Page 6 (2/2)

This was not nearly sufficient to convince Sher of your youth" His steel-colored eyes grew sharp "Who was ruling France then?"

"When I cah she continued to shiver as th of her memories as from apprehension about Sherman "That was in the fall of 17431 went to my aunt so that she could introduce me into society"

"What sort of felloas he, Louis XV?" de her answer a test "I warn you, I know soue answers"

"Venal, luxury-loving, indolent, handsoed, manipulative In a word, spoiled" She stared at him, surprised when he took her hands in his "I escaped the Terror, which is just as well"

Sherh "A lovely corpse without a head--that would be difficult," agreed Sher, I should think"

"A corpse is all I would have been Those who taste the Elixir of Life are not proof against all death Madame la Guillotine is as deadly to me as to you So is fire" She looked directly into his eyes "In the tiine the nuood-bye?" And how many ht of Trowbridge then, of his devotion which had cost hily into the furnace of the Egyptian desert in order to be free of her and the life she gave

"No, Madelaine Don’t despair," he said, with the urgency of one who knew despair well His arms went around her, and he drew her close to hirief "It is unbearable," hehis lips to her hair

She rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat, hearing the pulse quicken "I am told one learns, in time" Her breath was deep and uneven

He reached out to turn her face up to his, searching out secrets "What are you, then? I’d better warn you, I don’t hold any truck with the supernatural And don’t preach religion at " He esture at the ion," she proainst those of us who co yearning and resistance in his mouth "We die, but slip the hold death has on us, and we live--"

"On the Elixir of Life," he said, one hand sliding down her flank "And how is this mysterious Elixir obtained?’

"It is taken froive it," she answered quietly "Where there is understanding, and passion, there is also great… joy"

"Joy," he echoed, as if the ere terrible even as he pulled her inexorably nearer, kissing her hat he had intended as roughness but what became a tenderness of such intensity that he felt all his senses fill with her He tried to push her away, but his body would not answer the stern couided his hands over the treasure of her flesh, he surrendered to her with all the strength of his desire

"Slowly," she whispered as she flicked her tongue over his nipples, seeing his shock and delight "It is better if you savor it"

"God and the devils! I am ready to explode!" He kicked back the sheet to show her, proud and embarrassed at once "Hurry, Madelaine I a to kiss hiain as she straddled him "Do not deny yourself the full measure of your passion, for you also deny oes to the swiftest" Then, with exquisite languor, she guided hih his clenched teeth "I can’t--"

"You can," she pro very still until he opened his eyes Then she began to uard fall away as his ardor became adoration; at this instant her lips brushed his throat

They lay together until the first predawn call of birds warned the day

"I don’t want to leave," Sher the corner of her mouth "You have enthralled me, Madelaine"