The Rose of Provence (5 page)

Since childhood, Michel has been able to unravel the drape of
the veil covering the future, and his visions proved to be true
more and more frequently. First, he thought that others also have
this ability, but later, he found out that it was not the case at
all, he was astonished. However, slowly he accepted that if God
created him to be like this, then there is certainly a reason for
it, and his future-related visions became increasingly reliable. He
did not tell anybody about them, because people have already been
burnt for witchcraft or less.

In connection with Amrita, however, he knew nothing for sure.
The images of the desired future caressed his soul in vain, because
the doubt also sank its sharp claws into him and always whispered
into his ear that the girl would reject him.

Michel was aware of his virtues: even if he was not the
finest young man around, his appearance was pleasant, his style was
distinguished and women appreciated this. His merits acquired
during the plague, and his outstanding studies, suggested a bright
medical career, which was also attractive in the eyes of the nubile
girls. But he also knew that Amrita is not one of those maidens,
she is unique. Will good manners and a promising medical career be
good enough to conquer her heart?

When he caught sight of her stepping out of the gate of the
house, the intense heartbeat almost restrained him from addressing
her. Finally, gathering up all his strength, he stepped up to
her:

“
My homage to the beautiful lady! My name is Michel de
Nostradame. I’m an assistant doctor in Montpellier, and I’m only a
few exams away from a medical degree. Don’t take it unkindly, but
I’d like to get to know you, if you don’t mind.” He bowed in front
of her.

“
Pleased to meet you, Monsieur de Nostradame. My name is
Amrita du Bois, but obviously, you already know this. I have seen
you before, haven’t I?”

“
Yes, a week ago, in front of the Ancient Olive Tree,” Michel
looked at her in astonishment, because he would not have imagined
that she saw him at all then.

“
Of course, I don’t have any opposition to getting to know
such an excellent young man like you, but you must know that only
friendship can be between us. It’s not you that I have an objection
to; I would say the same to anybody else too” said Amrita and stood
the man’s glance.

“
I wouldn’t do anything against your wishes,” smiled Michel,
and although the answer scalded him, the hope lived deep in his
heart that she will change her mind.”

He accompanied her to the market and back, and in the
meantime, they were talking. By the time they got home, Michel felt
giddy that she is not only beautiful, but she also has sharp mind
and pure heart.

During the summer, the young man’s visits to Arles became
regular: at least twice a week, he paid homage near the La Fontaine
house, but he noticed more and more despondently, that she would
not let him close to her at all.

During the past month, Amrita took a liking to the young
doctor very much. His sparkling wit, direct, but polite manners,
made him a really pleasant conversational partner, but it was not
dubious for a second that Michel wanted to be much more than this
to her. However, she regarded him only as a friend as she made this
clear the very first time they met. Of course, she also knew that
words mean nothing when stubborn hope overcomes common sense.
Amrita’s heart sank every time they met, because she saw and felt
that the boy’s love was increasingly growing towards her. For long,
she has not brought herself to tell him not to look for her
anymore, but at the end of summer, she decided to put an end to the
untenable condition before there will be unpredictable
consequences.

She waited for Michel the following day, as she promised.
Until then, she had some time to gather strength for the
conversation. Deep in her thoughts, she was hurrying towards the
market when earl d’Angerville stepped in front of her from one of
the narrow streets.

“
I think it’s time for me to be jealous,” said the man, and
his disarming smile did not fit his words at all. “That ambitious
medical student has danced attendance on you too much
recently.”

“
Not that you have the right to haul me up for anything, but I
am only friends with Michel,” she answered defiantly.

“
I don’t have the right?” Morgan was laughing while throwing
his head back, and his azure eyes turned marine-blue. “It’s not an
exaggeration to say that I have been in love with you a lot longer
than any other man with his wife. Of course, I wouldn’t get far
with this, but we both know that, although you conceal it well,” he
leaned really close to the girl, so he can whisper into her ear:
“I’m not indifferent to you either.”

Amrita tried to take one step back, but by that time, the
earl’s arms held her waist as firm as a rock.

“
What’s this magnificent smell?” He sniffed her neck. “As if a
vanilla pod kissed a bouquet of roses. I’d like to smell this on
you next time too!”

“
Release me!” Amrita said quietly, but resolutely.

She resisted the earl’s glance stiffly while the man’s lips
were only an inch away from hers.

She tried to force calmness on herself, but her heart
throbbed fast in her chest, and she knew that this would not remain
a secret for Morgan either.

“
I’m afraid I can’t,” whispered the earl in a subdued
voice.

“
Why?” It slipped out of Amrita’s mouth, but she regretted it
immediately.

“
Because actually, you don't want me to release you, and I
don’t want to act against your will,” came the answer that she
expected.

It was not the first time, but she was surprised how strong
Morgan could embrace her with just one of his arms so that she
couldn't move, and with his other hand, he caressed her face so
gently. She was practically stupefied by the almond scent flowing
from the man’s skin. She closed her eyes and gave herself to
whatever came next. The earl pressed his body to hers tightly, but
only as forcefully so as not to give her pain. With his left hand,
he embraced her waist, and ran his right hand over her shoulder
first, then he sank his long fingers into her thick, red curls.
Then he laid his palm on the girl’s nape and pulled her head
towards him, so close, that their lips met. As hard as his arm held
her, his soft lips caressed the girl’s mouth. As always, when the
man kissed her, Amrita felt her heart unbearably overflowing. The
basket fell out of her hand, so nothing inhibited her from
embracing Morgan. The noise of an approaching carriage broke the
magic of the moment.

“
We haven’t finished yet,” said the earl while releasing her,
and he stepped a few paces away.

“
You keep repeating this, for too long,” Amrita swept a wavy
curl aside on her forehead. “Don’t you think that if you haven’t
yet managed to finish what you started, you won’t succeed this time
either?”

“
Humans cannot even imagine that you can be so evil,” Morgan
laughed out loud, which made his features more irresistible. “But
this is what I like about you, you little witch!”

He waved good-bye and in the next moment, disappeared in the
alley. Amrita bent down for the turned-over basket while shaking
her head. She did not suspect that two corners away, another man
was watching all of her moves from the doorway of an ancient house
covered in ivy.

It was Michel, who had unexpected things to do on the
following day, so he decided to arrive a day earlier and surprise
Amrita. He saw her heading for the market, he hurried after her,
and he was just about to call out to her to wait for him when earl
d’Angerville stepped forward from one of the alleys. Michel saw
everything: as Amrita and the man had a private talk, then as the
earl embraced and kissed his loved one, who obviously did not mind
it at all. So that is the reason why Amrita rejects everybody! She
is the lover of the earl… As suddenly as Michel’s heart burst into
flames, when he first caught sight of the girl in the main square
of the town, just as fast, it broke into pieces from this sight. He
flopped down on the dirty cobble stone, and while he was watching
the girl’s bickering figure, bitter sobbing shook his hunched-up
body. He never looked for Amrita again.

Every magical and painful moment of the summer of 1528 rushed
through the doctor’s mind and soul as he caught sight of his former
love fifteen years later in the royal palace. Due to the shock, he
could not even move for a while. It was not enough that he saw the
woman again who smashed his heart to dust once and for all,
moreover, this woman did not age a single day in the past one and a
half decades. However, by the time the doctor regained his
consciousness with great difficulty, he noticed the panic in the
unforgettable emerald eyes.

Although the past years left marks on Michel, hearing his
unusual name, Amrita recognized him even behind the mature
features.

Chapter 7

Star of the Valois shines

Louvre, Paris – 29 April 1543

The princess diligently sipped the magnificent-flavored rose
nectar, and in the evening of the twenty-first day, she gathered up
all her long time wasted charm and made sure to detain Henri in the
marital bed all night long.

Amrita’s room was on the other side of the corridor, opposite
to the ducal suite, so through the door’s eyelet, she saw when the
crown prince left in the morning. She waited for a while, then
knocked on the princess’ door.

The princess, with her back to Amrita, stood in front of the
window and was gazing at the lewdly green castle park. Her
champagne-colored, satin gown slid down on her left shoulder
showing her velvety skin. When she heard Amrita stop behind her,
she turned around and looked into her eyes. The girl immediately
saw in her look that the nectar brought the desired effect, and the
night did not pass pointlessly. She did not say anything just
smiled and nodded.

“
Say it, I want to hear!” Catherine was stretching
contently.

“
The future heir was conceived.”

“
I would like to believe you, but after ten years of futile
wait and hope, my faith is in ruins,” the princess’ face clouded
over.

“
All you need is a little patience, and soon you will feel the
signs of pregnancy,” Amrita encouraged her, but she saw that the
additional waiting did not sound promising for her
mistress.

“
You know what?” Catherine’s face lit up again. “Doctor
Nostradame arrived at the court again yesterday to report about the
measures against the plague in Marseilles. They say he is not only
skilled at healing, but he also has prophetic abilities, and for
him, the future is an open book.”

Hearing the name, Amrita trembled. That moment, three weeks
ago, came to her mind when she thought that she would be
immediately revealed. Michel de Nostradame, how could she have
forgotten this name? It’s true that she has not seen Michel for
fifteen years, who just disappeared from her life one day, never
providing an explanation for his nonattendance. But no matter how
many years have passed so far, and that he is now a forty-year-old
man instead of a twenty-five-year-old boy; Amrita immediately
recognized him. She took it for granted that Michel recognized her
too, because she has not changed, even the slightest, over the
years. The man was gazing at her speechlessly for a long time, but
finally, he broke into a polite smile, stepped up to her and
greeted her as someone who has seen her for the first time. Amrita
could not decide whether Nostradame’s memories in connection with
her, really faded over the past one and a half decades, nor was he
well aware who was standing in front of him, but rather kept it to
himself. After the short visit, the doctor traveled south on that
day to manage and control the efforts made for restraining the
plague. Amrita tried not to think about him, but by mentioning the
name, all the controversial feelings piled up again that Michel
evoked in her.

“
I would like you to speak with the doctor,” Catherine said,
and sat down in front of the dressing mirror. “The case has to be
handled confidentially. I don’t want the news of pregnancy to get
around before it becomes certain. Tell him the situation, and that
I would like him to come to me secretly behind Henri’s and Diane’s
back.”

“
As you wish,” nodded Amrita, concealing her unwillingness.
“Shall I look for him right now?”

“
Yes, that would be the best. I don’t want him to leave again
before we ask him. But don’t come immediately, I’m going to get
dressed and have breakfast first. Then, I can receive
him.”

“
All right,” she said and left Catherine alone.

Her heart pounded in her throat while she was heading towards
the doctor’s suite. She wanted to stay in the background, maybe
Michel really has not recognized her yet, but if she spends time in
his company, sooner or later the beneficial veil will fall, behind
which the man’s mind hid their story. She was also afraid that the
doctor remembered her very well, and the reason why he has not
asked embarrassing questions was that they were not left alone.
However, now there will be nothing to hold him back from asking
those questions…