on his back a few inches away from her.
"I cannot believe that I just did that! Damn!" he cursed.
"Andrew, what is it?" Micheline reached out to him in confusion.
"Don't touch me! For the past twenty-four hours I have steeled myself to live without you, told myself to forget you, tried to convince myself that I am strong enough to put all that was between us in the past and get on with my life. Tonight I went out with Jeremy and saw a few old friends, and enjoyed myself for a moment or two! I was beginning to feel quite proud, thinking I was conquering heartache with the sheer force of my own will. Don't you find that amusing? I walked in here, found you, and the force of my will and all my resolutions went right out the bloody window!"
"If you'd just allow me to explain—"
"Yes, that's right, explain! Did you come here for one last good-bye, since you weren't in any condition to send me off properly last night?"
Stung, Micheline reached out and slapped him sharply, but Sandhurst caught her wrist in a punishing grip. "Spare me the dramatics, madame, and tell me what brings you to Paris... and to my bed."
Emotion boiled up within her and sent tears spilling down her cheeks. "I—I came here to tell you that I love you! I love you, Andrew! You must believe me!" She sobbed. "I don't even remember talking to you last night. The king's physician kept giving me sleeping draughts, and after a while everything seemed a dream. When I awoke today, feeling well, and learned that you had left Fontainebleau, I had to come after you. Andrew, I love you! I was wrong before, and I admit it. I want to marry you more than anything in the world... if you'll still have me."
Sandhurst rubbed both hands over his face, then folded them and pressed his mouth against the clenched knuckles. "Oh, God."
"Is that all you can say? Have you changed your mind?"
"Michelle, this is all well and good, but I can't just wipe out everything you've said in the past on the basis of your new, more welcome sentiments." He turned to stare at her through the shadows. "You were so adamant about choosing marriage to the Marquess of Sandhurst over my simpler but heartfelt proposal. What happened to your resolution never to love again... and your lifelong devotion to your dead husband? It's certainly gratifying to hear you change course again and say that you do love me, but how do I know that you won't reverse this position tomorrow, or next month?"
"I swear to you that I am sincere. I simply couldn't face my true feelings before."
"Why not?" The softness of his voice was belied by a steely undercurrent. "Tell me, Michelle. I've seen that haunted look in your eyes. If you expect me to believe that you love me, you'll have to start by being honest."
"Alors. I will explain." She shivered in the darkness and Sandhurst relented and reached out to draw her into his embrace. Safe in the warm circle of his arms, Micheline rested her head against his chest and haltingly told her story.
She spared no detail, revealing all that St. Briac had heard that morning and more. Somehow, it was easier than she had expected. What had caused her such desperation in the past now seemed a fading memory.
"I see my marriage in a different light now," Micheline whispered at one point. "After I learned of Bernard's infidelities at court, and it dawned on me that I had been clinging to an illusion, I felt disgraced. Every time I thought of Bernard, and our marriage, a knife twisted in my heart. It wasn't until you came into my life that I saw the past clearly. Bernard brought me happiness when we were young but it was an immature love that we shared, and he changed as he grew older. I'm not bitter anymore about Bernard. I feel sad for his sake, but in my own case, I've grown up only these past few months, learning first of all to rely on myself, and then... what real love can mean."
Micheline went on to explain the stages she'd passed through before facing the truth about her love for Andrew, including the odd influence Rabelais had had on her. When her story was finished, ending with her journey to Paris with Thomas and Aimée, Micheline sighed with pleasure. "I feel so different, but