Part 39 (2/2)

In the end, on December 20, 1664, the a.s.sembly sentenced Fouquet to perpetual exile. Louis intervened and changed the sentence to perpetual imprisonment, stating that he wasn't about to let a man who knew so many state secrets go free.

Fouquet was imprisoned in a fortress in Pignerolo on the borders of Piedmont. He remained there for sixteen years until his death in 1680. It wasn't until the last years of Fouquet's life that Louis allowed him visitors.

There are some who believe that Nicolas Fouquet was the actual ”Man in the Iron Mask.” There's enough written about Fouquet and his inner circle-from blackmail to secret societies-to keep conspiracy buffs reeling with all the intrigue.

Simon Boulenger's accomplishments in this book were, in actual fact, the true achievements of two important men in French naval history, Jean Bart and Rene DuGuay-Trouin. Both these men were born commoners and commanded fleets sailing as privateers for France. As a result of their remarkable naval achievements, both men earned themselves officers' commissions in the French navy. Bart was enn.o.bled by Louis and made commodore. DuGuay-Trouin eventually made his way from commander of one of King Louis XIV's rented wars.h.i.+ps (sailing as a privateer) to vice-admiral in the King's Navy.

All names and places mentioned in this book were born in this author's imagination, except King Louis XIV, Nicolas Fouquet, Louise Fourche (Fouquet's first wife-named here as Angelica's mother), Marie-Madeleine de Castille de Villemareuil (Fouquet's second wife), Paul Pellisson (who remained loyal to Fouquet and was imprisoned in the Bastille for four years), Cardinal Mazarin (the son of a Sicilian fisherman, who rose in power and ruled France for Louis until he died), Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Fontainebleau Palace, Pet.i.t Bourbon, Palais-Royale, and Vaux-le-Vicomte.

The Franco-Spanish war ended with the Treaty of Pyrenees on November 7, 1659. I extended this war by just over a year, bringing the event closer to the date of Cardinal Mazarin's death in early 1661.

Fouquet's controversial grand chateau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, took eighteen thousand men and a constant supply of funds to complete, and still stands in all of its magnificence southeast of Paris, near Melun.

In fact, it was Vaux-le-Vicomte that inspired Louis to build Versailles.

Glossary.

Chere-Dear one. (French endearment for a woman, cher for a man).

Cherie-Darling or cherished one. (French endearment for a woman, cheri for a man).

Comte-Count. (French).

Comtesse-Countess. (French).

Demon Noir-Black Demon (French) Dieu-G.o.d. (French).

Dieu vous garde-G.o.d keep you. (French).

Dominum Deum Nostrum-Our Lord G.o.d. (Latin).

Estella Blanco (la)-The White Star. (Spanish).

Hotel/Chateau-The upper cla.s.s and the wealthy bourgeois (middle cla.s.s) often had a mansion in Paris (hotel) in addition to their palatial country estates (chateau). (French) In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti-In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Latin) Madre-Mother-The t.i.tle for the Mother Superior of a convent. (Italian).

Ma belle-My beauty. (French endearment for a woman).

Mariage de convenance-Marriage of convenience. (French) Merde-s.h.i.+t. (French).

Mon ange-My angel. (French endearment).

Vaux-le-Vicomte-Nicolas Fouquet's infamous country palatial home. Literally translated, ”Like the Viscount.” It's certainly a home befitting a man of influence.

Dedication.

Whenever I write a book, I do a lot of research. Pulling a reader into 17th century France, getting every fact and historical detail as accurate as possible is a great labor of love. However, with UNDONE my research went beyond the norm, because in this book my heroine is a rape survivor.

On a warm summer night, when I was twenty-one, I was walking back to my hotel along a very crowded street in San Remo, Italy. I got separated from my friends in the ma.s.sive crowd, and unfortunately I crossed paths with the wrong guy. One who didn't take ”no” for an answer. (By the way, I speak Italian fluently, and ”no” is said and spelled the same way in both English and Italian, so there was no miscommunication here). I didn't know him. Had never seen him before he approached me that night. To this day, I don't know why he picked me out of the crowd. He offered me a ride. I refused him. He then grabbed hold of me and tried to drag me into his car. Not a soul walking past helped the straniera (foreigner-me) out. Though he was about three to five years older, bigger and stronger, I fought and got away. I was lucky. I suffered only a few bruises. And the scare of my life. There are others who have found themselves in the crosshairs of a predator and have not been as fortunate.

It is no coincidence that UNDONE begins in the Republic of Genoa, where modern day San Remo is located.

Dearest readers, I dedicate this book to all those who have survived rape. You are true heroines/heroes in this author's eyes. Like Angelica, you have an inner strength and resilience no words can describe.

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Thank you for reading UNDONE! If you enjoyed it and would like more information on the other books in the Fiery Tales series, visit: / Also, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads UNDONE is a Rock*it Reads book.

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t.i.tles by Lila DiPasqua.

(Fiery Tales Series).

AWAKENED BY A KISS.

THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED.

A MIDNIGHT DANCE.

UNDONE.

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