I really really don't know, dear Polignac. I know the whole family benefited from the queen's affection for Gabrielle. Two very greedy people seem to have been Diane de Polignac (Gabrielle's sister in law) and Vaudreuil (Gabrielle's husband's friend and, no doubt, Gabrielle's lover). This last one was a Creole. He sounds very handsome on pictures... doesn't he ?
Count and Countess de Polignac had a property in the country (Braie, I think), but they were poor. Count received a lucrative charge at the court, even more while make duke, and more and more when Gabrielle became governess.
On her trial, Marie-Antoinette justified it by answering these people (meaning her favorites) had charges they had to be paid for. We can add that the privilege of being the queen's friend was very expensive. You don't receive Marie-Antoinette de Lorraine d'Autriche in your messy living-room ! In order to keep her friend on her side, Marie-Antoinette had to elevate her so that Madame de Polignac could reach her majesty. :-/
It's well know that Gabrielle didn't enjoy representations nor all this train. She surely would had rather playing with her royal friends and children in Trianon gardens the all day long ! But, that's it... her friend was a royal !
Aglaé (Guichette) received a huge amount of money when she got married to Guiche. It caused a scandal in the court. While made duchess, Madame de Polignac would obtain the "duché de Bitch". But this definitely was too much ! The Polignacs didn't get this !
Now, was she an intrigant, wasn't she ? Most of Marie-Antoinette's biographies say she was the queen's bad genius. Fraser, for instance, is more cautious and, no doubt, more intelligent ! It's always the same, some one must be guilty ! If not the queen, let's try some one else as scapegoat !
Being an admirer of Marie-Antoinette, I can't believe she once chose a treater for her best friend. If, for so many years (from 1775 till... ), Gabrielle was her most tender friend, she must deverse it, musn't she ? Marie-Antoinette can't be that foolish ! She had no doubt about her friend's loyalty. So, I believe my queen rather than copists !
as candid as an angel...
