All the Sweet Tomorrows

The King, however, was not of a mind to share even a temporary mistress. In a temper King Harry sent one of his ships out of Bideford, and they blew the castle almost to bits. Both my husband and the lady in question happened to be in residence at the time. They were killed.'

'How terrible for you!' Skye sympathized.

“The loss of the castle, or the loss of my husband?' was the reply.

'Both,' Skye said.

Gaby de Saville laughed. 'Yes,' she answered, 'it was terrible. John occasionally strayed, and I knew it, but then I am a Frenchwoman, and we are taught to ignore such things. Still, this particular piece of foolishness cost my children their home, and Adam his full birthright. The King was furious, and could not bear the sight of us, having transferred his anger to all the de Mariscos now that John was dead. When Adam, then but eleven, accused the King of murdering his father, our fate in England was sealed. We were banned from court, and having no other place to go, I brought my children home to France. We were welcomed at King Francois's court, as my father had been one of his most trusted advisors in his younger days. The King gave us a small pension, took Adam on as a page for Queen Eleanor, and the next thing I knew he arranged a marriage for me with my dear Antoine.' She smiled. 'Sometimes things work out for the best, even when it doesn't seem they will.'

'Sometimes,' Skye agreed, 'and then again sometimes not.'

The comtesse, ignoring the last part of Skye's remark, said pleasantly, 'I hope you will be comfortable here, my dear. Your bedchamber is to the right, and Adam's to the left. I see that you have not traveled with a servant, and so I shall choose a competent woman for you, if I may.'

'Please, Gaby, do. I did not take my Daisy to Morocco with me, as the dangers involved were far too great. She is now back in England, and I did not like to bring a girl from Beaumont de Jaspre only to have to send her back.' A mischievous smile turned up the corners of her lovely mouth. 'Adam has been a most helpful maid to me these last few days.'

Gaby laughed. 'A role in which I do not see my son as successful, but I shall take your word for it, Skye. Is there anything I might get you now?'

'Oh, if I might only have a bath! It was impossible along the road, and my hair and the very pores of my skin are filled with dust.'

The comtesse nodded with understanding. 'I shall see to it immediately, my dear. Now, I shall leave you to yourself. A servant will attend you presently.' Then with a quick smile Gaby turned and was gone, closing the door behind her.

Skye looked more closely at the salon. The wide floorboards of the room were clean and polished, and the windows were hung with natural-colored linen drapes with a rose and green design. On one wall was a long dark oak table flanked by chairs on either side, and on either side of the fireplace were tall wooden chairs, their high backs and seat cushions embroidered in rose and cream tapestry. Before the fireplace was a fine oak settle with a dark green tapestried seat cushion. Built-in bookcases filled with leather-bound volumes lined another wall of the salon. Skye smiled to herself. She was not of a mind to read right now, but she would eventually see what reading matter the de Savilles had furnished this guest apartment with.

There was a door on the bookcase wall, and opening it, Skye peered into a tiny, windowless chamber furnished with a narrow cot and a small trunk. This would be a servant's room. Walking to the end of the room, she opened the door to what Gaby had said would be Adam's room. It was a medium-sized chamber with a small fireplace, a bed, and a small candlestand. Next to the fireplace was another door, and Skye walked through it to find herself in her own bedchamber. This room was furnished with a much larger bed, two candlestands, and a comfortable chair by its fireplace. It had two other doors, one leading back into the salon, and one opening into a fair-sized garderobe. Skye looked with pleasure at the bedchamber's dusky rose velvet drapes and bed hangings. High-breasted stone maidens flanked the small fireplace, and upon the mantel was centered a little bowl of pink roses that perfumed the room. The windows looked out over the gardens with woodlands beyond. There was a warmth about the room that appealed to Skye, and she knew that she was going to be happy here.

'Bonjour!' The voice came from the salon, and Skye hurried back into the main room of the apartment to confront a tiny, black-eyed woman of middle years dressed neady in the clothing of an upper servant.

'Good day,' she said.

'Bonjour, madame. I am Mignon,' the woman smiled. 'Madame la Comtesse has sent me to take care of you.' She turned quickly as she heard the door opening behind her. 'Ahh! The footmen with your bath, madame. Into the bedchamber, mes amis! Vite! Vite!' She hurried ahead of them, leaving Skye standing rather amused.

The footmen who struggled with the bulky oak tub were followed by a brisk procession of their fellows, each lugging two buckets of steaming water until, finally, the tub was filled. Mignon stood in the bedchamber door, and said, 'Come, madame. I am ready to begin.' Skye nodded, and walked into her bedchamber. Mignon had flung the windows wide, and the soft warm summer air was easily dispelling the dampness of the room and mingling the fragrance of the cut roses in the bowl with the many flowers blooming in the gardens below.

Mignon quickly undressed her new mistress, saying as she did so, 'I have prepared a basin of warm water, madame, and I will first wash your hair. Mon Dieu! Never have I seen so much dust! Did you roll in it, like a naughty puppy?'

Skye laughed. 'I might as well have,' she said ruefully. 'It was eight days of travel, and no rain to hold the dust down on the roads.'

'We do not need the rains now,' Mignon replied. 'The more sun, the sweeter the grapes, the better the wines this harvest.' Gently she pushed Skye over so that her long dark hair was in the porcelain basin. Then with quick, deft movements she began washing Skye's hair.

Skye sniffed disbelievingly. 'Damask roses!' she exclaimed.

'Mais oui' came the calm reply. 'Is it not your scent?'

'Yes, but how did you know?'

'Madame la Comtesse told me.' Mignon rinsed, and began a second washing.

How much had Adam told his mother about her? Skye wondered. Obviously he had written quite a bit to Gaby. Skye was touched. He really did love her, she thought, and realized that when he had turned her away saying that