CHAPTER XI
catherine's deadliest rival
ON June 12 Madame, with her suite, finally took her departure. Waller presented her with an ode, and Charles and the Duke of York sailed some distance with her ship, unable to part from their dearly loved sister. Three times Charles attempted to say farewell, and as many times could not tear himself away, but returned to embrace her. Madame wept bitterly, and Charles was himself affected. At last he commanded himself, and he and the Duke of York took their own yacht and returned to Dover. The crossing was calm and good. On landing Madame rested till the following day, when she started for Boulogne, where she received royal honours, and was escorted by a troop of the King's Guards on her journey from Abbeville to Beauvais. She was sumptuously entertained by the due d'Elboeuf at Montreuil, and in all these triumphs Louise de Keroualle took part, as her Maid of Honour.[1]
The sudden death of Madame, sixteen days after her return, was at the time ascribed to poison, but the suspicion has long been proved groundless. Louise was doubtless among her ladies who undressed her when she was seized with mysterious agonies after they had dined with her and Monsieur. She was certainly with the others about the duchesse's bed till
- ↑ Julia Cartwright.
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