IV. – Across the Universe
In the year of grace 1793, her old fear followed her out of France and across the channel to England, where a now sixteen-year-old Yvonne found herself thrust into high society, surrounded by wealthy, young, attractive men.
Men very different from the peasant Adet. Men who had everything, who laughed gaily and flirted with pretty girls, but who were chivalrous to a fault and personified the very idea of knights on white horses. English aristocrats were nothing like French ones.
But despite their handsome looks and lovely manners, they merely had to smile in Yvonne's direction and she would instantly become subdued and silent, often retreating to an unoccupied corner to dwell on her terrible secret and avoid society.
Sometimes she would vainly try to imagine kissing one of these men, hoping it might be different than her first experience, desperate as she was to escape the memories. But then, Pierre Adet's evil face always floated to the surface of her mind.
Taunting her.
Chiding her.
Wickedly informing her that any kiss would be the same as his, no matter whom the man: rough and wet and hot and commanding.
Her attempts at bravery were squashed unromantically beneath the heel of the peasant's rough gait through her daydreams, and she hated that as much as anything else – she was from a noble lineage, and cowardice was unacceptable! She, the daughter of the Duc de Kernogan!
But even forcing herself to speak to these pleasant, kind Englishmen was a difficult task… and it her life became even worse when her father believed he had found the perfect suitor for her hand.
Monsieur Martin-Roget.