“You’ve not met your first cousin, my niece Mary,” said Charles.

“It is an honor.”

Charles put his arm across the back of his chair. “Mary is looking for a husband and you, I believe, a wife.”

Henriette was due to arrive in the afternoon. Louis waited impatiently, walking back and forth from one State Room window to another, looking out at the gardens and the road that wound through them. As he watched and paced, Louvois studied a map of Holland and France that had been rolled out on the center table.

“We now have a base for supplies and munitions in Dunkirk, Courtra, Lille, Brisach and Pignerol, Metz and Thionville.”

“Enough for how long?” asked Louis.

“A six month campaign, Sire.”

“Good. Start preparing the troops.”

Louvois looked up. “Already?”

“I want them in uniform, ready for battle by spring.”

As Louvois began to speak again, Louis spotted the carriage in the distance and hurried from the room.

Henriette watched the trees flash past, barren trees shed of their foliage and standing stark against the cold, with only an occasional evergreen and red-berried holly breaking the gray monotony. Soon she would be home at Versailles. Yet her heart was torn. Being in England had awakened memories and feelings deeper than she would have imagined, had stirred a longing for what had once been. Now, with her carriage traveling along King Louis’ royal road through the forest, she wasn’t sure where she belonged. She tucked the blanket more tightly across her lap and fought back tears.

As the carriage reached the front of the place she saw Louis hurrying through a line of servants, his face radiating joy. He reached out and Henriette took his arm as the carriage door opened. It was all she could do to keep from stumbling into his arms.

“Thank you, Sire,” she said. “It’s not customary for a monarch to perform the tasks of a servant.”

“We are all servants of France, are we not?” replied the King.

As the carriage was unloaded, Louis led Henriette up the steps. He nuzzled her shoulder. “How was England?”

“Cold.”

“I’ve never been to England, but I’m told it rains perpetually and its inhabitants are forever apologizing.”

“I’m sorry for contradicting His Majesty, but that is a myth.”

Louis smiled and led her out of the winter sunlight and into the palace.

She took her time changing, having a small meal, and trying to regain her strength. Louis had already called for the ministers to meet with Henriette for a debriefing. She preferred to sleep, to un-shoulder the mantle of political responsibilities for a while, but the King would not be denied. She donned a fresh dress, let Sophie comb and style her hair, then joined the men in the State Room.

Louis sat at the center table and read the document Henriette had brought from England.