Free Immortal Muse by Stephen Leigh Page B

room, closing the door behind them. Verdette held Perenelle at arm’s length. “Maman, I can still smell that laboratory about you even when you scrub and wear perfume. You stay too much in there—who’s going to stop you from working yourself to death once I’m gone?”
    That brought the tears to Perenelle’s eyes again, and she saw moisture gathering in Verdette’s eyes as well. “You’re happy, Verdette? I know how frightening it is, to marry a man you don’t really know well . . .”
    â€œIt’s what Father wants,” Verdette answered. “I couldn’t do better with anyone else here in Paris. He’s told me that many times.”
    â€œYes. He’s said that to me, as well.”
And he’d made it clear that Verdette
would
marry the Dubois boy, whether Perenelle or Verdette objected or not.
“But it should be what you want as well.”
    â€œAlaine is a good man, and the Dubois family is a good one. I like him, Maman. He’s gentle with me, and kind.”
    Perenelle nodded. “Then I’ll be happy with you,” she said.
    â€œAnd you, Maman? Will you be happy afterward, with Father?”
    â€œI will be fine,” she told Verdette, but her daughter shook her head.
    â€œThat’s not what I asked, Maman. I asked if you’ll be happy.”
    â€œI’m happy with my work. It keeps me interested.” She touched the pendant around her neck. “And Nicolas can be a good man.”
    Verdette nodded. “I always wondered if it was the work you liked so much, or the fact that when you were in the laboratory with your chemicals and those dusty manuscripts,
he
left you alone.”
    Perenelle shook her head. “No, that’s not the only reason. I
do
enjoy the work—I have since I was younger than you and I was working with my own father. You and your father . . . well, whether he admits it or not, I help him with his work, and that also gives me pleasure. When I’m in the laboratory, I feel as if the entire universe is there before me, with all its secrets waiting to be discovered . . .” She laughed. “Listen to me, going on about this, when you’re about to discover your own life. This is your day, Verdette. Let’s not talk about me.”
    She kissed her daughter’s forehead, her hands clasping her head under the lace of her ceremonial headdress. Perenelle’s hands . . . sometimes it surprised her, seeing the wrinkles and the dry skin that were beginning to show her age. And Verdette—she was taller than Perenelle now. When had that happened?
    Verdette’s fingers had gone to Perenelle’s breast, running down the gold chain she wore around her neck. Verdette fondled the sardonyx cameo there, her fingers caressing it lovingly. “I know that I’m one reason you stayed with him, Mamam, but I’ll be gone now. Your reason to stay is gone after today. You can leave him now. You’ll always have a place you can stay—in my new household.”
    â€œI know,” Perenelle said. She smiled against the tears that threatened once more. “I know that, and I thank you for it. I’ll never stop loving you, Verdette; you will always have my heart. Now—let’s stop talking and get you married.”
    You can leave him now . . .
The words touched emotions inside Perenelle, feelings she thought she’d forgotten over the years. She felt a yearning for that freedom, and she felt sudden disgust that she’d remained with Nicolas all these years. But her hand sought the pendant, and as she stroked the sculpted miniature of her own face, the thoughts receded like distant storm clouds, and she felt only the ancient pull toward Nicolas.
    She smiled at Verdette and took her daughter’s hand. “Come,” she said. “It’s time . . .”

2:
POLYHYMNIA

Camille Kenny
Today
    T