Despite the uncommon mild weather, the cloudless sky, and welcoming sunshine, La Pr�sidente de Tourvel lingered in her hostess�s library � a great stuffy room with a delicious view of garden through it west facing window. Sunlight glittered off of large crystal vases filled with pink and white roses, painting a myriad of shimmering rainbows along the walls and ceiling. And yet Tourvel seemed oblivious to the miracle playing around her, nor was the book in her lap so enthralling as to maintain her attention - she had read and re-read the same paragraph and still not taken in the words. Her eyes instead roved off the page to the garden beyond the window pane, where Madame de Rosamonde's other guests indulged in a game that it consisted of tossing balls and much laughter. Towering above the others, and the only man amongst them, was the Vicomte de Valmont, it was he she found her eyes drifting to.

What if I am wrong about him? she wondered. What if I have judged him too harshly? The friend who had advised her to avoid the man was one she trusted whole-heartedly, but the description she received was dissimilar to the man who presented himself in Madame de Rosamonde's home. While a bit over-spoken, he did not appear so rakish as Madame de Volange suggested. Was it the same man? or could that man have reformed himself and cast off his wicked way? If so, then he should be granted the benefit of the doubt, not further punished.

She found her eyes drift back to the garden again and, for a moment, meet Valmont's dark, laughing eyes. She quickly looked back down at her book, not wanting to give him the impression she had been watching. No, the Vicomte de Valmont did not match the description given her. Guiltily, she wondered if she had read too much into his actions because of the warning she had received.

A soft rustle of skirts drew her attention to the door where her hostess enter, the lady weary old face lighting up at the sight of her. Tourvel promptly set her book aside and rose to embrace her hostess, kissing the older woman on each cheek. "You look well this morning," she said, helping Madame de Rosamonde to a chair. "Once again, I must thank you for your kind hospitality. I can think of no place I would be happier to be."

Tourvel smiled at her hostess with sincere affection. �You do yourself too little credit, Madame. Yours is a heart that is generous and vibrant and a pleasure to keep company with� though I daresay, this book cannot be credited with as much.� Tourvel closed the book without marking the page, resigned the fact that it would remain unfinished.

She stole another look at the garden, to see the game continued without Madame de Rosamonde � and her nephew as ever clearly in view. If there was anyone she trusted it was her honorable hostess, and she was in the adventitious position to know the vicomte well enough to answer. �Madame, if I may be so candid, I have known you most of my life, you are as dear to me as though you were my own kin. I trust you implicitly, and it is for that reason that I would put my questions to you�� Tourvel shifted uncomfortably under Madame de Rosamonde�s wide-eyed gaze, fearing her hostess might take offense to the questions she was about to ask.

�What�s wrong, my beauty?� the older woman asked.

�I have been warned by one I consider a good friend to steer clear of your nephew, M. de Valmont, that he has a most unbecoming reputation in regards to women,� Tourvel said cautiously, fearing she would insult her hostess. �However, when we have spoken, he seems most undeserving of such injurious remarks. I do not wish to treat him unfairly, but I also do not wish to believe this friend would slander him. I prey you help me understand this enigma.�

Tourvel�s heart ached with tremendous pity for the vicomte, her vivid imagination conguered the vision of a lost little boy with no mother to comfort him or guide him on his way in the world. What a tremendous gulf that absence must have left in the child�s heart! But the question still remained, was Valmont�s intentions honest or a ruse?

�I praise your goodness and honesty, Madame,� Tourvel smiled affectionately on Rosamonde. �You are right. Redemption is a noble undertaking for the one wishing to change his ways and for those who would forgive the wrongs of that former life. Perhaps, M. de Valmont has changed his ways and my friend has yet to see the fruits of his labor. He has been most gentlemanly to me and, if not for this warning, I would not judge him so harshly.� Though a passage from Madame Volage�s letter still haunted her, �� He will do and say anything to lower your guard, by it is all a cunning plan to meet his only desires. Valmont is a Prince of Liars!�

�I wish to believe he is well intended, however he knows I am married, yet still he professes his love for me. It is behavior of a good man?� Tourvel wondered aloud, than blushed as she looked again on her hostess. �Forgive me that is horribly unfair question to put to you.�

"I know you are right, Madame,� Tourvel replied in the matter of one who knows them have heard truth, but is as hesitant to accept it. �The heart often overrules the head and leads us to all manner of temptations. No, M. de Valmont has only spoken words of love, never has he behaved out of turn with me, I will admit that.� She looked back out to the game in the garden and saw there the object of their conversion. �I suppose I have been unchristian in my behavior towards him based on the words of another rather than my own impressions.� Those words were the very reasons she was sitting in a dusty library playing the part of the wallflower, instead of joining Madame de Rosamonde and the other guests. �I confess, you have given me much to think on.�

Hesitated a moment, then realized her only arguments in opposition were originally contrived to avoid M. de Valmont. She would be a hypocrite if she continued to use such excuses when she swore herself to giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Rising, Tourvel glanced once more out of the windows to the merriment as though to steel herself, then turned back to face her hostess. "You are right, Madame. I think the sun and fresh air would do me some good." She linked arms with Madame de Rosamonde and allowed the older women to lead her to the garden.