Read The Rose of Provence for Free Online

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