Chapter Text
“Oh my goodness!” The Princess Palatine cried, “My feet are killing me. I believe this Italian delegation could be the most exhausting we have seen in quite some time.” She immediately removed her slippers upon entering the d’Orleans apartments. Following behind her was her husband, Philippe d’Orleans along with her best friend and her husband’s lover, The Chevalier de Lorraine. They seemed equally as exhausted.
“I thought the French loved wine and frivolity but the Italians may exceed us,” Lorraine said.
Philippe plopped down on his bed and removed his heels, “My head is pounding, I cannot remember a time when the salons were quite so loud.”
“I think we all need a good night’s sleep,” Palatine said, “The feast in honor of the delegation is tomorrow and I can only imagine how high spirited that will be.”
“Oh, I promise high spirits,” Lorraine said, “The feast we are planning will be exquisite.”
“Of course it will be,” Palatine smiled, “Ever since you returned to your post each event at Versailles is better than the previous.” She kissed Lorraine on the cheek and he beamed from her praise. “Now, would you be a darling and help me out of this dress?! I sent my ladies to bed already.”
Philippe lifted his head off the bed, “Most husbands would not approve of another man undressing his wife.” His tone was very even with no hint of humor which momentarily worried Lorraine and Palatine.
“Luckily I am not like other husbands,” he said with a smile as he rose from the bed to kiss his wife goodnight on the forehead.
“Yes”, she smiled, “luckily you are not.” And she headed to her adjoining room with Lorraine behind. Before Lorraine crossed the threshold into the princess’ room, Philippe tugged his sleeve, “Do not take too long; even though these Italians tired me out, a feel a second wind coming on.”
Lorriane swatted his hand away, “Well, then do not delay me any longer; I must attend your wife first.” He kissed Philippe and winked has he closed the door.
“I must say, Liselotte, this color really is very fetching on you.”
“Well, of course it is, you picked it out.” She replied with a slight roll of her eyes.
“Oh yes, I did! I do have amazing taste and sense of color, don’t I.”
“Yes, you do, but please help me out of it, I am exhausted and feel like this corset is slowly killing me.”
“I don’t blame you for being exhausted, that Italian merchant was talking your ear off most of the night.”
“Signore Ritolle?” Liselotte responded, “Yes, he was quite chatty. Not in a tiresome way though he was quite engaging.”
“He seemed enraptured by you, my dear,” Lorraine said with a sly smile, “I believe he found you quite lovely.”
Palatine brushed off his comments, never seeing herself as someone one would consider ‘lovely’.
“I believe the Signore was just happy to find a friendly ear that did not want to talk about trading routes and taxes. He is more interested in his business than politics.”
“If you say so. But I saw the way he looked at you. I think he would have been happy to eat you up instead of the pastries.” Palatine swiped at his arm in attempted admonishment. Lorraine did like to tease his best friend but he did notice the Italian merchant seemed to have more on his mind than business.
“In all seriousness, Liselotte, I might not know women very well but I know men and I know men’s eyes when lust is present, even the slightest bit. Keep an eye on Signore Ritolle.”
He glanced at his friend in the mirror and she looked confused as well as concerned.
“Lorraine, I would never encourage that type of attention. I know other women at Versailles do so with pleasure but not me. I am a royal princess and the rules are different for me. Do you think I was seen as encouraging this?”
“My darling,” Lorraine said, trying to soothe her having not expected such a response, “You are the only woman at court whose morality is never in question. You need not worry.” His words seemed to calm her a bit as she stepped out of her confining gown and corset and was left only in her shift. He gave her a reassuring hug.
“I wonder if people’s opinion on my morality would change if they witnessed this?” She said with a chuckle, “A married princess hugging her husband’s lover wearing only her shift?” They both laughed and he kissed her on the cheek with all the love best friends have.
“Good night my darling Liselotte.”
“Good night, Lorraine.”
He blew her one more kiss before exiting the room and she collapsed into bed. She expected she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow but she found she was thinking about Signore Ritolle. Had he been flirting with her? Had it been so long that a man showed genuine interest in her that she forgot what it looked like?
She knew her marriage was not what one would call ‘normal’, even for a political marriage which is what hers and Philippe’s truly was. But she also knew that she was lucky; though their love was not romantic, she and Philippe loved each other. He was kind to her which is not always the case and he trusted her opinion. And though the Chevalier had Philippe’s heart she knew there was a place for her there. Not to mention the Chevalier is her dearest friend. But had she gotten so comfortable in their situation that she could not recognize flirting anymore? The question didn’t upset her but confused her and she fell asleep thinking about it.
As Lorraine turned around after securing Palatine’s door he found his Philippe standing right behind him, “Oh, hello,” Lorraine purred at his lover, “I assume your second wind is still strong?”
“Who is this Italian merchant who would have been happy to eat up my wife instead of the pastries?” Philippe did not look very angry; Lorraine knew what he looked like when he was truly livid but he did not look pleased. And Lorraine assumed any “second wind” had blown over.