He looked at her and answered calmly.
It seems toВ me that her corset is too tight and she will even faint, so she probably abuses blush so as not toВ give out the pallor ofВ her face.
There is nothing interesting inВ this lady for me. He replied, looking at Diana smiling.
IВ think the fairest lady ofВ all the fairest is standing next toВ me right now. He smiled at her again.
She looked at him suspiciously. Trying toВ look into his very soul, into his eyes black as night, suspecting him ofВ flattery. But, he looked at her with an honest and open look. He really seemed toВ say what he thought.
Oh, what a nice young man he is! Thoughts jumped in Poitiers’ head, joyfully.
She was ready toВ kiss him on both cheeks. She smiled at him sincerely. He reached out again and offered his hand toВ her. They continued on their way down the alley, when inВ the distance she recognized the silhouette ofВ the old widow. They headed towards her, where she stood surrounded byВ her ladies. Poitiers suddenly remembered.
Oh my god! We didn’t even introduce ourselves. And she smiled at him apologetically.
Diana. Diana de Brese.
Yes, IВ know. He answered with aВ smile.
Heinrich, madam, at your service.
You know?! She was surprised.
But, I didn’t have time to say anything else, as they almost approached the standing ladies. He did not have time to fully introduce himself. They were interrupted by an old widow who saw them and quickly walked towards them. She was already next to them, out of breath. She stopped next to them, froze for a moment in place and, as if recollecting herself, sat down in a deep curtsy, greeting Diana’s companion. Her ladies followed her example. Poitiers was taken aback by surprise. After all, only kings and all the offspring of royal blood are greeted with a deep curtsy. Heinrich smiled at the ladies with his sweet smile and answered them with a bow of his head, greeting them.
Madam, what aВ pleasure toВ see you here again. He turned toВ the old lady.
IВ have brought your seemingly lost lady toВ you.
Ah, thanks! I didn’t think Madame de Brese was lost. The old widow answered.
Always at your service, madam. Heinrich answered.
With your permission, IВ have toВ leave you now. Heinrich said toВ the widow.
Saying goodbye toВ her and the ladies nodding his head gallantly. He looked at Diana, smiling at her. He kissed her hand goodbye, barely touching her thin skin with his lips.
I hope we’ll see you soon. And let’s talk again about poetry. I’ll look forward to it, he told her.
She smiled back at him in utter confusion. Still not understanding the old widow’s behavior, and surprised by her venerable curtsy. He said a couple more pleasantries to the old widow, turned around and walked slowly away, leaving. Diana stood, still not understanding what had happened. She was completely confused and asked, finally, coming out of her stupor, from a lady standing next to her.
Explain toВ me if you please. Who owned all these curtsies, and inВ whose honor are they?
Who isВ he?
God! Expensive! The lady answered.
Do you know who was seeing you off?!
This is Prince Henry de Valois, Duke ofВ Orleans!
She sang dreamily.
Ah! How can you, however, get lost!
And then, pouting her lips, she sighed enviously, looking after the retreating prince.
How IВ wish they could find me that way too! The lady sighed.
Obviously upset that she wasn’t lost.
Prince! Poitiers thought inВ horror.
Remembering how she climbed with her bare hand without aВ glove inВ the grass.
What aВ horror!
She turned pale. Some time ago, she was sure that she was lucky. That this shame of her was seen by this sweet young man, and not by someone else. But, already now she was ready to burst into tears. Because he turned out to be a prince! It couldn’t have been worse. She almost sobbed out loud, trying not to cry. She looked completely dejected and even unhappy. It was so strange to see, so clearly not joyful her face, the lady, with envy, looked in her direction.
Henry, Duke ofВ Orleans! She thought.
And suddenly another picture from the past came to mind. Little frightened, black-eyed boy. She looked at the figure of the retreating Heinrich. She froze, remembering how she hugged a small, forgotten child. She suddenly felt sad. How many years have passed! He became a handsome young man. How many years! She thought, remembering her no longer young age, which the king reminded her of. Vile de Tamp, too, did not let her forget about it. But, now she felt it especially acutely, remembering the boy and seeing today a beautiful young man, whom he had become. Heinrich became a handsome young man. He was young and well built. He was recently by the sea and was sunburned and dark-skinned, like a corsair sailing the seas. He had a thick shock of black hair and the same attentive, serious and incredibly black eyes as in childhood, as deep as the darkest night. Henry and his brother Francis returned from captivity four years later. Children in captivity were not merciful. Heinrich endured this test with courage. His brother turned out to be weaker, and got a lung disease in captivity, returned to his homeland extremely painful. Henry, being the second son of the king and not being heir to the throne, later went into the army, hoping to make a brilliant military career. He liked it. He often disappeared in the barracks among the soldiers than at court in the company of elegant courtiers. Not really loving and favoring balls and fun in the palace. Preferring to all this, hunting. This was his main addiction, as well as fights in tournaments. By nature, a rather calm young man, on a hunt and in a duel, he seemed to become a different person. No one could compare with him in fights. Opponents flew out of the saddle at the first blow, his hand was heavy. His impact was legendary. Once the blow was so strong that not only the rider fell, but also his horse. Also on the hunt, no one could compare with him in dexterity and accuracy. The booty has always belonged to him. He chased the poor beast like a hurricane, sweeping away everything in its path. Because of that, the young prince was a secret and obvious dream of many women’s hearts. And the ladies did not bother to lust for a prince, despite the fact that Henry was married.
He was married to Catherine Maria Romula di Lorenzo de Medici. The Medici family actually ruled Florence. Originally bankers, they came to great wealth and power by funding European monarchs. Catherine’s father Lorenzo II Medici, Duke of Urbino, was not originally a Duke of Urbino and became so thanks to his uncle Giovanni Medici, Pope Leo 10. Thus, despite the ducal title, Catherine was of a relatively low birth. However, her mother, Madeleine de La Tour, Countess of Auvergne, belonged to one of the most famous and ancient French aristocratic families. This greatly influenced the future marriage of Catherine.
The death ofВ Pope Leo 10В led toВ aВ break inВ the power ofВ the Medici family on the holy throne, until inВ 1523В Cardinal Giulio di Medici became Pope ClementВ 7.
InВ 1527, the Medici inВ Florence was overthrown and Catherine became aВ hostage. The Pope had toВ recognize and crown Charles 5В ofВ Habsburg, Emperor ofВ the Holy Roman Empire. InВ exchange for his help inВ the return ofВ Florence and the release ofВ the young duchess. InВ October 1529, the troops ofВ Charles 5В laid siege toВ Florence. During the siege, calls and threats appeared toВ kill Catherine and hang her on the city gates or send her toВ aВ brothel toВ dishonor her. Although the city resisted the siege, on August 12, 1530, famine and plague forced Florence toВ surrender. Clement met Catherine inВ Rome with tears inВ his eyes. It was then that he started looking for aВ groom for her. Considering many options, but inВ 1531В the French king Francis 1В proposed the candidacy ofВ his second son, Henry. Clement jumped at the chance right away. The young Duke ofВ Orleans was the most profitable party for his niece Catherine.
At the age ofВ 14, Catherine became the bride ofВ the French prince Heinrich de Valois. Her dowry amounted toВ 130,000В ducats and vast estates including Pisa, Livorno and Parma.
Catherine was not beautiful. She looked like aВ discarded fish on the seashore with the same bulging colorless eyes, as if she had aВ suffocating disease. AВ large mouth with thin, colorless lips and an incomprehensible light shade ofВ hair inВ small curls. Some even claimed that she was an exact copy ofВ Pope Leo 10. At aВ young age, being like aВ holy father is byВ no means aВ compliment.
AВ wedding held inВ Marseilles on October 28, 1533. Became aВ big event marked byВ extravagance and giving out gifts. Europe has not seen such aВ congregation ofВ the highest clergy for aВ long time. The ceremony was attended byВ Pope Clement himself, accompanied byВ many cardinals. After the wedding, 34В days ofВ continuous feasts and balls followed. At the wedding feast, Italian chefs introduced the French court toВ aВ new dessert made ofВ fruit and ice; this was the first ice cream.
But, Pope Clement 7 died unexpectedly. Paul 3, who replaced him, terminated the alliance with France and refused to pay Catherine’s dowry. Catherine’s political value suddenly vanished. Having thus worsened her position in a foreign country. King Francis 1 complained: «The girl came to me completely naked.» Catherine, who was born into a merchant family in Florence, where her parents were not so preoccupied in order to give their offspring a versatile education, was very difficult in the refined French court. She was an ignoramus who did not know how to construct phrases gracefully and made many mistakes in her letters. Not able to be graceful in such a refined society. Behind her eyes they called her a merchant
Several days passed. Poitiers did not meet Henry. De Tamp did not write new pamphlets, which indicated that Henry kept her little secret. And she breathed a sigh of relief. The thought of him was undoubtedly pleasant to her. He’s still incredibly sweet. Poitiers thought. Walking with the ladies and the old widow along the alleys of the palace park. Arriving in this frame of mind, she noticed a figure approaching in the distance, recognizing her as Henry.The ladies noticed him too. It was evident in the way they perked up as they chirped and tweaked their hairstyles. Poitiers noticed the ladies’ animation. She seemed to be pricked by something sharp and unpleasant somewhere inside. She snorted to herself at the ladies. Throwing a prickly gaze full of needles at them. The ladies pretended not to notice. But, nevertheless, they quieted down. Heinrich approached, smiling at them all with his sweet, amiable smile. It seemed to her that a little more and the ladies would begin to dance in curtsies, they bowed so earnestly. She sat down in an elegant curtsy. After greeting him. He fixed his gaze on her and smiled at her affably. Turned to an old widow. With a few niceties to the old lady. Why she became even more like an owl.
Diana involuntarily smiled at this.
Let me steal your lady, madam. He finished his tirade ofВ courtesies toВ the widow.
IВ promise toВ return her toВ you soon. He assured the old lady.
Unless madam doesn’t mind. He turned already to Poitiers.
She smiled at him and of course she didn’t mind!
They walked away under the envious glances of the ladies. They walked in the park, enjoying the scent of roses, birdsong and each other’s company.
He wrote new verses and read them. This time the poems were about the rose and its beauty and fragrance. She, ofВ course, realized that he dedicated his poems toВ her. Comparing it toВ aВ wonderful flower. He finished reading and looked at her carefully.
Asked.
Do you like it? He was clearly worried.
Hiding his worries, but he barely succeeded.
She smiled at him, noticing his concern.
Answered.
They are beautiful.
Do you think they might be missing something too? He asked at last.
She smiled at him, scolding herself inВ her hearts for the fact that the last time her statements about his poems might have hurt Henry.
No, no. They are great! There is nothing toВ add toВ them, she said.
After aВ minute she added.
IВ can only add, she said quietly.
That the rose blooms and fragrant, delighting everyone with its beauty only under the rays ofВ the loving sun that caresses it. She finished.
And their eyes met like two bottomless oceans.
Yes, you are right, Heinrich replied worriedly.
And added. What do you think?
Will the rose bloom under the rays ofВ the lovingВ sun?
She smiled at him. Feeling that her cheeks are reddening treacherously.
IВ think so. She answered very quietly. As if afraid that he would still hear her words.
They met every day in the alleys of the park, wandered and chatted about everything in the world. Listening to beautiful music written by nature itself. Singing birds and the sound of the wind playing with the foliage of the trees. And strangely enough, they both noticed all these metamorphoses of nature, which every single day plays its magnificent plays under people’s noses. But, for many, they seem to be invisible. But, not for Diana and Heinrich. They noticed everything. And everyone was genuinely happy. Realizing that he met someone who could see the world the same as he saw it himself. Once passing by a small fountain hidden among the bushes, which have long been abandoned. The fountain depicted a deer defeated in a hunt, with a dog hanging over its prey. The water in the fountain was cloudy and completely green. Diana, enchanted by the colors of this picture, looked into the water surface. After becoming silent, as if bewitched and peering into the depths of the whirlpool, she suddenly said.
You know, this is the most beautiful fountain inВ this garden!
Someone seems toВ be living inВ the depths ofВ its waters. She suddenly perked up. Turning from the fountain toВ Heinrich.
He raised an eyebrow and laughed cheerfully.
Who do you think lives there? He asked cheerfully.
Well, I don’t know. Pouting her lips, Poitiers said. Obviously pretending to be offended that he does not believe her. She answered with childlike spontaneity.
Maybe aВ mermaid or some kind ofВ spirit. She was inspired, fantasizing.
He continued toВ laugh. Touched byВ her fantasies. She pouted her lips even harder, offended byВ his skepticism. He stopped laughing and raised his hands toВ feign surrender.
You know, I didn’t notice him at all before. He said. Glancing again at the green smooth surface of the fountain, and whispering in her ear.
There really is someone living there! Her eyes lit up inВ the hope that her words were true.
And that’s it, he finished.
Definitely frogs!
He laughed again, hoping toВ see her cute pouting lips again. She looked at him resentfully, almost childishly. IВ repeated it seriously.
Heinrich, right! There, nevertheless, someone lives.
He was still laughing while admiringВ her.
Diana dear! If you like. That, there will live everyone whom you wish toВ settle there!
Whether it’s a mermaid or your beloved Mademoiselle de Tamp!
She might pass for aВ ghost! He said.
He was already having fun and laughing heartily. Hearing about the prospect ofВ de Tamp living inВ aВ green swamp. Diana could not resist and laughed merrily with Heinrich. This idea was very toВ her liking.
Heinrich, really, how cute you are. She said laughing and kissing him on the cheek. He stopped laughing. He looked at her silently, with eyes full ofВ adoration and added.
Well, since you like deer, IВ invite you toВ hunt. He said.
Hunting
Hunting?! Diana was surprised.
She was not aВ fan ofВ the kind ofВ hunting that was done at court. When an unfortunate animal is driven into aВ trap from all sides and simply deprived ofВ its opportunity toВ escape. She thought it was aВ disgusting, unfair murder!
Whether it was, when she went hunting with her father aВ long time ago. Nobody drove the beast. The hunter and the beast were equal. And the one who turns out toВ be better was decided only byВ who turns out toВ be more cunning, more agile, well, or faster. If the beast, then he will not be caught, if the hunter, then the prey will be his. This is the only hunt she respected.
