hell fire, but I can defend myself from my enemies.’
    Madame had lost her usual lighthearted mood. ‘I remember the time when the Duc de Bourgogne was buried . . .’
    ‘I remember too, Maman . Shall I ever forget? The mob shouted insults after me. There were cold and suspicious looks at Court. It was believed that I had murdered my kinsman to clear my way to the throne.’
    ‘If anything happened to Louis they would blame you.’
    ‘Nothing shall happen to Louis. King of France! It is a great title. One would be proud to aspire to it. Maman , suspect me of any form of lechery that your mind can conceive; call me drunkard, gambler – even accuse me of an incestuous relationship with my daughter, but never . . . never let it enter your head for a moment that I am a murderer.’
    She turned to him, her eyes flashing. ‘There is no need to ask me that. What I fear is that others might slander you.’
    He drew her to him and held her against him. ‘Dear Maman ,’ he said. ‘My dearest, why should we feel this anger? Louis is at Vincennes, well guarded. A tigress could not guard her cub as old Ventadour does her little King. No harm can come to him with old Maman Ventadour. Louis is safe . . . and so am I. I shall remain at the head of affairs until my little nephew is of age. Have no fear, Maman . All is well.’
    She laughed. ‘You are right of course. You understand, my son, I have your well-being so much at heart.’
    ‘I know it well. Come, let us talk of other matters.’
    She put her head on one side and regarded him. ‘It is no use asking you to take fewer mistresses, but could you not be more selective? There are few of them real beauties. They only have to be good-tempered and