Life only seemed to get better for Diane de Poitiers, since she found that being a widower was far more fun than she ever expected it to be. She rarely saw her children, which was customary of her station, and she barely thought of her deceased husband. It was thrilling to return to the French court following her visit to England, it had always been her finest playground.
Diane always did her best work when she was entertaining royalty, and she wouldn’t be keeping up expectations of her if she wasn’t flirting and enticing the most prominent courtiers in France. Some said that she was the most beautiful woman to grace the earth, it’s no wonder she gained enemies. She is still in the prime of her youth, while there are those courtiers whose looks have started to fade, they did not belong in the most serene and majestic court.
Diane continues to make a play for being Prince Henri’s mistress. She did consider the King for a fleeting moment, but she is young and he is far older than her - who would care for her when he was dead? It was something that the likes of Anne d’ Heilly, her greatest foe, had clearly not considered. The prince was certainly the better option, although both father and son were appealing.
She is unamused to be travelling to England again since it is far inferior to France. Diane has little opinion on the Princess of Denmark, she’s far too concerned about how she’s going to source crushed gold to scatter over her meals, to keep her young and healthy.
“You really are too much, Madame.” As Anne caught up to the other woman’s speed, the words she called had an unusual edge. Anne’s return to her status as Francis’s chief mistress had made her slightly more bold in all manner of things - her opinions and her activities among them. It was the only explanation for why she had chosen to go out riding while the King of England lay in a sickbed, struck with some sort of invalidity, as well as why she had chosen to go riding among a party which included Diane de Poitiers. The two women had clashed, and that was no secret - Anne could not speak for the other Duchess, but from her perspective, jealousy most certainly played a part, among other things, manifesting itself like a double-edged sword. “Lady Diane, you must tell me how you learned to ride in such a fashion. Are you running away from something?”
The French court was many wondrous things, but the jealousy and contempt it inspired were unrivalled. Those fortunate to shine under the light of the Bourgoise held resentment for other beautiful people around them, for true power came from fair faces and the good graces of royalty. As a widower, it was important that Diane retain a good position at court, which was why she had gained so many enemies despite her young age. The Duchess of Étampes was one of the most powerful women at court, so naturally, she loathed her. “ The king’s sister was a formidable rider who encouraged her ladies to gallop as those they are one with the horse, I learned many lessons from her. Alas, I think it is something to be learned in one's youth, for fear and ailments halt any progression in later life, ” the young Duchess remarked, brushing a moonlit strand of hair from her features.
The cool air of the fresh spring morning rippled through the silken strands of her moonstruck hair, allowing it to flow behind her like an endless river. The chestnut toned steed that she sat astride was a deep contrast to the young duchess, who laughed infectiously as she spurred the mammal to go faster. She tore away from the riding party with the elegance and sharpness of a whip, her petite stature shifting so she could ever so slightly glance behind her at the cluster of horses and courtiers. “ Do try to keep up! Or do I ride too fast for you? ” she called out, goading the rider closest to her. It was the first piece of excitement that she’d felt since she’d arrived in dreary England, the French woman inside of her desperate for her homeland.
☆ ━ ━ OUT OF THE WAY ! can’t you see DIANE DE POITIERS, the COUNTESS of SAINT VALLIER, DUCHESS OF BEAUFORT AND VERNEUIL coming this way ? I hear SHE is WITTY, but also CONTEMPTUOUS. SHE seems to remind everyone of ROSE THORNS, SHARP TANGY WINE, .&. GIFTED JEWELS. hopefully one day SHE will succeed in HER ambition to RETAIN A PROMINENT POSITION AT COURT FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND’S DEATH, but then again, the court is a dangerous place. one can only hope SHE will keep HER head… ( EMILIA CLARKE ) ━ ━ ☆ as written by CHARLOTTE ;; GMT, SHE, 24.
Born in early autumn of 1512, it was from the meticulous and coveted teachings of the grand Anne de Beaujeu, that Diane learned her intelligence and cutting wit. The French court was unlike any other and the young girl with moondust in her hair was raised on its gilded surface. She became an enigmatic presence of light and excitement, from hunting to reading, horse riding to dancing, Diane de Poitiers mastered it all.
Her unique looks often garnered attention, especially given her prominent position in the household of the King’s sister. She had been so named for the Roman Moon Goddess, and it was as though that very beauty had been poured into her. As soon as she arrived at marrying age, many offers were passed towards her father, but it was Louis de Breze that she married at the mere age of 15.
Despite the constraints of marriage, Diane found that her station was not lessened and she still retained the same level of reverence that she had always held. The name Diane de Poitiers was on the lips of many French courtiers, and she even dared to look royalty in the eye with her gaze of pure sapphire.
When her father was arrested for treason for a rebellions cause, Diane severed all ties with him and made her presence at court constant. It was a miracle that her husband ever shared any of her time since she was often frolicking with the ladies of the court and dining out with them - flirting shamelessly with the eligible and non-eligible bachelors that frequented such occasions.
By Louis she had two daughters, Francoise and Louise. Young children whom she barely saw, but that was always the way. The nobility rarely saw their off-spring, only on scheduled visits, and she was still hoping for a dashing son.
When Louis died of old age, since he was far older than she was, she did not weep for a lost love, but instead a lost friend. In their nine years of marriage, she had learned a lot from him and respected his thoughts and opinions - even if he had very little control over his young wife.
As a widower, Diane naively thought that the attention of others might dwindle, but alas it only grew. She had an abundance of wealth and she was a beautiful woman who was unchained, unbound and free to do whatever she wished with her heart.
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