Louisa Rawlings by Stolen Spring Page B

for the hundredth time.  
    “I tell you, Rouge, to kiss my sweet Nathalie is like sipping nectar. And when she smiles upon me…ah!”
    Rouge gestured to François. “No. Take the other sash. The blue one. I’ve seen your Madame de Chambault, Tintin. She is charming. Does she care for you?”  
    Chrétien looked hurt. “How can you ask such a question? She grants me the last favors!”  
    Rouge laughed and lay back on the bed, idly fingering the bed hangings. “Oh, Tintin! Every woman grants you the last favors! You have a way of looking like a lost puppy dog. I suspect every woman finds it irresistible.” She laughed again as he hung his head, his expression benign and innocent. “Except, perhaps Maman , who knew what a rogue you are!”  
    He grunted and adjusted his cravat. “And who taught you ! Too well, I’ll be cursed!”  
    “You haven’t answered my question. Does Nathalie de Chambault, the charming vicomtesse, care for you? Enough to make an honest man of you?”  
    Chrétien frowned. “To speak the truth, I don’t know. There’s time for the pleasures of love, of course…”  
    She giggled. “With you, there’s always time for the pleasures of love.”  
    He chose to ignore the gibe. “Her brother, plague take him, is still set against me. Our moments are stolen from the day. I adore her, but I scarcely know her well enough to call it love. Nor to consider marriage.”  
    “What’s to be done?”  
    “If we could be alone, far from the distractions of the court and the prying eyes of her brother, I might begin to know the lady better. She has a friend, with a château in Normandie. Nathalie has written to ask if we might stay for a month or so. All very circumspect, you understand. We’d slip away, telling no one, naturellement .”  
    Rouge stood and crossed to her father, straightening his cravat for him. “That would be a good idea. I’m off for Sans-Souci right after Monseigneur’s party. I planned to go, whether or not you came with me. There’s so much to be done at home. But it will relieve my mind to know that you’re far away from the gaming tables!”  
    “Poor Rouge! While you husband our resources, I throw them away!” He sighed. “But I’m too old to change my ways, not even for the love of my dear Rouge.”  
    She touched his cheek in a tender gesture. “I know that, Tintin. That’s why I intend to see that you’re taken care of. With enough money to save you from your weaknesses.”  
    “It would take a great deal of money, God knows,” he said, lifting his brown wig to pull thoughtfully at his earlobe. “Even I’m distressed from time to time, thinking of what I owe.”  
    “Arsène de Falconet has asked me to marry him,” she blurted.  
    “ Hein! You don’t mean it!”  
    “Not two hours ago.”  
    “Have you accepted?”
    “Well—not completely. That is…I said that I’d think about it.He’s off to Paris for a few days. I begged him to wait for my answer till his return.”  
    “And what will be your answer?”  
    “When he approaches you with a formal proposal, I’ll want you to draw up a contract.”  
    “Does he love you?”  
    “I don’t know. Or, rather, I’m not sure. I know he wants me. He desires me.”  
    “But passion isn’t always love.”  
    “No. But it can turn into love. You’ve told me that yourself.”  
    “Do you love him ?”  
    “I don’t think so. But he’s thoughtful and kind. I enjoy his company. I respect and honor him. And, heaven knows, we can save Sans-Souci…”  
    “Damnation! I want you to marry for love!” he burst out. “Not to save me, or Sans-Souci, or anything else! But for your own happiness.”  
    “ Oh! Sometimes I feel as though I’m dealing with a child! Good marriages are arranged every day, Tintin! And no one’s the sorrier for it! You’re out of step with the times! It’s important for me to marry well; you know that. I’ll not compound your mistakes