It’s time to meet Liselotte.
”Versailles 11 May 1685
Today the King sent his confessor to mine, to ask him to reprimand me on three counts. First: I was too free in my speech, and had told the Dauphin that even if I were to see him stark naked from the soles of his feet upward I shouldn’t be tempted by him, nor by anyone else. Secondly: I allowed my ladies to have galants. And thirdly: I had laughed with the Princesse de Conti about hers. These three things had annoyed the King so much that if I hadn’t been his sister-in-law he would have had me banished from the Court. I admitted that the report of my conversation with the Dauphin was quite accurate, and added that I had never thought it a crime not to feel temptation. As for plain speaking, and what I might have said about crapping and pissing, it was more the King’s fault than mine, as I had heard him say hundreds of times that within the family one could talk about anything at all. He should have told me if he had changed his mind; it was the easiest thing in the world to correct.
On the second point, my ladies and their lovers: I never meddled in the affairs of my household, and shouldn’t begin with the thing hardest to put to rights. But I knew such conduct to be not without precedent, and quite usual at any Court. As long as they did not prejudice their honour, I didn’t think they did themselves or me any harm.
As for the third point, concerning his daughter: I was not her governess to stop her from having lovers if she wanted them, and could hardly be expected to weep when she told me of her adventures. But Mme la Duchesse could be my witness: I never interfere, and I felt very hurt at being treated so badly by the king, as though I had committed some frightful crime.
I must say, I am furious that the King should treat me like a chambermaid. That might be perfectly suitable for his Maintenon, who was born to it, but not for me.”