Cecile: Gates of Gold

This book is about a French peasent, Cecile, who gets the unexpected chance to serve at the court of King Louis the XIV. But life at court is not what Cecile thought it would be. True, the Palace at Versailles is more than she ever imagined and the outfits of all at court are exquesite. But every day comes more and more rules, called "etequite", that that Cecile is expected to obey even though they have never been taught to her. She works for the Kings mother- in - law ( always called "Madame") taking care of her six little lap dogs. She also becomes aquainted with the royal family because the Kings Great-Grandson likes to play with one of Madame's dogs named Stabdille and Cecile brings him over often. She also meets a young page named Phillipe and becomes friends with him. When a severe case of measles strikes Versailles, Cecile risks her position to save one of the Kings Great-Grandsons, Anjou. This provides an unexpected future for her, one that goes beyond what she ever expected at court.