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Amelie nodded silently, but inwardly she sighed. So, that was it then, it wasn’t really going to be her choice at all. Once again, Fleur was going to insist she knew what Amelie wanted, even over Amelie’s own protests. There was no chance of Fleur choosing someone who Amelie actually wanted, only someone she thought would be best for Amelie. Well, Amelie didn’t want to end up with a husband whom she never chose herself, and she certainly didn’t want to have to go through the humiliation of meeting with suitor after suitor, sending them all away. When Fleur described the kind of qualities in a man all Amelie could think was that they sounded rather boring and, well, safe. Amelie didn’t know why she should be denied the same kind of passion that had found Fleur and Pascal just because it was dangerous.

Being with Evan even just briefly had shown her a whole new world. It had opened her eyes and her heart to all the possibilities of the world. She had enjoyed her first kiss, and her soul had been enlivened. She wanted more, but she also wanted it on her own terms. She knew that if she allowed Fleur dominion over her heart, then she would never have it filled. Evan may not have been the right man for her to end up with, but she would always be grateful to him for showing her that she was capable of venturing into the world of romance, and she was certain that when she did meet the right man she would be ready. She just needed to make sure he wasn’t a ladies’ man like Evan, but he certainly wouldn’t be boring, nor safe, and when she found him she wanted to choose him all by herself, not have him selected by hand and presented to her by Fleur. Part of the fun of being in love was falling in love, after all, and both of her siblings’ forays into romance were so impressive because of the ways they had met their respective partners. An exciting story could not come when it began with, ‘My sister chose my husband for me…’

It was crystal clear by now that she needed some time away from her family. She just had to find a way to tell Pascal that she was going to leave again.

* * *

Breakfast was coming to an end. Amelie glanced towards Pascal, indicating that she needed some time alone with him. She gestured to a corner of the room and they went off alone. She pulled out her slate.

I need to return to the nunnery.

Pascal’s face fell. “I was hoping that ye would stay here. I know it’s a lot tae take in, but if ye give it a chance…”

She scribbled again. I want to give it a chance, but I’m not ready yet. It has been wonderful to see you. I hope that I will come and live here soon, but I still have work to do in the convent. They need me more than you need me. She wore a sad smile.

“I dinnae think that’s true,” Pascal said, offering her an affectionate smile. He put an arm around her shoulder and sighed. “I suppose I can hardly stop ye from yer divine work. I just hope ye will think about coming back here. It’s nae the same without ye. I miss seeing ye every day.”

I miss you too. She wrote, knowing just what to say to Pascal to allow her to leave without him causing a fuss. And one day I will come back here, perhaps forever.

“That would be wonderful. There will always be a chamber for ye here, Amelie,” he said, a wide smile adorning his face. She hated to be anything less than entirely earnest with him, but she knew that there was no other way for her to make her departure. Pascal assured her that he would make plans, and they would be ready whenever she wanted to leave. She bowed her head towards him, while he put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks.

“Hopefully things will calm down a wee bit here and I will be able tae come by the nunnery again. I know that Bridget hae been speaking about returning there. That place will always be special tae us,” he said. Amelie nodded, but she couldn’t help thinking that she would like a place that was special to her as well. She kissed him on the cheeks as well and then left the chamber, catching sight of Evan as she did so. Her heart clenched. The bridge and the pond would be special because of him, but he wasn’t the man to whom her heart should belong. She hadn’t met him yet, but she was excited by the possibility.