Dominique and Laurent realized fairly quickly that the pothole had ejected Nicole from the back of the wagon but by the time they had gotten the horses stopped, it seemed like forever. Dominique ran back over cobblestones to where Nicole lay unconscious. Her lips were blue and her skin white and clammy. Gathering her slight form against her breast, Dominique gently shook her and spoke with urgency, “My love, wake up! Breathe, Nicole, breathe!” Carrying her back to the wagon, Dominique and Laurent rushed to the office of Loudun’s only physician.
Pounding on his door, Dominique yelled, “Monsieur LaColle, please help me!” As he opened his door, she entreated, “it is my daughter, Nicole, she fell off our wagon. Is she breathing? Please do something!” She was becoming frantic the longer Nicole remained unconscious. Laying her on his examination table, Monsieur LaColle checked her pulse and pulling up her eyelids, looked into her eyes.
Regaining consciousness, Nicole opened her eyes and dispassionately surveyed the room. Looking at her daughter, Dominique was convinced for a fleeting moment that she saw someone she didn’t recognize in those eyes, but with a shake of her head, dispelled that odd thought. “Ma petite, are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere? Are you breathing well…I know how frightened you must have been. But I am here now.” She blurted without taking a breath between questions. She held Nicole tightly as the doctor proclaimed her well and healthy, despite the tender bump that was now developing on the back of her head.
“I am fine, Mother, never felt better. Let’s go home.” Nicole seemed on the surface to have survived her accident unscathed. But her health had always been of the utmost concern to Dominique and she worried constantly.
Over the next weeks, Nicole seemed stronger and more confident, giving Dominique permission to be a little less vigilant about her health. However, the Abbot’s increased interest in Nicole gave Dominique a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Previously, his insistence on spending time with them had included both of them but since the accident, he seemed rather more intent on taking Nicole out for walks and errands in town. Having given her little reason to trust him where young girls were concerned, she feared his own daughter might prove no exception.
Still they were dependent on his good graces and the continued protection of the Church. It was a fine line for Dominique, she could ill afford to incur his wrath yet wanted to minimize his influence on Nicole. Unable to be direct with the Abbot, Dominique instead counseled Nicole to limit her time with him, instructing her to politely decline gifts and tried to empower her to think her own thoughts as opposed to accepting his theology.
On some occasions, despite Dominique’s best efforts, Nicole would return home with coins in her pockets or treats from the town bakery. Furious, Dominique questioned her, “Nicole, how many times have I told you that we can take care of ourselves? We do not need the Abbot’s charity.” Knowing full well, they did. “Next time, you must politely decline. We pay our own way. If you want something from the bakery, I will take you and we can visit with Mary. Understood?”
Taking note of the roll of her eyes, Dominique got her agreement to abide by her rules. She thought to herself, poor child, I can’t expect her to understand. We really do need his help. But I cannot tell her what is truly worrying me. How can I tell her that this man of God is prone to violating young girls and that I am only trying to spare her the same fate that befell me?
Although she could not ask her directly if he had ever been inappropriate, Dominique feared that her innocence may already have been compromised. But, on the other hand, without any proof to her suspicions, she could not very well deny the Abbot access to his own child. Dominique felt even more determined to control the amount of time he spent with Nicole and vowed she would be there with them whenever possible.