The Family Wing

"There are 9 chambers in this wing. The grandest one belongs to the Duke, and has a study attached. The study leads to the general area of the palace, letting him work from his chambers, while keeping those who enter this wing to a minimum. The Duchess's chambers are also elaborate with a sitting room to match the efficiency of the Duke's study in regard to guest access. There is a third grand room reserved for honored guests, such as King Luis when he visited. Which one sounds to your liking?" I explain as we pass the threshold into the hall of the family wing.

"I would like to see all the rooms." Prince Clement-Victor commands without hesitation.

"You are welcome to whichever one takes you fancy then." I lead him to the far end of the hallway. "We will start with the grandest ones." Honestly, I am hungry, and want to eat. I figure that when he sees the grandeur of one of the beforementioned rooms he will be satisfied, and we can eat.

"This is the Duke's room." I lead him through the several doors to the closet, study, sitting area, and other appendages. All of them are painted with motifs and scenes in rich colors. Red, blues and blacks dominate the color palate. Tapestries of hunting and war are hanging from the walls, and there is a fireplace in each of the rooms. The wooden bed is large and covered in carvings and draped embroidered fabric.

"What do you think of the bed chamber?"

To my disappointment the Prince merely responds, "It is extravagant."

"Let's see the Duchess' chambers then." I open the door joining together the Duke and Duchess's chambers, allowing them to spend time together without the whole of the staff knowing.

This chamber's palate is more pastel, but equally decorated in greens, pinks and purples. The tapestries here are of a more feminine taste, telling ancient stories and displaying luscious gardens, often with exposed human forms. Its splendor matches that of the Duke's with may adjoining rooms, and a sitting area that connects to the general populous of the palace.

"Fitting for a noble woman." is the Prince's opinion. I sigh inwardly and lead him to the grand guest chamber through the hall.

This one has an extensively carved bed frame like the last two. The color theme is similar to the Duke's but with green instead of blue. The hangings here are also of hunting and war. It has some attached rooms, but not as many as the Duke or Duchess because it was not designed with a permanent resident in mind.

"As I said before King Luis of Bresse stayed in this room only a couple months ago." I exalt the virtues of this room to the best of my abilities.

"I have no interest in saying in the same bed as that reckless King." I try to dampen my frustration at how picky he is with this choice. Why can't he just be happy with this room. It is not as if he will live here for the rest of eternity, but only a couple of months at most.

"Okay, but all the other rooms are not as luxurious as these three." He shrugs so I concede. So much for my plan to eat soon.

I display my brother's rooms first. They are all like the Duke's with a study, sitting area, and many masculine touches to the décor. The beds are ornate but not as heavily covered as those of the Duke's chambers. Both are looked down upon by the Prince. On to my sisters' rooms.

In the wallpapered hall we pass several painting and portraits of family members. The Prince stops before a family portrait taken two years ago. In stopping he yanks me back to witness the pain that is filled on that canvas.

"This is my family. Sitting is Duke Jean-Claude, and Duchess Antoinette. Behind them are my siblings, Lord Jean-Claude, Lord Jean-Baptiste, Lady Antoinette, and Lady Véronique." I explain the portrait so that we can move on as soon as possible.

"I don't see you." He furrows his brow. He doesn't show much emotion when not on display, acting for those around us, so his discontent astonishes me.

I turn away from his eyes to face the portrait, wanting to put up a similar shield of disinterest that he wears. "It was specifically for the Duke's family with Duchess Antoinette." He doesn't react but continues to shift his gaze from the painting and me, until I add "I am the daughter of his first wife. She died when I was 2. The Duke remarried within a month of the funeral."

"Why do you call him by his title not father?"

The question takes me aback, but I respond with as little emotion as I can "He insists that I do." A strange noise that is a mixture of a growl and grunt comes from the Prince. I pull on his arm, motioning that we have more to see.

My sister's rooms are just as my brothers but more feminine in color and décor. They boast a sitting room as well as a separate room for clothing storage, and another for a miniature study.

Prince Clement-Victor looks around them, but his face remains as stone. There are many paintings and hangings in each so they exude the riches of Villefranche. Their sitting rooms are richly furnished with the most comfortable of settees, and chairs. There are books and dresses strewn throughout the rooms as if they had packed with haste and were forced to leave behind their precious items. The idea of the discomfort they felt at leaving their wealth brings me slight solace in my abandonment.

The Prince shows no interest in them, making me nervous for what is to come. "There is only the nursery and my room left." I inform him, hoping he will decide to take one of the previously seem chambers.

"We can save your chambers for last, if you would prefer, but I want to look at them." My heart races at the idea of us alone in my room, as the guards have waited outside in the hall during the tour. The idea of him seeing the poorer conditions I have also inexplicable squeeze my heart. I ignore the heat in my cheeks as I lead the Prince on.