Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

Celia moves in and immediately isolates herself in the marigold room of the mansion, after a few mean looks Merivel's way. Lady Bathurst (Violet), Merivel's next-door mistress, has to be consoled that Celia's moving in with Merivel doesn't change things. She is apparently convinced after a tumble on the couch with her lover. Merivel feels a great deal of sympathy for Celia, since he knows the King has banished her. He forces his way into her bedroom to express his feelings to her. However, when he mentions that they both have shared "a portion of the King's love," Celia goes into a tirade. The love, she says, was a deception. She goes on to "explain" to Merivel that he was chosen to participate in the sham marriage because he is the only person stupid enough, foolish enough and dense enough to...