Part 30 (1/2)

”Simon... Hurry.”

He wouldn't do it. ”Slow down. Make it last...”

He wanted nothing more.

Chapter Twenty-Three.

France. Southeast of Rouen.

Under the summer sun, horses' hooves thundered as Simon and his party of twenty men rode toward Robert's home, Chateau Nevelon.

It had taken all Simon had to walk off his s.h.i.+p and ride away from Angelica. He'd become so accustomed to her presence, he loathed the thought of being without her.

Affections and pa.s.sions between them had not cooled over the course of the voyage. In fact, the closer they got to France, the closer they became. He knew every endearing dimple, freckle, every sweet part of her. He knew how to make her smile, and he knew what she wanted from him. Forever.

He'd spent weeks vacillating between what was right and what he wanted until the lines began to blur, until he couldn't deny that what he wanted-her-felt so right. However, in the end, he hadn't committed to her as she'd asked. Not out loud, anyway.

Not just yet.

Though, he had decided he was going make a last attempt to gain n.o.bility-to be with her. But first, he needed to speak to Robert to fully understand the new att.i.tude of their twenty-two-year-old king. How much or how little would it take to convince Louis to grant him letters of n.o.bility? He had the wealth of silver from La Estella Blanco, and he had his determination to remove Fouquet from his powerful position. Would Louis be interested in any of this?

Because of so many uncertainties and unknowns, Simon was approaching this guardedly. But with conviction. He had, therefore, not been able to bring himself to tell Angelica how much he wanted her to be a permanent part of his life. Despite her declarations that social status didn't matter, he knew from experience it did.

With a resolve he hadn't known since before Thomas's death, Simon pushed his horse, challenging those who rode with him to keep up.

Whatever it took, Louis would enn.o.ble him so that he could marry Angelica and give her all the honor she deserved. She'd changed him, brought him back to life, and revived his dream. Only this time, he didn't want it for personal gain but solely, strictly for her. She'd enriched his life, and he wanted in turn to enrich hers. Once he had his Letters, he'd tell her how much he loved her and ask her to marry him. Over the final week, it had all but killed him not to say the words he longed to voice. But he would. In time.

Simon had held back the king's seven wars.h.i.+ps, still at sea, north of Le Havre, while his own four s.h.i.+ps were at port in Rouen, replenis.h.i.+ng supplies. Immediately thereafter, two of his s.h.i.+ps would sail to Robert's Chateau Arles, in the south of France.

He'd left orders for the four s.h.i.+ps, instructions for Angelica's safety, organized two parties of men, obtained horses, and left all before Jules could disembark from the s.h.i.+p he commanded and confront him, forcing answers Simon couldn't yet give.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

It would seem he had luck on his side today.

Angelica awoke, reached out, and realized Simon was gone.

This was not new. He always rose before her and went on deck.

Sighing, she stretched. Sounds from outside drifted into the cabin, the men moving about blending with the lapping of water against the hull of the s.h.i.+p. A woman's shout pierced through the familiar, followed by children's laughter and nickering horses.

Angelica sat bolt upright. France.

She jumped out of bed and dressed at a frantic pace. Once done, she s.n.a.t.c.hed open the cabin door, startling Paul, who was walking past.

”Where is he, Paul?”

”The captain has disembarked.”

Her stomach dropped. ”Disembarked?” Without saying anything to her? ”Where are we?”

”Rouen.”

Rouen? Simon had kept her in her cabin for the last two days, making love. They had not only reached France, they'd pa.s.sed Le Havre at the mouth of the Seine and were not far from Paris. ”When will he return?” She couldn't keep the anxiety from her tone.

”I don't know. Perhaps several days. Maybe longer. He has matters to attend to.”

”What matters?”

”I'm sorry. I cannot say.”

She could feel the slow, hard thuds of her heart.

”Cannot say or will not say?”

The young man s.h.i.+fted his weight, looking uneasy and unsure how to answer.

”Paul, bring me Mathieu G.o.deau. He's second in command of this s.h.i.+p, is he not? I demand to speak to him.”

”No need, Paul, I'm here,” G.o.deau said from behind the younger man. Paul stepped aside, looking relieved as the tall blond man approached. ”What can I do for you, mademoiselle?”

”I want to know where your captain has gone.”

”The captain has left with a number of men to meet a friend. He gave me this note to give to you.”

She opened the note quickly and read the words. Brief. To the point. He was gone for two weeks. She was to stay on board. He would speak to her upon his return.

”What friend is he seeing? For what purpose?” She resented this male wall of silence.

”Mademoiselle, the captain will return soon enough. You can ask him the details of his trip then.”

”Is he going to Beaulieu? Before you tell me you cannot say, I a.s.sure you, you can. In fact, I insist! I have nowhere to go, so it's quite safe to tell me. Now, is he going to Beaulieu? Yes or no!”

The commander remained quiet.

”Answer me!”

”Yes.”

The word hit Angelica like a fist. How could he? He knew how she felt about returning there. All her hopes, all the dreams of having a lasting loving bond with him were crushed under the weight of that one ugly word. Beaulieu.

”Is there anything else?”

She shook her head. Softly, she closed the door and leaned against it. There was nothing more to ask. She crumpled the note in her hand and let it fall to the floor.