Chapter 1

Claire’s heart sank as the huge double door leading to the king’s private quarters was opened and the butler bowed deeply in front of her, beckoning her in.

Louis was standing in his elegant purple embroidered silk gown, and he was watching her with haughtiness and evident pleasure. Everything had turned out as she had foreseen. His secret services had kept him constantly informed of the movements of Monsieur Frazer, the rough Scottish husband of this precious pearl who was bowing to him. He knew of the rivalry which separated him from that rude English officer who had been introduced to him at court, and whom, to ingratiate himself with the young lady and her haughty husband, he had humiliated before the ladies of the court. It was clear that sooner or later a violent rivalry would break out between those two bulls over that prosperous heifer, on which he too had set his sights. It was enough just to control the two rivals and stop them at the right moment, when one of them had knocked the other out. At that point that young cow would have needed the leniency of the sovereign, which would have been paid at a high price, a price that the charming and reserved Claire Beauchamp, who had never made a name for herself in the salons of the court, would never have been willing to pay in other circumstances.

“Majesty, I have taken the liberty of disturbing you for a serious matter which requires your attention and your intervention.”

“Tell me, my dear... - she replied, motioning her to rise from the position of reverence that the woman had taken as soon as she entered, and pointed to a sofa next to the fireplace, on which to sit.

“Your Majesty, ... my husband, James Frazer, was arrested this morning ... now he’s locked up in the Bastille and I can’t even meet him.”

“I have known, Madame. He has violated the law, my law. A grave insult to my person and a dangerous precedent which I cannot tolerate spread among my subjects. By what authority could I govern my people if my foreigners guests prove to be disrespectful of the rules. Monsieur Frazer will have the just punishment that the law provides in these cases.”

Claire’s breath broke into a sob as a tear of despair rolled down her cheek: she knew that the penalty for violating the royal decree, which prohibited duels, was her death.

“Your Majesty, I beg you! James is innocent! Yes, that’s right, he was arrested while fighting Captain Randall, but he was provoked. You know how sensitive these Scottish nobles are when their honor is at stake...”

“Scottish nobles... - sneered Louis - That mass of louts, whose straw from their stables still comes out of their rough shoes and who don’t know how to behave at the table ... those ridiculous drunken beggars who have so little consideration for their ... masculinity, from walking around in their funny kilt, like the maids in my kitchens. Yes, yes ... don’t make that face, I know everything about what happened in the Wentworth prison between your devoted hubby and his ... English lover. And today’s duel will probably be the result of a love refusal that he was unable to tolerate.”

“It is not true Majesty, it is all slander. Captain Randall has persecuted him and continues to do so here in the land of France, despite the protection that His Majesty has so generously granted us. I swear to you Majesty that my husband is innocent!”

“So, Madame Beauchamp, did you ask for an audience to come and insult me, to tell me that I lie?...”

Claire dropped to her knees crying, begging for more mercy for James, but Louis pulled away, grinning in amusement. Bringing his charming guest down had been easier than expected.

“I beseech you on my knees, Majesty, for the life of my husband. And I will give you all my ... gratitude ... all my...”

“Get up, Madame Beauchamp - the king interrupted her abruptly - it is not the case that you are on your knees in front of your king, not yet at least ... But we will get there soon, if you can be more condescending and less proud of your husband ... Beauchamp ... Beauchamp ... your surname is French, so ... splendid surname. How would you English say? “Nicefield” I would be really curious to see how “nice” the “field” that is in a certain valley of your body really is. And, if your surname is French, then that “field” somehow belongs to me, since I’m the king of France.”

Claire blushed with shame. She knew that she would have to pay a humiliating price to win freedom for James, but until the end she had hoped that her status as a noble woman and as a foreigner would protect her from the obscene pretensions of the sovereign, who had no peace until he managed to conquer every young beauty who came to court. Looking around the room, she knew immediately where the king wanted to lead her, taking advantage of her position of power: it was no coincidence that Louis had wanted to receive her in her bedroom.

She attempted a last ditch effort to preserve her honor as a woman and that of her husband.

“Majesty, - she said with a trembling voice - I am a married woman...”

“Precisely, Madame: then make sure not to be promoted soon “widow”. You know, we have some interesting works of merciful assistance for young women who find themselves in this sad condition: women without a man to be able to them. I myself entrust many of these young women, whose cold bed is no longer warmed by the body of a husband, to the convent I founded just outside Versailles and I often go to visit them, especially in the evening, out of sight. But to do any of them wrong, I let my guards and my grooms accompany me: you will have to see how those young ... fillies tremble at the sight of a well-endowed black stallion; how they whimper at the beginning and how they scream at the end, when they find the warmth of a cock of ... generous dimensions inside all their orifices at the same time ... Like any good shepherd I take care of these poor lost sheep ... sheep ... yes ... this is my favorite position...” He laughed amused at the horror that could be seen on Claire’s face.

“And now, my dear, the time has come to show your precious merchandise a little. Come on, start by showing me your large breasts, which you put on so well at the last reception at the court, but never let yourself be approached by me, to let me better admire the two tasty strawberries that grow on top of your sweet secret garden...”

Claire completely undid her bust and loosened the wide skirt of her dress, letting the dress fall around her feet. The sad time had come to pay the shameful price of Jamie’s freedom and she would have paid it all the way, but the king’s contemptuous smile made a rage and strength build up inside her that she believed she had lost.