Page 60 of Enthrall Secrets
Chapter 18
France
HEART POUNDING, I searched the house for Danton.
We’d returned from Paris three days ago and since then he’d been slowly withdrawing from me. Fear that I’d embarrassed him after he’d made such precise arrangements at Madame Delour’s haunted me as I ran from room to room.
An hour ago he’d given me Great Expectations by Charles Dickens to read and left me in the library, and only now did I suspect it was a diversion tactic as I sprinted out the front door.
With relief, I saw that his car was still parked in the driveway. But the thought of him wandering off along the beach caused me to inhale panic-drenched breaths.
I flew down the garden pathway and let out a sigh of relief when I saw him.
In what looked like a measured frenzy, Danton was dismantling the greenhouse panel by panel, throwing the glass squares down on the grass. He was halfway done with tearing our sacred hideaway apart and it was now unrecognizable.
“I was looking for you everywhere,” I said, breathing hard.
He eased apart another panel and it cracked down the center.
“Look what you’ve done now,” he snapped. “You’re a terrible distraction.”
I stepped forward. “I’m sorry. I was worried about you—”
“I have too much to do. Go back inside.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I should never have brought you here.”
“Danton, stop!”
“There’s no time. If I don’t do this who will? No one else cares about the butterflies like I do.”
“I care.”
“I’ve been selfish. Ridiculous bringing you here so you can watch me fall apart.” He faced me. “What kind of man does that to a woman he loves?”
“I want to be here.”
“I’m selfish to the core.” He yanked off his gloves and threw them down.
Moving quickly, I got close to him and cupped his face with my hands. “You’re my everything. I’m under no illusion about what challenges are ahead for us, but we agreed we’d face this together.”
He pushed me away. “I don’t want you here.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy? You’re preventing me from getting my life in order.”
Stepping back, I felt the ache in my chest burrow deeper.
“I have a car coming for you. I’ve left an envelope on the kitchen table with more than enough francs to take care of you. Go pack. Cameron will meet you at the airport.”
“Don’t.”
“Now, please.”
“Can we at least talk about it?”
