La Dame Blanche
In Dragonfly in Amber, Claire acquires the reputation of being “La Dame Blanche.” Of course, if there is somebody to be blamed for it, that would be Jamie. He told other nobles that his wife was “La Dame Blanche,” so that they would not consider him unmanly for being faithful to her.
Claire is requesting Magnus, the butler, to tell her about “The White Lady.” He defines her as a healer, a wise woman, but also as a witch. However, one of her abilities is to turn a man’s soul into ashes, especially if he is evil (ch. 20), which is what Claire will exactly do to St. Germain. This definition of the White Lady matches the description that Jamie gives Lord John in Voyager.
“My wife was a healer. What they call in the Highlands a charmer, but more than that. She was a white lady – a wise-woman.” He glanced up briefly. “The word in Gaelic is ban-druidh; it also means witch” (ch. 10).
There is a dualism associated with a White Lady. The implication is that characters throughout the series perceive Claire differently. Claire’s friend, Louise, does not consider Claire, a witch. However, her servants at Fontainebleau believe the stories about Claire being La Dame Blanche. No wonder Louise convinces Claire to pray and go to mass every day to keep the servants calm.
Later Master Raymond mentions a similar reference about “La Dame Blanche” to Claire. She can heal by reaching the “patient’s center.”
. . . “Yes, of course. All healing is done essentially by reaching the . . .what shall we call it? the soul? the essence? say, the center. By reaching the patient’s center, from which they can heal themselves. Surely you have seen it, madonna. The cases so ill or so wounded that plainly they will die – but they don’t. Or those who suffer from something so slight that surely they must recover, with the proper care. But they slip away, despite all you can do for them (ch. 20).
Of course, Claire has seen and done this healing in the past. She healed Jamie. She went deep into the essence, his soul, to save him from death after Wentworth. Raymond further comments that “La Dame Blanche sees the essence of a man, and turns it to healing – or to death. . .” (ch. 20). This description of saving somebody that should have died brings to mind the Cherokee concept of the asgina ageli, half-ghost, a topic that I have written about extensively.
The Connection Between Raymond, St. Germain, and King Louis
After one of her encounters with Raymond, Claire muses about a possible relationship between him, St. Germain and King Louis.
Public opinion seemed to place the Comte firmly in the center of the mysterious “circles” to which Raymond referred. But as a participant- or a rival? And did the ripples of these circles spread as far as the King’s chamber? Louis was rumored to take interest in astrology; could there be some connection, through the dark channels of Cabbalism and sorcery, among Louis, the Comte, and Charles Stuart? (ch. 20)
St. Germain and Raymond are rivals, and it seems that they compete against each other to get King Louis’s favor. Throughout book 2, there are many references to the members of “Les Disciples du Mal.” They belong to noble families. Dougal mentions to Claire that the Comte St. Germain and possibly the Vicomte de Busca belong to “Les Disciples du Mal” (ch. 21). Therefore, it is possible to speculate that King Louis belongs to an obscure circle, not necessarily Les Disciples. Concerning the Duke of Sandringham, it is acceptable to speculate about him being a member of Les Disciples. The attack on Mary and Claire resembles some of the deeds that the initiates of Les Disciples have to do. Dougal relates:
“That the society demands a good deal from its members, and the price of initiation is high . . . by some standards.”
“A maidenhead, for one thing. The nipples of a married woman, for another.” . . . (ch. 21)
This evidence implies there is a connection between Sandringham and St. Germain. They probably became allies against the same rival.
Reverend Walter Laurent, of Geneva, provides details about Raymond and Les Disciples. He mentions that Raymond used to be a reputable physician and herbalist, but who eventually involved himself in the occult. The Reverend also provides information about du Carrefours (ch. 26):
“. . . This man was the organizer and the leader of a ring of unspeakable vice and depravity, in association with the most debased occult practices. I cannot bring myself to mention to you some of the ceremonies that were performed in secret among the nobility. . . “(ch. 26)
It seems du Carrefours was the founder of Les Disciples, or at least, somebody who started a group of similar nature. Of course, he ended up burned.
How does Louis fit into these occult practices? When Claire goes to negotiate Jamie’s release, the reader notices that Louis has a particular location to practice occultism, a dark round room with a table at the center. Guests at this event wear hoods. Even the candles are decorated with cabbalistic symbols. In this scene, Claire will be the judge of the ones accused of sorcery and witchcraft, St. Germain and Raymond. Here is the description of some of the charges:
. . . charges of bestiality and foul sacrifice, of the spilling of the blood of innocents, the profanation of the most holy rite of the Mass by desecration of the Host, the performance of amatory rites upon the altar of God – I had a quick flash of just what the healing Raymond had performed on me at L’Hôpital des Anges must have looked like, and felt profoundly grateful that no one had discovered him (ch. 27).
This passage brings to mind the concept of perception. In A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Claire got into trouble and was accused of a crime she did not commit trying to save an unborn child. Not everybody sees her as a medical doctor who is willing to go the extra mile to save others. The same applies to Raymond. He heals by touching. After Claire had miscarried Faith, he had to heal the inside of her private parts. Of course, there is nothing sexual in the process but there are some who would perceive it as such. When it comes to St. Germain, probably the same principle applies, but everything that is said about him is negative. At the same time, some of the deeds that Raymond and St. Germain are accused of are probably remnants of old practices that predate Christianity.
Another evidence of Louis being involved in the esoteric is when he mentions that “the blessed St. Augustine was known to have made inquiries into the mysteries of astrology (ch. 26).” He is involved in astrology, and he is justifying it in a way. Of interest is his definition of a White Lady:
“. . . An infallible judge of truth, of purity of heart.”
“La Dame Blanche cannot lie; she sees the heart and the soul of a man, and may turn the truth to good . . . or to destruction” (ch. 27).
Throughout the series, Claire’s face give away what she thinks feels. She is not a proficient liar. She heals not only friends but also enemies. In fact, some of the enemies she heals in book 7 grow to respect her. Of course, there are some who refuse her medical treatment and who eventually die. Some of these cases include Father Bain and one of Richard Brown’s men in book 6. Claire accuses the Comte to be associated with Les Disciples du Mal. At this stage, she thinks St. Germain is responsible for the attacks on both Jamie and her. However, Claire does not want to be the one judging St. Germain. She has her doubts.
I didn’t know. I didn’t know that the Comte was guilty, I didn’t know that Raymond was innocent. I didn’t know whether the pursuit of an honorable cause justified the use of dishonorable means. I didn’t know what one life was worth – or a thousand. I didn’t know the true cost of revenge (ch. 27).
Claire is put in this uncomfortable situation. Her thoughts bring to mind the Jacobite cause she and Jaime are trying to thwart. Is it worth trying to change the future to save lives? Is it proper to endanger the lives of many? Based on how the events eventually take place, it seems that the best course of action for them was not to get involved. The trial ends up in Raymond “poisoning” the drink he shares with Claire and St. Germain. Whatever substance he placed, it seems that the highest levels of it were at the bottom of the cup, or he put a compound for delaying the poison’s action. As a result, St. Germain is the only one affected. There is evidence throughout his interactions with Claire that he knows alchemy/chemistry. I think the trick is in understanding some of the substances Raymond works with, such as quicksilver, dragon’s blood, and the silver-lined cup. However, another reader revealed to me that the Comte did not die (I have not read “The Space Between” yet but will do this summer). I guess that Raymond did not poison him at all. Just keep in mind that he sells his clients bitter cascara instead of poison. It seems that it is not in Raymond’s nature to kill people. If this is the case, Claire resembles him. Of note is how Claire’s face reveals to St. Germain what will happen to him when he drinks the cup.
The Comte saw the knowledge in my face; La Dame Blanche cannot lie. He hesitated, looking at the bubbling cup (ch. 27).
Sources
Gabaldon, Diana. Dragonfly in Amber. New York: Bantam Dell, 1993. Print.