|
Elisabeth had received Arianna's newest correspondence just that morning, coming urgently from the page in service at the Marquis' London house. Her father had already left the manor for the morning to attend to some business in the village and Elisabeth had breakfasted alone. Abigail had brought her the letter, knowing Elisabeth's desires to read Arianna's letters immediately when they arrived. She had been startled by the Marchioness' strained tone in her letter. She had written in riddles in some places and had spoken with outright hatred towards Lord Louchester in others. Elisabeth was scared by Arianna's news and she was terrified for Arianna's safety. Louchester had attacked Arianna in court for condemning him in her letters to Elisabeth. The small incident sent a stir of scandal through the palace. Charles, whose favor wavered daily between his less trusted courtiers, was displeased and dismissed Louchester from court. Arianna reported the Louchester was to have returned to county Hampshire, and this made Elisabeth nervous. |
|
|
The most disturbing news in her letter, though, was about the mysterious death of one of the Queen's Ladies-in- Waiting, and Arianna's blatant insinuation that Louchester was involved. Elisabeth recalled that Arianna had written several times about Emile de Gauchant, a young courtier known for her exquisite beauty. The girl, who was close in age to Elisabeth and Arianna, had come to London with her mother when Queen Henrietta Maria first came from France. Arianna had written frequently about the girl for she was also known to be loose with her lips and with her legs. Emile had turned up missing early one morning and by late the same afternoon her bludgeoned and bloodied body had been found on the far perimeter of the Whitehall estate. Emile's acknowledged lover was the Earl of Hilton, a dashing young courtier and trusted councilor to the King. The damage to the Earl was evident, despite the fact that he had been away from Whitehall the night she disappeared. But Emile had other lovers and it was rumored that Louchester was one of these more discreet men. Arianna's tone towards the murder was one of fear. She accused Louchester outright in the letter, but stated that he had been banished from court the day prior, though his whereabouts were still questionable. Elisabeth believed Arianna, for it was not the first time Louchester's name had been linked with murder. She had once overheard her own servants speaking about a similar incident that had occurred at Greavely Hall. A young serving maid at Greavely had disappeared and though her body was never found and Louchester swore she had asked to return to her home in York, Elisabeth suspected he was responsible for her death. The cook had denied the incident when brought before the Duke. Elisabeth had tried to confront her father with the horrid facts, and in response her father had denied it as well. Arianna's last statement was her own fears towards Louchester. She feared he would retaliate for her correspondences with Elisabeth. |
|
