Scarborough Fair Read Online Free PDF Page A

offer.
    Le Ray de Chaumont glanced at the parchment again and shook his head, the high collar of his shirt cutting a thin red line into his shuddering jowls. As he scanned the letter his cheeks flushed and when he began to read aloud he almost stuttered with rage. “I mean, listen: ‘The minister has treated me like a child five successive times by leading me on from great to little and from little to less’.” De Chaumont was breathless. “He even hints, sacre bleu , at challenging the Minister of Marine to a duel in defense of his sacred honor. Mon Dieu , My God, can you imagine it?”
    Therese almost laughed aloud with relief. So the letter was from her captain, not a letter about him. Complaining about his lack of a ship, as usual. Composure restored, she tried to imagine a duel between the determined American and the diminutive Sartine with his weasel face, coughing specks of blood into his lace handkerchief while he parried rapier thrusts. The delicious image was shattered by her husband.
    â€œMy life is becoming complicated beyond measure. Sartine pesters me every minute I spend at the ministry when I am trying to arrange supplies. He seems to hold me personally responsible for this coarse American just because he stays in my house. M’sieur Franklin stays here too but I am not blamed when he falls foul of the King’s ministers.” De Chaumont looked about to collapse, eyes casting restlessly around the room, his body uncoordinated as if he did not know whether to go or stay. “The minister can make life very awkward. It would be easy for him to cancel my supply contract.”
    â€œBut surely there are conditions?”
    â€œConditions nothing. If he wanted to cancel it, he would find a way, believe me.”
    Therese smiled reassuringly. “But even so, you would still have your fleet of merchant ships.”
    Her husband’s face was scarlet. “My fleet? With things as they are, I should be ruined. The English are making trade impossible by blockading ports, and even when my ships can put to sea they are waylaid by privateers who hide behind the English flag and steal my cargoes. No, without the navy contract everything I have would be lost.”
    Therese rose from her stool to take his arm and lead him to the chaise-long where they sat down together. She could almost feel the heat from his burning face and she began to fear for his health. In truth, she had never been madly in love with him. In a way he was handsome, but when they had been introduced she had discounted the difference in their ages, his wealth and power a greater attraction than his features. Her most pressing need at that time had been to obtain financial security, and a bonus was the respect she would command as the wife of a Privy Councilor to the King. Although throughout their marriage she had always had “escorts,” she had invariably taken pains to be discreet. If her husband found out, then few other people did. Over the years she had come to feel comfortable with him, a comfort enhanced by the luxury his wealth provided. But every franc belonged to him. He had settled a little money on her at the beginning of their marriage but she had given that to her parents so her sister would have a dowry to attract a husband. Since then, Donatien had only given her an allowance, paying all the other bills himself, most notably those of her couturier who supplied an endless stream of expensive gowns. Without a franc more of independence than on the day they met, the idea of possible bankruptcy was horrifying. Given a choice between her American captain who had no appreciable money, or her wealthy husband, there was no choice. She had to protect and preserve what she already had.
    Therese placed a comforting arm around her husband’s portly shoulders. “Donatien, my love, calm yourself. You will only become ill if you agitate yourself so.”
    â€œBut that American. He makes my