Chapters 14 and 15 Summary and Analysis

Antoinette gave birth to a girl, surrounded by expectant court officials and family who had crowded into her chambers to witness the event. Erickson imagines Antoinette's great disappointment at having a girl, as she had been hounded by her mother and others for so long to produce a male heir. Shortly after the birth she became pregnant again, but had a miscarriage. On her third pregnancy, however she did give birth to a boy, to the joy of the king and the nation.

Before the birth of the new dauphin, Antoinette learned of the death of her mother, Queen Maria Theresa. Although she had not seen her mother since leaving Austria, she had remained in close contact and was devastated with grief.

The problem of an heir to the throne had been solved, Erickson writes, but not the problem...