Joshua Collins woke slowly. His head ached and his body ached even more. He opened his eyes, uncertain of where he was. Pushing himself up on his elbows, he realized his head was at the foot of the bed - not his bed - and he was not alone. His movement disturbed the person in bed with him and he realized he was in Natalie's bed when she stirred and turned so he could see her face. What had taken place? They had agreed this was never to happen again. This had to stop!

Swinging his feet over the edge of the bed, Collins stood, found his night clothes and quickly dressed. He felt an angry, hate filled gaze on his back and turned to find Natalie awake. Her expression told him this was not going to be pleasant. He bristled under her glare and pulled himself up to his full height.

"Madame..."

Pulling the sheet from the bed around her, Natalie got out of bed and faced Joshua. She placed herself between him and the door, wanting an easy escape route should one be needed.

"I do not know how this situation came about, but it shall not happen again."

"Indeed it shall not, Joshua. I thought you a man of your word, but last night proved to me the value of your word."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Indeed you should, and much, much more."

"Explain yourself, Natalie."

"Explain...! You push your way in here, force yourself on me and you ask me to explain?!"

"I did no such thing, it was you who seduced me; beckoning me to your room, unable to control your carnal..."

Livid, almost unable to speak, Natalie glanced about the floor, then bent over. When she straightened, she held up her torn night clothes.

"I hardly think having the clothes torn from my body constitutes a seduction! You were correct, however, that this will never happen again. I shall be packed and out from under your roof by noon. At the first opportunity I shall return to my home in Martinique where, should you ever dare to journey, I shall have the magistrate arrest you on a charge of rape."

Joshua could see by Natalie's expression she meant every word of what she said. He took a deep breath to protest, thought better of it and stiffly bowed toward Natalie instead. Satisfied, she stepped aside to let him exit her room. When he was gone, Natalie locked the door behind him.

In the woods, where Ben Stokes was working, he heard the gloating laughter of Angelique. He sadly shook his head and returned to his duties. Maybe now that she'd gotten what she wanted - Mister Joshua and the Countess duPres to hate one another - Angelique would leave him be. That was all Ben really wanted - to be left alone to do his work.

Knowing enough not to ask questions, Ben reported to the big house just past noon, where he was instructed to escort the Countess duPres to a destination of her choice, make sure she was properly settled, then return to Collinwood. Nodding his understanding to Joshua, Ben climbed aboard the carriage and set the horses in motion. He pretended not to notice that Joshua and Natalie did not so much as exchange farewells or goodbye glances. It was very obvious they were extremely angry with one another, and Ben nodded to himself. Angelique was most likely having a good laugh over their unhappiness, for her potion had worked very well.