The Chevalier (4 page)

“I believe I must be going now. It is evident that you still need to learn much about the social graces.”

“I believe you are right. Perhaps you might stay just a little longer and provide a bit of tutoring for me. It seems I constantly blunder. With Mama’s illness, my etiquette has been quite ignored of late.”

He bowed ever so slightly. “I am not a man consumed with interest in manners myself, but I can make a few suggestions.”

“A bit of fatherly advice would not be unappreciated,” she teased, “since you are so much older and wiser then I. How old are you, Colonel?”

“Eight and twenty years, quite ancient by your standards I would assume.”

She stood staring up at his powerful, well-built body. “I do not consider you decrepit or doddering in the least. You do not appear to need a cane as yet.”

“Indeed I am able,” he drawled in a mocking voice. He sat down again on the settee.

“However, looks are often deceiving.”

“You think so?” The deep blue eyes had a wicked glint in them.

Suddenly, she found herself sitting on his lap. Although quite surprised by his action, she placed her arms around the thickly corded muscles at his neck.

“You are very strong for such an old man,” she teased.

Her hands caressed his golden hair tied at the nape of his neck with a length of black velvet ribbon. “Papa used to hold me like this when we talked.”

“First piece of advice, don’t assume because a man is older than you that when you sit on his lap, his interest will be paternal. It’s a faulty assumption on your part, my angel.”

She moved closer to him now, pressing her body against his, smelling the spicy male scent of him. She looked up into his eyes and saw that they had darkened again and were almost the color of blueberries. He made her feel so warm and alive. The cold, empty place that was within her, the deep abiding sense of sorrow and loneliness which she felt since her papa’s death, disappeared. It was so good to be held and touched by another human being. How she missed the warmth of affection! The gentle caress of his hand against her cheek made her skin tingle.

“Let me offer you a further insight. The body of a man is very different from that of a woman. Men are very easily roused to passion by the feel of a woman’s body against them as I suggested to you last night. I carefully control my own baser nature, but Mademoiselle, you make it very difficult.”

“You mean I should not be sitting on your lap this way?”

“Exactly right. You should have protested my behavior immediately and then forced me to let you go.”

“But I trust you.”

“Trust no man too far; that is my next bit of advice. You are an attractive girl, and there are men who would take advantage of your lack of experience.”

“But surely no one can make me do anything I do not wish to do.”

“I assure you, it is possible.” His eyes bore into hers.

“My spirit is very strong.”

“But your body is not. You should be wary at all times.”

“Surely not here with you,” she said, “as you only wish to advise me.”

“With me as with any other man,” he said sternly. His face was an artful mask and she found it impossible to tell what he might be thinking. “The only thing that protects you is that I have no desire to fight any more duels. I’m certain your brother would insist on one if he thought I had comprised your virtue. I am not stupid enough to involve myself ever again in such idiocy. You, little one, are looking for a husband, and I am not the man for you. Do not even think it for a moment.”

“Are you so certain?”

He smiled, his long index finger tracing the contours of her lips. “I am not looking for a wife, not now or ever.”

“More’s the pity. I might want you for a husband.”

His resonant laugh was one of surprise. “Where is your pride, Mademoiselle?”

“I have no use for it.” The words came out sounding a good deal more self-assured than she actually felt.

“You are decidedly not one to conform to the rules of society, are you? I think I must give up on you. You are not an apt pupil after all.” He removed her from his lap and seated himself away from her.

At once she knew that he was withdrawing from her. Soon, he would leave and she would never see him again. The thought gnawed her heart like a black, hungry vulture. She realized how desperately she wanted him to remain with her.

 
Four

He watched her pouting expression and decided she definitely had the prettiest lips he’d ever seen, so well-shaped and naturally pink; he had to fight hard against kissing her. He wanted to taste her again. It was taking all his self-discipline and control not to simply pull the girl into his arms, for he found her increasingly difficult to resist. The ethereal face combined with the shiny, black silk of her cascading hair and the alluring earthiness of her firm, full breasts were having a startling effect upon him. She seemed to have an intuitive grasp of this because she pressed herself against him once again. He had to coil his hand into a fist to keep from touching her as he wished to do. He found her enthusiasm and lack of artifice profoundly enchanting. Or was it all just a clever device, a ruse, by which she would test how far she could provoke him before he would lose control?

“When my papa laid eyes upon my mother and she on him, there was something between them from the first. They loved each other passionately and that never ended until the day he died. My father had many mistresses before he met Maman, for his first marriage was arranged. He and Roland’s mother were never happy together. But Papa never looked at another woman after he met Maman. I dream of that kind of love.”

Her light eyes almost seemed to dissolve in a cloud of misty feeling. “When I saw you last night, I had the strangest feeling, as if…” her voice trailed off and her eyes became even lighter, a mystical aura coming over them.

“You obviously think that you might develop such a
tendre
for me, but that is romantic nonsense, my angel. For one thing, your papa was a wealthy aristocrat, was he not? I have no title and no name. Your family would never approve.”

“That makes no difference to me.”

“It would eventually. I speak from painful experience. The world is a cold place. The wealthy and titled marry each other. There is no room in that world for outsiders.”

“You sound so cynical.”

“No, I am only being honest and realistic. You will soon find out that I am right. Do not behave in a childish, willful manner. You feel a momentary attraction, but it is nothing more than a girlish infatuation. You will soon get over it and perhaps fall in love with someone suitable.”

“You think me a child and in some ways perhaps I still am, but I know my own heart.” She looked up at him with the most appealing expression.

“You are determined to tease and tempt me, aren’t you?”

“Is that what you think, that I play some wicked game?”

Suddenly, he felt very angry with her. Did she realize the effect she was having on him? Was she so much of an innocent? If he let her feel what it was like to have a man lay hands on her, possibly she would become frightened enough to relent in her romantic delusions. It would do her a great service, he reasoned.

“Perhaps one more lesson is in order since you have appointed me as your tutor. You shall see that men are not children’s toys to be played with. Tell me when this becomes evident to you.”

With that, he pulled her against him and his lips seized hers. Madeline let out a gasp of pleasure as his lips grew more demanding, possessing her with a passion that made her body quiver.

She was exciting him too much, he realized. He had started this to teach her a lesson, but now it seemed that he was the one being taught. She was a strange mixture of childlike innocence and sensual femininity.

♥ ♥ ♥

Suddenly there was a sharp knock on the closed doors. “Mademoiselle? Your Maman wishes you to know that she will join you and your friend in just a few moments.” Clothilde’s voice held a sharp note of warning that forced Madeline to recover herself. She had thought of nothing but the pleasure this handsome man offered her, abandoning herself to a sweet oblivion where only feeling existed. Now she recognized how wanton she must seem to him and the thought disconcerted her completely.

“You have a very strong effect on me, Mademoiselle. I don’t think I can tutor you successfully after all.”

Was that anger she heard in his husky voice? She hardly understood him at all.

Madeline straightened and rose to her feet, trying to appear calm. “You think me a terrible person?” She could hardly catch her breath.

“I think it is quite natural for a girl to wish to tease and flirt a bit, but as I said, you must take care. Save yourself for your future husband.”

“I have every intention of doing just what you suggest.” She found her temper flaring. How dare he lecture her so after taking liberties! The man was a hypocrite, she decided furiously. Yet, had not her behavior encouraged him in that regard? She blushed deeply, realizing how the man must consider her, as if she were begging to be seduced by him. What was wrong with her? She was no longer angry with him, only with herself.

At that moment, her mother entered the room, followed by her maid, Marie. Gareth Eriksen rose to his feet, bowing politely.

“Madame de Marnay, I am Gareth Eriksen.”

Her mother’s expression was cold, which surprised Madeline as Maman was generally a very gracious person with visitors. “Why have you come to visit my daughter at such an early hour, sir?”

“I had some information to impart to her regarding Scotland,” he said.

His look told Madeline that he would give none of her confidences away and she sighed in relief. She loved her mother dearly but certain matters were not discussed between them.

“What sort of information?” Mama demanded in a sharp voice, then sat down on a chair with Marie’s help.

“You should know that there is much famine in the area. If you are planning to travel there, and I strongly suggest that you do not, it would be best to be aware of the poverty you will find. Also, there is the matter of the Young Pretender and his fierce Highlanders. There is no way to put this delicately. An army like that can be menacing, plundering, pillaging – possibly raping. I would think twice, my lady, before putting yourself in the way of such danger.”

Weak as her mother was, she looked incensed. “Sir, Highlanders are honorable men and are bound by a strict code of ethics, unlike the English. It is obvious you really know nothing about Scotland.”

Gareth looked quite abashed and quickly sought to placate her. “I am sorry to have offended you. I meant only to speak out of concern for your daughter’s welfare. These are turbulent times.”

“These are wonderful times, Mr Eriksen. The Scots are raising the banner of liberty. We would be a free nation again under our true king.”

Gareth turned to her, staring intently. “I cannot agree with your politics, but I will wish good fortune to both of you ladies as I do not expect that we will meet again.”

His words struck like a dagger at her heart. With that, he left. Madeline was about to follow him out when her mother’s angry voice brought her back.

“I think I am owed an explanation.”

Madeline looked into her mother’s dark green eyes and glanced downward. “I am sorry, Maman, but I met him last night and he brought back your bracelet which I had lost. I believe the clasp is loose.”

“It is evident to me that you like this man; however, he looked a bit old and experienced for you.”

“So Constance says as well. But he will be off to rejoin his army and we are going to Scotland. Just as he says, I do not think we shall see him again.”

“It is just as well,” her mother said. “He is not suited to you.”

“Maman, how can you know that? You hardly spoke to him.”

“I could tell,
ma petite
. There is something about him that makes me uneasy; perhaps it is the same thing that draws you to him. Yours is a reckless spirit that calls out for adventure. In any case, he strikes me as rather a complicated man. There is a look about him which I find threatening, a hardness which is troubling.”

Maman’s voice was quiet but her expression was dour, lips pursed tightly. Madeline cast her eyes downward.

“Clothilde tells me you did not have her stay in the room with you when this man visited, nor did you leave the door open as is proper.” Maman touched Madeline’s loosely cascading hair. “Black as sin. Perhaps it is the nature of your French blood, but you will not be lewd in your behavior for you are my daughter.” Maman gave her hair a hard tug.

Madeline’s cheeks burned like flame. She had no desire to upset Maman, yet as always, she displeased her mother.

Madeline would have gladly put the subject of Gareth Eriksen to rest with her mother had not Lady Constance arrived for a visit later that morning. Maman had decided to remain downstairs and Constance visited with both of them in the drawing room.

“You are looking better, Comtesse,” her friend observed.

“No, I am not, but thank you for the kind compliment,” her mother said.

In truth, Maman’s fern-colored eyes seemed clear, but her thin body looked frail and wasted. “Constance, what do you know of this man, Gareth Eriksen, who called on Madeline this morning?”

Constance viewed her as if she had swallowed an insect. “My heavens, you don’t mean he had the audacity to actually come here. Madeline, I told you not to stare at the man so.”

Both Constance and her mother were glaring at Madeline now and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach.

“I like him,” she said, knowing how completely inadequate her response sounded.

“Like him? Comtesse, I do apologize. I did warn Madeline that the man was a user of women, but I fear she is too young to comprehend the dangers involved in associating with such an odious creature.”

She suddenly felt as if her friend were betraying her. “I believe that he is truly a gentleman. He took no advantage of me. If anything, I was enamored of him, yet he did not encourage me.”

“I daresay that he is accustomed to women pursuing him – women of all ages.” Constance’s face began to color as she warmed to her subject. “I do not like to gossip at all, but I must tell you what I know of the man. This fellow is the baseborn son of one of the wealthiest and most powerful peers of the realm. His father acknowledges him, yet Eriksen scorns his father’s interest and is intentionally rude to the Duke.”

“Perhaps he has his reasons,” Madeline said. She knew that she was annoying both her mother and Constance by defending Gareth Ericksen, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

“My daughter is willful and stubborn,” Maman remarked. “When she makes up her mind about something or someone, she will not be reasonable. Even the holy sisters despaired of her.”

Madeline shivered remembering all the punishments administered to her in the name of morality and godliness. Mother Immaculata had called her rebellious and irreverent, but she had never meant to be so. If she hurt no one else, why couldn’t she live life as she chose? Why must there always be such repressive rules and restrictions?

“I would change my mind if there were one shred of evidence that the man is truly evil, but I see no sign of it. Anyway, since we will never see him again, what is the difference?”

Her mother sighed deeply. “I have decided we are leaving for Scotland soon. I think it is time you were married. You need a husband to control your willful nature. When you meet your cousin Andrew, you will understand what a man should be. His mother and I share a fervent hope that you and he will marry. Indeed, the marriage was arranged long ago. My father promised you to Andrew when you were first born and I intend to hold to that. You are the granddaughter of a Highland chief and it is fitting and proper that you should marry one.”

Her heart sank. “But I have never met my cousin.”

“We shall remedy that as soon as possible,” her mother said with an air of determination.