brows. Still, I was nothing if not able to distract and pull out new conversation.
“Do you ride often, Bastien?” I asked after being handed onto my horse and taking the reins. He nodded, taking up his own and falling in next to me.
“I am well accustomed to riding, as part of my military training,” he said, glancing down affectionately at his steed and stroking the beast’s mane. A spike of jealously ran through me, directed at the animal, and I laughed inwardly at myself for being so absurd.
“You miss it, don’t you?” I asked, redirecting his attention to me.
“I do,” he confessed. “I find that when men are stationed together in situations of life or death, they treat each other as equals, and the veil of propriety falls away.”
“You speak of propriety as though it is one of the seven sins,” I teased, though he did not look amused.
“And what if I do? Have you had the pleasure of reading the works of Rousseau, J?”
I searched my brain, knowing that I had no recollection of that name. Without anything to go on, I had to admit my ignorance.
“I’ve not had the pleasure, no,” I said, embarrassed at my lack of knowledge. That was new. He nodded, as though this was a common answer among women.
“He has published his philosophy that humans should go back to their natural roots—that all the clothing we constrict ourselves with and the manners that cloak our true intentions are in fact the chains that keep us from the happiness we seek as part of the human condition.”
The man was making me think. Like, actually think . Trying to rise to his challenge, and wanting to impress him, I decided to give it a shot.
“So you would have us all walking around in the nude as our statues are wont to do?” I asked playfully. I was rewarded with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t disagree with it, though there are many gentlemen and women that I would prefer not to observe in their altogether.”
“I quite agree with you,” I said.
“That would be a first,” he replied.
“I think it would be quite funny to see everyone walking around naked,” Jacqueline announced, breaking the little bubble Bastien and I had sunk into. She giggled at her declaration, and Bastien and I shared an indulgent smile. If anything, we shared an affection for Jacqueline’s innocent and honest manner.
“I did not know you were a family of philosophers,” I said, gazing out at the lush greenery of the forest as we left behind the manmade world of Versailles.
“I wouldn’t say that, Mademoiselle J, though we were raised to value our minds over that which others consider to be more important.”
I flushed, instantly aware that those were the things I had been taught to value: wealth, possessions, beauty. Never once had anyone told me that I should value my ability to learn and think. I frowned. I could feel Bastien watching me from the corner of my eye. We rode on in silence for a stretch, until we came upon a small patch of grass near a gurgling stream. Purple flowers dotted the surrounding forest, and I found that I instantly loved this secret little place. Bastien seemed to agree.
“I think this looks like a good spot for a picnic, don’t you ladies?”
“Oh yes!” Jacqueline exclaimed. “I couldn’t agree more. Quick—let’s set up and have our meal. I’m famished!”
I tried not to think about how much food she had already eaten when breaking her fast earlier, as it seemed mean-spirited. Bastien helped Jacqueline off of her horse before coming over to me, his hand held out.
“My lady?” he asked, waiting with his hand out as I stared at it. I should have known better, but instead I removed my riding gloves first and placed them in a saddle pouch. I saw his eyes widen for just an instant before I slid my bare hand into his, allowing our skin to touch. We paused, a frozen tableau, this forbidden gesture a cruelty on my part for I knew deep down that I would never pursue it. My father would kill me if I