Chambre de Geneviève Guyot

"Your papa writes every week, he is currently in Boulogne on business but I have faith he shall join us here at court shortly." She had to admit even to herself that she missed her husband.

"Chevelier I have not heard from, but you know how he tends to disappear when something entices him to be away."

Coralie gave a nod, "Then...then I hope we will all be together soon."

She looked at her mother, nervously trying to think of something to say to keep her pleasant. "The queen has expressed her interest in meeting you," she widened her eyes, "the both of you," she looked to Pierpont.

She smiled to herself, a bit self-satisfied at the prospect of meeting the queen of France.

"I shall love to meet with Her Majesty, indeed I am quite surprised it has taken this long to get the thought into her head."

Pierpont told the servant what he wanted and watched him hurry down the corridor.
Pierpont plopped back down into his seat, smiling as he listened to where his father was. He laughed, "Chevelier says he is fine, and attending his classes like a good boy," he nodded. "I saw him when I was last in Paris."

Pierpont leaned in, smiling as he raised an eyebrow. "Truly? I should like to meet her, too." He had heard she was attractive for a Spanish woman, but he wanted to see for himself.

Pierpont looked Coralie in the eye. "I'm glad you have such a good role model in your time here at court."

She looked a little suspiciously at her daughter.

"Yes Coralie, tell us what the queen has spoken of to you. Does she confide in you?"

Coralie looked down, attempting not to play with her fingers as she felt her cheeks grow warm. She cleared her throat, "Well...her majesty has said I am one of her best ladies, and she has given me books and even a summer dress when I first arrived." She straightened up in her chair. "She does confide in me...and-," she stopped, worried as to whether she should tell her family.

"She fears his majesty has a new mistress at court," Coralie felt her heart sink, as the thought of the man she loved lying with some woman, made her ill.

She gave Coralie a stern look, as though this talk were not fit for someone of her youth and innocence.

"A king will rest his head where he likes, be it at his wife's side, or upon the breast of his mistress. The only good that can come of it is that we have a happy king. The queen must learn to look the other way."


She looked again at her daughter, and her expression softened. 

"Now you must know that even a king can be faithless."

Pierpont raised an eyebrow at hearing about the Queen's fears. He shook his head.

"I should think she spends much of her days in fear," Pierpont shrugged, "there are so many wanton women here, and so many lusty men." He looked at Coralie, realizing what he had said, yet he refused to retract the statement, as she needed to hear it.

Pierpont shrugged again. "Yet I think it very well that she confides in you. Perhaps your stars will rise yet," he winked.
Pierpont turned to his mother. "So mamma, what plans have you for your two children amongst the court of the most prominent and powerful people of France?" he took a sip from his goblet. He knew his mother must have some sort of plan up her sleeve to further the two.

She looked at Pierpont.

"My son, are you implying that what has happened in England may happen here? Our king is a good Catholic, and though he may be an unfaithful husband, he would never look to another to take the queen's place."


She said this with full faith in her words, and had to hide a smirk as Pierpont seemed to pinpoint exactly what was on her mind.

"I plan on the both of you leading very good and prosperous lives. You know very well that would begin with marriage."

Coralie could have flinched at the bluntness of her mothers words. Instead she straightened up in her chair, nervously as she looked about the room.

She looked down, nervously, upon hearing the word "marriage." She knew in her heart she wanted to be married, but she had loved the king so much that she feared falling in love again.

Pierpont laughed. "No, maman, I am only saying that the queen would have better luck only hiring ugly ladies to keep the king's attentions on her, as there are so many wanton ones about this place," he waved a hand.
Pierpont stood to his feet and moved to the door at the sound of a knock. He was bowed to by a servant and took the plate the young man carried. He brought it back to where he sat and leaned it on his legs.
Pierpont grinned, shaking his head. "How did I know you were up to something?" he laughed. He looked at Coralie, "Maman. What has happened to Gaston de Sauveterre? Does he still fancy marrying Coralie?" he grinned at his little sister. "I hope so, for if you plan on marrying me off first, it shall have to be with some noble girl raised in a nunnery, lest I marry some whore of court."

Geneviève managed a small smile as Pierpont spoke, his words mirroring the thoughts of many she spoke with.

"If only, my son. If only. Unfortunately, most of the positions within the queen's household are bought, rather than chosen by the queen herself. Sometimes councilors, or even heads of important households can talk their daughter, granddaughter, niece, or whomever into a place at court, with the promise of certain alliances, even land endowments. And of course only the most beautiful are chosen, also becaue King Francis likes to look upon roses as opposed to weeds. Mind you, that is only hearsay."

She again hid a smile as Pierpont mentioned Gaston, who was all in all not an unpleasant man, if a little quiet.

"Perhaps he may still be an option for Coralie's husband.. what do you think of him?"

She pointedly asked Coralie.

Coralie felt a painful ping in her heart, as she knew the king loved women so very much, but it broke her heart to think of such things...

She shook the thoughts away. "Pardon?" she blinked at her mother. She looked to Pierpont for guidance, but then nodded, quickly. "...I suppose he is handsome," she looked down timidly at her fingers, "and I know he cares for me and would be able to provide for me." She looked up, quickly, "But then, if it would please you and papa, of course I should marry him."

"Why should you not marry Monsieur Sauveterre? There is no impediment except your own hesitant heart, and a will that is as stubborn as a mule. He cares for you, which is more than most women can say of their husbands."

Geneviève stifled a yawn, knowing it was a little late for her, but she hated to think she was getting into old age.

Coralie nodded, "I know, mother, it is just I-," she stopped, realizing how close she confessed to having loved the king. She jerked her head to the side, nervously, "I only wish to perhaps see whether any of the gentlemen here should...have affection for me," she shrugged, looking at her fingers nervously.

"I know how important affection can be, at your age. But do not bother. Men are fickle with their affections, and to hope for them to last is futile."

She thought to her own marriage...

OOC (I'm so sorry about the long wait. I've taken on a second job)
"I would think his majesty finds nothing but weeds and bitter sweets in this court." Pierpont gave a laugh, placing a grape to his lips.
Pierpont gave Coralie a nod, raising an eyebrow. She always hid her true emotions from their mother.
Pierpont raised an eyebrow at his mother's last statement. Had she been another person he would have laughed and commented upon the resentment hidden in her voice. He would have jested that her red eyes were showing...
Instead, Pierpont turned to Coralie. "I think Monsieur Sauveterre's affections for you are true and pure, and I personally should like to see you with no one else, as with him, we would still get to see you, and you would be able to live comfortably," Pierpont clasped his hands together, leaning in the chair as their father often did when he spoke plainly to them.

She gave an amused smile at her son.

"Pierpont? You sound quite prejudiced against the overbloomed roses of the court."

She smiled, glad that she herself no longer cared for such vanities. She cringed inwardly as she thought of her husband, the love between them grown cold. She cleared her throat.

"Yes, Monsieur Sauveterre has only your best interests at heart. I think he is a true gentleman."

Coralie bit her lip, holding back a laugh at Pierpont's bitter words.

She blushed a moment, thinking of Gaston for a moment. She supposed if they were to marry, she could grow accustomed to being his wife...

She smiled, "He is very handsome as well."

"It would be nice to see you both settled, and out of my hair for once!"

She said it with some acridity but there was a little smile on her lips, thinking of the future and as she looked at her children she could not help but feel a deep sense of pride.

Pierpont threw his head back, giving a booming laugh at his mother's jest. "I fear, maman, that for girls of such high birth, they easily find themselves as silly country lasses. Lying down in the hay with boys who whisper nonsense in their ears," Pierpont laughed, clapping his hands together. Pierpont took a sip of wine, and tilted his head, turning to look at Coralie and catching sight of her blush.

He laughed quietly to himself, glad that she was coming around to the idea of marrying a friend of the family.

Pierpont looked to his mother, smiling again. He laughed, "I think it shall be some time before I am married, at least to any woman here," he looked at his goblet. Pierpont looked to his mother, "Now, maman, are we to bid you goodnight?"

"With God's help, our Coralie will not meet such a fate."

Geneviève smirked as she stole a glance at her daughter.

"I think I shall be in Christ's kingdom before I see you wed, Pierpont! But at least you have standards."

She nodded, tired through her bones as the night grew darker outside.

"Yes, I shall rest now. Come here, both of you, and give Maman a kiss before you leave."

Pierpont threw his head back and laughed, standing to his feet. He sank to one knee before his mother, taking her hand and planting a light kiss.
"Hopefully not too soon, maman," he laughed. "Goodnight, mother, and pleasant dreams."

Pierpont stood to his feet and looked at Coralie, holding out his arm. "Come, little sister. Let's leave maman, and I shall escort you to your room," he laughed.

"Bonne nuit mes enfants."

She nodded with a tired smile as Pierpont kissed her hand.

Coralie smiled for a moment, thinking of Gaston, when she snapped to attention.

She gave another smile, nodding as she stood slowly to her feet, trying with all her might to be graceful.
She gave a nervous, yet respectful, curtsey to her mother, bowing her head. "Goodnight, mother," she spoke. She walked over to Pierpont, giving a laugh as she took his elbow and waited for him to lead her away.