The Journal of Marie-Antoinette The secret thoughts, hopes and dreams of a princess.

The royal family returned to Versailles immediately after the concert and I was left alone at La Muette with my attendants. I felt rather despondent as I walked through dark corridors back to my lovely rooms that overlooked the Bois de Boulogne but my mood soon lifted when Madame de Noailles, who was quivering with an unusual excitement drew my attention to a huge crimson velvet coffer that had been placed beside my lace and ribbon bedecked dressing table.

‘It was his Majesty’s wish that you be presented with the royal jewels before your wedding,’ she said as I ran forward and pulled open the lid. ‘These jewels were worn by Her Majesty Queen Marie and also Her Highness the Dauphine.’

I was barely listening, so excited was I by the wonderful, glittering, sumptuous display laid out before me on duck egg blue silk shelves. I allowed my fingers to trail over rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls and dazzling, perfect diamonds. It seemed incredible that all this wealth, this splendour should have fallen into my hands.

Madame de Noailles stepped forward and pointed out a particularly fine pearl necklace. ‘This belonged to the Queen Marie Thérèse, consort of Louis XIV,’ she said in a lecturing tone. ‘He presented it to her upon the occasion of the birth of their son, the Dauphin.’

I nodded, unable to take my eyes off the piles of necklaces, parures, stomachers, rings, brooches and bracelets. ‘How fascinating,’ I murmured, lifting out an exquisite diamond bracelet and fastening it around my slim wrist before turning it this way and that so that I could admire it.

‘That was one of the late Dauphine’s favourite pieces,’ Madame de Noailles said with a disapproving sniff. ‘She often wore it when she played cards in the evening. i believe that she was wearing it the evening that she was taken ill.’ She paused. ‘Before she died.’

I felt suddenly sick and hastily pulled the bracelet off.