# Madame d'Orléans — The Great Roxhythe character guide

> Madame d'Orléans in The Great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Madame, la Roxhythe, Henriette

**First appearance:** 0021-viii-madame

## Snapshot

Charles II's witty French sister, caught between her brother's confidence and Louis's demands, spars with Roxhythe over a marriage that could break two kingdoms apart.

## Who they are

Madame d'Orléans moves between the English and French courts with charm as her weapon and half-knowledge as her currency, teasing Roxhythe for the truth about Charles's intentions even as she admits she has 'but half' the King's confidence. She knows Louis will be furious at the Dutch marriage, and she presses Roxhythe to declare which side he truly serves. Her exchanges with him — flirtatious, needle-sharp, never quite honest — make her the story's most elegant sounding board for the double game at its heart.

## In the story

### [The Great Roxhythe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/the-great-roxhythe)

French connection and former lover, entangled in Roxhythe's schemes.

### [II: The Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-offer)

Referenced as a potential intermediary; Roxhythe describes her as fair-minded and neutral, and Charles wants to discover her attitude.

### [IV: Her Ladyship's Perplexity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/iv-her-ladyship-s-perplexity)

Referenced in a letter from Aimée de St. Morny as the object of Roxhythe's romantic attentions.

### [VI: The Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vi-the-price)

Referenced as the intermediary who hinted at Louis XIV's willingness to pay two hundred thousand pounds.

### [VII: The First Seed of Doubt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vii-the-first-seed-of-doubt)

She is mentioned as the possible reason for Roxhythe's frequent trips to Paris.

### [VIII: Madame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/viii-madame)

Receives Roxhythe privately and discusses the proposed treaty with France.

### [X: May, 1670](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/x-may-1670)

Key mediator in the treaty negotiations, she travels to Dover to facilitate the signing. She attempts to reconcile James to the alliance and defends Charles and Roxhythe.

### [Book IV: The One Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/book-iv-the-one-part)

Key intermediary in the French-English negotiations, involved in the Treaty of Dover.

### [III: La Kéroualle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/iii-la-k-roualle)

Referred to as La Kéroualle; engages Roxhythe in a conversation about King Louis's reaction to the marriage and Roxhythe's influence.

### [Book V: The Other Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/book-v-the-other-part)

Key player in the French court, influencing events from the other side.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/madame_dorleans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters