But still she was an insurmountable obstacle to the fulfilment of Mademoiselle de Guerchi's hopes, who but for her might have looked forward to one day becoming a duchess.
For about three weeks, however, at the time we are speaking of, the duke had neither crossed her threshold nor written.

He had told her he was going for a few days to Normandy, where he had large estates, but had remained absent so long after the date he had fixed for his return that she began to feel uneasy.

What could be keeping him?
Some new flame, perhaps.

The anxiety of the lady was all the more keen, that until now nothing had passed between them but looks of languor and words of love.
The duke had laid himself and all he possessed at the feet of Angelique, and Angelique had refused his offer.

A too prompt surrender would have justified the reports so wickedly spread against her; and, made wise by experience, she was resolved not to compromise her future as she had compromised her past.