“If I learned one thing whileimprisoned—”
“Oh, Valentin, no, I can’t bear to think of you suffering so!” she cried, though he silenced her with a finger pressed gently to her lips.
“Your sister and brother-in-law might hear us, my love. These walls are not so thick that sound won’t carry.”
He’d called hermy love, Estelle exulted, knowing Mattie might return any moment and sensing Valentin must have something importanthe wanted to tell her. She nodded, which made him pull her against him once more and cradle her in his arms.
“If I learned one thing, it was that life is fleeting and precious and there is no time to waste. As soon as I’m crowned, no one can alter my wishes…and it’s my wish to take you as my wife. Say you’ll marry me, Estelle. I’ve dreamed of nothing else for so long. I’ve loved you for so long—”
“Yes, I’ll marry you! Oh, Valentin…” Tenderly, she reached up to touch his face, the hard planes in sharp relief against her fingers.
A beloved face she prayed in time would lose any trace of gauntness as she swore to herself she would do her best to make him forget the horror he’d endured on her and her family’s behalf.
Her courageous, selfless, beloved hero, Valentin.
His lips found hers,his kiss so gentle at first but becoming impassioned within seconds as if he, too, wanted to drown out all else in his mind other than the sensation of his mouth plundering hers.
Then reluctantly, with a ragged groan, he set her away from him and moved to open the door. Already a low, lilting tune reached them, Mattie humming to herself in the distance, the sound drawing closer and closer.
“Good night, my love.” Clearly allowing himself no more than to grasp her fingers, Valentin lifted them to his lips and kissed them. “Our secret will be a hard one to bear, but only for a few more days. Then we’ll be together for all to see—good night!”
He disappeared into the shadows as Mattie came around the corner bearing a pitcher, yet she started, water sloshing, when she saw Estelle standingthere against the doorjamb.
“Miss Easton?”
Estelle couldn’t speak, overwhelmed by happiness as she glanced down the hall where Valentin had vanished as if the last moments had been a dream.
Yet her lips still aching from his kiss told her otherwise. Her rampant heartbeat told her otherwise. His words forever etched onto her heart told her otherwise.
I’ve loved you for so long…
