Bram blinked at me. “Lied? About what?”
“About who I was.” I ran a hand back through my hair. “I wanted to tell you. There were several times where it was on the tip of my tongue, but … I didn’t want you to treat me differently when you learned about me.”
“Learned …” Bram tilted his head. “Whatever do you mean?”
My breath caught in my throat.Oh.He didn’t know.
“Bram …” I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. “I … I thought you would have heard when my aunt arrived. I’m … I’m a marquis.”
Bram watched me, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips, as if waiting for me to finish a joke. “And you didn’t think I would work that out on my own?”
A sense of relief flooded through me. “I should have figured you’d piece it together. And I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner.”
Bram shrugged away my apology. “But something did just occur to me. You’re a marquis. And you were literally waiting on a count. When you’re his superior.” He put a hand to his mouth as if to stifle a laugh.
“It’s not funny,” I protested, smacking his shoulder.
“It’s a little funny,” Bram said, snorting.
“Okay. Maybe a little.”
We grinned at each other.
“Does this change anything between us …?” I asked tentatively.
“Change anything? Well, it certainly exacerbates the issue. As a marquis, you will have all eyes on you. What can I do to help?”
“Just promise you won’t give up,” I said. “Please. You’re my only real friend and … I need you. I’m surrounded by enemies, and I still need to make it to my eighteenth birthday without being shackled to a repugnant life. I must find a way to escape my duty. Then there will at least be options before me.”
Bram closed his eyes for a moment and nodded to himself. He let out a breath and his eyes seemed clearer when he reopened them. “Can you leave in the middle of the night if I have a horse waiting?”
I shook my head. “The doors are guarded.”
Bram chewed on his lower lip, looking thoughtful. “A distraction will be necessary. I’ll have to come up with something. Perhaps I can arrange for food poisoning.”
My eyes widened.“Bram.”
“Ifit comes to it. Should your aunt decide to whisk you back to La Vallée, I might not know until it’s too late.”
“I would find a way to send word.”
“See that you do. And if I come up with some way to secret you out of that infernal château, I’ll find a way to let you know. Just be ready at a moment’s notice. Have a bag packed. Can you do that for me?”
I nodded.
“Good man.” Bram gazed into my eyes with worry. “Please be careful, Emile.”
“I will. And thank you.”
Bram nodded, determination set in his jaw. I was asking a lot of him, and I wanted to assure him that it would all work out, but I couldn’t make such a promise. Any talk of our future would need to wait for a more opportune time, not during a brief exchange in a broom closet. I would have to be content knowing that conversation was yet to come.
“Promise you won’t do anything reckless on my behalf,” I said. “It may be too late for me, but I won’t let you throw your future away. Your practice needs you. This town needs its doctor.”
He squeezed my hand and gestured to the closet door. “I’m glad to see you’re alright, and I intend to keep you that way.”
I opened the door a crack and looked around before darting out. It was only when I was halfway across the room that I realized he’d never promised not to put himself in danger.
“Ihave a surprise for you.”
