All was in readiness for the ball and Mr Forrester, who was in his study with François, grinned at the poor young man’s discomfort as he shuffled from foot to foot. After pouring them both a generous measure of whisky from a sparkling crystal decanter, he pressed a glass into François’ hand and smiled.
‘Come along then,’ he teased. ‘Spit it out, man. Whatever it is you wish to ask me must be important, but our guests will be arriving shortly so I suggest you begin.’
François took a great gulp of his whisky, then, raising his eyes to his host’s he smiled nervously. ‘The thing is,
monsieur
, as I am sure you will have guessed … I have grown extremely fond of your granddaughter. I am, I assure you, in the fortunate position to be able to offer her the best of everything, and as you are her nearest male relative I wondered …’ He gulped again as he tugged at his stiff white collar. ‘I er … I have come to ask if you would give me permission to ask for her hand in marriage.’
Staring at Mr Forrester he held his breath as he waited for his reaction, and when the man smiled he visibly relaxed.
‘I cannot pretend that this has come as a surprise,’ his host stated kindly, hoping to put the young man out of his misery. ‘And I thank you for the respect you have shown in coming to me first. I have no objections at all to you proposing to Amy, and I suspect that your proposal will be accepted as I happen to know that she is very fond of you too.’
François beamed before shaking Mr Forrester’s hand until the man feared it would drop off. ‘Thank you,
monsieur
. I shall ask her this very night and should she accept, you could perhaps make an official announcement at the ball?’
‘It would be my pleasure,’ Mr Forrester assured him. ‘And a most fitting conclusion to your visit. To be honest, your father had already hinted to me of your intentions and I think, like myself, he would be delighted to see the two families united.’
François clicked his heels together and bowed respectfully. ‘Thank you again,
monsieur
. And now with your permission I shall go and await Amy’s arrival.’ And under Mr Forrester’s watchful eye he dashed from the room.
Soon after, the Forresters took up their positions at the front door with their guests of honour at their sides, and as the guests began to arrive they formally introduced them. The young women who arrived with their parents flushed and giggled as they were introduced to the handsome young Frenchman, but he simply smiled at them politely, oblivious to their charms as he waited impatiently for Amy to arrive. Samuel and Josephine had hoped that she would prepare for the ball at The Folly so that she could greet their guests with them, but as she had sent word that her gran was ill, and knowing how much she loved the old woman they were just grateful that she had still agreed to come.
At last she swept through the door like a breath of fresh air and hugged her grandparents fondly before taking her place at François’ side. He guarded her jealously, determined that she should not spend a second with anyone but himself, and when the orchestra finally started with a graceful waltz he took her into his arms and swept her around the dance floor.
The two families looked proudly on as Monsieur Laroque murmured to Samuel, ‘I am having the feeling that tonight shall be one to remember,’ and he had no way of knowing just how true his words would prove to be.
Josephine positively glowed with pride as she introduced their granddaughter to their guests, while Samuel looked on with a broad smile on his face. The house and gardens were teeming with people and everyone was in fine high spirits. Champagne flowed like water and maids especially hired for the grand occasion flitted here and there replenishing the tables with mouthwatering treats and making sure that everyone’s glasses were full.
Even Adam seemed to be making an effort tonight and was mingling with the guests instead of locking himself away in his room as he had tended to do since Eugenie had left. The moon winked as if in approval to hear laughter in the house that had seen so much sadness.
Amy had danced so much that she was breathless, so when the grandfather clock struck ten and François took her by the hand and led her out on to the terrace, she went willingly, glad of a chance of a little fresh air. It was a perfect night. The moon was sailing high in an inky black sky surrounded by millions of stars and Amy sighed happily as François’ warm arm rested about her slim shoulders. Leaning on the ornate stone balustrade that skirted the terruce she smiled dreamily as she watched two snow-white swans swimming by in perfect harmony on the River Anker that snaked through the grounds. A sly old fox, his bushy tail flying out behind him, suddenly broke from the woods and after doing a quick tour of the lawns for any unsuspecting rabbit that might be loitering there, he disappeared back the way he had come, intent on finding his supper.
Amy smiled as she glanced up at François, but then noting his serious expression she asked, ‘Is something wrong? Are you not enjoying yourself ?’
‘How could anything be wrong when I am with you,
ma petite
? If I appeared grave it was only because I was thinking how very lucky I am to be here with you.’
‘Oh, François …’
He raised a finger to her lips and stopped her from going any further. ‘No, do not say anything, Aimée, for I have something that I wish very much to ask you … But first I must show you this.’
Delving into his waistcoat pocket he withdrew a small box, and when he opened the lid she found herself staring down at a sparkling diamond ring. She gasped as the moonlight caught its many facets and reflected them a thousandfold, and François smiled at her reaction.
‘This,
ma petite
, is for you,’ he murmured. ‘I had it especially made in Paris. Do you like it?’
‘Like it? Why, François, who could
not
like it? It’s beautiful,’ she stuttered.
He lifted her chin until she was staring into his eyes.
‘Aimée, you must know how much I love you by now.’ To her consternation he then dropped to one knee. ‘Aimée Elizabeth Hannah Forrester, will you please do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
Amy’s mouth fell into a gape. It was strange. She had dreamed of this moment and yet now that it was actually happening, she felt only numbness. He stood back up and took her into his arms, his eyes gentle as she stared up into his face, perplexed. It was almost as if she was seeing him for the very first time. She was sure that she should be feeling something, anything, and yet all she could feel was this strange numbness, and for now words failed her.
‘Come, Aimée,’ he prompted urgently when the silence stretched on. ‘Do not keep me in suspense. Let me put the ring upon your finger and then we shall go back inside and tell our families the joyous news. I have already spoken to your grandfather and he, like my father, is happy at the thought of our two families merging. Why, think of it – we could spend our lives living between Paris and England, and you need never want for anything again for as long as you live.’
Amy bristled. ‘But I never
have
wanted for anything, François – my gran always saw to that,’ she told him with a touch of ice in her voice. ‘We may have been poor by your standards but what we lacked in material things she more than made up for with love.’
‘Of
course
she did,
ma petite
,’ he soothed. ‘But come … just think of it. My father is one of the wealthiest men in Paris. You could have everything that your heart has ever desired. Your gran is an old woman – she cannot live forever and I would employ a nurse to see to her every need for the rest of her days.’
‘You obviously don’t know my gran very well, François,’ Amy said stoutly. ‘She is a very proud woman. She would never agree to that.’
Seeing his stricken expression, her face softened as her eyes settled on the ring again. Surely there was no problem that was insurmountable? And he
was
very handsome and charming.
And then the words were out before she could stop them. ‘Very well, François, I would love to be your wife.’
He gasped with joy and before she knew it he had slipped the ring on to her finger and kissed her soundly on the mouth, and then he was dragging her back into the house. He then left her side for a moment to rush over to Mr Forrester and whisper something into his ear.
Her grandfather looked towards her and smiled as she twisted the ring on her finger. It felt strange, but then Amy supposed that was to be expected. She had never been one for wearing a lot of jewellery.
The next minute, François was at her side again and marching her into the room where people were dancing. Mr Forrester went over to the orchestra and muttered something in the violinist’s ear and then the music suddenly stopped while he clambered on to the platform.
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he boomed. ‘Do excuse me for interrupting the dancing, but I have something to share with you all. I am delighted to announce that Monsieur François Laroque has just proposed to my beautiful granddaughter and she has agreed to become his wife, so could I ask you all to raise your glasses and drink a toast to the newly engaged couple, please!’
Before Amy knew it she was surrounded by people all kissing and congratulating her, and she suddenly had the urge to escape. Everything was happening so quickly and she felt that she could hardly breathe, but then a hush fell on the room and all the guests turned, their eyes fixed on the doorway. Amy, too, slowly turned – to find Eugenie, who was obviously very drunk, glaring at her.
‘
So
… you managed it then,’ she sneered. ‘Not only did you wheedle your way into this family but you pretended to be their flesh and blood too. And
now
you have landed yourself a wealthy husband-to-be into the bargain.’ She began to advance menacingly on Amy, who could hardly believe what she was hearing. ‘Well, let me tell you
this
, you common little trollop: enjoy your happiness while you may, because as God is my witness I can promise you it won’t last for long. You just mark my words!’
She raised her hand but at that moment, Adam lunged forward and caught her around the waist, demanding, ‘What are you doing here, Eugenie? Why don’t you just go home and leave us in peace?’
‘But I
am
home,
husband
dear,’ she slurred as she trailed her finger down his pale cheek. ‘Surely you prefer my company to that of this little guttersnipe?’
Adam began to forcibly drag her from the room as everyone looked on in horror. The wonderful evening had been ruined and besmirched, and they all felt sorry for Adam. Eugenie began to kick and spit as he heaved her considerable bulk out into the hallway and towards the front door.
‘You’ll be sorry for this,’ she screamed as people began to whisper in little groups.
Josephine hurried over to Amy’s side and asked anxiously, ‘Are you all right, my dear?’
Amy nodded numbly, desperately wanting to run as far away as she could. François had come to stand protectively at her side, a look of complete and utter shock on his face.
‘What a dreadful woman!’ he shuddered. ‘And for this to happen at such a time.’
Amy could feel everyone’s eyes boring into her as she stood there, her cheeks aflame.
‘I … I think I should like to go now.’ Lifting her skirts she fled into the hallway, completely forgetting her manners as she shouldered her way through the guests assembled there. She did not even stop to get her cloak, and once outside she saw Adam trying to manhandle Eugenie, who was fighting like a wild cat, into her father’s carriage. She sped past them so quickly that Eugenie was not even aware that she was there, and then she ran across the lawns as if Old Nick himself was snapping at her heels. By the time she reached the shelter of the woods her chest was heaving and she stopped to lean against a tree as sobs wracked her body. The night had gone disastrously wrong and as the ring on her finger winked in the light from the moon that was filtering through the trees, she wondered if this was a bad omen for the life she was about to embark upon with François.
Inside The Folly, François was distraught and his hosts were trying to calm him as guests drifted silently away, aware that the party was over.
‘I must go after her,’ he told them as he paced to and fro.
‘No, leave her,’ Josephine urged. ‘She must be feeling humiliated and she needs some time alone to recover. Eugenie has always been jealous of Amy, but what she did tonight of all nights is totally unforgivable. You may rest assured that my husband and I will be contacting her father at the earliest opportunity about her appalling behaviour.’
The young Frenchman moved to the front door and looked across the grounds. Perhaps Mrs Forrester was right. But at least Amy had agreed to become his wife before that dreadful woman had put in an appearance. That was something at least.
Thankfully, Molly was fast asleep in bed when Amy finally stumbled through the cottage door. Her gown hung in tatters where the fallen branches and the bushes in the woods had torn at it. She pulled it over her head and flung it on to the floor as fresh tears started to her eyes. She supposed that she should not have run off as she had, but she had been so humiliated that she could not bear to stay at The Folly for a second longer. Surely François would understand? She shrugged. There was nothing she could do about it now; the deed was done.
Dropping heavily on to the settle she stared down at the ring on her finger. What was her gran going to say in the morning when she showed it to her and told her that she was now engaged to be married? And what would Toby say …
She shook her head to clear the vision of his face. She was François’ fiancée now.
As her thoughts moved back to Eugenie she had to suppress a shudder. The woman was quite mad, but what had she meant when she said,
Enjoy your happiness while you may, because as God is my witness I can promise you it won’t last long
.