It was possible that someone in this room meant me harm, and if I let my emotions take over, I would never be able to figure it out. My gaze glided across the crowded space, but I couldn’t find the man with the mustache. My eyes veered to Beatriz who was a good distance away. She was smiling and chatting with another woman, completely unaware of me or what I was doing.
I glanced around for Edward and noticed my sister, Georgina, talking to him with an animated expression. I could tell by the excited, tentative way she looked at him she was hoping he would ask her to dance. He said something in response, and then with his hands behind his back, he walked away abruptly.
How…rude. How utterly rude.
Why would he act that way towards my sister?
I didn’t have time to contemplate that more deeply because someone cleared his throat. “May I?”
I turned to find Leo standing next to me, his hand extended, his eyes twinkling as if he knew his presence made me uncomfortable and that fact brought him great pleasure.
I did not like him. At all.
“I’m sorry, but I was just about to find the powder room. Please excuse me.”
I brushed past him, stashing the note in a hidden pocket at the side of my dress, but he caught my hand and drew me back forcefully. Gasping, I tried to stifle the outrage on my face so we wouldn’t draw attention from the others. “What do you think you’re doing? Let me go.”
“If the only way I’m going to be able to get a minute alone with you is to ask you to dance…then dance we will.”
I was about to protest further when I happened to glance at Queen Anne. She was watching us closely, one eyebrow raised as if daring me to cause a scene. The last thing I wanted was for her to disapprove of me, so I stamped down my derision and smiled politely. “Fine. One dance. That is all I have time for.” A feeling of exhaustion washed over me. I would rest after the dance was over.
He nodded, a knowing smile on his lips as he took my hand and pulled me closer. I wanted to wipe that smile off his face and tell him to stay away, but I couldn’t do that with the other guests nearby. My stomach heaved from the guilt of being so close to this man, or maybe I truly was getting sick. Either way, everything about Leo rubbed me the wrong way, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this was awry.
He whirled me around the dance floor, his eyes never leaving my face. It sickened me…the way he stared at me…and I wished he would just stop. Maybe he was only trying to get under my skin because he sensed I didn’t like it. I glanced over to find Edward watching us from across the room, his gaze following our every movement, his jaw tight, shoulders stiff. If Leo’s goal was to make Edward jealous, it was definitely working because he looked incredibly…angry. His eyes flamed, and I thought he might storm over and separate us, but he eventually turned his back, and I knew he was attempting to control himself because his fists were clenching and unclenching.
He didn’t know…did he? He had no idea about me and Leo before… before I’d lost my memory. Oh, please, Lord. Please don’t let him know. I immediately felt guilty for praying that God would hide my sin. At some point, I needed to deal with this—ask for God’s forgiveness and beg for His mercy.
A deep sadness swept over me, and all of a sudden, I felt exhausted, like my legs might buckle any second. “I…I need to sit down. I’m not feeling so well.”
Leo chuckled. “But we haven’t even had a chance to talk. There are many things I’d like to say to you, ma chérie.”
The French endearment didn’t sound as sweet on his lips as it did when Edward used it. It left a sour sensation in the pit of my stomach. He had no right to call me that.
His mouth curled up on one side and there was a hollow, dead look behind his eyes as if he lacked kindness or empathy. “I will never let you go. You must know that. We were very much in love. You will remember. I will help you remember.”
I will never let you go.
Suddenly, I was dancing with Leo in another ballroom, at another time in the past.
My gold dress swished as he took my hand and twirled me around. I laughed from the sudden movement, but an uneasy feeling quickly replaced my smile. I had to announce my intentions, and he wouldn’t like what I had to say.
“I can’t see you anymore. Edward has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted.”
He stopped mid-step and gaped at me. “You can not be serious. Tell me you are playing with me right now, Annette. Tell me this is a joke.” His eyes sparked with so much fury, I jerked and nearly stumbled backward.
Swallowing, I slid my gaze to his. “I’ve been honest with you about my feelings. I love Edward. You’ve always known that. You said you were okay with it—”
“We can’t even be friends?”
I hesitated. “In theory, yes, but I can’t see you anymore, not after today.” I chewed on my bottom lip and looked away. “Surely, you get that? We have a history. Edward wouldn’t like it, and besides, I have a lot on my mind right now. I’ve been looking into my mother’s death and I suspect foul play. I don’t expect you to understand, but this is important to me. Between checking into that and planning a wedding…”
“I will never let you go, Annette. Don’t think you can leave me and everything will be fine.”
“Are you threatening me?”
He chuckled sardonically. “I am warning you, my love. You will never be free of me.” He pulled me in closer, and I squirmed to escape, but he was too strong. “You and I are like Romeo and Juliet. Some loves are so intense they burn out together in a flame of fire.”
Horror enveloped me, and all I wanted was to get away from him. I shuddered at the way he looked at me, the way he eyed me as if I were his possession. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying…don’t cross me and don’t ever think about leaving me.”
“You need to get used to the idea. After today, we can’t spend time with each other. I mean it, Leo. I’m very serious about this.”
“Go ahead. Try it and see what happens.”
His face faded and blurred and then I was back in the castle ballroom, terror consuming the space between us like a tangible thing. “I…I need to sit down. I’m not…feeling well.”
Before I could protest, he wrapped his arm around my waist and hurried me out the door to the spacious hallway where the staff had strategically placed chairs for the guests. I wanted to fight him, but I didn’t have the strength. My skin felt extremely hot and my body seemed to be slowly shutting down. I needed to stop this, but I couldn’t. “What are you doing?” I just barely succeeded in speaking the words.
A wave of dizziness and nausea overtook me, and I stumbled, my limbs going limp. He tightened his grip around my waist and brought me to one of the chairs, lowering me into it.
His eyes turned pleading as he hovered over me. “Annette, if you only knew how much I need you.”
“Stay away from me. I’m married to Edward now. Whatever you think there is between us—it’s over.” My stomach roiled from the exertion it took to say the words, and sweat broke out on my brow. An all-consuming need to lie down overtook me, and I swayed in my seat.
Leo cupped the left side of my face and trailed his finger along my skin. His hands were rough and sweaty and it felt as if bugs crawled everywhere his fingers touched. I attempted to pull back, but he held me firmly. “Annette…my darling.”
Tears pricked my eyelids because I didn’t know how to escape, how to rid myself of this evil man. Physically, I felt too weak or I would have bolted a long time ago.
“Please, let go of me,” I whispered, holding back a sob.
He flashed a knowing smile as if he truly believed I would eventually come to his way of thinking. And then suddenly he was being pulled away from me, and Edward was standing before us like an avenging angel, his brows lowered, his expression tight and angry. His accusing eyes swung from Leo to me, and I could see it in his face: he didn’t understand what was going on here. He thought this was
a tête-à-tête, a private moment of sorts…a lover’s rendezvous.
“Edward, it’s not what you think.”
Chapter 10
Annette
Edward ignored me and directed his attention to Leo. “Why were you touching my wife like that? What makes you think you can get away with that here of all places?”
Leo just stared at him and then he smiled. “I was only helping her. She wasn’t feeling well, so I—”
“You should have alerted me at once.”
“You were busy with your guests.”
“I’m never too busy for Annette.”
Leo chuckled. “Look at you…you’re so…jealous.” He waved a hand in the air. “I would be too if I had a wife as beautiful as—”
“Stay away from her. This is the only time I will say it. Don’t come near her again or you will be banned from all royal events. I only allow you here because it would cause great shame to your family if I didn’t, and they don’t deserve that.”
The smile slipped from Leo’s face, replaced by an angry expression. “Come on, Edward, don’t give me that. You allow me to attend your events because you want to keep an eye on me. We both know that.”
“You’re right. There’s a saying. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
“Put yourself in my position.”
“I can’t because I would never cause anyone to betray their marriage vows.”
“You can ban me from this place, but you can’t ban me from her heart.”
The blood drained from Edward’s face, and he looked deathly pale. The skin underneath one of his eyes twitched, and his lips tightened. He ran a hand through his hair and released a breath.
“He’s not in my heart,” I managed to say, though I was fading fast, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could do this. The room seemed way too cold against my blazing skin, and I needed to lay down. Very soon. I just had to say one last thing. “Edward…I don’t love—”
“Stop.” Edward put up a hand to halt my words. “I don’t want to hear what you were about to say.”
“But—”
“She doesn’t love you,” Leo said, grinning. “Can’t you see it?” His laugh was mocking as he turned to look Edward directly in the eyes. “She will always leave you and return to me.”
Without any warning, Edward punched Leo on the side of his jaw, and I flinched as Leo stumbled back, hitting the wall with a loud thump. It was so loud I half-expected our guests to pour out of the ballroom to investigate at any moment. Leo’s hand covered the side of his face, his eyes flaring. He looked as if he were weighing his options, trying to decide if he wanted to engage in a fight with the Prince of Calais. And then just as I’d thought, the ballroom doors opened and members of Edward’s security team raced to the scene.
“Everything’s fine,” Edward said. “We’re okay.”
Leo straightened his jacket and stepped back. “I was just leaving.”
I couldn’t hold it together any longer and slumped over in my chair.
***
I woke in a darkened room, trying to figure out where I was, my eyes blinking to clear my vision. Scanning the space, recognition settled in. I was in my room, in my own bed. My body ached, and I felt hot and cold at the same time. There was this huge fog in my head, making it difficult to comprehend what was happening. I put a hand at my brow and wrinkled my forehead. Just think.
Oh… Leo and I were dancing, and I wasn’t feeling well, so he’d led me out of the ballroom. And then Edward found us, and he struck Leo. I must have passed out after that.
There was a soft murmuring of voices nearby, and I concentrated in order to hear what they were saying.
“It appears she has the flu. Make sure she takes Acetaminophen every four hours until her fever breaks. Do not exceed ten doses in twenty-four hours and call me if her fever rises or she doesn’t improve.”
“Thank you, doctor.” It was Edward’s voice.
“I suggest you send someone in to attend to her needs.”
“No need. I will do that myself.” There was an edge to his tone that made my skin prickle.
As the doctor walked out the door, dread filled me, and I wanted to yell for him to come back, to not leave me alone with Edward. He was angry, he thought something happened between Leo and me outside the ballroom. I’d seen his face…the fury, the absolute hatred. Maybe it was all directed at Leo, but I would be stupid to think some of it wasn’t focused on me. I snuck a peek at him while he lingered at the doorway. His tired, drawn expression had a hopelessness about it I hadn’t seen before, but he didn’t look mad. Just resigned.
I had done that to him. This was all my fault.
Tears sprang to my eyes, and I shut my eyelids as my shoulders gently shook with silent sobs. This was agony…not knowing what happened with Leo. Did I truly betray my husband? The evidence seemed to point that way, but every part of me recoiled at the notion.
What about Edward? Did he believe I cheated on him? Did he suspect? Maybe he’d known all along, and I wasn’t safe with him.
But as he moved towards the bed, I sensed he was more concerned than angry. I kept my eyes shut and slowed my breathing so he would think I was still asleep. He traced a finger over my cheekbone, and I felt his gaze upon my face. “Je t'aime,” he whispered, and there was no translation this time since he didn’t know I was awake.
I repeated the phrase several times in my head. Je t'aime. Je t'aime. Je t'aime. I would have to find out what it meant later. Right now, I could barely think, considering my head was swimming and my body felt like a heavy weight pressed down upon it.
Edward shook my shoulder gently. “Annette. Wake up. I need to give you medicine.”
I allowed myself to stir and glanced at him dazedly. “Edward?”
“Yes, it’s me. Can you sit up?”
I tried, but I was so weak, I ended up sinking back into the bed. He put his hands behind my shoulders and lifted me up to a sitting position. The room spun like an out-of-control-carnival ride as I put my fingers over my eyes and attempted to gain my equilibrium.
“The doctor said you need Acetaminophen to bring down the fever.” He opened a bottle and took out two capsules. Handing them to me, he surveyed me, one eyebrow lifting. “You don’t look so good.”
“Believe me,” I said, sounding drunk even though I hadn’t had any alcohol. “I’m aware.” The sound of my voice made me laugh. I sounded so ridiculous.
“You’re delirious.” He motioned for me to put the capsules in my mouth and once I did, he lifted a glass of water to my lips. I swallowed the pills and closed my eyes, feeling enormously tired.
He helped me ease onto my back and placed his hand over my forehead. “Let me get you a cold cloth.” He headed in the direction of the bathroom and returned a minute later with the cloth. He wiped it across my forehead and left it there. “Go back to sleep. You’re going to need it to get better.”
“You’re so bossy,” I said, trying not to smile, because, despite my earlier suspicions, I liked his attention right now. It felt…nice.
He smiled the slightest bit as if he were doing it against his will. “Always.”
“How did my old self react to the bossy Prince of Calais?”
His smile grew wider. “She didn’t let me get away with anything.”
“Oh yeah? What about you? Did you let her get away…” I trailed off. What was I thinking? That question would only lead him to think of Leo. Ugh. I wanted to kick myself for making such as stupid blunder. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. When I opened them again, Edward was regarding me with a guarded expression. He searched my eyes for something… Maybe he just wanted to know the truth like I did.
He patted my arm. “No more talking. Go to sleep. I’ll be right here.”
I drifted off after that and hours later, I woke with a start, feeling more coherent and much better than I had earlier. I glanced at the clock and saw it was midnight. I turned over and Edward was still si
tting next to my bed, but this time he was in a more comfortable lounge chair, his head tilted back, his chest rising and falling with his breathing.
He stayed with me? My heart swelled at the realization that he hadn’t left my side this entire time. How had I not trusted him? How had I thought for even a second he would harm me? Despite the uneasiness I’d felt about Edward these past couple of weeks, and despite what Reginald Thompson said about me not trusting Edward before my memory loss, my intuition was screaming at me, begging me to trust him. I felt it in my gut. He cared about me deeply. It would be so easy to let down my guard—to let it all go.
My eyes slid to the awkward position of his neck, the way it fell back and to the side a little. It would hurt in the morning if he didn’t stretch it out by lying on a flat surface. I needed to wake him so he could go to his own room.
I rolled over and swung my legs off the side. “Edward.” I got up and gently shook his shoulder.
He groaned but didn’t respond.
I shook him a little harder this time. “Edward.”
Another groan and then, “Annette. Please. Please don’t…”
I leaned in. He was talking in his sleep, but what was he trying to say?
“Annette, please. Don’t…”
“Don’t what?” I asked in a quiet voice.
“Don’t stop loving me,” he mumbled.
I bit down on my bottom lip, my heart aching from those softly spoken words. They burrowed down into my gut and dug a hole so big I felt empty and alone. He thought I no longer loved him, or at least, he worried that my love would die. I placed my hands on the sides of my head. Why, oh, why can’t I remember? Please, God, if you are there, let me remember something.
And then an image flashed before my eyes as if I were watching a movie screen, and I saw myself walking arm-in-arm with a man.
His face was blurred, and we weren’t talking, so I couldn’t tell who it was exactly, but we were laughing as we walked down a trail of some kind. And I felt this immense joy…this love. It was so strong it nearly overpowered me. Suddenly, he stopped and swept me into his arms and kissed me so thoroughly I was weak in the knees. When he pulled back, his face came into view, and this time it wasn’t fuzzy.
The Prince's Bewildered Bride (The Blushing Brides Book 5) Page 9
