Madame de Montespan with the Queen

Madame de Montespan smoothed down the front of the Queen's gown. With a smile, she said,"You look lovely, my Queen. This gown suits you perfectly. It gives you an air of sophistication." The Queen stared dimly into Athenais's eyes, replying," Oh, do you really think so? Don't you think it a bit too exaggerated for me?" She pulled at the waist, running her fingers down the ruffles that melted together in the silken fabric. "Oh, No, you look astounding. Everyone will remark on the beauty of the gown, how it enhances your hair! Athenais replied loudly. To herself, she thought I would not want to wear it either, but then I am not the Queen. But forcefully she asserted to the Queen, "It is lovely for you. You wear it so well. It makes you look so stylish." The Queen was a small, petite woman who seemed to appear dwarfed in any gown that was brought to her to wear. Her hair was fashioned in the old style Spanish stiff tight curl look that gave her a childish appearance. She was actually a very pretty woman who looked like her father,Philip, the King of Spain, but she was stunted in her personality and character through the long years spent in the harsh, rigid court climate of Spain. The loose, easy nature of the French court was most unsettling to her. She did not really feel comfortable with many of her ladies who were not from her home country of Spain. All threatened and befuddled her, but Athenais, the wife of a strange man, was a great comfort to her. She had been intensely jealous of the King's love for one of Henrietta's ladies in waiting. Henrietta was her sister in law by marriage, the sister of the exiled king of England, and wife of Monsieur, brother to the King of France, Louis XIV. Louise de la Valliere had become the lady in waiting to Henrietta due to the King's obvious interest and friendship with Henrietta. The King had unwittingly fallen in love with the shy young lame girl who appeared to be so quiet, morose, and sullen most of the time that she chanced to see her. She hated her for her hold on the King who she wanted to love only herself. She relied upon Athenais to help her to control her emotions, her passionate need to have the king's attention focused on her instead of his mistress. She pursed her lips and said more to herself than anyone," I must not let everyone know that Louise bothers me so much. I must behave outwardly as though I don't notice what is happening." She had cried herself to sleep the night before, bitterly unhappy because the King had given Louise recognition as his royal consort. His mother had warned him sternly about his romantic episodes, and in his mother,she trusted but Maria Therese of Spain hurt badly that the King did not love her as deeply as she loved him. She could not understand what it was that she had done to make him choose another to parade in front of the court. She sulked and cried to herself, but she found no comfort in anyone to help her in her time of emotional depression. Athenais seemed to pay no attention, but was often so rude and unkind to Louise that it cheered the petite Queen. For that reason alone she looked to Athenais as an ally in her attempt to keep the King to herself.