Louis the Well-Beloved by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online

the King from the overwhelming devotion of Villeroi, took him to the Council of Regency. Louis was a little bored by the long speeches and the interminable discussions but he liked to sit there among these men and feel that he was their King.
    He asked that whenever the Council sat he should attend.
    Villeroi beamed with pleasure. ‘You see,’ he said to the Duc d’Orléans, ‘how intelligent is His Majesty. I am not the only one who finds it difficult to remember he is but ten years old.’
    ‘Ah,’ said Orléans, ‘he grows apace in mind and body. He longs to escape from his Governor’s leading strings.’
    There was a threat in the words. Soon, implied Orléans, he will not need your services, Papa Villeroi.
    When that time comes, thought Villeroi, I will expose you, Monsieur d’Orléans, in all your infamy, before you have an opportunity to do to that innocent child what you did to his parents.
    Villeroi was certain that only his watchfulness and care had preserved Louis’ life so far. The King should continue in his care.
    I believe, thought Orléans, that the old fool’s brain is softening.
    On one occasion, while the Regency Council was conducting its business and Louis sat in a chair of state, his legs not reaching the floor, fighting a desire to go to sleep, he heard a slight scratching on the legs of his chair and as he looked to see what it was, a black and white kitten sprang onto his lap.
    Louis caught the furry little body and held it. A pair of wide green eyes surveyed him calmly and the kitten mewed. The gentlemen of the Council stopped their talk to look at the King and the kitten.
    The Duc de Noailles, who could not bear to be in the same room as cats, sprang to his feet.
    ‘Sire,’ he said, ‘I will order it to be removed at once.’
    Uncle Philippe reached to take the kitten from Louis, but the King held the little creature against him. He loved the kitten which already sensed his sympathy and began purring contentedly.
    Louis then decided to exert his authority, to show these men that he was the King.
    He stroked the kitten and, without looking at Monsieur de Noailles or Uncle Philippe, he said: ‘The kitten shall remain.’
    There was a brief silence, then Orléans turned his smiles on Noailles and murmured: ‘The King has spoken.’
    It amused Louis to see the horror on the face of de Noailles. He felt very happy that day; he had a new companion and he had realised that in small matters he could have his way.
    After that occasion the kitten joined in the frolics he shared with Calvière; and Louis was watchful that no harm should come to it; he was ready to fly into a rage with anyone whom he suspected of ill-treating it, so very quickly all learned to pay proper respect to the little ‘Blanc et Noir’.
    Louis took it everywhere he went and, if he did not take it, it followed him.
    The Court declared that there was a new member of the Regency Council: His Majesty’s kitten.

    It was hot in the church and Louis longed for Mass to be over.
    The air inside the building was stifling for the place was thronged with people who had come to celebrate the feast of Saint Germain l’Auxerrois.
    The droning of voices seemed to be receding; he was only vaguely aware of the Duc d’Orléans standing close to him, and when he clasped his hands together discovered that they were burning.
    Orléans laid his hand on the King’s shoulder and whispered: ‘You are feeling ill?’
    Louis lifted a pair of glassy eyes to the Duc, and as he did so he would have fallen had not Orléans stooped swiftly and gathered him into his arms.
    There were too many witnesses for the news to be kept secret. All over Paris the word was spreading: The King has been taken ill.
    Many spoke of the dreaded smallpox; but there were many others who were already whispering the word: poison.

    Villeroi wrung his hands; he stormed up and down the apartment.
    ‘That this should have happened,’ he cried to all those who had