Lucile, neglected by her father, lived near her mother. She was concerned that her chance to marry would pass her by and she wanted to stop caring for her mother. Lucile fell in love with an officer in 1812 and became pregnant. Desportes did not approve of the marriage and rejected her pleas to be allowed to marry him, before he was killed. Henriette Deluzy-Desportes was born on June 1, 1813, on the rue de la Pépinière in Paris. Her birth was recorded with just her given name Henrietta with no surname and no parents. Lucile did not recognize Henriette for ten years. Desportes refused to admit she was her granddaughter. He provides a 3,000 franc pension to Lucile. Lucile worked to earn money for Henriette's education. She became an apprentice to an engraver and studied under a painter. Lucile died of cholera in 1832, and initially the girl was taken in by Felix's brother Benjamin Desportes. She received 1,500 francs to finish her education and went to Brixton Hill to learn to speak English. She was a governess for the Praslin family, which resulted in the death of the duchess, suicide by the duke, and three months that she spent being interrogated until they let her go for lack of evidence.
