'So be it then,' she nodded, and beneath the light black veil she was wearing the candle light caught the gold of the short crisp curls with which her head was covered. Rising from the table she went on, 'I'll speak to my maid as we agreed, see to it that there is a good fire burning and no more than three candles alight. Then I'll expect you a little before midnight and take this magic potion which you promise will work such wonders. Meantime I thank you, Monsieur le Colonel, for this excellent supper and your kindness to me. Talking with you while we ate has made me feel almost human again.'
Well satisfied, Roger kissed the hand, still showing scars from the sores that had marred it in San Domingo, that she held out to him and bowed her out through the door that led to her bedroom.
Returning to his own room he spent the best part of two hours there. At first he tried to concentrate on a book, but after he had read several pages twice over, found that he had absorbed hardly any of their contents. His brain refused to function except in forming mental images of the beautiful Pauline in scores of different circumstances and positions.
At last the time of waiting was over. By then the inn had fallen completely silent. Quietly lie made his way along to Pauline's sitting room. His heart was beating furiously and he knew that he was taking a wild gamble with his future. Another few moments would decide. Either he would be holding her divine form in his arms and she would be returning his kisses, or she would rouse the house, bring people running and declare he had assaulted her. Then he would have to run for it himself and somehow escape to England; for it was certain that when Napoleon was told of this attempt to ravish his favourite sister, he would have every police agent in France hunting for le Colonel Breuc to throw him into prison.
Crossing the sitting room he knocked gently at the bedroom door. For a moment there was silence, then, in a low voice, Pauline called, "Entrez, Monsieur.'
In the bedroom a bright fire was burning, its flames flickering on the ceiling. Three lighted candles were set on the dressing table. Pauline was sitting up in bed leaning against her pillows, no longer enveloped in her black robes and the veil that had half hidden her features. Her face was thinner than when he had last seen it fully and the light of the candles caught the gold in the short, crisp, boyish curls that now covered her head. At the sight of her loveliness he drew in a sharp breath.
As he advanced to her bedside her eyes held his. They were wide with anticipation and excitement at the thought of the magic potion he had promised to bring her.
He was wearing a chamber robe and had nothing on beneath it. Suddenly he threw it off and stood naked and erect within two feet of her. She gave a gasp, but before she could speak he smiled and said:
‘I have not lied to you. I have within me the magic potion that you need.'
16
The Stolen Honeymoon
It was not long after midnight when Pauline gave a happy sigh and exclaimed, 'Oh God, how good it is to be possessed again by a man!'
Pulling her towards him, Roger buried his face in her neck for a moment then gave a laugh, ' 'Twas that you needed, most beautiful of all the beauties. And when you wake tomorrow you'll find all your joy in life restored.'
Clutching him closer she said quickly, 'I'll not sleep yet. Remember you promised me a second draught of your magic potion; though I little thought then how you meant me to receive it.'
'You shall have it, sweet, and a third; and yet another as dawn breaks over Bordeaux. I wonder, though, that you did not suspect my intent; for though I spoke a riddle I had in fairness to give you the chance to read it aright.'
She laughed. 'You fooled me utterly. 'Twas your talk of magic, three candles only, a bright fire, a deep sleep and to awake relaxed. Then when I saw you standing beside my bed! Such a fine figure of a man, so handsome and so—so virile, how could I resist?'
It was that upon which Roger had counted, and it had been his only card. Had she rejected him he would not have attempted even to kiss her, let alone force himself upon her. Knowing by repute her passionate nature and that for two months at least she had not been made love to he had gambled on the sight of him naked being alone sufficient instantly to stir her hot southern blood. And her reaction had been that for which he had hoped.
She had suddenly stretched out a hand to grasp him. Next moment his mouth had been glued to hers. There had been no amorous dalliance, not a word spoken between them. Both she and he had been seized with a brainstorm that resulted in a wild scramble. He remembered tearing aside the bedclothes and her great eyes moist and gleaming in the light from the candles as she threw herself back then pulled him down upon her. Next moment they had been locked in a fierce embrace ending several minutes later in sweet oblivion as they together died the 'little death'.
Turning slightly in his arms, she whispered, 'You are prodigious brave, mon Colonel. Do you realize the risk you ran? Had I not felt on the instant a desperate urge for you, I might have screamed for help. Then, even had I later had the wish to pardon you, your outrageous conduct would have conic to the ears of Napoleon; and he has had people shot for less.'
‘I know it; but having counted the cost of failure my yearning for you overcame my fears. The very sight of you has sent me half crazy with desire ever since I first set eyes on you at Montebello.'
'Can that be true? I was then but a chit and getting over my schoolgirl infatuation for Fréron.'
'You were the loveliest baggage for your age in all Italy; or Europe for that matter.’
She leaned over and gave him a long kiss, then said, 'How truly delightful it is to hear you say that you have been in love with me for years. It makes me far less shamed to think that I gave myself to you without even the demurs demanded of my sex by convention. And I'll confess now that more than once when you have paid your respects to me in Paris I've caught myself thinking that I'd enjoy going to bed with you.'
'Then this night was decreed by Heaven. Though I'm mightily flattered that you should have had such thoughts of me.'
'I'm not alone in that. When women are together the subject is always men and I've heard several confess that they would welcome your attentions. But in Paris you are looked on as a prude.'
'Indeed!' Roger laughed. 'I'm far from that. But I find little pleasure in casual romps with ladies only passably good-looking, and there are few who are perfect enough to rouse in me ardent desire.'
'Another compliment. If words were all, you would make a gallant any woman would dote on. But if we are to enter on an affaire I need to judge you by your deeds, and our first joust was too fierce and swiftly over for me to assess your mettle by it.'
Pushing her from him, Roger slipped out of bed. Startled, she sat up and cried anxiously, 'Don't leave me. What is it? Have I offended you?'
'Not in the least,' he assured her gaily. ‘I was but teasing you; and unless other ladies have misled me you'll find naught to complain of in my staying powers. Before we make a test of that though, I crave a boon of you.'
'What is it?' she asked, smiling at him.
'That you, love, get out of bed, let me remove that white night robe you are wearing and feast my eyes upon your loveliness.'
Without a moment's hesitation Pauline pulled her shift off over her head and jumped down on to the floor. She was extremely proud of her magnificent figure; so much so that she scandalized her family by acting as a model in the near-nude for the sculptor Canova's masterpiece 'Venus Victrix'.
To Roger's delight she displayed her charms to him with the utmost freedom, standing in front of him with her hands clasped behind her neck so that her breasts stood out in perfect symmetry, then walking up and down the room, dancing a few steps and assuming provocative attitudes. She drew him like a magnet and, his joy in watching her overcome, he took her in his arms, picked her up and carried her back to the bed.