‘So,’ he went on, ‘Mademoiselle Lottie, I hereby ask you to become my wife. At least,’ he went on, ‘you hesitate. Do you see, I feared a determined No. Not that I should have accepted it, but it is encouraging not to be refused in the first few seconds.’
‘You must see how impossible the whole thing would be.’
‘I don’t. I see it as perfectly possible.’
‘What of Sophie?’
‘Sophie has made the choice. She has left me free.’
‘And you think that with her in that turret, you and I … ’
He gripped me by the shoulders and looked into my face.
‘I want you Lottie,’ he said. ‘You will have such a wonderful time with me. You will see. I will awaken you to such delights that you never dreamed of.’
‘I am not interested … ’
‘Now, Lottie, I know you well. You are bursting from your shell. You long to experience that of which you have heard so much. I am sure you have had endless discussions with that girl—what was her name?—the one who came to Rougemont’s with you.’
‘You mean Lisette. She is married now.’
‘And enjoying life, I’ll swear. She would. She was that sort of girl. Dear Lottie, so are you. You will marry one day. Why not me? Wouldn’t you rather choose for yourself than have someone choose for you?’
‘Certainly I will make my own choice.’
‘Well, then, having your father’s permission to woo you, I shall begin now.’
‘Save yourself the trouble.’
His answer was to pick me up in his arms and hold me, looking up at me and laughing.
‘Put me down,’ I said. ‘What if we were seen?’
‘Everyone will understand. A gallant gentleman and a beautiful lady. Why shouldn’t they be in love?’
Slowly he lowered me until my face was on a level with his.
‘Lottie,’ he murmured. ‘Oh, Lottie.’
And I just wanted to be held like that. I felt suddenly that life had become interesting again.
It was decided that Armand should be married at Christmas, which would mean that we would spend Christmas at Brammont, Marie Louise’s family home not far from Orléans.
Sophie would not come and declared her intention of staying at the château where she would be well looked after by Jeanne. Although my mother at first attempted to persuade her, she was relieved. The festive season would have been scarcely festive with Sophie hiding herself away and everyone knowing she was there.
So we made our preparations to go to Brammont without her.
After the wedding Armand and his bride would return to Aubigné and make their home there. I hoped I should get on well with Marie Louise. It would be pleasant to have another woman in the house, though she was a serious girl and very religious and I could not imagine anyone less like Lisette.
I often wondered about Lisette. I had heard nothing from her. I had asked Tante Berthe for her address as I intended to write to her, but Tante Berthe said leave it for a while for Lisette was travelling with her husband and would be away for some months.
I did discover that her husband owned land. I imagined he was a farmer.
‘I hope she will be happy,’ I said. ‘I cannot imagine Lisette on a farm.’
‘Lisette was very contented, I do assure you,’ said Tante Berthe.
But she would not give me the address.
‘Later on,’ she promised. ‘When they are settled.’
I was, of course, rather immersed in my own affairs at the time and the possibility which had arisen in connection with Charles.
My mother talked of the matter with me.
‘He is very much in love with you, Lottie, and your father would be happy with the match. He says he will give you the dowry he promised Sophie. I know the Tourvilles would be very happy with the marriage.
‘What of Sophie?’
‘Sophie has chosen her way of life. She will expect others to do the same. Poor Sophie. It was tragic … and just as she was beginning to forget her shyness. But it happened. It is life. It could have happened to anyone. Oh my darling, how relieved I am that you came safely out of all that. I want you to be as happy as I have been. I often marvel at the way things turned out for me.’
‘Dear Mother,’ I told her, ‘they turned out well because you are what you are. The Comte loves you because you are so different from all these people whom we meet.’
She looked amazed and realized that she did not see them as I did.
I went on quickly: ‘I think so much about Sophie. It would not seem right to marry the man who was to have been her husband.’
‘That would have been an arranged marriage.’
‘But she loved him very much.’
‘Sophie would have loved anyone who took notice of her. Poor girl, her life is tragic but she must not be allowed to stand in the way of your happiness. If you married Charles you would not live here … not like Armand. This is his home. The château will be his one day. But you will go to your husband’s house. You can build a life for yourself … have children … be happy … forget that terrible night. Forget Sophie.’
‘I wish I could.’
She smiled at me and put her arm about me. ‘My dearest child, you know you are doubly dear to me … coming as you did. You brought great happiness to Jean-Louis and to me. More than anything I want to see you happy.’
