Chapter 12
The two guards stared, too, clearly wondering if anything was amiss as Robert quickly recovered himself enough to take the rattling tray from Estelle before she could drop it.
“Ah, yes, a light supper for His Highness, I’d almost forgotten.” He had only to nod and the guards at once closed the doors with a resounding thud, leaving him to stare anew at Estelle as if hedidn’t know quite what to do next. “Miss Easton, forgive me, but I thought you were a maidservant—”
“Please, Robert, I have no time to explain. I must see Valentin! Is he here?”
The valet gave her a look of such kind understanding that Estelle felt tears sting her eyes, but she forced them back as Robert set down the tray and indicated that she follow him. She no longer paid any heed to thesumptuous surroundings, her sole focus upon seeing Valentin again—her beloved!
“He’s in the drawing room,” Robert said quietly, indicating a closed door. “He hasn’t slept, hasn’t eaten…but I imagine neither have you.”
Estelle shook her head, her heart in her throat as she reached for the gilded door handle. Then she stopped, glancing behind her to thank Robert, but he had already walked away.Her hand trembled as she opened the door.
“Valentin?”
She’d scarcely whispered, her voice catching as he spun around from a huge fireplace and stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She had no more than taken another step into the room before he crossed the floor in three strides and swept her into his arms.
“Estelle!”
Her arms flew around his neck as he crushed her againsthim, lifting her from her feet to twirl her around. His mouth found hers and he kissed her until she was breathless, Estelle tasting the saltiness of her tears on his lips.
She couldn’t say how long they held each other, she was oblivious to all else but him, until she felt her feet touch the floor again as he gently set her down. He glanced at her clothing, and then searched her eyes.
“Withyou dressed like that, my love, Adam cannot know you’re here.”
My love! His endearment like a balm to the despair that still lingered in her heart, she sighed in acknowledgement. “I can only hope he and my sister are sleeping. Mattie took my place in my bed.”
“A generous act, truly. I wanted to stop by your room earlier, but Adam thought it best we remain apart—”
“Oh, Valentin, what are weto do?” Estelle cried, panic overwhelming her. “Are we never to see each other again after tomorrow? No, no, I cannot bear it!”
An anguished groan tearing from his throat, Valentin pulled her close again and hugged her fiercely. She clung to him, her cheek pressed against his chest, his heartbeat hammering in her ear.
“I’m so sorry for what you suffered last night,” he murmured, kissing herforehead. “Hortense and my privy council—damn them all!”
Estelle clutched at his shirt, feeling such utter hopelessness as she looked up to meet his eyes. “Forgive me, Valentin, for not telling you until this moment that I love you. That’s why I had to see you tonight.I love you!”
He stared at her so intently, his eyes grown wet, and then lowered his head to kiss her so desperately, so passionately,as if to affirm how much he loved her, too. Yet she pulled away a moment later, reaching up with trembling fingers to cradle his face, her voice choked with emotion.
“If we can’t remain together, give me a child, Valentin, please!Ourchild! At least then I’d still have a part of you—”
“Estelle, do you know what you’re asking of me?” His expression tormented, he drew her closer as he searchedher face. “I cannot risk your future…your chance to have a husband and a life you deserve—”
“No, I’ll never love another, Valentin! You shall be the only husband I ever know…” She raised herself on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his with such fervent tenderness that he groaned again, Estelle gasping when he suddenly swept her from her feet.
She began to tremble as he carried her from the drawingroom, his gaze never leaving hers, and down a dimly lit hallway where an open door at the far end revealed what she realized was his bedchamber.
She heard the door slam shut, realizing, too, that he must have kicked it closed, Valentin not stopping until he’d set her down beside the massive canopied bed.
“You’ll always be my wife…my only love,” he murmured, pulling her close to kiss first herparted lips, and then her closed eyelids as Estelle shivered against him.
She wasn’t cold. She tingled from her scalp to her toes as he gently swept the cap from her head and loosed the pins from the hasty knot she’d fashioned, her hair tumbling down her back.
“Estelle…”
She saw the question burning in his eyes. Valentin stood so near without touching her, but she felt no hesitation as shetook one of his hands and enmeshed her fingers with his, her love for him making her bold.
“We’ve only tonight, my dearest heart. Only tonight…”
