Marie Antoinette by Kathryn Lasky Read Free Book Online

one’s nightclothes?
July 24, 1769
The wedding dress poupée arrived today. It is the most splendid gown. It is white brocade with stripes of diamonds. The hoops are immense. There was included a note from the modiste , Madame Rose Bertin, saying that she designed this gown with the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in mind. It is through this Hall that the wedding procession shall pass on its way to the Royal Chapel. More than five thousand seats are to be installed so that spectators may view us. Madame Bertin writes “. . . and the four thousand diamonds that are right now being sewn onto your gown shall appear as forty million in the Hall of Mirrors! You shall be, Your Highness, the most magnificent creature on earth!”
Mama read this and made a little face, then muttered, “I’m glad they’re paying for it.” I blushed. How can Mama think of cost at a time like this?
July 27, 1769
The heat has been terrible. It is nearly impossible to sleep. Titi and I went out again tonight to wade and you’ll never guess who joined us. Mama! Titi and I were so frightened when we saw her coming. She was with one of her Ladies of the Chamber and wore a great cape over her chemise. Then she spoke up. “This is the best idea of the whole summer.” She sat down on a bench, took off her shoes, unrolled her stockings, walked over, and climbed into the fountain. She let her chemise drag through the water. “Ooh, Bissy!” she called to her Lady of the Chamber, “Come in. It’s the best!” Then under her breath she whispered to us, “She never will. She’s such a fearful thing.” And Bissy didn’t. But Mama and Titi and I waded about and Mama told us she used to do this when she was young. I noticed, for the moon was full and the light was good, that Mama has grown quite stout. Her wet chemise clung to her calves, which looked like large hams.
Then we sat by the side of the fountain’s pool and looked up at the stars. Mama knows so much. She pointed out several constellations, and she tried to explain to me how ships can navigate by tracking their movement against that of the stars. But I could not understand it. It seemed like very complicated mathematics. I have been taught very little of mathematics. I wondered why Mama knows so much about such things and I so little. Then she said, “Well, that was so refreshing that I think I am ready for more work! Bissy, bring the red lacquer box to my chamber and I shall read a few of those papers before I retire. Good night, Antonia. Good night, Theresa.” And she lumbered off in the moonlight. Her immense shadow stretched clear across the terrace. And I thought I heard her muttering to herself that rude rhyme about Freddy. You know the one:
Bend over, Freddy of Prussia
Let the Empress take aim
Your butt will fly to Russia
Your brains to sunny Spain
I wonder if Mama is planning another war. I hope not. At least not before my wedding.
July 28, 1769
I was called to the Gloriette for a meeting with Mama this morning. Usually when I come I stand throughout the meeting, as do all of Mama’s subjects, but this time she ordered a chair fetched for me and placed it on the other side of the desk. No one except my brother Joseph, who now rules with Mama as Emperor, ever sits opposite the Empress in her offices. This is most unusual. But it suddenly struck me why. Last night Mama and I had waded together, splashed with bare calves and dripping nightrails in the fountain. It was fun and very frivolous. This is Mama’s way of saying that my position is changing. That perhaps we can do such antics very privately here at Schönbrunn but that — yes, I saw it in the way in which she fixed me in the glint of her eye. That said it all — We are rulers, Antonia. Majesty is required . And then she really did say it in so many words.
“Antonia, when you go to France, you shall no longer be known as Antonia but as Marie Antoinette. Antonia is the name of a girl. Marie Antoinette is the name of a