Madame Cheron’s greed finally gave way to her desire for admiration.
After seeing the magnificent parties held by Madame Clairval and witnessing the praise and attention surrounding her, Madame Cheron became even more eager to secure a marriage alliance that would raise her own status in society.
She proposed that Emily should marry Valancourt immediately. She even offered to provide Emily with a dowry, as long as Madame Clairval promised to provide an equal arrangement for her nephew.
Madame Clairval considered the proposal carefully.
Since Emily appeared to be the future heir to her aunt’s fortune, she accepted.
But Emily knew nothing of these arrangements.
She only discovered what had happened when Madame Cheron suddenly told her that preparations for her wedding must begin at once.
Emily was shocked.
She could not understand why everything had been decided so quickly, especially since Valancourt had never asked for such a sudden marriage. He knew nothing about the agreement between the two older women and had never dared to hope for such happiness.
At first, Emily firmly objected.
But Madame Cheron, who had once opposed the match so strongly, now insisted on the marriage with equal passion.
Her pride would no longer allow anyone to challenge her decision.
Emily’s doubts disappeared only when she saw Valancourt again.
After learning about the happiness that had been prepared for him, he came to her with joy and asked her to confirm their future together.
While preparations for the wedding continued, another important change occurred.
Montoni became the recognized admirer of Madame Cheron.
Madame Clairval was deeply displeased when she heard of the approaching marriage. She even considered preventing Valancourt from marrying Emily, because Montoni’s influence had changed the situation.
However, her conscience stopped her.
She knew she had no right to interfere with their happiness.
Although Madame Clairval cared greatly about reputation and social admiration, she was not as controlled by vanity as Madame Cheron.
Emily, meanwhile, watched with growing concern as Montoni gained more and more power over her aunt.
His visits became increasingly frequent, and Emily’s dislike of him grew stronger.
Valancourt had always disliked Montoni as well, and his opinion only confirmed Emily’s own fears.
One spring morning, Emily sat in the pavilion, enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of the landscape.
Valancourt was reading beside her, though he often put the book aside so they could talk.
Then a servant arrived.
“Madame Cheron wishes to see you immediately.”
Emily went to her aunt’s room.
The moment she entered, she noticed something strange.
Madame Cheron’s face looked troubled, yet she wore an extremely elegant dress.
Her expression and appearance seemed completely opposite.
“So, my niece,” Madame Cheron said hesitantly.
“I sent for you because I have something to tell you.”
She paused.
“You must now consider Signor Montoni your uncle.”
Emily stared at her in disbelief.
“We were married this morning.”
Emily was not shocked simply because her aunt had married.
What surprised her most was the secrecy.
She immediately suspected that the secrecy had been Montoni’s wish rather than her aunt’s.
But Madame Cheron wanted her to believe otherwise.
“You see, I wished to avoid unnecessary excitement,” she explained.
“But now that the ceremony is finished, I no longer need to hide it. I must inform the servants that Signor Montoni is now master of this house.”
Emily tried weakly to congratulate her.
Madame Cheron continued.
“I shall now celebrate my marriage with great magnificence.”
“To save time, I will use the preparations already made for your wedding.”
“Of course, your marriage will have to wait a little longer.”
“I expect you to wear the wedding clothes that have already been prepared and honor my celebration.”
“I also want you to tell Monsieur Valancourt that I have changed my name. He can inform Madame Clairval.”
“In a few days, I shall hold a grand entertainment and invite them both.”
Emily was too overwhelmed to answer.
She returned to Valancourt and told him everything.
The news did not surprise him as much as it hurt him.
When he learned that his own wedding would be delayed, and that the decorations prepared for his marriage to Emily would now be used for Madame Montoni’s celebration, he felt both sadness and anger.
Emily tried to comfort him.
She tried to make him laugh at his worries.
But she failed.
When he finally left, there was such tenderness and sorrow in his expression that Emily was deeply moved.
She watched him disappear at the end of the terrace and found herself in tears, though she could hardly explain why.
Montoni soon took control of the château and everyone inside it.
He behaved as though the house had always belonged to him.
His friend Cavigni, who had helped him win Madame Cheron’s affection by giving her the attention and praise she desired, was given rooms in the château.
The servants obeyed him almost as they obeyed the new master of the house.
A few days later, Madame Montoni held the grand celebration she had promised.
Many guests attended, including Valancourt.
Madame Clairval refused the invitation.
There was music, dancing, and a magnificent supper.
Naturally, Valancourt was Emily’s dancing partner.
But when he looked around at the decorations, he could not forget that they had originally been prepared for their own wedding.
Still, he forced himself to remain hopeful.
He believed that soon the celebration would finally belong to them.
During the evening, Madame Montoni danced, laughed, and spoke constantly.
Montoni, however, remained quiet and distant.
He seemed almost bored by the attention and by the shallow company surrounding him.
This was the only celebration of their marriage.
Montoni allowed such gatherings because they could benefit him.
He believed that among people of wealth and influence, he could use his intelligence and charm to gain advantages.
He understood that social gatherings often involved hidden ambitions and selfish interests, and he had no hesitation in competing with others through deception.
Madame Montoni, however, saw society differently.
After becoming his wife, she began to notice that other women were more attractive and admired than herself.
Her jealousy increased.
Before marriage, she had never worried about losing her husband’s attention.
But now that she believed she had something valuable to lose, she became suspicious.
She resisted Montoni’s desire to attend many social gatherings because she feared he would receive admiration from other women.
Only a few weeks after their marriage, Madame Montoni told Emily that Montoni planned to return to Italy.
“We shall go to Venice,” she said.
“The Signor has a beautiful mansion there. After that, we will travel to his estate in Tuscany.”
“Why do you look so serious, child?”
“You love beautiful landscapes and romantic places. Surely you will enjoy the journey.”
Emily looked at her in surprise.
“Am I to travel with you?”
“Of course,” Madame Montoni replied.
“How could you imagine we would leave you behind?”
“But I know what you are thinking.”
“You are thinking of the Chevalier.”
“He has not yet been informed of our plans, but he soon will be.”
“Signor Montoni has gone to speak with Madame Clairval and tell her that the proposed marriage between the families must now be forgotten forever.”
Emily felt crushed.
Her aunt’s cold manner made the news even more painful.
She could hardly believe that the woman who had so recently wanted her to marry Valancourt now wanted to separate them forever.
“Why has your opinion changed so suddenly?” Emily asked.
But the only answer she received was:
“The Signor has forbidden the connection.”
“He believes it is far beneath what you deserve.”
Madame Montoni continued proudly.
“I leave the matter entirely to him.”
“I must admit, Valancourt was never my favorite.”
“I was persuaded by others to approve the marriage.”
“I was weak enough to allow other people’s feelings to influence me.”
“But Signor Montoni has shown me my mistake.”
“I am determined that you will obey those who know better than you.”
Emily could barely hear her words.
Her mind was overwhelmed by the shock.
She saw clearly that the same ambition that had once made Madame Montoni seek an alliance with Madame Clairval now caused her to reject it.
Her marriage had raised her own importance in her eyes, and with it, her expectations for Emily.
Emily was too deeply hurt to argue.
When she finally tried to plead with her aunt, emotion stopped her voice.
She returned to her room and tried desperately to understand what had happened.
After much painful reflection, a frightening thought came to her.
Montoni wanted to increase his own power and wealth through her.
She began to suspect that he might have another person in mind for her marriage.
Perhaps his friend Cavigni.
The thought of traveling to Italy became even more terrifying.
She imagined a foreign country filled with conflict and danger.
She would be placed under Montoni’s control, far away from Valancourt.
The distance between them seemed unbearable.
When she thought of him, every other thought disappeared beneath her sorrow.
At dinner, Emily asked permission to remain in her room.
Madame Montoni refused.
They sat together silently.
Emily was lost in grief.
Madame Montoni was consumed by disappointment because Montoni had unexpectedly left.
She felt ignored by her husband and suspected that he was hiding some mysterious purpose.
After dinner, Emily again mentioned Valancourt.
But her aunt became angry.
She refused to show sympathy and became offended that Emily questioned Montoni’s authority.
After a long and painful conversation, Emily left in tears.
As she crossed the hall, she saw someone entering through the great door.
At first, she thought it was Montoni.
She quickly moved away.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“Emily! Oh, my Emily!”
She turned.
It was Valancourt.
His face showed desperation and suffering.
“Emily,” he said.
“I must speak with you.”
“I have so much to tell you.”
“You are trembling. You are unwell.”
“Let me take you somewhere you can sit.”
He reached for her hand.
But Emily gently pulled away.
“I am better now.”
“If you wish to see my aunt, she is in the dining room.”
“I must speak with you,” Valancourt replied.
“Good heavens, has it already come to this?”
“Are you truly willing to give me up?”
“Do not make my misery greater by refusing me.”
His sorrow almost broke her heart.
But she insisted that he speak with Madame Montoni first.
“Where is her husband?” Valancourt asked suddenly.
“Where is Montoni?”
“He is the person I must speak with.”
Emily saw the anger in his eyes and became frightened.
She told him Montoni was not at home and begged him to control himself.
The moment he heard the fear in her voice, his anger softened.
“You are suffering, Emily.”
“They will destroy us both.”
“Forgive me for ever doubting your love.”
Emily finally allowed him to lead her into another room.
She feared more for his safety than anything else.
Valancourt listened to her pleas.
He promised he would not act violently against Montoni.
“For your sake, Emily,” he said, tears filling his eyes, “I will control myself.”
“But do not ask me to accept Montoni’s authority silently.”
“If I could do that, I would not deserve you.”
“How long must I live without you?”
“How long before you return to France?”
Emily comforted him by reminding him that in a little more than a year she would no longer be under her aunt’s guardianship.
But Valancourt knew she would then be in Italy, surrounded by people who might still control her.
He only pretended to feel comforted.
When Emily was about to leave, Madame Montoni entered.
She looked at Emily with severe disapproval.
“This is not the behavior I expected from you, sir,” she said to Valancourt.
“I did not expect you to come into my house after being told your visits were no longer welcome.”
“Nor did I expect you to seek a secret meeting with my niece.”
Valancourt immediately defended Emily.
He explained that his purpose had been to request a meeting with Montoni.
Then he calmly explained his reasons.
Madame Montoni responded harshly.
She insisted that she had made a mistake by ever agreeing to the marriage.
She said the entire matter now belonged to Montoni.
Valancourt’s calm and sincere words eventually forced her to feel some shame.
But she felt no true regret.
Instead, she grew to hate him because he made her recognize her own selfishness.
Finally, her anger became so great that Valancourt left.
He realized there was no hope of gaining sympathy from Madame Montoni.
He then wrote to Montoni, politely requesting a meeting.
Montoni refused.
He claimed that a meeting would change nothing and would only create arguments.
Days passed.
Valancourt continued writing.
Montoni continued refusing.
Eventually, Valancourt’s letters were returned unopened.
Unable to control his despair, he went directly to Montoni’s château.
But Montoni refused to see him.
The servants also refused him entry when he asked for Madame Montoni and Emily.
He returned home devastated.
In his anguish, he wrote to Emily and begged her for a secret meeting.
Later, when his emotions had cooled, he regretted the letter.
But it was too late.
Madame Montoni had ordered that all letters addressed to Emily should first pass through her hands.
She read the letter, became furious at Valancourt’s words about Montoni, and burned it.
Meanwhile, Montoni hurried preparations for the journey to Italy.
He ignored Valancourt’s requests for permission to say farewell to Emily.
When Valancourt finally learned that Emily would leave within days and that he might never see her again, he wrote another desperate letter.
This time he proposed a secret marriage.
But Madame Montoni intercepted it as well.
The final day before Emily’s departure arrived.
Valancourt received no message.
No farewell.
No hope.
Emily herself was almost unable to function.
The sudden separation from the man she loved felt unbearable.
She had always imagined him as the companion of her entire future.
Now, by the command of Montoni and the changing will of her aunt, they were being torn apart.
That night, unable to sleep, Emily sat alone in her room.
She felt certain she had seen Valancourt for the last time.
The thought of the distance between them terrified her.
The Alps would stand between them.
Entire countries would separate them.
At last, overcome by grief, she opened her window.
The cool night air revived her slightly.
The quiet moonlight over the garden gave her a little comfort.
She decided to walk outside.
The château was silent.
She carefully opened the garden door and entered the avenue.
She walked toward the pavilion where she and Valancourt had shared so many happy moments.
The moonlight covered the landscape.
The trees, river, and distant mountains looked peaceful and unreal.
When she entered the pavilion, memories overwhelmed her.
“How often we sat here together,” she whispered.
“How often we looked upon this view.”
“Never again will we see it together.”
“Never again, perhaps, will we see each other.”
Suddenly, a voice spoke from the darkness.
Emily cried out in fear.
Then she recognized it.
It was Valancourt.
He caught her in his arms.
For several moments, neither could speak.
“Emily,” he whispered.
“Do I truly see you again?”
“Do I hear your voice once more?”
“I have waited here many nights.”
“This was my only remaining hope.”
“Thank God it has succeeded.”
“I am not completely lost.”
Emily tried to comfort him.
But Valancourt could only speak of his suffering.
He told her he had arrived after sunset and had waited in the gardens ever since.
Even after giving up hope, he could not leave a place so close to her.
When he heard footsteps, he thought she was coming.
Then silence returned.
Until finally, she appeared.
Their joy quickly turned into sorrow.
They both knew this meeting was only temporary.
Valancourt begged her not to leave him.
He feared she would enter a new world, meet new people, and eventually forget him.
“How can I know you will ever return?” he asked.
“How can I know you will still be mine?”
Emily assured him of her love.
But his fear was stronger than reason.
Then, overcome by emotion, he suddenly proposed that they marry immediately.
The next morning, they could leave together.
Emily became silent.
Her heart was torn between love and duty.
Valancourt thought her silence meant hope.
“Speak, my Emily,” he begged.
“Tell me my fate.”
But Emily could not answer.
Her strength seemed to disappear.
After a moment, she recovered.
She explained her reasons.
She could not abandon her duty.
She feared a secret marriage would create difficulties and eventually bring suffering to the man she loved.
Slowly, reason overcame passion.
Valancourt finally understood.
Though he was heartbroken, he accepted her decision.
“I must leave you,” he said.
“I know it is forever.”
They wept together.
At last, Emily reminded him they could not remain.
They might be discovered.
They said their final goodbye.
Before leaving, Valancourt revealed another concern.
He had heard strange rumors about Montoni.
“Are you certain he is truly related to Madame Quesnel?” he asked.
“And are you certain his wealth is what it appears to be?”
Emily became alarmed.
She asked him to explain.
Valancourt told her he had heard the rumors from an Italian man.
The man had spoken of Montoni’s doubtful reputation, his desperate financial situation, and a strange castle in the Apennines.
But the Italian had refused to say more.
He feared the consequences of speaking openly.
Valancourt admitted that the information was uncertain.
But he feared for Emily’s safety.
He begged her to reconsider.
Emily thought carefully.
She had always disliked Montoni.
His cold expression, proud manner, and dangerous appearance had often disturbed her.
Yet she knew there was no proof that the rumors were true.
She believed Valancourt’s fears had grown stronger because of his love and despair.
When she gently explained this, Valancourt felt wounded.
“You do not love me,” he said.
“If you did, you could never speak so calmly.”
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“If you still do not know how dear you are to me,” she replied, “then no words can convince you.”
Her tears immediately restored his faith.
He held her hand and wept.
Finally, Emily prepared to leave.
“Think of me,” she said.
“Love me when I am far away.”
“That belief will comfort me.”
“Think of you? Love you?” Valancourt cried.
“How could I ever do anything else?”
He promised to endure the separation for her sake.
He begged God to protect her.
He pressed her hand against his heart.
Emily nearly collapsed from emotion.
Valancourt supported her toward the château.
When they reached the end of the avenue, Emily stopped.
“We must part here,” she said.
“Why prolong these moments?”
“Teach me the courage I have forgotten.”
Valancourt forced himself to remain calm.
“Farewell, my love.”
“Trust me. We will meet again.”
“We will meet and never part again.”
He held her one final time.
Then he walked away.
Emily listened to his footsteps fading into the darkness.
When the sound disappeared completely, she returned slowly to the château.
But sleep had already abandoned her.