Hesitantly Micheline raised her slim fingers and touched first the gems, which were cool against her throat, and then Andrew's hands, which were warm.
"Thank you."
He smiled. "Let's away. The barge is waiting, and the hour advances."
When Sandhurst crossed the room to open the door for her, Micheline suddenly exclaimed, "How handsome you look! It was very selfish of me not to have noticed immediately!"
Never before, when he was pretending to be Andrew Selkirk, had she seen him so elegantly garbed, and still he looked absolutely masculine. Sandhurst wore a close-fitting doublet of rich blue velvet sparingly embroidered with golden thread and set with cut diamonds and rubies. The doublet's neck was fashionably high so that the pleats of his white fraise nearly grazed his jaw. White silk puffed through the light slashings on both sleeves and breeches, and below his left knee Sandhurst wore a gold garter set with a ruby, sapphire, and diamond.
He still disdained other jewelry except for the simple sapphire ring, and Micheline was not surprised to see that he wore no feathered cap. His hair, agleam in the sunlight, was brushed casually back from his handsome face.
"I didn't want you to think that I owned no fine clothing." Andrew replied, "but I confess that I prefer the sort of things I wore at Fontainebleau."
Reaching the doorway, Micheline ran a possessive hand over his chest. "You will be the most splendid man at Hampton Court, and I shall be the envy of every female who lays eyes on you."
"Good Lord!" He laughed fondly. "Next you'll be fighting a duel over me!"
"I would certainly do so if it were necessary," she replied, walking ahead of him into the corridor. Then Micheline glanced back and added brightly, "And I would win!"
* * *
The journey by barge up the Thames was as close to paradise as Micheline had ever come. Although accompanied by Mary and Finchley, Sandhurst's valet, and two watermen, the two lovers were in a world of their own. They lounged on cushioned seats, talking softly, drinking wine, kissing, and sharing a delicious meal packed for them by Sabine, the cook. The banks of the Thames were a light bright green now, and budding leaves covered the tree branches where larks, finches, and robins sang tributes to spring. Meanwhile, swans, mallard ducks, and dabchicks followed the barge to feed on the bits of bread Micheline scattered across the water.
Eventually Andrew broke the spell by murmuring into her ear, "There it is."
Micheline sat up straight. Ahead of them, sculpted gardens spread across the right riverbank, leading to low walls, more gardens with trees, and a sprawling mixture of towers, ramparts, and buildings of red brick and white stone. Pinnacles and chimneys topped the palace, rising skyward.
Suddenly her palms were damp. "Must we?"
"I fear so." Sandhurst nodded. "Don't worry, sweetheart. What have you to fear if I am by your side?"
"Quite true!" After fending for herself for so long, it was difficult for Micheline to remember that she was not alone anymore. "You won't leave me?"
"You know full well that it is my ardent wish to remain with you constantly—day and night!"
His eyes crinkled at the corners, bidding her to laugh and relax. With Andrew next to her it was easy to pretend that what lay ahead was just an amusing adventure.
* * *
It wasn't Hampton Court that intimidated Micheline so much as the strangers who waited for her there. She was used to grandeur in excess, and this palace, though certainly splendid, did not outshine Fontainebleau. In fact, as she walked with Sandhurst up the pathway from the river, he told her that it was common knowledge that King Henry had begun to expand and improve his residences only to compete with Francois.
Richly garbed courtiers and ladies strolled about the grounds, many of them coming over to greet Lord Sandhurst and meet his future bride. Micheline saw not only curiosity but disdain in their eyes and knew the latter sprang from the fact that she was French. When the noblemen spoke to Andrew as if she were an idiot who could not understand, it delighted her to reply for herself in flawless English.
Learning that the king had just finished his meal and had not emerged from the palace, Sandhurst headed there first.
"Do you want to see your chamber? Perhaps you'd like to rest for a while." Even as he said this, he sensed her reply.
"Chamber? Are we staying overnight?"
"Michelle, we must. It would be rude to leave so abruptly,