Autumn climbed from her bed and slipped across the room to her window. The moon glistened silver upon the dark surface of the lake. She didn’t understand the feelings that roiled within her. Perhaps that was why, she suddenly realized with great clarity, she had held him off, while half-encouraging the Duc de Belmont and the Comte de Montroi. She had been like a child offered a selection of sweets who, finally choosing one, was now uncertain if she really wanted it at all.
Why is this so difficult for me? she wondered. India knew when she met her true love. Fortune, if the stories are to be believed, certainly knew. But that was before I was even born. What is the matter with me? Mayhap Sebastian is not the one, but oh! he is so handsome, and how he makes my heart beat faster when we meet. She chuckled softly to herself. He had been jealous, seeing the boy king trying to make love to her. And knowing that, Autumn suddenly felt a great sense of satisfaction. Padding back across the floor, she climbed into her bed again and fell into a deep sleep.
In the morning she was very particular about her toilette. Her green light wool breeches were brushed thoroughly, Lily complaining that they would shine if she had to add another stroke to the fabric. Autumn pulled them on over her silk drawers. Beneath her white silk shirt with its full sleeves she wore a white flannel waist-cote, its v-ed neck threaded closed by means of a pale blue silk ribbon. Light wool socks, the same color as her knee breeches, were put on beneath Autumn’s brown leather riding boots. Seated, she allowed Lily to undo her plait, brush her hair out, and rebraid it. Taking her doeskin jerkin up she fastened the silver and bone buttons and took her riding gloves from the serving woman.
The door to her bedchamber opened and her mother was there. “He is not here yet, and we must go to early mass, Autumn,” she said. “Father Bernard will be unhappy if you shirk your duty to God.”
Autumn did not argue, and afterwards they went into the hall, where the first meal of the day had been laid out. He was there, awaiting them. Her heart began to hammer erratically.
“You will join us, Sebastian?” Jasmine said, seeing her daughter was unable to exhibit any show of manners.
“I thought you would have already eaten by now,” he said.
“Mass first, and then the meal,” Jasmine chided him gently. “Autumn must eat. I know my daughter, and she will keep you out riding for a good part of the day. Adali will see you have bread, wine, and cheese to take with you. Sit down! Sit down!”
“Bonjour, ma petite,” he said softly, raising her hand to his lips. “You slept well after your adventures at Chenonceaux?”
“It was just a little adventure, monseigneur,” she replied, retrieving her hand from his and seating herself.
“It might have become a bigger adventure but for me,” he said.
“Ah, yes,” she responded. “You rescued me from the clutches of an overamorous twelve-and-a-half-year-old boy.” Autumn helped herself to a hard-boiled egg and began to peel it.
“A king,” he corrected her, “who, if the rumor is accurate, has already fathered a bastard on one of his whores.”
“Even the king would not resort to rape, monseigneur,” Autumn said through gritted teeth. “It was a kiss, a brief touch. I was fully capable of managing the situation. I wonder if his majesty bothered to ask his mother why she was searching for him?” She smiled sweetly and dipped her egg in the salt.
“Nonetheless,” Jasmine interjected, “I am pleased that Sebastian followed you and was there should you have needed his assistance.” She lifted the filigreed silver dish before her and said, “Will you have an egg, monseigneur? And do try some of that most excellent Dijon mustard. Wine? Or perhaps you would like to try some tea, a lovely hot beverage from my own native land. The family trading company imports it from India. It is becoming most popular, and is much nicer than the Spanish chocolate or Turkish coffee.”
“Madame is most gracious,” the marquis said. “Perhaps I should court you instead of your daughter.”
Jasmine laughed heartily. “You flatter me, but I should advise you that I am not in the market for a husband, Sebastian. A son-in-law, but definitely not a husband!”
Autumn listened to their patter and found herself growing increasingly irritated. She swallowed down her egg and a piece of bread smeared with butter. She drank her tea in dark silence, and when she had finished she said as she stood, “I am ready to ride, monseigneur.” Then she stamped down from the highboard, and from the hall.
The marquis leapt up, bowing to Jasmine and then following her. The duchess laughed, and then she signaled Adali. “Tell Red Hugh he need not accompany Autumn today,” she said. “Hurry!”
Adali bowed and ran from the hall on slippered feet. He was surprisingly agile for an elderly gentleman.
In the courtyard Autumn mounted her horse, gathering the reins into her gloved hands, Urging her mount forward by means of a gentle kick, she trotted from the courtyard across the arched stone bridge.
Behind her the marquis looked about for Red Hugh, but the big Scot was nowhere to be seen. Then Adali came up to him, puffing slightly, and said, “We are entrusting you with the young mistress, monseignuer. Do not abuse that trust.” The marquis nodded, his handsome face serious, and mounted his own horse to ride off after Autumn.
She had followed the woodland trail, and by the time he caught up with her she was leading her horse across the stream where they had first met. Safe on the other side, she turned around and smiled triumphantly at him. Then, remounting the beast, she continued on through the trees until she came to a sunny, open meadow. Autumn cantered across it. Almost to the other side, she heard his horse coming up quickly behind her.
Stopping, she waited for him, and when he finally reached her side she said, “It took you long enough, Sebastian. Where is Red Hugh?”
“I was told his presence was not required today. You have been put in my complete charge,” he told her with a grin.
Autumn laughed aloud, her bad mood now gone, ridden off in the glorious spring day. “You are a brave man,” she told him. “These are your lands? I remember you told me the day we met that the lands across the stream belonged to the Marquis d’Auriville. How can that be if your home lies south of Archambault?”
“My chateau and my vineyards lie south, but my holdings stretch behind and beyond Archambault. Even their lands belonged to my family in ancient times. They gave the land that is now Archambault to a second son. The de Saville and the d’Oleron families have a common ancestor, one Lucien Gaullus Sabinus. The legend goes that he was a tribal chief who sided with the Romans. He was given citizenship and a Roman name for his loyalty. The lands that had been his were divided in the eighth century, when the family had only two children, both sons, and the younger had the opportunity of a rather excellent marriage, provided he could offer his bride something substantial. I have several hundred yards more of river frontage, my estate having descended from the older son.”
“Sabinus. Sebastian!” she said. “Your name is your ancestor’s.”
“You know Latin?” he asked her.
“I am an educated woman, Sebastian. I speak my native English, French, and Italian. I have studied both Latin and Greek. I read. I write. I can do simple mathematics. I have been taught geography, logic, and a great deal of history, including that of my mother’s India. I was born in Ireland. Baptized both a Catholic and a Protestant. That is a complicated story in itself. I have been raised to be very liberal in my thoughts, both sacred and secular. I am studying with Father Bernard, but I strive not to upset him. His mind is narrow, as are most priests’.”
He laughed at her candor. “You will not be a perfect French wife, I can see that even now,” he told her, “but I will have no other girl for my mate, Autumn. You do not frighten me at all with your frankness.”
“I am the youngest in my family,” she continued, “born to my parents when they both believed themselves past having children. That is why I was born in Ireland. Mama did not realize she was with child, and
thought her barren years had set in at last. When she finally realized her moon link was broken not for good, but because she was with child, they were across the sea from Glenkirk. I have five older brothers. Two are dukes, one a marquis, and the two youngest, barons. I have two elder sisters. India, the oldest, is the Countess of Oxton. The next, Fortune, whom I do not remember, lives in the New World, with her husband. Fortune might have had a great estate in Ulster; she fell in love with the wrong brother, but the right man,” Autumn explained.
“Another story, for another time,” he said.
Autumn nodded with a smile.
“When you told me your mother had outlived three husbands and a royal lover; that both your grandmothers had two husbands, and one of them also a royal lover, and had been in a Turk’s harem; that your great-grandmother had had six husbands and several lovers; you were teasing me, cherie, were you not?” he asked her.
“No,” Autumn replied briefly.
“I shall ask your mama,” he said.
“You are free to do so, monseigneur, but I do not lie,” Autumn responded. “The truth I have spoken is so fantastic that I will permit you to question it, but be warned, Sebastian: You will only question my veracity once with my permission. Should you ever mistrust me again, I shall leave you, even if we are married. Now, you know all about me. I would know all about you.”
“I was born and raised at Chermont,” he said. “I have never left the region. My sister is a nun and my parents are dead. I am a very dull fellow, Autumn. You should know this if we marry. My passion is for my lands, for my wine, and now for you. I will never deceive you, and I will spoil you as no woman has ever been spoiled. I will adore the children you give me. Can you live such a quiet life?”
“I have lived so quietly all my life. My home, Glenkirk, is in the southeastern Highlands. I occasionally traveled with my mother to England in the summers, but I have never been to London or even Edinburgh. I have been sheltered and kept from worldly society. I do hope that once we have several children, you will take me to court. The king said he is going to build a wonderful palace at Versailles. I would like to see that, Sebastian. Will you take me to court one day?”
“You will have to marry me if I am to take you to court,” he told her. “Are you saying you will marry me?”
“Of course I am going to marry you,” Autumn said. “Why am I allowing you to court me? Why did I send de Belfort and Guy away? Do you think me some vixen to tease and taunt you? Men! Why do you never understand?”
“Then we are betrothed?” he asked her.
“Well, not until you have given me a ring,” she replied. “Your intentions must certainly be public, monseigneur.”
“And when you have your ring will you set a wedding date?” he demanded of her.
“I thought late summer,” she murmured dreamily.
“If I do not kill you before then, cherie,” he replied through gritted teeth.
“You must not kill me; at least not until you have made love to me,” Autumn responded. “Remember, you once told me I should not die a virgin.” She encouraged her horse into a canter. “Come along, Sebastian! We must return to Belle Fleurs and tell Mama that everything has now been settled between us.”
He began to laugh. He couldn’t help it. She was unlike any girl he had ever met, and she was probably going to drive him mad; but he would have no other wife. He kicked his horse and followed after her.
Chapter 8
The round emerald was leaf green in color. It was surrounded by rich, round turquoises and round-cut, blue-white diamonds. The stones were set in Irish red-gold. It was the most beautiful ring Autumn had ever seen. Even Jasmine, whose collection of jewelry was famed, was impressed with the ring’s beauty and nodded her approval.
“The stones match your eye colors,” Sebastian told Autumn as he slipped the ring on her slender finger. “I had it made especially for you, cherie.” Then he kissed the hand that wore the ring. “Now, we are formally betrothed, and my intentions are most public, n’est-ce pas?”
She smiled up at him, and there were tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she managed to say to him.
“I shall leave you two to yourselves,” Jasmine said quietly. “You will stay the night, Sebastian?”
“I will, madame.”
“Adali will show you your room then, when you are ready,” she said and, curtsying to them, Jasmine left the hall.
“Shall I keep watch, my princess?” the elderly major domo asked.
“Tell him where he is to sleep, and say Autumn will show him later. They need to be alone, Adali. I think we both remember why.”
Adali nodded. “So long ago, and so far away,” he replied. “That I should live to see your children and their children has been the greatest blessing of my life, my princess. How many have gone? Yet Rohana, Toramalli, and I remain to serve you.”
“Which is a blessing for me, old friend,” Jasmine told him. “I am going to bed now. Do what you must, and then seek yours.”
Adali reentered the hall, smiling at the sight of Autumn and Sebastian, their heads together, speaking in low tones. “Mademoiselle,” he began, “I am becoming too old to keep the hours of young lovers who are courting. The marquis will have the blue room on the other side of your mama’s. Will you show him when you are ready, so I may put these old bones into my featherbed?”
“Of course, Adali,” Autumn said, trying not to show too much delight. “Bonsoir, and sleep well.”
Adali bowed politely to the young couple and departed the hall.
“Are they not worried that I might seduce you?” Sebastian teased her and kissed the tip of her nose.
“I think they are hoping I seduce you,” she teased back. “That way I cannot change my mind and we must marry.”
“Do you want to be seduced?” he asked, nuzzling her dark, perfumed hair.
“No,” Autumn told him. “I want our wedding night to be a perfect memory, monseigneur, but if you choose to instruct me now in some of the niceties of love, I should not object.”
“Yet you were bold enough to touch me once,” he said, curious to know what had emboldened her.
“My campanions as a child were mostly boys from our village,” she explained. “Remember, I am the baby of the family, and all my siblings but for my eldest Leslie brother, Patrick, had left Glenkirk by the time I was brought from Ireland. As we grew older and my playmates began to gain an interest in the lasses, they began to compare their organs. It never concerned them if I was there, although they never dared to approach me, being the lord’s daughter. But I was frankly curious. They would jest with each other, and sometimes even with me, I think to see what I would say, and if I might be shocked. Then my brother Patrick found out. He beat several of the lads for their impertinence. Then, after having given me a talking-to regarding the male organ, he sent me to Mama to learn the rest. When Papa heard of it, he was at first outraged, but Mama showed him the humor in the situation. That is why I touched you. Mama explained that a woman’s touch can both soothe and excite. I wanted to soothe you because you were being so kind.”
“Have you ever soothed any other gentlemen, Autumn?” He wanted an answer, partly out of curiosity, partly because he was jealous.
“Gracious, no!” she exclaimed. “Mama also explained such a touch was only for one’s betrothed husband or husband. You surely do not think I go about handling manhoods with no discrimination, Sebastian!” Then she giggled. “I should have been wed long since if I did that, and not necessarily to a man I loved.”
He laughed, unable to help himself. She was such a mixture of intelligence and innocence. He realized that only her isolated upbringing had kept her safe from an earlier seduction. Had she been brought to a licentious royal court, she would been easy prey for libidinous and salacious courtiers with an appetite for fresh young flesh. “I see,” he said with great understatement. He took her little hand and, turning it over, kissed the palm. “I like it when you soothe me, Autumn.�
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A shiver ran up her spine and then back down again. “Perhaps we should retire,” she said nervously.
“Perhaps not,” he said softly, and arose from the oak settle where they had been sitting. “Let us sit before the fire,” and he drew her up to stand with him. “That is a fine, thick sheepskin, ma petite.” He maneuvered them down to the floor. “There, is that not nicer, and warmer too? Spring nights are yet chill. It’s almost as if winter cannot let go. Underneath, however, one senses warmer weather, but a fire is nice in the evenings.”
“I saw my parents sit before a fire this way once,” Autumn replied. She had also seen a great deal more until Adali, on his cat’s feet, had clapped a hand over her open mouth and carried her off to her nursemaid, chuckling as he did so. Would Sebastian make love to her that way? she wondered silently.
They sat in silence, watching the flames dance and dart. The fire was red, orange, and golden, with the occasional blue flame. It crackled and growled softly to itself as it burned. Autumn noticed that the fireplace was flanked by stone angels with beautifully carved faces. She wondered why she hadn’t espied it before, but then she had never viewed the fireplace from this particular angle before. His arm slid suddenly about her, and her first instinct was to stiffen, but then she relaxed and lay her dark head against his shoulder. For the moment words seemed unnecessary.
One arm about her, Sebastian reached out with his other hand and caressed the curve of her slender neck. The hand moved slowly and delicately about the curve of her jawline, his fingers brushing lightly across her full lips. Those lips, almost involuntarily, kissed at his fingertips. Grasping her chin gently, he turned her head slightly and kissed her, tenderly at first, the kiss deepening as he felt her returning his passion with her own, shyly, then more boldly.
Intrigued Page 16
