Introduction

Set in the city of Amiens, Northern France in the 19th Century A Love Affair follows two young lovers. The story begins in 1822 and takes us through to 1831. During their courtship Amelie and Etienne have to overcome a number of unforeseen obstacles.preventing their living 'happily ever after'.

14 year-old Etienne Antoine Charles Fournier, is the son of the Mayor of Amiens, Monsieur Antoine Charles Fournier. 12 year-old Amelie Charlotte Gardet, was born two and a half years after Etienne to Thomas and Charlotte Gardet.

The friendship between Antoine Fournier and Amelie's parents is long-standing, so it was virtually inevitable the two offspring would fall in love. The little girl Etienne had never really noticed before, is to him suddenly, the most beautiful girl in the world.

The fates are destined to interfere with young Etienne. His mother died at childbirth [or so he was told by his father], but then he discovers his father was lying to him. This sets in train a number of critical events where he loses his memory, is called Alexandre, recovers after a couple of years, to find his mother has returned but his father has died.

Amelie has grown even more beautiful and for a short while, they share the bliss of being in each others company. Amelie goes to Paris with her employers the Charpentiers, leaving Etienne bereft until his mother by sheer good fortune, decides to visit Paris.

There, Etienne falls in with some rogues and is beaten to within an inch of his life. He is thrown apparently dead, into the Seine and somehow survives this trauma, but once again has lost his memory.

He becomes a 'bargee' on the Seine, recovers his memory later and then is told his mother died shortly after he disappeared and consequently with both parents dead, Etienne is now one of the richest men in France. Amelie more than two years later, has given up any hope of finding Etienne and succumbs to the charms of another, whom she marries.

Etienne has also given up hope after he recovers, for he is disfigured and maimed after the beating, so believes Amelie would spurn him. He finds what he believes to be love, but realises he cannot be unfaithful to his only really true love and deserts his wife on their wedding night.

Amelies husband dies after a few short years together and by chance [perhaps] Etienne and Amelie attempt to find each other when it is too late. So begins

A TIME For LOVE

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