All the Sweet Tomorrows

Mignon worked quickly. All her movements were swift, and the little tiring woman seemed to waste neither energy nor time in anything she did. She firmly sat Skye down and brushed her hair out before fixing it in the lovely simple chignon that Skye favored. 'When we go up to Paris, madame, and you visit the court,' she said, 'I am going to try doing your hair in the long curls that are the corning fashion. The style is most provocative, and M'sieur Adam will adore it.' She fastened two white roses into her mistress's hair. 'There, madame,' she said, pleased. 'Now, the gown.'

When Mignon had finished with her Skye stood looking at herself in the pier glass. It was the first time in so long that she was dressed as the lady she really was. The bodice of her gown had a low, square neckline, and was embroidered in tiny crystal beads with gold thread. The sleeves were leg-of-mutton, padded and puffed, and the wristbands, held by many tiny gold ribbons, were embroidered in crystal beads and turned back to form a cuff. The silk overskirt of the gown was blue-green, separating in the front to show the skirt of the undergown which was striped in the same color and gold. Her stockings, which would only show if she danced, were pale-pink silk embroidered in climbing roses, and her shoes matched her gown.

'Vous e tes tres belle, madame,'Mignon said quietly, as she daubed essence of damask rose on Skye's pulse points.

'Why is it you women take so damned long to dress, little girl?' Adam demanded from the connecting doorway.

She whirled prettily and curtseyed. 'Is it not worth it, Adam?' she teased him, taking in his own appearance. She had rarely seen him dressed as magnificently as he was now in an elegantly fitted velvet doublet embroidered in gold thread and, she would swear, small diamonds! His jerkin was sleeveless and edged in ermine. He was dressed entirely in dark blue, which flattered his eyes.

Slowly he inspected her, and Skye found that she was blushing. Her heartbeat quickened, and she realized that she very much regretted Mignon's untimely intrusion. Raising her eyes to his, she could read in them that he felt the same way. He reached for her hand and slowly raised it to his lips. His mouth scorched her skin, but the warmth of his gaze filled her with rapture, and she could not tear her eyes away from him.

'How is it possible that you grow more beautiful with each year, little girl?' he asked wonderingly as he tucked her small hand into his.

'Adam…' she began, and then her voice died, for she was at a total loss for words. His deep and abiding love was so plain, and Skye was beginning to realize how different he was from the other men who had been in her life. Those whom she had loved had indeed loved her as well, but they had taken boldly of her, though giving something of themselves in return. Adam, she realized with some surprise, intended to take, but he was the first to truly consider her well-being and her own feelings along with his own.

Silently he escorted her downstairs to the family's dining room. It was a beautiful paneled room with an enormous red and white marble fireplace capable of holding whole logs. Above the mantel hung a large tapestry done in azure blue, green, red, silver, and gold, showing in intricate detail a castle under siege, a captive virgin, an embattled knight, and a rather ferocious dragon.

Antoine de Saville, noting Skye's admiration of the tapestry, came forward, saying, 'It took three generations of women in my family almost four years to complete that tapestry. It is over two hundred years old.'

'It's exquisite!' Skye exclaimed.

'No more so than you, my dear,' was the gallant reply.

'Beau-pere, I warn you,' Adam said teasingly, 'that I would fight a ducl over this woman.'

'I have no doubt, Adam, that she is more than worth it,' the comte replied. 'I am a most fortunate man, for I possess a beautiful wife, three beautiful daughters, a beautiful daughter-in-law, seven lovely granddaughters, and now you are to give us another beauty to add to the family. Mon Dieu! It is more than one man can bear!' He peered at Skye through slightly nearsighted eyes. 'You are going to join the family, ma cherie, aren't you?'

Suddenly the room, which was rilled with the entire de Saville clan, grew quiet, and all eyes turned to Skye. 'I suppose I must,' she replied mischievously. 'Adam refuses to give me any other choice, and I find that I love him. What else can I do but follow my conscience?'

The joyous noise that erupted about them as the whole family tried to offer their good wishes at the same time somewhat overwhelmed them. She found herself being kissed upon both cheeks first by Comte Antoine and then by Gaby. Next came Adam's sisters and their husbands and children, and his half-brothers and -sister and their families. Never in her entire life had Skye felt so cherished by a family. It was true that her own family loved her dearly, but they all depended upon her for everything, they expected that she would care for them all, no matter what. The de Savilles expected nothing of her. To them she was the woman who would marry Gaby's eldest son, another daughter-in-law to be treasured. At this moment in time Skye realized that that was more than enough for her. She was so tired of having total responsibility, and she wanted to be treated like a woman, just a woman for now.

His arm tightened about her shoulder, and she looked up at him. 'You understand, don't you?' she said.

'Yes,' was the simple reply. Nothing more. Just yes.

Suddenly Gaby de Saville cried out. 'Adam, my son! The ring! Have you given Skye the ring?'

'No, maman, I have not,' Adam replied. 'I thought to do it when she accepted me, but she has surprised me by accepting beau-pere's proposal in my name!' He reached into his doublet and drew forth a large round sapphire set in red gold. Upon the face of the sapphire was a small red-gold sea hawk with its wings outspread in flight. This ring,' he said quietly to her, 'was given by Geoffroi de Sudbois to my ancestress, Matilde de Marisco, in token of their love. Ever since it has been the betrothal ring of the men in my family. My father gave it to my mother, and now I give it to you, Skye O'Malley. I need not tell you that with it goes my everlasting love, and my fidelity for all time.' Gently Adam slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger of her left hand while, around them, the de Saville family once again proclaimed their delight at this turn of events.