The poisoner spread her hands out in front of her. “Perhaps he is. All I know is that each amulet, mass, and poison brings me more livres.”
“Madame Montespan will ask about us, won’t she?” Eva inquired.
La Voisin nodded. “She’s loquacious and curious, but it is easy enough to distract her with talk of something new that I’m whipping up. Anytime I mention a poison or potion that could gain her the king’s favor, she obsesses over it until I can provide it.”
“And will she introduce us to these people who serve the demons?” Morgan asked. “Even the one she does not like?”
“She won’t like leading me to Madame La Vallière, but if I tell her that the king’s favorite mistress owes Mademoiselle Eva money, there will be no issue. If there’s any chance to undermine Louis’ prized whore, Madame Montespan will introduce us happily.”
Morgan seemed placated, and we strode through the open courtyard, receiving a few surreptitious glances from a couple of the guards. I got the sense thatLa Voisin’s reputation preceded her. However, when a young woman approached, calling out the witch’s name, the guards looked relieved that they hadn’t stopped us.
“Madame Montvoisin! Over here!” A curvy, golden-haired woman waved as she picked up the skirt of her heavy dress to hurry over. “I got your note that you wished to speak!”
“Indeed I do, Madame Montespan,” La Voisin said once the woman reached us, reeking of rose oil so strong, it made my nose twitch. “I have a few new wares that I thought you might like to hear about.”
The woman’s eyes widened, and the flush on her cheeks deepened. “Indeed! Please come inside. We shall have some wine.”
Madame Montespan led us through the doors to the palace and down the hallways. With her guiding us, few glanced our way. The ones who did were accommodating rather than suspicious, and asked if we needed anything.
We’d entered a more femininely decorated wing of the palace, when La Voisin’s hand snaked around Madame Montespan’s forearm. “Actually, Athénaïs,” La Voisin switched to using her client’s first name, a tactic she claimed made the woman think they were friends. “Might I ask a favor first?
“Certainly, Catherine.” Athénaïs used La Voisin’s first name in return asher blonde eyebrows pulled together with interest. “What can I do for you?”
“I was hoping for an introduction to two people at court. One is Monsieur Renard . . .”
She paused, swallowing for dramatic effect. La Voisin wanted Madame Montespan to believe that she felt bad about asking her to introduce us to the king’s favored mistress.
She continued after a moment, “This next one, you may not like much, but my friend requires an introduction for very specific purposes. You see, Mademoiselle Nora’s family,” she gestured to Eva, “has been requesting money from this particular woman. She is in their debt, and Mademoiselle Nora wishes to collect.”
The mistress nodded. “Who is it, then?”
“Louise de La Vallière.”
For the first time, Madame Montespan’s lovely face soured.
Eva stepped forward to play her part. “We would be ever so grateful for the introduction, Madame Montespan. She does owe us quite a bit of money.”
The wanna-be mistress cocked her head. “How much?”
“Five thousand livres.”
Madame Montespan’s hand flew to her mouth. “For shame! That is a fortune!”
“Yes,” Eva said. “And she has been dodging payments for quite some time. I thought to bring it to the king—”
Athénaïs’ eyes lit up as the dots connected. “Oh no! She should not be allowed to skate by. I shall make the introductions today. If things do not go your way, then I shall speak to the kingfor you. As you know, I have great influence with him.”
La Voisin had figured that Madame Montespan would jump at the chance to make the other woman look bad. She had predicted correctly.
Eva performed a small curtsy. “My family would appreciate that very much.”
Madame Montespan’s hands fell to her side. “Well, if you’d like to get this done first, I can show you where Monsieur Renard is at this very moment.”
La Voisin arched an eyebrow. “How would you know that?”
Madame Montespan frowned. “When he is not in direct service of the king, which he isn’t right now,” her tone soured even more, “he is always in the library, reading.”
My spine straightened. If the Louvre’s library was anything like a modern library, this could be perfect timing. A quiet, untroubled space for me to test my demon powers would be ideal.
