"The Parthenays came at my behest." "My personal invitation." "They drove their carriage on that road knowing they were guests of the King." "With the King's guaranteed protection." "If a child of France isn't safe on royal lands what chance is there for anyone else?" "An attack on my roads is an attack on me." "Until their killers are apprehended I'll not sleep." "I will pay my respects." "Where are they?" "Sire, you're bleeding, injured." "More than you can know." "Where you going?" "The siege is broken." "The battle is won." "The price is paid." "The camp lies this way." "I promised mother I'd bring them home." "Cold lotion, Sire." "Made of egg yolk, oil of roses, and turpentine to permit drainage." "Why not simply close the skin?" "Permissible for the battlefield injuries sire, but I'm no tailor." "May I inquire as to the cause, Sire?" "A hunting accident." "We report with joy the success of the king's infantry." "Against the Spanish troops." "Siege is now laid to the town of Cambrai." "At last some good news." "Most remarkable of all the King's heroes present is his Majesty's own brother," "Prince Philippe, the Duke of Orleans who has shown bravery in the field." "That's enough news." "A true and everlasting hero..." "I said enough!" "Let me see Françoise." "He bled a lot but she did not." "I think his wound was a pistol, Sire whilst hers was a musket shot which bleeds less" "Why?" "Well, that is the way wounds behave, Sire." "The wounds are large..." "Which surely produces more not less." "Indeed, Sire, but, um, the er..." "What my father is saying is that the musket shot tends to fragment making channels twice as large but also crushes the flesh around the wound so it seals the blood where it sits and it cannot flow." "I see." "Thank you, Masson." " And Charlotte?" " Charlotte?" "The Parthenays had two children and I'm Charlotte's godfather." " Find Fabien!" " At once, Sire." "Can you help me?" "How?" "I'm sorry." "But you will not be alone." "I saw angels." "You were so... drunk last night, you pissed all over my kitchen." "So consider this merely the repayment of that loan." " Where is my share?" " I have it right here" "Is that enough, or would you like some more?" "You murder a noble family on the road and then come to my house." "She knew my voice" "How is that even possible?" "Unlikely, but I couldn't take the risk." "In any case you wanted chaos." "Now you have it." "You butchered them where they stood." "Every single one." "Not quite." "A young girl escaped." "She ran into the woods wounded." " You didn't think to follow?" " I didn't think it safe." "Well, return and finish it." "My Lord, think a moment." "Noble blood spilled on the way to Versailles." "Who would follow the Parthenays now?" "Soon the King will tire of the project and retire to Paris." "And then we shall own our country again." "He only sketches when he's upset." "Who else delays?" "Fourteen families in all." "All await assurance for their safety before venturing on the road." "So the Southern nobles stay quiet, the East: cowards" " and the North." " Without Cassel, no help from them." "A man of great influence" " Perception of influence." " Just as dangerous." "Why do we still feel surrounded in Cambrai when it's our siege?" "Monsieur Marchal's here." "You've failed me, Monsieur Marchal." "Just as you've failed the Parthenays" "With secure roads they'd have been safe." "Instead their deaths send a message that traveling to Versailles is not safe." "Your continued presence demands nothing less than absolution." "Bring me those responsible!" "May I speak, Sire?" "I believe a noble may be responsible." "How would you know?" "The musket shot that killed her was fired from a horse." "The angle shows that the horse was many hands high." "Almost impossible for the untrained rider." "Only a nobleman, an equerry a cavalryman could be capable of it." "But most of our men are at the front." "Which as I say leads suspicion firmly with a noble." "Whoever it is, bring them to me." "I want to see their face." "Sophie, listen to me." "What have I done?" "Don't make eyes at boys like that." "You only have eyes for the King." "Even if I succeed and you marry a noble men at court are just a stepping stone nothing more and nothing less." "Men like that are pond scum." "Do you understand?" "I don't think that's everything." "Oh, you're still young." "You can be sure of it." "Go on." "Your plan was ill-conceived and inept." "200 men would have held the road." "From where?" "Our soldiers are fighting." "There's your problem." "It's a problem we all face and a threat to the King." "It may even be a solution." "A solution?" "I don't yet know." "But one thing's for sure." "They will strike again." "If the court knows she's dead, they can mourn." "They think they all died." "The Parthenay family were murdered on the road." "Everyone speaks of it." "Her body wasn't found there." "Only three people know this information." "Me, you and the man who meant to kill her." "He will know his shot missed its mark." "And he might yet use that knowledge to make a mistake." "Forgive me." "It's no matter." "You are ill perhaps?" "No, if anything I feel nervous about this war." "The glory will soon be ours." "You're already glorious, Sire if I may be so bold." "You may, Madame." "Be well!" "Majesty!" "Lisette told me... she begged her husband not to come." "After the Parthenays fate who could blame her." "But with the King's new edict he said they had to that they must find a sponsor or be doomed." "I heard they've got no papers." "They had a flood a few years back." "What if they washed away?" "Poor lambs." "There'd be a remedy." "That is yet to be seen." "Not everyone has such credit." "As much as wants to give is as much as I have." "If the coffers are empty, your daughter is good security." "Beauty unlocks many doors." "You should know, Madame." "Beauty without wit is merely vanity." "Mmmm!" "Mother!" "That was unkind." "Have you been paying attention at all?" "When you enter this court, it's not a room, it's a marketplace." "And transactions mean contacts." "And contacts mean credit." "Credit means power." "Power means everything!" "Look at Madame de Montespan." "Do you think her attention happens by chance?" " I thought you hated her." " Keep quiet!" "I saw the King look at her today." "A deep and lingering gaze." "Just think what that might be worth!" "And what does all this matter to us?" " We have our papers and lineage." " Not yet!" "What could happen to a piece of paper coming from Pau?" "Ask the Parthenays!" "That was when she had the bows in her hair!" "Yes, the picnic." "Midsummer." " I was angry at you." " Françoise chose me but" " she only had eyes for you." " So I'd be jealous!" "And she was successful." "Thank you, friend I needed this." "We should celebrate tonight." "And every night after that." "I shall tie a bow on the next pretty woman" "I see and call her Françoise." " What about her!" " Her you do not touch." "Shame!" "I've a position I was hoping you might take." "Of course." "What is it?" "The stables are finished and the hunt needs a master." "I know just the man." "I was hoping you did." " It'd be my pleasure." " Please, send me his name" "Because I need to act while you go to war." "War?" "With the war, I find my brother foremost in my mind." "Of course." "I wish you to go to the front." "Shadow my brother." "See no harm comes to him." "I think I understand you." "Well, it's been a long time." "I will do as you ask." "That's the Rohan I remember." "Misery suits you." "You wear it well." "D'you want?" "You read The Gazette?" "Your husband is glorious." " It is the King's glory." " Not from what I read." "I leave you my copy to peruse at your leisure." "As you pine for your absent husband." "You'll be delighted when he claims his prize." "Angelique, please put in another ribbon." "Angélique, I meant to return this." "A chambermaid found it in your drawer and took it in error." "I'll see she's disciplined." "My necklace!" "Did you say your necklace?" "Yes, it's very dear to me." "I thought it lost." "Angélique?" "Come now, the maid thought it yours." "So what was it doing in your room?" " It was not in my room." " Of course it was I just told you." " What was it doing in your room?" " Madame, I did not take it." "Absolutely I did not." "Be quiet!" "Your lady's a thief, Madame." "That is clear." "And I doubt you're in the habit of employing pickpockets." "Be sure you've not heard the last of it" "I wish to make peace with God." "A convent near Marly will take me." "They've already given their consent." "I beg you sire, please, release me to God's care." "You've had everything." "I used to think I was a person of quality, living under God's grace." "The gift he bestowed upon me, upon both of us." "Now I know neither my person nor place." "I just want to serve my God." "I love your piety." "I love your spirit in the service of purity." "And I wish to go before you tire of me." "My Lady!" "I already see it." "I will soon be gone in your eyes and I see who is to come after me." "I do not wish to bear witness for myself." " God wishes us together." " Sire, please..." "Not as my king but as father to my children and the one yet to be born." "Let me atone for my life." "What if I'm to burn for eternity?" "What if it's too late?" "Cousin!" "You seem in a very good mood" "You'd be joyful with such gifts around me." "Such beauty!" "Talking of which, Henriette's entourage was looking a bit tired so I have made an opportunity for my darling girl." " With Henriette?" " I do not care for your tone." "Should Sophie stay with her when Mme de Montespan grows in stature daily?" " I saw a gaze from the King..." " My decision is made." "And I'm head of this household." "Unless you've somehow forgotten, cousin." "When's the position available?" "Soon." "I hear one of her ladies is fond of pilfering." "Come child!" "It's time you learned what to do with those flippers you call feet!" "A dance is a formalized conversation, my dear Sophie." "Full of rules, restrictions." "It's like your dress." "Do you like it?" " Can't you tell?" " Oh!" "I never asked you but I'd wager it's important for your time here" "Are you still intact?" "Intact?" "Have your fingers ever been curious?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "You will!" "When we skimmed stones on the water in Saint-Germain, you remember?" "I declared to everyone yours would bounce five times." "You all laughed I might declare it so confidently." "And yet, when you launched the stones" "There it was!" " Five times." " My lucky number." "I want to do this every night so I'll know you'll keep me safe." "Do I not already?" "Sadly, where the Chevalier is concerned I cannot see how anyone can." "He's caused my Angélique great pain." "As well as you, must I also protect your ladies?" "He made up a terrible story and put a problem in my lap." "And now you're sad." "You're perceptive, Madame." "Françoise Parthenay was very dear to you I know." "I was even jealous of her for a silly minute." "I'm going to war where it's safe." " I do not understand." " And you're coming too." " Why?" " You wish not to?" " A new day comes." " Good night!" "Goodbye." "I'm a little early for my lesson" "Don't say a word." "Oh, my God, quiet!" "Quiet!" "Your constant infidelity makes you an easy man to find." "From this moment on, I will tell you what to do." "Deny us and you will die!" "Apply yourself and your lover will be king." "And you will have the power." "The future is yours as long as you do exactly what we tell you." "We will talk again." "Maman?" "Go back to sleep." "What are you doing?" "Writing letters." "Rest, child." "The monk from Pérignon has brought more wine." "And I am still hungry." "Will you join me?" "Always room for one more." "I commend you, Madame on your excellent appetite." "Sire, you hardly know me or the scope of my needs." "I know this." "You're still hungry." "How many have you had?" "I do not recall." "In which case why would one more make any difference?" "Hard to say without partaking." "Why is that?" "Surely, after a certain time, it's just a number." "It depends on the number." "You had my message?" "I've prayed for your lost child constantly: every day, your Majesty." "You're kind to speak so." "Bring a chair." "For the child inside you." "'Tis warm." "Take off your shawl." "My words were not kind." "I said them in a moment, clouded by my own feelings." "I would like us to be friends." "Though I still resent every stolen moment you have taken from my husband and me." "But because I sense something in your soul." "I can feel the pain you hold." "Yes." "My concern is not as such for you." "You understand?" "The life inside you can feel this pain." "I will become a nun when time permits." " Do you love the King?" " I love God." "But it's not an answer." "I also love the King" "But the price is too much." "What have you done?" "Do you think God will forgive me?" " Victory!" " Did you solve the problem?" "There are plenty asking questions." "I would rather not provide them with answers." "And the King gains territory." "Claims the lands in Spain in kind for his unpaid dowry." "Pretext naturally, but victory for him is more than land." "It's confidence and power." "He must be stopped." "In a few days, the roads will be ours again." " So you're ready to work?" " I'm at your service." "Protocol doesn't permit us to own a business." "I run my affairs by proxy." "Thirty companies are under my control." "My most trusted man has a brother in a royal depot in Paris." "He spoke of a shipment making its way to Versailles." "It'll be heavily guarded and they'll fight to the end to defend it." "You raised me from the dead, my Lord, I'll lay down my life for you." "Good." "Because as I hear this is a cargo worth dying for." "I will speak to the King." "Perhaps your hearing is suspect." "The King is not to be disturbed." "He's in private conference." "With whom?" "The House of Hapsburg has tried to remain indifferent to your war but the Spanish lose patience and wish us to intervene." "You have claim by inheritance." "Ours is by law." "We need not fight each other." "Though many on your side might benefit from war." "Circles are divided." "But if our discussions were to establish a policy." "Your prince Hapsburg might yet find his cardinal's hat." "Indeed, Majesty." "Let's move to a treaty between France and the House of Hapsburg." "To divide the territory on the king's death." "A healthy ruler is paramount to state security." "Your Majesty." "Your face!" "Get a doctor." "Quickly!" "Did you not hear me, man?" "I will fetch Masson." "Not that doctor." "The other one." "So, we are agreed?" "I believe so." "No one must enter." "Come quickly." "Not you." "Her." "Your father's mess." "Fix it." "Please." "It'll have to be stitched." "The hot needle and thread." "It'll hurt." "Good." "You may go." "I will bring you glory." "I vow it." "We're far inside the line." "We're in great danger here." " I promised your brother." " What?" "That I would ensure your safety." "What a surprise." "You're here." "I wanted to talk to you away from the usual ears." "What Chevalier did to poor Angélique" "He is unpardonable." "He is being himself unfortunately." "Now I have a new lady." "Ah, the new girl." "Mlle Clermont." "Sophie, she's pleasant enough." "Well, I have a scheme to bring revenge on the chevalier." " Might you consider it?" " No, thank you Athénaïs." "Might I ask why?" "I already know what you want but I can't help." "I'm sure I don't know what you mean." "Think awhile." "You'll get there." "I suppose I will." "Take her to her family." " Where did you find her?" " In the woods near Chaville." " Where is she now?" " Buried with her family." " Buried, without a sermon?" " A full sermon might attract attention." "And what would be wrong?" "When I hope, you break my heart again." "Why did you hide this from me?" "Because you've armed me." "Not just with weapons but with choices." "My choice was to protect the truth." "That Charlotte Parthenay didn't die with her family on the road." "This knowledge gives us something her killers don't possess." "Certainty." "Which means they'll make a mistake." "Did she suffer?" "A great deal." "I hope it wasn't long." "She was in pain for a considerable period." "You don't seek my approval at all, do you?" "I seek only to protect your life." "Your honesty is also a weapon, Monsieur Marchal." "If you say so, Sire." "No, please!" " It's your turn, Moncourt." " No, please, no!" " I know you." " You used to know me." "Nobles don't dig." "I have a better idea." "We are surrounded." "By conspirators." "By criticism." "By wilderness and danger." "Defence is over." "We must break siege and attack." " Arrange a force for the roads." " It's done." "Make their clothing uniform and presence felt to deter and reassure as in Paris." "Purge the road and patrol." "And contact every noble who defies." "I wish to understand their concerns." "And they shall be informed of our intent." "The King at war." "Father!" "I'm making potage." "Celery, potatoes, carrots, salt." "Very simple." "Father please, let me." "Sit." "Rest." "You've had a full day at work after all." "Say what you mean." " Do you mock me?" " I don't know what you're saying." "Where have you been?" "I'm not at liberty to say." "That says it all." "My work is rushed." "Simple even." "But my own daughter." "Of course he would seek to ruin my reputation." " Your reputation." " In tatters now." "Remains intact." "Father, you're jealous." "I'm scared, child." "Scared for you." "Here's not a place to trust." "This is a cold, venal, brutal circle of lies." "They may use me and cast me aside." "But while there's breath in my lungs they're not going do the same to you." "The King has his favorites." "But he tires of them." "And we don't see them anymore." "Oh, Monsieur Fabien." " Madame, what are you doing here?" " I'm so scared." "The war, the night." "Would you take me to my apartment?" "The news must have come as a shock." " The news?" " Your friends." " What about my friends?" " The Parthenays." "They lived close to your family did they not?" "Known to me, yes." "A tragedy." "Can't bear to think of it." "Perhaps we can walk awhile again in the garden during the day." "I'd like that very much." "Bless me father for I have sinned." "What is your sin?" "The mortal sins of envy and wrath." "Remember, Sire, some state transgressions are necessary." " Whereas if committed by man." " Do not address me so!" "I'm a man alone, burdened by sin doing my penance under God." "I sent my own brother to war." "Now, how shall I repent?" "Acts of contrition vary widely." "One may atone in kind by balancing virtues in their stead." "The sin of envy for example mirrors virtue of humanitas." "Or kindness." "The sin of wrath is mirrored by the virtue of patience." "We are at war where wrath is stationed." "And war is no place for kindness." "Bravo!" "The look is yours." " I think you're mistaken, Madame." " You're upset." "I cannot reach him." "I feel like a sack of flour." " Can you help me?" " With what?" "I am boring and you are funny." "Perhaps you can change his mood." "Talk to him, let him laugh." "If he's in good humor, I might just have a chance." " Would you do that?" " I suppose I could try." " Do you miss England?" " I miss you." "The summer of our lives has been full of blossom." "But the nights are drawing in." "In the growing darkness we must remember that life is more than love." "And marriage more than duty." "My plan is very simple." " Here, lead our line into this valley." " Then they'd follow our retreat." "Allowing our cavalry in from the east." "Closing the circle." " They'd have nowhere to go." " The King!" " Brother, wonderful news." " Indeed, the war is over." "Ceasefire negotiations begin in Tournois." "We've battled hard for this." "Many have died to attain it." "We'll maintain our line but no more." "In a day or two hostilities will cease." "For what?" "We can win brother." "Here." "Today." "The odds are not with us." "We've lost too much to stop." "Let's speak, Brother." "Alone." " I'm here to bring you home." " And I came here to fight." "This ceasefire, I was wondering." "Will it just so happen to be announced on your return?" "All hail, King Louis." "Who went to war and won the peace!" "Our spies say there's a price on your head." "Spain has mercenaries to seek you out on the field." "They wish to make an example, to use you against me." " I'll not take the risk." " This is the porridge." "You remember don't you?" "I can't remember where we were." "You flicked some porridge and I threw some back at you." "Soon we were at it." "You tipped the bowl over me so I pissed on you." "Soon we were pissing on one another." "You started it!" "You flicked the porridge." "But I got the blame!" "You pissed on me." "But I pissed on the King!" " Come with me!" " Without me those men may die." "This will be the last battle not your last act." "On a field there are no kings." "No nobles, no peasants." "Every man is equal." "Tomorrow I'll be closer to the enemy than to my brother." "Henriette!" "Where is my wife!" "I envy your brotherhood." "For me only solitude which you never knew." "Tomorrow I'll be with my brothers." "They mean to seek you out and kill you." "Well then." "I'll wear something fun or they won't know who I am." "I missed you, darling."