recall seeing in France." Her eyes were vividly blue as she selected some of the loveliest and crossed the solar to hold them out to him. "Won't you take these for your chambers? They smell wonderful! You know, I set out to pick just a few, to make a garland to wear for the wedding, but I confess I was carried away."
The duke clasped the flowers in his bony hand, feeling foolish, yet unable to resist the girl's enchantment. "So, madame, I suppose you consider yourself worthy to become Marchioness of Sandhurst, and one day Duchess of Aylesbury."
Conscious of his scrutiny, Micheline replied carefully, "To be perfectly honest,Your Grace, I haven't given much thought to my title. All I know is that I love your son better than my own life, and I shall do everything in my power to make our marriage happy and prosperous. I certainly will be proud to be Lady Sandhurst." She took a breath and impulsively reached out to touch the old man's arm. "Your wise son has helped me learn to feel and live in the present, yet I can assure you that if and when he inherits your title, I shall try to live up to the example your wife set as Duchess of Aylesbury."
For a moment the duke's throat closed up. He blinked, then looked away from Micheline. "Well, good," he muttered, coughing. "Go on, then, child. I want to rest."
She walked away, but glanced back once before turning down the corridor. Andrew's father sat hunched over, staring at the wild flowers clutched in his gnarled hand.
* * *
Micheline's conversation with the Duke of Aylesbury drove all the dark thoughts from her mind. Perhaps there could be peace between Andrew and his father after all! Walking to and fro in her chamber, which was now crowded with vases of fragrant blooms, she waited impatiently for Sandhurst to return.
A soft, lavender-rose veil of twilight covered the sky when Micheline heard the sound of hoofbeats on the cobbled courtyard. Looking out her deeply recessed window, she saw grooms wearing the king's livery.
Without a second thought Micheline went to greet King Henry and his entourage. The castle was no longer quiet. The sound of voices and footsteps followed her as she closed her paneled door and set off for the circular newel staircase. Her only wish was that Andrew might be by her side.
She was used to spiral stairways after a lifetime in France, but this one was especially precipitous and Micheline had learned to take care with her footing on the treacherously narrow wedge-shaped steps. Today, however, her thoughts were elsewhere—on the arrival of the royal party and her impending wedding.
She'd descended just a few steps when she vaguely noticed a shadow spill down from behind her. A moment later, Micheline felt an abrupt pressure against her back and was unable to keep her foothold. She raked her nails wildly over the smooth stone walls, searching in vain for something to save her as she pitched forward, screaming, down the steep staircase.
Chapter 29
April 19-20, 1533
Micheline had tumbled headlong down the stairway, but an instant before her face crashed into the sharp edge of a step, Sandhurst caught her. The impact of her falling body sent him reeling against the curving wall, and he very nearly lost his own footing, but through sheer force of will he remained erect.
A long moment passed before Micheline even realized what had happened, that the abrupt horror of her fall into what seemed certain death had ended in Andrew's embrace. It was the harsh sound of his breathing and the thunder of his heart against her cheek that brought her out of her daze.
" Andrew—how—where—?"
"I had just started up the stairs when I heard you scream! Micheline, for God's sake, what happened?" Sandhurst's voice was as hoarse as if he'd just brushed death himself.
He was holding her so tightly she could scarcely breathe, and the muscles in his arms and chest were like steel against her face. "I don't know. I must have just lost my balance. I was thinking about you, about the wedding, and I wasn't paying proper attention to the steps."
"You aren't hurt?"
"No. No, I'm fine." Micheline tried to pry her head loose enough to look up at him. "Because of you. You saved my life!"
Suddenly she was free of his embrace only to be grasped bruisingly by each shoulder and confronted with the sight of his furious expression. Golden sparks blazed in his eyes, his