REFINER'S FIRE by J M Hochstetler

Author:J M Hochstetler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Sheaf House Publishers
Published: 2019-05-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

A WAYWARD GUST of wind fluttered Elizabeth’s apple-green petticoats and the sky-blue ribbons on Lucien’s walking stick, and tugged at the wide brim of her flower bedecked straw hat. With a small shriek, she pressed her skirts down with both hands, while he righted the hat, which threatened to pull free of the bow securing it under her chin and sail off her head. Tess and Cécile fought to keep their own apparel from upending, and they all laughed together at the wind’s sudden assault.

“What a fine day for flying kites!”

“A shame we don’t have any,” Lucien responded. “We must remember to bring one next time.”

She forced a smile in answer to his. “We couldn’t have a fairer day to enjoy Versailles’ gardens. Nor a lovelier view.”

The afternoon was unusually warm for mid May, with the sun beaming down from a clear blue sky. She turned to take in the graveled allées, manicured lawns, formal parterres outlined with sculpted boxwood hedges, and groves of tall, graceful trees that extended around the palace and its surrounding buildings as far as one could see. Pools, fountains, and cascades; steams spanned by picturesque bridges; classical-style statues on pedestals; balustrades and marble columns; trellises and ornamental gates enhanced the simple but elegant plantings. The effect was almost more than the mind could take in.

They had followed a lavish picnic on the bank of the Grand Canal with a gondola ride, Lucien good-humoredly poling the vessel. While Cécile and Tess chatted lazily and admired the swans gliding across the water, Elizabeth had trailed her hand disconsolately in the water, the outing doing little to lift her spirits.

It was only three days since the arrival of Lord North’s warrant, though it seemed an eternity. Suddenly restrictions hedged every movement. Despairing at the prospect of weeks and months of the same to come, she had agreed to another foray to Versailles as a distraction. At least here the formidable Swiss Guards, striking in their ornate red coats faced in dark blue, patrolled the grounds, and the bodyguards who now shadowed her whenever she left her hosts’ estate did not need to hover close at hand.

It seemed that all of Paris had heard of her role in the rebellion and clamored to learn every detail, whether true or not. Accordingly, fantastic, even scandalous, accounts abounded in the libelles. And in spite of Caledonne’s and the Martieu-Broussards’ efforts to shield her, increasing numbers of their acquaintances, all at high levels in the government and society, called at the château or issued invitations to dinners and other gatherings under thinly veiled pretexts. Invariably everyone pressed intrusive questions, including about her relationship with Carleton, a subject too painful to think of, much less speak to strangers about.

Even trips around the area had become a trial. On their first visit to Versailles three weeks earlier they had toured the palace in relative anonymity. This time, however, many of the courtiers they encountered either recognized her from previous encounters or immediately realized who she must be because of her companions.

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