All the Sweet Tomorrows

escape!'

Navarre looked lazily at his cousin as he rolled off Skye. 'Henri,' he said, 'your timing is deplorable as usual. What are you babbling about?'

'Paris is in civil disorder, cousin!' Conde cried. 'Our people are being massacred in their beds by the members of the Catholic League led by de Guise! Already a mob looking for you and for me has tried to storm the Louvre. The King's soldiers held them back, but God only knows how long they can! I have already received word that Coligny is dead. Get up, Henri!'

But Navarre was already up, and pulling on his clothes. His smiling, boyish face of moments before had grown grim and old with his cousin's words. 'I believe that we are safe, Henri,' he told Conde. 'I don't know how involved Madame le Serpent is, but she is involved.' He turned to Skye. 'Madame, I regret I ignored your words of caution earlier. My weakness has always been that my cock ruled my head; still, I regret nothing of our interlude but that it was not longer. Follow the stairs from this room down three flights. The door at the bottom opens into the gardens, and you will easily find your way back to the ballroom from there.' Bending, he kissed her quickly, the regret clear in his eyes. 'Adieu, cherie!' He turned to go.

'Monseigneur!' she cried after him.

Henri of Navarre turned. 'Madame?'

'Monseigneur, you have not unbound my hands.' The King leaned over and quickly undid the silken knots.

'Your pardon, ma belle,' he said softly.

'God go with you, Navarre,' she answered him quietly.

Suddenly he grinned rakishly at her, saying as he ran from the room, 'I knew I had touched your heart, cherie!'' Then both he and Conde were gone.

Skye had to laugh. That damned vain boy was within a hair's breadth of losing his life, and all he cared about was that he had been successful in his lovemaking. Suddenly she heard the sounds of battle and terrible cries of agony outside. Skye rose from the tumbled bed and dressed hurriedly, her fingers fumbling with the laces and ties of her gown. She had to find Adam, and she knew that he would be frantically searching for her. It was not easy getting into court gear without Mignon to help her, but Skye managed to attain some semblance of order with her clothes and her hair. Without a backward glance at the room, she fled down the staircase to the gardens.

Once outside, she could hear the frantic screams of the poor unfortunates being murdered in the various districts of the city. Stopping a moment to get her bearings, Skye saw the lighted windows of the ballroom across the garden from her, and she moved swiftly to gain its safety. The cacophony within the ballroom was tremendous as the court chattered frantically to dispel their nervous tension. Notably quiet were the few Huguenot noble families who felt like early Christians in the arena as they huddled in small groups about the room trying to look inconspicuous. On the raised royal dais Catherine de Medici sat quietly with her son, his wife, and her daughter, Margot. Navarre, Conde, and Conde's wife. Catherine's sharp eye noted Skye's entry into the room, and for a minute the two women's eyes met and Skye knew in that instant that the Queen Mother had planned everything, including her own seduction by Navarre. Shaking her head, Skye looked away, missing the look of triumph that flickered briefly across de Medici's fat face.

'Skye! My God, sweetheart, I have been frantic! Where have you been?' Adam, catching her shoulders, whirled her about and looked down into her face.

Suddenly seeing him, Skye realized the danger she had been in, and unable to control herself, she burst into tears. 'Oh Adam! I was so frightened!'

“There, lamb,' he murmured at her. 'Come now, sweetheart, it's all right. Come with me. Maman was worried, too.' His loving arm about her he walked her across the room to where Gaby and the entire de Saville family awaited.

'Ma fille, what is wrong?' Gaby was instantly anxious. 'You were gone so long. I had begun to grow worried, especially considering the atrocities going on in the city now.'

'Not here, Gaby,' Skye pleaded. 'Later, I will explain later.'

'Now that we have Skye safe,' the comte said, 'we must get to the house, my sons. Are you ready?'

The men in the party nodded, and Adam, seating Skye next to his mother, explained, 'Antoine is worried that because the house we are renting is owned by a Huguenot the mob is apt to attack it. He wants to go back to the Marais district and get the children and the servants lest they be hurt. We should not be long.'

She nodded. 'I'll be all right, my darling. Go with them. I'll be here with your maman.'

The Comte de Cher, his sons, sons-in-law, and stepson moved quickly to the royal dais, where Antoine spoke urgently to Queen Catherine for a few moments. Finally the Queen nodded, and the party of men hurried from the ballroom. When they had gone Gaby turned to Skye.

She sighed. 'It was a trick to keep Navarre occupied and safe from the mob, Gaby. The Duc d'Anjou took me to his mother's private closet, stunned me with a blow, disrobed me, and left me trussed up like a Christmas goose. Navarre thought I was meeting him for a love tryst.'

'But when he found you had been duped, ma fille?”

'Alas, Gaby, chivalry did not prevail in Navarre's case. He raped me, and you mustn't tell Adam. Adam will lose his temper and kill him!'

'I would certainly hope so, ma fille,' Gaby replied indignantly.

A small giggle escaped Skye. The whole situation was total madness. 'No, Gaby. Adam cannot kill a prince of the blood, an heir to France's throne. He cannot even complain to the Queen, who is responsible for the whole situation. If Elizabeth Tudor refuses to recognize our marriage then we cannot go home to England, and France is our refuge. If we displease France, then where may we go, Gaby? Please promise me you will not tell Adam.'

Gaby nodded. Skye was as practical as she herself was, and Adam's mother approved. There was no necessity to tell Adam. Skye was correct in that he would be monumentally angry, and of course would want his honor avenged. The disadvantages far outweighed the advantages. 'You are right, ma fille,' Gaby said, 'but before we drop the matter there is one thing I must know. Is he as good a lover as they say?' Her lovely eyes sparkled with curiosity.

'He is young yet,' Skye replied drily, 'but his skill is growing, and the potential is there.'

Gaby laughed softly, completely understanding Skye's point. 'I imagine the King of Navarre would be most disappointed in your rather candid evaluation of him,' she said low.