Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) Part 3, Letters 96-100 Summary

Letter 96: The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil

Valmont congratulates the Marquise on her victory over Prévan, but he has just as big a success to share.
He digresses to tell her how much he's enjoying his slow seduction of Madame de Tourvel and how she's walking toward her doom without realizing it.
Here's his big success: Now having a key to Cécile's room, Valmont sneaks in at night.
He feels entitled to her for all he's done for her and Danceny.
He wakes her and forces her to have sex with him despite her tears and protests.
He tells her that no one will believe she didn't consent. How else to explain the key she gave him?
We get totally TMI about this encounter.
The next day, Cécile looks pretty sad. Her mother and Tourvel are both worried about her. Valmont's enjoying this.

In shock, Cécile writes to the Marquise, telling her everything that happened with Valmont.
She blames herself for not trying harder to stop Valmont and for agreeing under threat to another rendezvous.
She throws herself into her mother's arms, crying, but can't tell her the reason for her misery.
She begs the Marquise for advice and asks her not to tell Valmont that she wrote to her.

Troubled by her daughter's behavior and worried for her health, Madame de Volanges asks the Marquise for advice.
She writes that she's reconsidering the marriage proposal, not wanting her daughter to marry one man and love another.
On the other hand, she dreads disappointing Gercourt, who was kind enough to offer marriage.
She fears a marriage of convenience that would just lead to unhappiness and eventual cheating.
She trusts the Marquise will give her wise advice.

Cécile locks her door from the inside, preventing Valmont from getting in.
He's irked at being outwitted by "a child."
He has better success with Madame de Tourvel.
An opportunity arises when he can talk with her alone in her room.
She pleads with him not to speak of his love.
So of course he does.
She falls to her knees and prays, then turns to Valmont begging him in tears to leave.
He raises her to her feet and she ceases to sob.
Later that evening she sits with him as he plays cards.
When they part that night she squeezes his hand.
Valmont expects the game to be won the next day.
He tells the Marquise to get ready to pay him his reward very soon.

Madame de Tourvel has secretly left while Valmont sleeps.
Madame de Rosemonde tells him she returned home for her health.
Madame de Volanges doesn't seem to have been involved in Tourvel's sudden departure.
Nevertheless, Valmont promises himself that he'll take revenge on her through her daughter.
He can't believe how deceitful women can be. He's filled with rage and humiliation.
It kills him that he can't tell anyone about it.
When he gets his hands on Tourvel again, he'll have no pity. Who does she think she is?
He'll make her feel everything he's feeling right now.
He'll be sending instruction to his valet who still has access to Tourvel's chambermaid.