The General's Mistress Read Online Free PDF

sex,” he said. “After all, are not women made by nature to be the guardians of emotion and mystery? Does it not degrade our Vestals to be reduced to the calculation of coins in a till?”
    “The Vestals are eternal virgins,” I said. “And I fear that I am rather a matron, a wife and a mother. My service must be pledged rather to the Bona Dea than to Vesta.”
    Moreau smiled and turned to Jan. “I see your wife is an educated woman. I compliment you. It is through the learning of their mothers that sons gain precocious wisdom.”
    “Quite,” said Jan with a pleasant smile. “Elzelina, perhaps you and the boys should retire. I am sure they are fatigued.”
    Francis was looking at the gentlemen with interest, one pudgy hand reaching for M. van Flecht’s diamond stickpin. I took him somewhat awkwardly from his nurse. “Come then, children. Good night, gentlemen.”
    “Good night, Madame,” M. van Flecht said.
    “Until the next time, Madame,” Moreau said. As I turned away I felt his eyes on my back, lingering a little too long.
    “Good night, Elzelina,” Jan said. “Don’t wait for me.”
    As though I expected him. Once I had, but those days were long gone by.

    I t was early spring in 1789, the spring after I had turned twelve. My father was two years in his grave.
    Jan was supposed to be waiting at the bottom of the garden, just where the arbor led off among the trees. For a moment, breathing in the warm spring night, I thought that he was not there, that he had forgotten me. Then a shadow detached itself from the shade of the arbor and beckoned to me. I broke into a run across the grass, the dew splashing my shoes and hem, the heady fragrance of the early roses climbing the trellis almost intoxicating me. Somehow I had stepped out of the ordinary world and into a dream of silence and roses and night.
    “Be quiet, Elzelina,” he said, a little irritably. “There is no need to make so much noise. Do you want them to hear us up at the house?”
    I stopped in front of him, my cheeks stinging with shame. “I am sorry, Jan. I didn’t think.”
    He stepped back into the shadows of the arbor. “Perhaps you should begin,” he said, turning to walk through the tunnel of trellises.
    I ran after him, my little bag of belongings bouncing against my back. “Please forgive me! Please don’t be angry with me! You know I can’t bear it when you’re angry with me!” He didn’t turn around. “I know I’m stupid and young, but oh, Jan! Please forgive me! It was wrong of me to ruin what should be the happiest night of our lives.”
    On the other side of the arbor, two horses were tethered beside the stone wall, cropping grass placidly. Jan turned, his handsome face bathed in silvery moonlight. “Of course I forgive you. I’m just concerned that someone will hear us. There are those who would try to prevent us from being together,” he said quickly, with a glance back toward the sleeping house. “Now, be quiet.” He cupped his hand for me to step in and swing up, as I was still too short to mount alone in skirts without a mounting block.
    “I wish I had worn pants,” I whispered. “We could go faster.”
    Jan frowned. “You must get out of that habit, Elzelina. Riding about in boys’ clothes is disgraceful enough in a young girl, but you are about to be a married woman, and you must put aside hoydenish ways.”
    “Oh yes, Jan. I will,” I promised solemnly, petting the mare he held for me, and swinging up with his aid. “I will be very good from now on.”
    He did not answer, but only mounted his own horse. Together we swung about and trotted off across the fields, under the bright sky. Of course there was a full moon for my elopement. It was part of the scene. There was always a full moon in books. My blue-black cloak belled out behind me, and my long blond hair streamed in the wind. I thought that I must be really lovely tonight for the first time.
    Before us the fields stretched out, plowed and