The King's Eye

Chapter 2

 The carriage bumped along the main road, jolting me awake. Outside the window trees passed slowly enough to notice the black birds hopping and flying branch to branch. Versailles wasn't far away now, you could tell by how nature seemed to be placed perfectly along the road, patterns and rows evenly distributed.

Tracing my fingers across my throat, I touched the laced ribbon that was tied around it. Gulping reminded me I could breathe.

"Your mother will be angry if you mess up your clothing."

I rolled my eyes and glanced over, "Père, It's a necklace."

He smiled with his eyes. "It's your death."

My mother cleared her throat, reminding us of her presence and bringing silence back to the carriage. Atop her head was an ornate wig she paid too much for, but father would never say so. It was curled and rolled upward, making a little pin decorated tower. It was the latest fashion she would say, but I thought her own hair was far more beautiful. "I'm glad you two think this is funny." She opened her fan and began to wave the air around her. The little blue painted branches on the fabric matched her dress perfectly.

My father and I locked eyes, trying not to laugh. He had never been too serious, unless there was talk of politics.

I shifted in my seat bumping Anne who sat next to me half asleep, she mumbled to be more careful before laying her head on my shoulder. The skirt of my dress wrinkled against the floor of the carriage, my petticoat slightly peeking out from beneath it as it folded up over my shoes. This was the nicest dress I had ever worn, the layers of it lifted up by the pannier I wore underneath. The hooped skirt seemed excessive, especially in such a small space. Between Anne and I there was no space, our dresses seemed to create a mountain where they met, but my mother was determined to make us stand out at court. Even if a nobleman was enamored with us there would be no way we could offer a dowry, and that would be expected. Marriage for the royals wasn't about love, it was about who won the political game.

My mother gasped, fanning faster with excitement. Her large sapphire eyes widened as they searched outside the window. "Can you believe we are here?"

Anne lifted her head looking past me out the window, her eyes were narrow from fatigue. "I heard it stinks," she said before laying her head back down onto my shoulder. Anne had put up a fight before we had left our home in the city a few hours earlier. She had no desire to kiss rings or talk about marriage, and I didn't blame her. Even though this visit was for our father, we knew our mother had dressed us this way for a reason.

"Please Anne, just be pleasant," my mother glared at my sister and then looked at me as if she wanted to say the same thing. I couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Curiosity finally made me peek out the window, I pushed the small curtain back to get a better view. In eyesight I could see the large golden gate topped with a crown and what looked like twirling feathers. I had read about how beautiful the palace was, but I could never have imagined this. The gold seemed to be everywhere as we got closer. The gates. The roof. Around the windows. Everything shone in the early summer sun as if you stepped into a witch's enchantment, the light reflecting off of it glowing. My jaw loosened, allowing my mouth to open in awe. The ground was made of black and white marble, shiny and free of dirt despite being outside.

As we rounded in front of the gate and stopped, two footmen rushed to open the door. Their identical uniforms made them look like twins. One of them swung the door open, the other laid down a step for us and held out his hand. My mother crept out of her seat and reached her hand out for the footman's, he held her hand loosely as she stepped out, guiding her forward. Her dress seemed to shimmer in the sunlight that reflected off of the palace. Anne followed my mother out, and then my father.