Henriette tossed her wet hair back from her shoulders, shivered, and walked quickly from the pool to the pool house with several of her ladies. Soon it would be too cold to bathe outside, but she would still want her precious time in the pool house. She watched her slippered feet as she walked, thinking of war and warriors, of Philippe and Chevalier. And Louis. Always Louis.

She looked up to see the Montespan standing at the pool house door.

“What a surprise to find you here,” Henriette said.

“I wanted to talk to you, away from the usual ears,” said the Montespan.

The two ladies moved away to sit on a stone bench. A chittering chaffinch watched from a branch overhead.

“What Chevalier did to your poor Angelique,” the Montespan said.

Henriette nodded, frowned. “He was being himself, unfortunately. And now I have a new lady.”

“Mademoiselle Clermont.”

“Yes, Sophie. I’ve found her pleasant enough. And she is talented with hair.”

The Montespan leaned closer. “I’ve a scheme that would bring a delicious revenge on Chevalier. Would you consider it?”

“No, thank you, Athenais.”

The Montespan’s eyes widened slightly in confusion. “Might I have a reason?”

“I already know what it is you want, and I cannot help you get it.”

The Montespan blinked. “I am sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“Think awhile. You will get there in the end.” Henriette stood, smiled, and walked off, leaving the Montespan alone on the bench.

“I suppose I will,” she said to herself.

Louis scanned the faces of ministers he’d ordered into the War Cabinet room. His eyes were shadowed by anger, determination, and defiance. “We are surrounded by conspirators,” he said as he leaned on the table, his head lowered like that of a wolf. “By criticism. By wilderness and danger. Defense is no longer our option. We must break the siege. We must attack. Bontemps, arrange a force to guard the roads.”

“They are assembled, Sire,” replied Bontemps, though the valet could see by the twitch of Fabien’s eye that he was not convinced that was true.

“Make their clothing uniform. Make their presence felt. To deter and reassure as we do in Paris. Purse the roads. Police them. Contact every noble who defies me. I wish to understand their concerns. And they shall be informed of our intent. Their King is going to war.” Louis rose and the men followed suit.

Fabien sought out Bontemps at the door, but Bontemps spoke first. “Four squads of one hundred on the roads. Five men per shipment. All on the road shall have a guard.”

“But these men are untrained,” said Fabien.

“Most are at the front.”

Fabien sneered. “Leaving only children!”