The aunt of Madame de Polignac, Marie-Henriette was employed as an assistant governess to Madame Adélaide. Rumours began spreading that she had been providing her young charge with indecent reading material; the most pervasive rumour was that she had read Le Portier des Chartreux to Adélaide. This book - by an anonymous author - was one of the most read erotic tales of the time - hardly appropriate reading for a young Fille de France!
Once Madame de Polignac became the reigning favourite of Marie Antoinette, the Comtesse d'Andlau received an annual pension of 6.000 livres - despite still being exiled from court.
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| Comtesse d'Andlau |
Françoise Madeleine Claude de Warignies, Comtesse de Saint-Géran
The Comtesse de Saint-Géran served as a dame du palais to Marie Thérèse in the latter's last year. However, the Comtesse found herself in trouble when she offended Louis XIV's strong sense of propriety. Françoise had been married to Bertrand de La Guiche who died in 1696. Usually, a widow (or widower) was expected to keep a period of mourning for their late spouse during which specific types of entertainments were frowned upon.
Yet, the relationship between Françoise and Bertrand cannot have been very close - as was often the case with arranged marriages. Their marriage appears to have been particularly ill-suited. Madame de Saint-Géran appears on a list from 1686 of women who had applied for judicial separation. Since divorce was not accepted for the Catholic French, this was the closest thing she could get. However, Bertrand had opposed her application and that was that. Their relationship can hardly be expected to have improved after this.
When Bertrand eventually died, Françoise apparently did not exhibit sufficient mourning and did not keep the prescribed period for grieving. The king took offense at her gaiety, particularly because they had been married for 29 years. She was exiled to her estates in the country but allowed back later on.
Bonne de Pons d'Heudicourt, Marquise d'Heudicourt
The Marquise was amongst the ladies-in-waiting of Marie Thérèse when she became the mistress of Louis XIV. That affair did not last long because Bonne's uncle - strongly disapproving of the affair - removed her from court and Louis moved on from their dalliance. Once she had been married, she was returned to her official court duties. She was no longer an object of interest of the king's but still remained on friendly terms with him and his new maitresse: Madame de Montespan, who also happened to be Bonne's cousin-by-marriage.
As such, the Marquise was well aware of the fact that the king had had several children by La Montespan and that these were kept in a house away from court. The royal lovers were not willing to let their existence be publicly known yet. However, this was ruined when Bonne started writing several of her friends about the royal off-spring living in hiding. Amongst others, she wrote the Marquis de Rochefort and even the Polish ambassador.
The king was furious and she was sent packing into exile in 1672. She was only allowed to return four years later.
Marie-Louise-Sophie de Faoucq de Garnetot, Comtesse de Gramont
Dame du Palais to Marie Antoinette, the Comtesse de Gramont followed an altercation between herself and the king's favourite, Madame du Barry. One night at the theatre, the latter had had seats reserved for herself and her entourage but there were more spectators than seats; as the royal favourite had not yet arrived, the Comtesse de Gramont and her friends took the otherwise reserved seats.
Once Madame du Barry arrived she was treated with complete contempt and her request for them to move was met with the utmost disdain. Finally, du Barry had to retreat to her own chamber. Understandably, she quickly complained to the king. Louis XV did not care much for minor scuffles between his courtiers but such behaviour to his own mistress was a step too far. The Comtesse de Gramont was immediately sent from court into exile - she would only return after three years away.
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