Chapter 27 The Truth Of The Matter

In the ensuing weeks following Major Bordon's arrest, the revelation that Miss Prescott was the officer's mistress became a 'well known' secret. It was not talked of openly, but whispered and gossiped about in corners and small groups. The Lord General himself had told the dragoon adjutant that he didn't approve of the situation and reminded him that is was against his decorum and in times of less strife, he would have put an end to it. He gave the major a stern warning: to be prudent and keep the affair discreet. He didn't need the general populace of the area, especially the Continental army, getting wind of it.

So, Melanie Prescott and Alexander Bordon kept their relationship discreet, although they knew that everyone knew about them, they honored the Lord General's request. They affirmed their love for each other on many nights, sneaking in and out of one another's chambers. The couple playfully stole kisses and squeezes in the shadows and when others weren't looking. Sometimes they'd go on long walks together and hold hands when they could.

*********************

Alex and Melanie enjoyed a few stolen moments together this morning. The major would be leading a patrol out this afternoon and would not be back until sometime the next day.

Major Bordon's chambers were filled with the soft sounds of two lovers lost within each other. The couple lay scantily clad in clothing upon his bed, enjoying the physical sensations of pleasuring each other.

Alexander on his back on the bed with Melanie atop him facing the opposite direction. Their mouths moved adeptly on one another's most intimate parts, satisfying each other mutually.

Melanie moved her mouth slowly and sensually up and down the major's hardness. He groaned as she took his length into her throat. The languid movements of her lips and tongue brought the man very near to completion. He squeezed her arms, a signal for her to stop her ministrations momentarily.

As she did, she felt Bordon's lips and tongue moving a bit faster and more aggressively on her womanhood. Then his tongue moved a little quicker as he put a touch more pressure on her hardened pearl.

The girl soon found a delicious heat building up in her pelvis as her breathing became labored. She pushed herself up on straight arms, her elbows locked. In another moment, she arched her back and let her head fall backwards as she came, softly moaning Alex's name.

After her climax, she went instantly to work again on her lover, taking his erection back into her mouth. Her movements on his manhood in her wet mouth drove him insane as he was already aroused by her orgasm. She took his length deeply down her throat, causing Alexander to peak instantly, groaning as he did.

The two, now sated, moved back equal with one another to rest upon the officer's bed. They held each other for a moment as they relaxed and rested, still feeling the tingling of their bliss.

Melanie moved her lover's arms from around her body and sat up on the edge of the bed. The girl reached for her dress which had puddled itself at the foot of the bed. Alex soon joined her, starting to look for the rest of his uniform as he pulled his breeches on.

The girl leaned over and gave the major a soft peck of a kiss. "Alex, find me when just before you leave this afternoon so that I may tell you farewell properly," she said with a gentle smile.

"I will," he promised with a kiss to her cheek, then a light one to her lips.

With that the couple parted ways, both having tasks to attend to before the lunch and afternoon hours.

*********************

An hour later, Melanie was down at the hospital tents dropping off shirts and bits of uniforms that she and Bridgett had mended. The tent was quiet this morning, having not had a battle or skirmish lately to bring in the casualties. Still, she stopped and checked with the surgeons to see if they could use any help. They thanked her, but let her go on as they did not need extra help this morning.

Miss Prescott made her way out of the tent, somewhat relieved that her help wasn't needed and happy to get back to a book that she'd started to read a few days back. She strolled happily through the canvas village making her way toward the green.

She picked up the pace of her walking as she passed the prostitutes tents, never feeling comfortable around them. The girl secretly looked down on them, thinking them in a low occupation, though she didn't show this outwardly as her late father would have frowned on her showing open disdain toward anyone's course of living.

Some of the strumpets stood in a group near one of the tents, making conversation with each other as they saw Melanie trying to rush past them. One of them called out a jeer.

"Well, there's Miss High and Mighty living in style up with the officers!"

Another harlot joined in. "That's not all she's doing with the officers, I hear!"

"Aye, one in particular. Took your best customer, she did."

"Yes. Shame! He paid me well!," Diana, one of Bordon's favorite former whores called. "I wonder if he does the same to her that he did to me?"

The group of women laughed. Melanie acted as though the talk didn't affect her, though she loathed hearing it.

"I wonder if he makes her do the same to him as he made you do to him?"

"Bordon's mistress!"

"Bordon's whore!"

"You know, the only difference between her and us is that we live in tents, and she lives up at the house. Other than that, she's the same thing that we are."

"I wonder if his wife knows he has a regular mistress now?"

Wife, Melanie thought as she heard their comments. Wife? The word rang in her head.

Miss Prescott stopped in her tracks. She tried to brush the comment off and continue walking, but she couldn't seem to move.

"Ooh, looks like you hit a nerve," one of the trollops called.

"He is not married," Melanie corrected. She stopped, realizing she had just spoken up and wished she could take the words back. The girl didn't even want to speak to any of these women.

"Oh yes he is," Diana challenged. "He has a wife and young son up in Jamestown."

"No he doesn't," argued Miss Prescott, letting her irritation show. "You're lying!"

"I beg to differ," the harlot said haughtily, knowing she had the upper hand now. "Ask him."

Melanie was confused and taken aback. She couldn't understand why these women were trying to hurt her. She somehow found the strength to get her feet moving again.

As she stumbled away from them, she heard another prostitute call out a jeer that was particularly disturbing. "Deary. Are you the only one around here who doesn't know that he's married?"

Miss Prescott turned back around, looking forlornly up at the manor house. Inside she was a swirl of emotions. The girl was mad, but yet not sure who or what to be upset with or at. She was trying to stay strong, but yet felt her heart breaking at something that may have just been untrue, malicious gossip. Mainly Melanie was confused. The young woman had truly not heard that her lover was married nor had he ever mentioned it. She knew she should pay no heed to these women and their horrid comments.

Dread also hung heavy over Miss Prescott. She needed badly for Bordon to confirm that he was a bachelor, yet she feared he might tell her otherwise. Somehow she found the courage to move toward the house. The girl stumbled a couple of steps, then began to run away not hearing more cruel words spouted by the group of prostitutes.

"That's it! Run to your married man!"

"Enjoy your life with him!" The group of whores hooted with laughter.

"Believe all the promises he makes you!"

*************************

In just a moment, Melanie entered the manor house, her emotions raging inside her like a tornado. She ran up the steps to Bordon's room and threw open the door, without knocking, to find an empty room. Inexplicably she felt her temper rise, needing to know some kind of explanation to what she had just heard.

Miss Prescott stomped down the hallway to Colonel Tavington's room. She stopped herself, took a deep breath, then knocked. When she got no answer, she opened the door to another empty bedchamber. Then she thought she'd heard conversation coming from the dining room when she'd entered the house a moment ago. The girl raced back down the stairway to see who was in that room.

Once there, she found Colonels Tavington and Tarleton at the table with Captain Wentworth. The three officers were enjoying tea and laughing at one of Banastre's amusing comments. They looked up and noticed Miss Prescott standing there, flushed and breathing heavily. A look of concern crossed their faces.

"Is something wrong, Miss Prescott," William asked.

"Is Major Bordon married," she asked, blurting out the words.

All three of the officers were taken aback. Tavington took a breath, trying to compose the right answer.

"Uh…I don't involve myself in the affairs of my officers," he replied, his words measured.

His evasion made Melanie's ire rise a step. "Just answer me," she demanded. "Is Alexander married?"

"You should really talk to him," he advised in a monotone, "I'm not going to answer that."

"You just did!" Her face contorted, visibly displaying hurt and deep disappointment. The girl fled the room again, not knowing where to go, just letting her feet carry her.

The three officers were astonished as she rushed out of the room, all speechless. They could only surmise that something must have happened between her and Bordon.

Melanie's legs rushed her back up the stairs again. She soon found herself standing in the hallway outside Alexander's room. The door was open and she could see him in there. Though enraged, she hesitated there in the doorway, not wanting to go in.

Miss Prescott thought instantly about running away, not wanting to confront Alex. She thought that maybe if she forgot she heard the rumor, denied it, that it wouldn't exist; wouldn't be true. The girl thought things would be right again if the truth could be hidden—or forgotten.

Before she could run, Major Bordon looked up and noticed her there. The girl heard his voice.

"Melanie, come in," he said with a smile.

She walked numbly into his room. The girl mechanically shut the door behind her. She stood there stiffly, saying nothing.

Alex could immediately see that something was wrong. "What's the matter," he asked with alarm.

She shook her head in disbelief, letting the words flow out. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What?", he asked clearly confused, but concerned. "Tell you what?" He moved close to her, intending to take her in his arms.

Melanie didn't let him. Instead she snapped out of her stupor and slapped his face. "You bastard!" The girl slapped at him again, trying to hit him. Alex caught her wrists before she could get any more hits in.

The officer moved her back against the wall, holding her there. "Calm down. Calm down," he soothed. "Tell me what is wrong."

The girl dissolved into tears. Alex let go of her hands and pulled her against him. She lingered for an instant, then pulled away from him.

"Melanie," he coaxed, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him. She batted his arms away and moved across the room. The young woman crossed her arms in front of her, looking down at the floor.

"You're married," she exclaimed shakily. "Why didn't you tell me you're married?"

Bordon was stunned. She had never mentioned this before. He stammered as he tried to answer her accusations. Before he could get any words out, she cut him right off.

"Your wife and son," she cried. "Why didn't you tell me?!

"I thought you knew," he proclaimed. "It's no secret. Everyone here knows."

"Except me," she said, sobbing. "I look like such a fool!"

"How could you have not known," Alex asked.

"You wear no wedding ring," she replied. "You never speak of her."

She turned away from him. "What's her name?"

"Paulette," he answered quietly.

"You have only mentioned her name one time before to me," she stated. "That night in the cabin when you told me of your women. You never finished speaking of her."

"You told me I didn't have to go on talking of her," Bordon countered.

"Melanie, how could you have not known of this," he asked, incredulous. "Did you not listen to fort gossip, or did you blind yourself to it?"

"It's never been discussed with me by anyone here," she shot back, wiping tears from her cheeks.

"Your Irish friend didn't mention it?"

"No," she said flatly.

"I'm sorry, darling," the officer apologized. "I really thought you knew. I guess I took it for granted that you knew I was married. I thought you knew and were fine with being my mistress."

"Mistress!", Melanie shouted. "Do you know they call me 'Bordon's whore'?!"

"No, I didn't," he said attempting to reach for her hand.

Miss Prescott dodged him, taking another step farther from him. "So, tell me of this wife and marriage of yours that I know nothing about."

Alexander felt badly that she hadn't known of this. He desperately wanted to comfort her and allay her fears of how he felt about her.

"It was a marriage of obligation," he began. "I didn't want to rush into another relationship after three failed attempts. I began to court her—slowly. However, I yielded to pleasure one night and she got her bellyful. After one close call prior to that with another town girl, Father didn't let me out of this one and I was obliged to marry her."

"So the child is yours," asked Melanie.

"Yes. The timing of it was right."

Miss Prescott's tears returned. She buried her face in her hands for a moment as she cried.

Major Bordon tried once again to comfort her, reaching for her hand. She wouldn't let him, pulling away.

"Oh Alex," she cried. " I had dreams and plans!"

"Of what?"

"For us," she answered through her tears. She turned away, unable to face him. "I had hoped we might court outright. I thought we might marry one day. I wanted to have a family with you. I thought we could make a life together on my plantation, if his Majesty sees fit to return it."

"Darling, I would like that as well," Alex said, trying to soothe and reinsure the young woman. "I wish I could. But divorce is out of the question. I'd lose my commission and my family would disinherit me. It would be a disgrace."

"I see," Melanie said, turning back to Alexander and scowling at him. "You won't humiliate yourself or your family, but you readily shame me by making me your mistress!"

Major Bordon glared icily at her. "I didn't make you. You willingly became my concubine!"

"I would never have gone with a married man!"

"You could have asked me!"

"Why should I have to?", she objected. "You should have pushed me away and never let things get this far!"

"I am in love with you," protested Alexander. "You just said it. You would never have given me the chance had you known I was married."

"You're right. I wouldn't have."

Bordon could feel things spinning out of control. He sensed something bad happening and knew he had to save the situation.

"Melanie, please let me explain," he urged.

"Explain," she cried, reeling around. "What's there to explain?!

"The situation," answered Alexander. "I don't love her. She ruined that when she rushed me into things."

"Rushed you into things?! You didn't have to go to bed with her!"

"No, I didn't," he answered quietly and humbly. "You have to believe me that I am not in love with her. Why do you think she resides in Virginia and I here at the fort? She and my son have my last name, that's all."

"I'm supposed to believe that?!"

"If I loved her," he pointed out, "don't you think I'd have her here with me as the other married men do?"

Melanie was silent for a moment, reflecting on what he had just said. She felt he was right, but was upset still at the whole situation. His marital status had dashed all the hopes she had for them. She would now have to face the humiliation of word spreading from the camp followers to the rest of the fort's inhabitants that she was ignorant of Bordon's marriage. Despite all that and that she loved him, she wondered if she could really live with being a married man's mistress.

Upset, enraged, and broken hearted, she felt even more violated than when the officer had raped her and stolen her virtue. Miss Prescott made a quick decision. The girl began to cry again, disappointed at feeling she was forced into a choice.

"This is not going to go any further," she sobbed, "It is over between us."

Alexander closed his eyes. He voiced what he feared she would. But still he fought for her.

"Look, Melanie," he pleaded, "I know you're upset. I was wrong. I shouldn't have assumed that you knew."

"Stop!," the girl cried, not wanting to hear excuses.

"Please," he implored, "I don't love her. I love you!" He tried to touch her and was again rebuffed.

"It's over," she exclaimed. "I don't want to see you again!" With that, she bolted from his room.

Major Bordon followed quickly behind her, succeeding in finally grabbing her after she reached the landing of the third floor.

"Darling, wait, please!"

"No," she replied, trying to wiggle free from his strong grasp.

"Please, Melanie," he begged, "I'm sorry I can't give you all that you want. I regret that we can't marry. It pains me that I can't have a family with you. I love you deeply. It's as much as I can give. Isn't that enough?"

She broke free from his grasp, knocking his arms away. "No! It's not!" With that, Melanie charged away from him the few steps to her chambers.

"Melanie, please don't do this," he beseeched.

"It's over!" She gripped the door handle ready to get into her room and away from Alex.

"Melanie—"

She cut him right off. The girl looked him bravely in the eye and said coldly, "Go home to your wife, major!"

She quickly disappeared through the door, slamming it. The girl locked it, then leaned her head against it, crying again.

Colonels Tarleton and Tavington, as well as Captain Wentworth, soon appeared in the hallway on the third floor. They heard the shouting between the couple all the way down in the dining room and went running, thinking Miss Prescott may be in trouble. They arrived just in time to see her disappear through the door and slam it on their fellow commander.

Alexander pounded his fists on the door. "Wait a minute, please, Melanie! I'm sorry! Darling, I love you!"

"Go away," she screamed through the door in a shaky voice.

"Don't end this," he begged.

"Go back to your wife," she yelled.

The three officers heard the last few sentences, and putting it together with the question she had confronted William with minutes earlier, surmised what the couple was arguing about. Now they could tell that the affair had been ended.

Banastre spoke up, feeling compassion for his fellow officer. "Bordon, come away from the door. You're not going to be able to do anything with her now."

Alex looked up at him, shooting him a confused look. He saw Colonel Tarleton inching towards him. Bordon discontinued pounding on Miss Prescott's bedroom door.

"Try again in a few days," advised Ban. "She may change her mind. Women have a tendency to do that."

************************

Melanie Prescott stayed in her room for hours after her fight—or rather parting of ways—with Alexander Bordon. She sat aimlessly in a chair. Then she paced the room mindlessly. The girl curled up in a fetal position on her bed more than a few times. Nothing alleviated the pain she felt at her perceived betrayal by Alex. The young woman found herself in tears more times than she could count that day, unable to control them.

The girl sat listlessly on her window seat, knees tucked up to her chest with her arms wrapped about them. She laid her hear on her knees as if she had surrendered to sorrow. She barely heard the soft knock at her door.

"Come in", she said barely audibly, thinking it was Bridgett trying to bring her some food.

The girl was surprised to see Colonel Tavington stroll through the door of her chambers, looking concerned. Melanie was too lethargic to physically register the surprise, not even lifting her head.

"You haven't been down to eat," he commented, imparting what she perceived as only a small amount of concern.

"I'm not hungry," she said, "and I'm embarrassed. How can I face people now?"

"Embarrassed? Why?"

"Apparently I'm the only person here who didn't know Alex was married," replied Melanie. "I look incredibly stupid."

"And why didn't you ask him about this when you first became involved instead of letting things get this far," queried William.

"It all just happened so fast."

"Miss Prescott, begging your pardon but how could you not know? Did you deny it?"

"No," answered Melanie. "I really didn't know."

There was silence now between them. The officer seated himself a few inches from the girl on the window seat.

"I witnessed part of your row," he stated. "I've sent him on a mission that will keep him away for a few days. I thought it would do you both good."

Melanie looked up, astonished at what the colonel just said. She recalled what the officer had told her weeks before, when Bordon had been arrested. "You told me that you don't concern yourself in the personal affairs of your officers," she reminded.

"I try not to. But when it affects their performance or living and working situations here—"

The girl did not let him finish. "Well, thanks for sending him away, but you didn't have to do that and needn't concern yourself with it any longer," Melanie began. "I've ended it with him. I am not going to be a married man's mistress."

There was yet another awkward silence. The girl wished the officer would just leave her alone in her sadness.

"What must I do to get him back ," Melanie said blandly, as if talking to herself and forgetting Tavington's presence. "I just want to hurt him more than he hurt me."

William guessed rightly that the girl was just absently speaking her thoughts aloud. But he answered her question anyway.

"Miss Prescott, there is nothing you can do now or ever to erase what he has done," Tavington pointed out. "It's a futile effort."

Melanie stood up, her legs hurting from being bent up close to her body. She turned away from the officer and thought about revenge. She wasn't thinking straight in her sorrow and confusion, for the first thing she thought about was going to bed with the fort's officers. She thought that would hurt Alex for sure. And, she would start with his commander.

Still facing away from Tavington, she acted on her impulse. The girl quickly unbuttoned her bodice then turned to face the colonel. She slipped the dress off her shoulders and downwards, baring her breasts.

William was amazed as he looked up at her. He was used to women willingly giving themselves to him, but never thought Miss Prescott would do it—he knew how deeply she felt for his second in command.

"Do you still want me," Melanie asked him in a lustful voice.

"Of course I do," he replied softly, instantly aroused and just as lust filled.

He began to stand to meet her, but she gently pushed him back down to sitting by his shoulders. The girl then hiked her skirt up slightly and straddled Will's lap.

Their mouths crashed immediately into each other in a deep, aggressive kiss. After a moment, their lips left each others, kissing passionately on one another's necks, inciting even more arousal.

William's hands found her ample breasts, cupping and kneading them, then rolling the hardened nipples between his fingers. All the time his mind was still in disbelief that Miss Prescott was doing this, but glad that she was. He was not going to miss this opportunity. The young woman's aggressiveness aroused him nearly beyond control.

After another moment, she looked into his ice blue eyes. "Take me now," she requested.

"Yes," he whispered as his lips moved back to her mouth, initiating another furious kiss.

With Melanie still upon his lap, Tavington pushed his breeches down slightly enough to free his hardness as the girl lifted herself enough, adjusting as he did this. William cared little now if they made it to her bed and were fully naked. All the man wanted to do this instant was to get himself inside of her in the worst way.

The young woman sank slowly down upon his awaiting erection, both of them sighing aloud as she did. Melanie began moving up and down on him, groaning as his hardness filled her so completely. She let her head drop backwards as she felt the man so deeply within her, as if the tip of him touched her delicate cervix.

The colonel tried meeting her thrusts from beneath with movements of his own, but ceased this, sensing that she wanted total control and was pleasing herself with her own actions. Instead he turned his attention to her luscious breasts, sucking hard and aggressively at her erect and darkened nipples.

Melanie gripped his shoulders tightly holding on for dear life as she moved up and down on his hardness. His mouth stimulating her nipples made her move even faster.

In just another moment, the two climaxed together. Tavington groaned in satisfaction as they did, but Melanie dissolved into tears as she came. Her orgasm was pleasurable, but her heart broke at the instance of sharing this most intimate moment with another man besides Alexander.

The poor girl hid her face in William's strong shoulder as she sobbed. A confused Tavington, now feeling guilty for indulging the girl, reached down and pulled his breeches back up. Melanie lifted herself off of his lap.

Still crying, she apologized. "I'm sorry, colonel. You must think me a horrible trollop. I just wanted to get Alex back anyway I could. I thought pleasure from another man would avenge this and make me feel better. But I only feel remorse."

Colonel Tavington said nothing for the moment, glad to have had this chance encounter with the beautiful captive, but confused how else to feel.

Melanie voiced her thoughts aloud again, in a lost voice. "Must I bed every officer here?"

"No," Tavington affirmed. "I don't think that will make you feel better."

"Oh, what do I do?" she asked, dabbing at her tears.

"Remember who you are and where you come from," Tavington began. "You're a lady from a respected, esteemed family. Don't besmirch that name by making yourself into a common strumpet. It's bad enough that as a revered lady, you've become the mistress of a married man. Don't make it worse by seducing all the officers here. Doing that isn't going to annul Bordon's marriage."

With that he bowed his head and left. Melanie didn't ask him not to talk of what had just happened between them, but she had the strange feeling he wouldn't mention it to anyone. She was sorry that she had so easily seduced a more than willing Tavington.

Miss Prescott climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her head. She cried herself to sleep.

**********************

In the few days that Bordon was gone from the fort, Melanie had more than enough time to herself. It weighed heavily on her, making her dwell incessantly in her mind on what had happened and her own sadness. Strangely though, she felt lonely. The girl longed to see Alex, although she hurt. Even though he was married, she loved him still and wanted to be with him.

But she still couldn't get past the fact of being a married man's mistress. She asked herself what had changed, aside from finding out that he was married, something that she could have easily asked him or anyone else about. She began to think that maybe she did deny it—that maybe she didn't ask because deep down, she really didn't want to know or discover that he was married.

Melanie remembered how heartbroken he was as he pleaded with her to stay. She recalled his blue eyes, brimmed with tears of his own. The girl remembered his face and the sadness in it when she told him to go home to his wife.

The girl had ended their affair a few days earlier. Now she was missing Alex badly. Despite knowing it was wrong to be with a married man, she began to rethink her decision, wondering if it was hastily made in anger.

Melanie had seen Bordon's dragoons return just before sunset. It brought tears to see him ride in on his horse, knowing that she was no longer his. Shortly after his return, a servant brought a note to her that Alex had penned. It was a heartfelt letter of his deep love for her and remorse that he hadn't just admitted to her when they began their affair that he was married. He told her in the note that he wanted them to be together, but understood if she couldn't be.

Miss Prescott clasped the letter to her heart as she cried. What was she to do?

****************************

Melanie did not leave her room all evening, purposely to avoid Alex. Now her heart screamed out within her and she needed to see the man. Unable to sleep, she left her room, padding softly down the hall and stairway to the second floor. She soon found herself standing outside of Major Bordon's bedroom door.

The girl didn't knock. She opened the door and tiptoed softly into his room.

Alexander was awake, unable to sleep, wishing he could have seen Melanie this evening. And he was now astonished and speechless to see her standing quietly before him, in her nightgown, after ending things earlier in the week. He didn't know what to say, and was glad to stay silent, lest this was a dream and he break the spell.

Melanie could see that Alex was awake and looking wondrously at her by the light of his fireplace. She didn't know what to say.

After a moment of silence, she said the first thing that came to mind. "The fire went out in my room," she began subdued and very shakily. "I'm cold."

Alex said nothing, instead lifting the bedspread of his bed and scooting himself to one side, an open invitation for her to join him. Melanie said nothing as she took his invitation. She stepped near silently to his bedside and slid in tentatively.

The couple said nothing else to each other, both laying there, afraid to touch the other. After another moment, Melanie turned away from him onto her side, not knowing what to say. Bordon stayed away from her yet another moment, not sure if she wanted his touch or not.

The major took a deep breath, turned onto his side, spooning the girl. Then he slowly slipped his arms about her. When she didn't reject him, he pulled her tightly against him. This brought tears to Melanie's eyes, relieved to be back in her lover's arms. She tried to keep her crying a secret from him.

After yet another moment, she turned in his embrace to face him. Now the couple lay in his bed on their sides, facing each other. The girl brought her hands up and placed them on both sides of his face. She held his head and looked into his eyes. As Alex gazed back at her, he could see the firelight dancing within her eyes.

"I love you," she whispered. "And I'd rather be with you as your mistress or whore, than without you."

"I'll never keep anything from you again," he murmured. "I'll do all within my power to make you happy. I love you, Melanie."

The couple kissed deeply and softly then fell asleep in each other's arms. They could reaffirm their love physically some other time; for now, they were just happy to be back in one another's arms.

The truth of the matter was that Melanie had decided that she would rather be with him and be the mistress of a married man, than be without him and be pious—and unhappy.