Cassel pushed away from the wall. “My rooms are cold. I hear one of the salons is more convivial. Awash with rumors, of course.”

“What rumors?”

“That Henriette was poisoned by a jealous rival at court.”

The Montespan blinked and then found her voice. “In terms of beauty, she has no rival. In any case, I’ve not heard such talk.”

“That’s surprising. Who would have the most to gain, they say, should her rival Henriette be bedridden? What did this rival know, that the rest of us did not?”

There was a spark of fear in the Montespan’s eyes. But then she tossed her hair and the spark vanished. “I’m sure I cannot imagine. But considering how many nobles sought his demise in the past, I’d imagine the only thought in the King’s head is which of you is seeking to harm him now?”

Henriette’s cries had grown worse over the past hours, piercing the walls of the War Cabinet room and slashing Louis’ heart like a dagger. Guards stood at the doors, eyeing one another, eyeing the King with each new scream. Louis walked the room, sat and tried to read, and then got up to walk again. He gazed out the window, seeing nothing, then turned away. He didn’t realize for several moments that Philippe had entered and was staring at him.

“She knew what she had to do, and did it willingly,” said Louis.

“Because you told her to.”

“Because she was born to it.”

Philippe took a shuddering breath. “Because she loves you.”

Louis flinched at this truth but quickly regained himself. “If we do not have the English then we cannot attack the Dutch. You do not understand politics. Or survival.”

“You don’t hear me.”

“The state is a person,” continued the King. “And a person either asserts himself or is subjugated to the will of others. We stake our claim or are ploughed into the field. It is one or the other.”

“You acted out of pride. I risked my life for our vanity, to rescue your wife’s dowry.”

“And I acted for France because I am France. Without me the country will consume itself in noble squabbles. Music, dance, art, fashion, beauty…” Louis gestured out the window at the gardens, “…all these things have the power to change a nation from within, to affect the hearts and minds of a people, to bring them over to us. We could never invade the entire world but the world can imagine us to be their center. And one day, my brother, it will. The cost is justified a hundredfold.”

“The cost?”