Page 44 of Only You
‘I’m sorry—’
She pushed him, and Damien grabbed her arms, pulling her into his chest, her face a hair’s breadth away from his. Yet, he wasn’t angry. If anything, he looked remorseful as he tightened his grip on her arms. She struggled against him.
‘Get off of me, you coward!’
‘Roulet kicked me out.’
She immediately stopped fighting and stared at him in shock. ‘What?’
‘He saw me comforting you in the garden last time I visited. He forced me to go back to the caserns and stay there. There was no way for me to contact you,’ he explained.
‘B–But you left me a letter. I wrote back to you several times. You didn’t answer!’
‘Roulet made me write it. I answered your letters, I swear, but I see they never made it.’
It took the wind out of her anger, forcing her to swallow the bitterness of the situation. There was a chance that he could be lying to her, but the disappearance felt out of character for him. If he truly thought it was over, he would look her right in the eye and tell her so. He protected her feelings, but he didn’t lie to her.
She felt a small flutter of hope as she looked him in the eye. ‘So…’
‘I didn’t abandon you. Not on purpose. I wanted to come back. I just didn’t know how,’ he explained.
It felt like a curtain being lifted. Weeks of being distraught at the thought of him no longer being in her life, leaving her, only to find out it wasn’t him running away. He’d kept his word. She was right about him.
She took a shuddering breath as she leaned on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes tightly, barely holding back her tears of relief. She twisted her hands into his jacket, hoping he wouldn’t let her go anytime soon. He kissed the top of her head and her shoulders relaxed.
It was good to be home.
‘What are you doing out here by yourself? I heard Cadieux was trailing your every move,’ he murmured against her hair.
‘Madame Roulet suggested I take a walk.’ Sabine fiddled with one of his brass buttons. ‘Truth be told, she’s the only thing keeping me sane these days.’
‘Lamont?’
‘And his mother,’ she said. ‘It’s like being frozen slowly. I try to imagine living with them and it’s just… it’ll be impossible.’
She felt Damien sigh, but he didn’t say anything. She was glad he didn’t. She wouldn’t be able to handle him telling her she could survive when all she desired was a chance to live for herself. She nuzzled her cheek against his chest before daring to open her eyes.
The first thing she noticed was how dark the sky had gotten. Madame Roulet had said the general would be gone all night but she didn’t want to worry her. She sighed before stepping away from Damien’s embrace.
‘I have to head back,’ she said. She stroked his face, wanting to linger in the moment as much as possible.
He frowned but kissed her palm. ‘I’ll find a way to write to you.’
‘I’ll be waiting.’
She stepped back before the urge to kiss him was too strong. It was already dangerous enough that she held him for so long. She adjusted her cape and walked back towards the house, supressing the tears that sprung up with every step. It took her a while to notice the footsteps behind her, and she looked over her shoulder to see Damien lingering a few feet back. She stopped with a raise of her brow.
‘What are you doing?’
‘It’ll be dark soon enough,’ he said. ‘A young lady shouldn’t be out here by herself, and I’ve heard I make good company.’
‘And who told you this?’
‘A princess I met a long time ago,’ he said. ‘A foreigner, but quite charming.’
The words made her pause as affection bloomed. It could have been the way the light caught Damien’s hazel eyes or the velvety tone or how the fading sunlight danced over his brown skin – anything equally superficial. It would have been much easier to toy and flirt with that feeling than succumb to the fondness that constantly weighed on her heart. Already it was like being welcomed by a warm flame. How was she to resist it after being cold for so long?
‘Let’s go see the Jardin des Plantes,’ she suggested. ‘They’re not far and, if I remember correctly, you’re as fond of them as I am.’
