Amid the procession of nobles were the Montespan and Cassel, with Sophie on Cassel’s arm. Beatrice, who stood behind the King with Chevalier, smiled with pride. Nobles noted the presence of Cassel, and spoke to each quietly, astounded to see the powerful, headstrong northern noble right here at Versailles, here at the King’s beckoning. Sophie’s friends likewise nudged each other, surprised to see the beautiful yet clumsy girl with such an esteemed noble.

Louis nodded at the Montespan, then looked at Cassel and Sophie. “A handsome couple, don’t you think?” he asked Louise.

“No, Sire, I do not,” replied Louise. She and Marie-Therese exchanged uneasy, disapproving looks.

“Cassel,” called a noble in the crowd as Cassel, the Montespan, and Sophie passed by him on their way to the dais. “You surprise me, that you are here.”

Cassel smiled elegantly, determined to play the part, determined to retain his power and dignity in spite of the place where he now found himself. “How could I stay away?”

Then it was his turn to be presented before the King. Louis motioned with his hand. Cassel took Sophie’s arm to lead her forward. But the Montespan took Sophie’s other arm and drew her back. “Sorry,” she said. “I must return her. She isn’t mine to give away. She’s on loan.”

Cassel spoke angrily through his teeth, his smile never fading. “You cunt.”

The Montespan grinned. “Men think to shame us by calling us the name of our sex. Of course I’m a cunt, and proud of it. You, on the other hand, are a prick. A tiny, shriveled, pointless prick.” Then she turned to Sophie. “Go, be free.”

Sophie vanished into the crowd.

“You will pay for this,” said Cassel.

“I already have,” said the Montespan. “And it was worth every penny.”

Cassel stepped up to the dais as Louis extended his hand. At that moment, Fabien whispered in the King’s ear. Louis whispered something back, and Fabien retreated.

The last thing Cassel wanted to do was kiss the royal hand. He hated losing. But even more, he hated losing face. He leaned forward to kiss the hand. And in that moment, Louis lowered his hand so far down that Cassel was forced into almost a kneeling position.

“Bow to your King,” said Louis with great satisfaction as Cassel kissed the royal hand. And the nobles spoke quietly to one another, muttering in amazement that the mighty Cassel had bowed to His Majesty.

Near the edge of the party, Sophie waited and watched until her mother was otherwise occupied with several noble ladies, and then she wandered away from the celebration, away from the complexities and intrigues of those in power, seeking solitude and peace that might lie in the darkness of the outer gardens.

“Pssst!”

She spun around to find Benoit beckoning to her from beside a boxwood. She looked to see that no one else was nearby, and went to him.