All the Sweet Tomorrows

Dieu! You are a hundred times more handsome than when we last met!'

Detaching the woman from his doublet, Adam set her back from him, and said in an icy tone, 'Skye, this is Athenais Boussac.'

'Non, non, cheri!' The beauty was not a bit disturbed by Adam's unfriendly tone. 'You will remember I married de Montoire. I am the Duchesse de Beuvron.'

'And how is your husband, Madame la Duchesse?'

'Quite dead, cheri, and in Hell, I hope. He was the most wretched man, you know.'

'But a real man, Madame la Duchesse, I have no doubt, knowing your opinion on that subject. Tell me, how many sons did he father on you?'

Now Skye knew who the woman was. This was the very same creature who had once scorned Adam's love when she found out he could not have children. Skye put a gentle hand on Adam's arm. 'Come, my love,' she said. 'I see your mother signaling to us across the room.'

'Who is this female, Adam? Tell her to go away! We have much to talk about, cheri.'

'As always, Athenais, your manners are deplorable. This female is my betrothed wife, Madame Burke. Now if you will excuse us…'

'A-dam!” Athenais de Montoire caught at his sleeve. 'Adam,' she repeated pleadingly, 'we must talk!'

“There is nothing to talk about, Madame la Duchesse,' and taking Skye's arm, Adam moved across the floor to where his mother and stepfather were standing.

'Sacre bleu!' exclaimed Gaby, who had witnessed the entire exchange. “That creature is shameless! What did she want, my son?'

“To talk, she said.'

'Hah!' was Adam's mother's angry reply. 'Athenais de Montoire was never noted for her ability to converse. More than likely, she has decided she wants another husband, and now that she is rich and titled in her own right she is after you again! Quelle chienne!”

'You will remember, maman, that the reason Athenais broke our betrothal was that she learned I could not have children. I doubt she has changed so much over the last twenty years, and in any case I am not interested in the bitch.'

'My son,' Gaby de Saville said, 'men can often be great fools. Athenais cares nothing for children. She said what she said to you twenty years ago because the Duc de Beuvron had made her father a rather handsome offer for her, and it was more to Baron Boussac's advantage to marry his daughter to a wealthy old duc than to a then penniless English lordling.

'It was a miracle that they received such a magnificent offer, but de Beuvron was elderly and childless. He lusted openly after Athenais, and she was a virgin. How she used that one honest jewel of hers to lure de Beuvron onward to his doom! It is said that the duc demanded to know from Baron Boussac what Athenais's dowry would be. Well, my dear, there was no dowry, as you well know, and so,' here Gaby lowered her voice, 'it is rumored that the baron brought Athenais into the room where he and the duc were ironing out the agreement, and when he removed her cloak she was stark naked beneath it! As I heard the story, de Beuvron looked at Athenais, who turned to show him all and the duc almost had an apoplectic fit then and there his lust was so hot. Then the baron said, There, monseigneur, is my daughter's dowry to you. A flawless face and form. No amount of gold that I could give you would equal such graces.' As he covered his daughter again with her cloak the duc practically fell over his feet to sign the marriage contract.

'Instead of Boussac giving de Beuvron gold, he received a fortune for Athenais's maidenhead! The duc did manage to get one son on her after five years of marriage. The birth almost killed her, it is said, for the baby came feet first. She was never able to have another, not that she minded. The old duc died two years ago, and his son is now fifteen. The boy is the image of his father, and it is said, a bit weak in the head. He dotes upon his mother, I am told.'

'You have certainly kept up, Mother, haven't you?' Adam teased with a grin.

'Athenais de Montoire has always been the topic of gossip in the district, Adam. After her son was born any man who took her eye was quickly in her bed. Her lovers were legion. But since de Beuvron's death she has spent a great deal of time at court, and I have lost track.'

'But only for a lack of any informant to gossip with,' the comte chuckled.

'Antoine!' Gaby pouted, pretending to take offense.

'She is very beautiful,' Skye said thoughtfully.

'O ui,” Gaby replied, 'but it is the same kind of beauty that a rotting lily has. To the eye, all is perfection, but beneath the surface one finds decadence and writhing maggots.'

'You are far more beautiful,' Adam soothed Skye.

'It is not her beauty that disturbs me,' Skye said. 'There is something about her, something wicked. I see it in her eyes.' She looked across the room to where they had left the Duchesse de Beuvron.

Athenais de Montoire stared boldly back at her, but Skye was not one bit perturbed. Equally bold, she openly surveyed the woman. In defiance of fashion the duchesse wore her gorgeous reddish-blond hair long and loose. It