Indiscretion
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2009
- Posts
- 480
[OOC: This is an alternate reality thread set in 17th century France, in the early years of Louis XIV's reign. Obviously, it is not an accurate depiction of Louis XIV's life. The story will take place throughout Europe but will focus on the goings-on in Court life in France, but also in England and other European life. If you would like to participate, please feel free to reply at any time with a small OOC explanation of your character, their background and how they fit in.]
The early days of the Court at Versailles had been interesting. Some of the King's advisers were unsure whether it was wise to assemble the aristocracy of the nation in such a small place as Versailles. But Louis's plan seem to be working: the machinations of Court were now under his watchful eye and the nobility was too busy trying to win his favour than to attempt to supplant him or otherwise to dispute the authority of the Sun King.
His bedchamber was full this morning, as usual, with a string quintet gently playing music for him to rise to, as well as his personal retinue and members of the nobility who had somehow won favour in recent days so as to be permitted to participate in some small way in his morning ritual.
Le Comte de Bretogne, his trusted friend and adviser, spoke to Louis about the affairs of the day as trembling members of the more minor nobility held candles and positioned the King's garments that he might better dress himself.
During a quick petit dejeuner with de Bretogne and le Duc de Besancon (his current Chancellor), the King heard that espionage was required to prevent the English from rebuilding their navy and opposing the French fleet. Equally as importantly, the Elector of Hanover had died and his son Klaus was now on the throne. As Elector Klaus was unmarried, there was much talk about selecting a suitable young female member of Louis's extended family (the Bourbons) to propose as a wife for the young Hanoverian.
As the King stepped into the fabulous gardens for his morning promenade. The war with the Dutch went well and the war with the English is going even better. The treasury's coffers are full to overflowing with gold taken from Dutch galleons sunk in their voyages home from the New World. For the first time in months, therefore, Louis permitted himself a moment to enjoy all he had achieved.
The female nobility and ladies in waiting were already largely promenading around the gardens, being fawned over or sometimes downright hassled by courtiers. Louis surveyed the glorious fashions of the day and the manner in which the entire garden of Versailles appeared to shift on its axis when he appeared, and was pleased at the scene and the effect that he had had on it. Louis was well aware that the chief topic of conversation when he was not present was the fact that he remained unmarried and therefore had produced no heir, despite having - in an open secret - parented a number of bastards to several mistresses, some of whom still enjoyed high status and favour in the Court.
Louis's eye was particularly attracted to several women on this occasion. One, whose name he did not remember, was a visiting Austrian princess, who was one of very few with sufficient royal blood coursing through her veins to be considered a possible mate for the King. She was aware of this and the feeling of Louis's powerful gaze on her, even from a distance, was sufficient to cause her chest to heave visibly and for her to teeter on her heels slightly, appearing faint. This almost imperceptible spectacle was not lost on those present, and currents of whispered commentary spread across the gardens.
Louis also could not help but notice a Catholic English duchess, married to a prominent Catholic Duke who was favoured by Charles I in England but exiled after his execution during the Interregnum. There were several Catholic English nobles in residence at Versailles in similar circumstances. The Duke's wife - the Duchess Catherine - looked bored and mischievous, and her bodice was cut scandalously low such that her ample cleavage almost spilled out with every breath. Unlike the Austrian Princess, Lady Catherine looked like a hungry animal drinking fresh water when she felt the King's eyes absorb her body. She clearly liked to be watched.
Finally, there was an unknown lady in waiting. She looked young and innocent and afraid. The King did not know who she was, where she came from or to whose household she belonged.
The King lent over and spoke softly to Guillaume. "Tonight, to celebrate the recent prosperity of La France, there will be a masque - a masked ball. All are welcome, regardless of rank, so long as they are masked. And I would like the ball to have a courtesan theme. There are many ladies in Court who are courtesans behiind closed doors... so let us bring them into the open at least for an evening.
Louis enjoyed masques because they proceeded on the fiction that one was truly incognito. So it was the one night that all were permitted to behave as if they were equals, although there was never any doubt that every guest knew where the King was at all times. He also liked the idea of making the nobility of France dress like whores.
___________________________________
That evening, the King selected some particularly jaunty and fashionable clothing to wear, but too rakish and even urban to be the clothing of a King. As was his custom, he entered slightly late when the ball was underway and all others had arrived. But as it was a masked ball, he was not announced with any fanfare or at all... the King took a glass of wine from a servant and watched the room, all of which new that the King was now present. Most of the costumes of the younger ladies were positively scandalous - some were wearing next to nothing at all and seemed now to be at pains to attract the King's attention. The King merely sipped his drink and waited...
The early days of the Court at Versailles had been interesting. Some of the King's advisers were unsure whether it was wise to assemble the aristocracy of the nation in such a small place as Versailles. But Louis's plan seem to be working: the machinations of Court were now under his watchful eye and the nobility was too busy trying to win his favour than to attempt to supplant him or otherwise to dispute the authority of the Sun King.
His bedchamber was full this morning, as usual, with a string quintet gently playing music for him to rise to, as well as his personal retinue and members of the nobility who had somehow won favour in recent days so as to be permitted to participate in some small way in his morning ritual.
Le Comte de Bretogne, his trusted friend and adviser, spoke to Louis about the affairs of the day as trembling members of the more minor nobility held candles and positioned the King's garments that he might better dress himself.
During a quick petit dejeuner with de Bretogne and le Duc de Besancon (his current Chancellor), the King heard that espionage was required to prevent the English from rebuilding their navy and opposing the French fleet. Equally as importantly, the Elector of Hanover had died and his son Klaus was now on the throne. As Elector Klaus was unmarried, there was much talk about selecting a suitable young female member of Louis's extended family (the Bourbons) to propose as a wife for the young Hanoverian.
As the King stepped into the fabulous gardens for his morning promenade. The war with the Dutch went well and the war with the English is going even better. The treasury's coffers are full to overflowing with gold taken from Dutch galleons sunk in their voyages home from the New World. For the first time in months, therefore, Louis permitted himself a moment to enjoy all he had achieved.
The female nobility and ladies in waiting were already largely promenading around the gardens, being fawned over or sometimes downright hassled by courtiers. Louis surveyed the glorious fashions of the day and the manner in which the entire garden of Versailles appeared to shift on its axis when he appeared, and was pleased at the scene and the effect that he had had on it. Louis was well aware that the chief topic of conversation when he was not present was the fact that he remained unmarried and therefore had produced no heir, despite having - in an open secret - parented a number of bastards to several mistresses, some of whom still enjoyed high status and favour in the Court.
Louis's eye was particularly attracted to several women on this occasion. One, whose name he did not remember, was a visiting Austrian princess, who was one of very few with sufficient royal blood coursing through her veins to be considered a possible mate for the King. She was aware of this and the feeling of Louis's powerful gaze on her, even from a distance, was sufficient to cause her chest to heave visibly and for her to teeter on her heels slightly, appearing faint. This almost imperceptible spectacle was not lost on those present, and currents of whispered commentary spread across the gardens.
Louis also could not help but notice a Catholic English duchess, married to a prominent Catholic Duke who was favoured by Charles I in England but exiled after his execution during the Interregnum. There were several Catholic English nobles in residence at Versailles in similar circumstances. The Duke's wife - the Duchess Catherine - looked bored and mischievous, and her bodice was cut scandalously low such that her ample cleavage almost spilled out with every breath. Unlike the Austrian Princess, Lady Catherine looked like a hungry animal drinking fresh water when she felt the King's eyes absorb her body. She clearly liked to be watched.
Finally, there was an unknown lady in waiting. She looked young and innocent and afraid. The King did not know who she was, where she came from or to whose household she belonged.
The King lent over and spoke softly to Guillaume. "Tonight, to celebrate the recent prosperity of La France, there will be a masque - a masked ball. All are welcome, regardless of rank, so long as they are masked. And I would like the ball to have a courtesan theme. There are many ladies in Court who are courtesans behiind closed doors... so let us bring them into the open at least for an evening.
Louis enjoyed masques because they proceeded on the fiction that one was truly incognito. So it was the one night that all were permitted to behave as if they were equals, although there was never any doubt that every guest knew where the King was at all times. He also liked the idea of making the nobility of France dress like whores.
___________________________________
That evening, the King selected some particularly jaunty and fashionable clothing to wear, but too rakish and even urban to be the clothing of a King. As was his custom, he entered slightly late when the ball was underway and all others had arrived. But as it was a masked ball, he was not announced with any fanfare or at all... the King took a glass of wine from a servant and watched the room, all of which new that the King was now present. Most of the costumes of the younger ladies were positively scandalous - some were wearing next to nothing at all and seemed now to be at pains to attract the King's attention. The King merely sipped his drink and waited...
