A Romance

I want to tell you a story.

Yes, this blog is definitely more about stories than about writing. You see, sometimes when we write romances, we start to think they can only be found between the pages of a book. That in 'real' life the Prince never met the Princess, that the Princess never made her choice...

We've just returned from a holiday with family in Brittany. It was wonderful, just the break we needed, with good company, good food and lots of fascinating sights and - our favourite - historical places to visit.

I also found a surprising enjoyment in re-awakening my schoolgirl French and trying to understand what people were saying. To my shame, as soon as I opened my mouth, however hard I tried, everyone always replied in English. *sigh*. But I did enjoy listening in French.

My burgeoning French comprehension was really tested on one of the last days of our break, when we visited the town and Chateau of Josselin, the seat of the Dukes of Rohan. The only way to visit the Castle was with a guided tour, and the tour guide only spoke French.

We managed okay. I was able to work out what was being said about half the time, giving quick, low-voiced translations of the gist to Husband. We learned about the Castle's history, it's declines and restorations, the motto of the Rohans, and some of their characters and stories.

And then, standing in awe in the great dining room, resplendent with silk carpet, gleaming polished silver and fine porcelain, I started to hear snippets of a fascinating story.

I gleaned that in the 17th century, Margeurite was the sole heiress to the Duchy's wealth and influence. She was beautiful, rich, and powerful - a much sought after marital prize. Dukes and princes sought her hand in marriage, many visited Josselin to court her.

Margeurite refused them all.

Because Margeurite was in love with Henri Chabot.

But Marguerite was a great heiress. Henri was a gentleman of no fortune. Margeurite had the status of a foreign princess at the French court, he had none at all. Margeurite was protestant, Henri Catholic.

In my schoolgirl French, I picked up all these things, I heard of the resistance to her marriage to Henri, I knew how very unlikely it was that she would be allowed to marry him. The tour guide (the lovely Melanie) paused for dramatic effect, then revealed the end of the story in one short sentence.

And I caught none of it.

Argh!

But it was clear to me what must have happened. Relatives, or the French King, or both, would have brought pressure to bear and insisted she marry someone suitable, I knew. Very sad, but women of her time and rank very rarely had their happy ever afters, even if they lived in such fairy-tale surroundings.

When I got home, still thinking about Margeurite and her Henri, I googled her. I learned that she once said, "I do not know if I shall be able to decide to marry him, but I do feel that I could not bear it if he married someone else."

I also learned.... dear reader, she married him. Yes, Margeurite, the greatest French heiress of her time, married her gentleman nobody. She demanded special royal dispensation to do so. They were married in Paris on 6th June 1645. They had six children.

I was so very glad to learn that, in any language.

What's your favourite real-life fairy story romance?

Don't forget to pop back on Thursday, when Christina will be posting.