Page 32 of The Autumn Wife
With Marie’s arm under her own, walking shoulder-to shoulder, Cecile listened to her news as they merged into the crowd roaming the grassy verge of the market. Around them, several dozen canvas-covered stands stood on the grass. Cecile glimpsed Algonquin and Huron families setting up blankets piled high with beaver, martin, and fox furs. She startled as she glimpsed the blue woolen uniforms of some fort soldiers who were milling about. She swiftly tugged Marie down the road away from the kind of men who might arrest her someday.
Then she stumbled to a stop.
Marie frowned. “Are you all right?”
No, she wasn’t all right, but all she could do was shake her head. For coming out of a tavern—a dozen paces away—was another person she hadn’t expected to see today, striding right toward them with his head down.
“Oh my,” Marie muttered, following the path of Cecile’s stare. “Who’sthat?”
“Theo Martin.”
She whispered his name with a quiver. Theo wore his Sunday best, his brushed-to-a-shine beaver coat flung open in defiance of the cold, the corner of a letter poking out of a pocket. In finer clothing than his mason’s smock, he looked like a free man of the world, though preoccupied with some important matter. Her heart performed a tumbling twist as he came closer.
“Such a strong, dangerous-looking fellow.” Marie bent her lips close to her ear. “I always figured such a man wasmyweakness, not yours.”
“Stop, Marie.”
She’d spoken too loudly.
Theo jerked up his head. His gait hitched as his pale green gaze—as bright as a lighthouse lantern—slammed into hers.
He blurted, “Cecile.”
“Hello, Theo.”
Beside her, Marie sucked in a gasp.
Cecile dipped in a bobbing little curtsey, wincing even as she did it, for Marie knew that was a nervous tic of hers. She struggled to find something to say to Theo, who looked as stunned as she felt. Every time she encountered him, she felt like she had a thousand things to say, but no capacity to speak a single word. For what was there to say, when, in three weeks andfive days, their lives would head in opposite directions?
Marie broke the spell. “Sir, are you Monsieur Theo Martin?”
Theo shifted his attention to her and nodded.
“Ah!” Marie cocked her head, curiosity in her eyes. “Mother Superior just told me all about you. You are the new overseer at the chapel building site?”
Theo nodded again, this time with a bow, then his gaze returned to Cecile as if it had been stretched too long in the wrong direction.
“Sister Martha praised you to the stars.” A ribbon of delight lifted Marie’s voice. “Indeed, my husband, who has been wanting to build a church on our land, was so impressed he began to consider stone—”
“Cecile, there you are!” Sister Martha came up from behind them, sailing to a stop. “Etienne just told me you’d arrived. I hadn’t meant to summon you to Montreal, my dear. I know how uncomfortable you are in crowds. Has there been a misunderstanding?”
“No—no.” She drew in a breath, doubly rattled. “I thought—”
“You’ve caught us, Sister Martha.” Marie pulled Cecile close to her side. “I lured her here for a long gossip. It has been forever since I’ve seen her. I couldn’t help sweeping her away. Am I keeping her from important work?”
“Of course not, Madame Girard.” The nun’s blue gaze shifted among their little crowd. “But nowthat she’s here, I could use her help. Cecile, I have a few last purchases to make, and you haggle better than I do.”
“If you would excuse me, ladies.” Theo broke into the conversation with a bend of his neck. “I have business in town that needs attending.”
Then he was gone, leaving Cecile mentally gasping.
Marie piped up again, and Sister Martha responded, but Cecile didn’t hear a word of their lively conversation. One single glance from those green, green eyes, and her yearning for his kiss roared back.
Her heart was lost.
Truly, desperately lost.
“Ah, my husband is coming.” Marie, with a twist, threw an arm around Cecile’s neck, whispering into her ear, “I saw lightning arcing between you two,” before pulling away with a look of utter delight. “Goodbye for now, and remember my invitation. We would love to have you for the winter. We have so much to talk about!”
