“Will Simon be unkind to the boy?”
“I hope not.” Marie Antoinette brushed back a wisp of white hair from her forehead. “I pray not. Simon did many kindnesses for us at one time. I think he’s only stupid, not cruel.”
“We have people watching here at the Temple. They’ll know if Louis Charles is ill treated,” Juliette said gently. “And you know Simon won’t be permitted to hurt him.”
“I miss him so,” the queen whispered. “He’s only eight, you know. He has such a sweet nature, always smiling, always trying to help me.”
“You’ll be together again.”
“In heaven, perhaps.”
“No,” Juliette protested. “The plans are going well for your escape—”
“Forget me,” the queen interrupted. “Rescue Louis Charles.”
Juliette shook her head. “Louis Charles is safe at the moment. The convention can use him as a hostage. But we need to free you.”
“Before they kill me as they did my husband?” Marie Antoinette’s lips twisted. “I’ve heard they’re already trying to gather their filth to besmirch my name. I understand one of the charges is against your dear mother. Thank God Celeste’s safe from thosecanailles.”
Juliette quickly looked away.
The queen shook her head. “Youknowmy attachmentfor her was not unnatural, Juliette. I am of an extremely affectionate nature, but I had only one real love. Axel…” She pulled off a signet ring from her finger and looked down at it lovingly. “It’s the Fersen coat of arms. Do you know the motto that’s engraved on it?Tutto a te mi guida. Is that not beautiful?”
Everything leads me to you.
“Yes,” Juliette said huskily. “Very beautiful.”
“My dear Louis understood. We had affection and duty, but I needed something more.” She lifted her chin. “So I took it. I loved Axel from the moment I saw him and I’m only sorry I wasted so much of our time together because I was afraid to go to him. It’s far better to risk all than to live with eternal regret. Only memories bring comfort when the end draws near.”
“It needn’t be the end. We’re trying to—”
“I know. I know. And I pray you succeed but I hope I will not be too afraid to die. I hear Louis died like a true monarch and I, too, must die like a queen.” She turned to Juliette and said fiercely, “But my little Louis Charles must live! You must promise me he will live.”
Juliette swallowed hard. “I give you my word.”
Marie Antoinette smiled and for a moment her face lit with all the charm that had captured Juliette so many years earlier that night in the Hall of Mirrors. She patted Juliette’s cheek. “I trust you. Go with God,ma petite.”
TWENTY-ONE
Tutto a te mi guida.
The words repeated over and over in Juliette’s memory on the ride home from the Temple.
Everything leads me to you.
Jean Marc was not at home when Juliette arrived at the Place Royale, though it was evening. Since he had returned to Paris from Le Havre he seemed to be avoiding her as she avoided him.
Robert carefully expressed no surprise when he saw Juliette’s ragged gown and soot-smudged face. “I’ll send up heated water. Will you need anything else?”
I needed more andItook it.
“Yes, send a maid to help me bathe and do my hair.” Juliette hurried up the steps.
It was almost midnight when she heard Jean Marc’s steps on the stairs. A momentlater she heard the door of his chamber close behind him.
She drew a shaky breath, stood up, and moved quickly toward the door she had left ajar leading to the corridor.
Jean Marc had already taken off his black brocade cutaway coat and was unbuttoning his white linen shirt when she opened the door of his chamber without knocking.
