Madame, this is a strange suggestion

Madame, why should I wish to be you for one day? The King reflected. I know you have already an interesting, even tantalising history, from being Madame Scarron, to becoming Marquise de Maintenon, and soon my wife, as my Queen just died. Besides, the King continued, I am a little weary of all the Huguenots in your family tree, but I still appreciate your being the governess of my children, this was also when I noticed your considerable appeal.

I have to think about this idea. Would it help us understand more about each other? I would have thought our understanding, more, our deep association, going back years, is testimony enough of how strong our binding. You are the Majesty of Versailles, more so than myself. I listen to you, you are more influential for the destiny of France, than all my advisers. Bontemps will be witness to our marriage, and others. 

Devoted Madame

History will know the King never had a more devoted companion, to the end. But do tell me, Madame, was there ever someone as important as me in your life? Your father Constant, old Scarron himself, or perhaps one of your friends at the convent? Is that the secret you wish to share with the King for one day? Maybe Suzanne, your godmother, or your aunt Madame de Vilette? There are corners of your past I don’t really know much about. Do you know something I don’t about the Fronde of the nobility, some conspiracy that even my loyal Marchal is not aware of?

But then you could just tell me. We spend more and more time together, discussing anything, form Europe’s wars to the succession of Spain, the evil Holland, the Saint Empire… O yes, I should not forget, tell me about Saint-Cyr, the Maison Royale de Saint Louis. A wonderful project to be sure.

Now, as we are talking, I am beginning to suspect, being you for one day, may not be at all about what we do, but about how you feel: a more intimate visit to the secrets of your heart. Is it that you still doubt my respect for your feelings? Is it that you are troubled by my treatment of la Montespan? Well, she was more than happy for your to look after our seven children! And indeed I am grateful for this as well. 

A deeper commitment

I know you kept us well clear of a deeper commitment for long. It is only now, now that you may have both love, and marriage. I respected your will, despite the cost, to my pride, to my hopes. Do I want to be you for one day? I should reverse the proposal: do you want to be King for one day? You are already Queen bar the name. What would you do if you were me? What changes would you consider? Would you seed more religion into my soul? Would you make me more like yourself? Would you change my destiny? Or would your aim be more political? 

I may have to look more into our future. This is what history remembers:

“Mme de Maintenon was a born teacher; she had so won the hearts of her first pupils that they preferred her to their own mother, and was similarly successful later with the young and impetuous duchess of Burgundy, and she had always wished to establish a home for poor girls of good family placed in such straits as she herself had experienced.

As soon as her fortunes began to mend she started a small home for poor girls at Ruel, which she afterwards moved to Noisy, and which was the nucleus of the splendid institution of St Cyr, which the king endowed in 1686, at her request, out of the funds of the Abbey of St Denis. She was in her element there.

She herself drew up the rules of the institution; she examined every minute detail; she befriended her pupils in every way; and her heart often turned from the weariness of Versailles or of Marly to her “little girls” at St Cyr. It was for them that Racine wrote his Esther and his Athalie, and it was because he managed the affairs of St Cyr well that Michel Chamillart became controller-general of the finances.”

In conclusion, let us reverse the proposal: Do you aspire to be King for one day? In truth, you already possess the essence of a Queen, without the official title. But if you were in my position, what would you do? What changes would you envision? Would you nurture faith within my soul? Would you mold me in your likeness? Would you alter my path? Or would your focus lean towards political ambitions?

Picture: Madame de Maintenon with the natural children of Louis XIV by Antoine Coypel, 1684

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