The Truth about Everything
Or how Nicole de Lancret met Auguste de Barbarac
And how the future King of France met his Queen
Prologue
“Mama, tell us again, how Grandmama met Grandpapa met each other?�
Danielle laughed. “You never get tired of that story, do you?�
“No Mama,� four-year old Henri Francois answered. “I want to hear it again.�
“Me too,� his twin sister, Nicole Paulette chimed in. “I want to hear it again.�
Danielle sighed. “You know that your Grandmama was just sixteen when all this happened. “
“And how old was Grandmama Marie?� Nicole asked.
“The same age, child.�
“Must have been a long time ago, Mama,� Henri asked.
“The year was 1472, children, Grandmama Nicole and Grandmama Marie were both sixteen. Grandpapa Auguste and Grandpapa Francis were had just turned seventeen that summer. Francis would become the Crown Prince the next year. It had been a busy winter and it promised to be a busy summer as well. Francis had to prepare for the coronation. And he was not looking forward to it.
His father also explained that he had arranged a marriage for him. What made him more angry was that his father had set this up when he was, well, just about your age.�
Little Henri and Nicole stared at each other, then back at their mother. “So what did he do, Mama?� they both asked in unison.
“Well, Francis took off one day with his best friend, Captain Auguste de Barbarac of the Royal Guards. You see, children, your grandfather’s have known each other since they were, well, a little older than yourselves.�
“What happened next, Mama?� Nicole asked in anticipation of what was to follow.�
“Well, Nicole, they set out on an adventure to see what they could see. They weren’t intending on meeting anyone, least of all two of the loveliest women that they had ever seen.�