Chapter 29

29

R ays of sun streamed through the sheer white curtains of the apartment, and Chastity cracked the windows for the first time to let the fresh spring air filter through. It’s dusty , she thought dully, watching the particles floating and falling, highlighted by the sunbeam that shone through the opening in the curtains. She moved mechanically, making a sandwich for Thomas and setting it in front of him, and taking nothing for herself apart from a ripe peach.

He didn’t call. He didn’t miss me last night. He didn’t even call this morning. It’s over.

Her heart was heavy. She thought back to her walk home, shivering in the biting wind, stumbling in her pinched shoes, and heartbroken at the turn of events. The viscount’s mother was so shocked that the old painting had been there all along, and that someone had broken into their house again. Jean-Marc had been there because of her . Charles, or Monsieur de Brase—she would have to revert to his formal name—probably thought she was an accomplice. Thinking it over as she walked home, there was no doubt in her mind that if Louis knew him, it was because her ex had been supplying him with drugs.

He must have done it to get into the chateau. How had he known about the painting? Did he get back in touch with her for the same reason? She had so many questions and no way of discovering the answers since she planned never to talk to him again.

Louis’s father was not likely to come back to the school as long as she was there. She would finish the remaining three months without needing to run into him even once. She was certain he would avoid her now. At least I hope so , she tried to tell herself.

“Why, you’re home already? Didn’t Charles accompany you?” Elizabeth had been surprised and concerned when Chastity walked, windblown and alone, through the door much earlier than expected. Thomas had only just fallen asleep.

“Oh no, there was an attempted art theft,” she managed to say. “It just seemed better to come home on my own because he had a lot to manage with the police officers and his family. Can I tell you more about it on Monday? I’m just so tired right now.”

“Of course.”

Chastity could see her friend wanted to ask her more questions and was glad when she refrained. Elizabeth gathered her things and walked to the door. “Get some rest,” she said, and gave her friend a hug.

When she was gone, Chastity unzipped her dress and took her makeup off. She collapsed on the bed, hot tears streaking down her cheeks, until she finally rolled into the pillow and sobbed quietly.

“Mom, are you sad today?” Thomas’s small voice jolted her back to daylight and to reality.

“I am sad,” she answered, clearing her throat. Her eyes were heavy, and it was impossible to try and hide it from him. He accepted her admission and attacked his sandwich again. She stood and brought her tea cup to the sink, but Thomas’s next words stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Are you sad because my father’s a criminal?”

“What?” She spun around. “Why would you say that?”

“I heard him talking meanly to a kid at school and threatening him. I heard him say something about drugs.” He took a sip of his water.

“Honey, why didn’t you tell me?” Her eyes filled with tears that she blinked away.

“I didn’t remember. And then I didn’t know.” Thomas wrinkled his brow. “Or—I didn’t know it was him at first, and then I didn’t think to say anything.”

“How did you figure out it was him?” his mother prodded.

“I heard his voice when I was sleeping in the hospital, and it made me remember his voice at the school when I couldn’t see it was him.” He picked up his sandwich matter-of-factly.

“Oh.” She could find nothing to say.

“Is that why you’re sad, Mommy? Do you want me to be nice to him?”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, sweetheart. No, baby. I don’t want you to be nice to him. We’re never going to see him again.”

The door buzzer rang, and Chastity jumped to her feet, her heart beating wildly. Could it be…? She went over to the intercom. “ All? ?”

“It’s Charles,” was the clipped response. His voice sounded hard, and her hands turned to ice. Maybe he’s coming to accuse me of having something to do with the theft. She buzzed him in, forcing herself to breathe.

Charles noticed the red eyes and wan expression as soon as she opened the door, but he ignored it. He had already decided he would play it cool and not scare her away. “I came to take Thomas to the stables, if that’s okay. I gave him my word I would.”

Her eyes widened, and they both glanced towards Thomas at the table. “Oh you’re eating lunch? I suppose I’m a bit early, but you see, I’ve been up since early morning.” He glanced at Chastity and noticed that color rose to her cheeks at his unconscious reference to everything that had happened last night.

The truth was, he had barely slept at all. He had noticed her absence right away but couldn’t protect her and oversee the arrest and investigation, so he had to let her go. They had found the body of André Robin, and another skeleton that was assumed to be Pierre Ma?on. It didn’t take long for Jean-Marc Bastien to confess to the murder in hopes for a more lenient sentence, and they were still trying to figure out the extent of everything Cyril Leonard was involved in. The list was long.

Thomas jumped out of his seat. “I’m done. I’m ready to go.”

“Put on a warmer sweater, honey, and then you won’t need to wear a coat,” Chastity said.

“Perhaps you’ll need something warmer too,” Charles suggested.

“Oh.” He could see she hadn’t expected to be invited, and he had to fight not to take her in his arms. “I drove because I wasn’t sure the excitement plus a walk would be good for Thomas.”

“I think you’re right,” she managed. “I’ll go see that he finds the proper clothes.” Charles watched her walk down the corridor, putting her hands up to cool her cheeks. The windows were ajar, and he went over to close them. It was a safe neighborhood, but it didn’t do to invite temptation.

After spilling out of the car minutes later, Thomas was almost jumping up and down. She had not seen him this excited since the accident, and she turned to Charles, her face flushed with gratitude. “I don’t know how you were able to get away at a time like this—or how you knew what this means to him, but thank you.”

He laughed and shrugged. “Oh, I was a horse-mad young boy at one time.” He didn’t look angry. In fact, he looked like he was… having fun. Chastity tried to wrap her head around everything, but nothing made sense. His behavior made no sense. He should hate her.

“Mickey,” cried Thomas, going over to the now-familiar horse, whose head nodded over the stable door. “Did he win the races?”

“No. Black Star took first place,” Charles answered. He went over to Mickey’s head and patted it. “Mickey’s racing days are numbered. He’s had a very successful career and will retire soon. But we’ve got a good foal that shows promise. Solid back, strong muscles in the hindquarters. Would you like to see him?” He signaled to the older man just rounding the corner of the stables.

“Yes,” was Thomas’s enthusiastic reply.

“Grégoire, can you take Thomas to see Bold Liberty? Just for a few minutes?”

“Sure thing.” Grégoire grinned at Thomas. “Come along, young man.”

Man and boy walked towards a large paddock, and meanwhile Charles leaned over to whisper to Chastity. “I warned him we might be coming and that Thomas shouldn’t do anything over-taxing.”

She had only time to breathe a “thank you” before her son called out to her. “I’m going to get to ride a pony, Mom.”

“Excellent, Tommy,” she called back, trying to keep her voice even, although everything inside of her was fluttering. A few minutes later, Thomas reappeared, wearing a borrowed black riding helmet and polished ankle boots. A groom, leading a smart-looking pony, stopped and held the lead rope while Grégoire carefully hoisted Thomas onto the saddle. He walked in the direction of a fenced sand schooling ring with Thomas hanging on to his every word. Just before the gate closed behind them, Tommy looked back at his mother and grinned triumphantly.

They were alone.

Charles moved closer, and she could feel his warmth seeping through his clothes. She was nearly breathless as he faced her. “You left last night without saying goodbye,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I knew you were busy. And I was just so shocked. I couldn’t believe that Marc was behind all that.” When she met his gaze, he took a step closer, and her last breath fled.

But she had to be sure he knew everything. “He was the one who got your son into drugs—I’m sure of it. I just…I didn’t know how to face you after that. I can’t imagine what you must think of me.”

“Can’t you?”

She heard the smile before she saw it and glanced up doubtfully. The fact that he was smiling dared her to hope. Still. “I decided to go back to the States at the end of the school year.”

Charles shook his head. “Chastity, stay.” It almost sounded like he was pleading.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and replied without conviction. “I can’t stay. I have no one to help me with Tommy. I have to go home.”

“Really?” he said. “Because I have something of a reputation for knowing how to care for people with a brain injury.” This made her laugh, tears on the ends of her lashes.

“Chastity, stay,” Charles said, again. He closed the distance and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close. With his other hand, he lifted her face to his, his expression questioning. He must have seen assent because he bent his head and kissed her decisively—and after a moment, more deeply. Chastity leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her more securely. She couldn’t process anything but his warm lips on hers.

When he finally released her, he gave a shaky laugh. “I have wanted to do that for such a long time.”

Tears started pouring down her face again, and she wiped them with the back of her hand. “I need a Kleenex,” she sniffed. She rubbed her nose on her sleeve. “I’m a mess.”

“Good. Perfect people bore me.” Chastity gave him a watery smile in return for his own. Charles pulled her closer, and his gaze grew intent, his fingers intertwined in her curls. He kissed her red nose and fixated on her lips before he dragged himself away. “Please stay,” he said a third time, “because I plan to marry you.” His crooked smile softened the surprising declaration, though his eyes were serious.

“What? No,” she protested, but she was crying and laughing.

“You think it’s too soon,” considered Charles. “But I never thought I would feel this way about anyone again, and it’s taken me fifteen years. So I wouldn’t say it’s too soon. I’d say it’s about time.”

“Oh, Charles—”

He didn’t give her a chance to say anything else but took her face in his warm, firm hands and kissed her again. Eventually, warmth settled over her, and she relaxed into him. “ Mon amour ,” he whispered, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing her forehead.

She rested her cheek on his blazer and sighed. Her trembling disappeared, leaving her with a sensation of peace for the first time since she could remember. The extreme emotions left her weak, and she wondered if she would be able to walk on her own. She dared to peek at him, only to discover that his blue eyes were already fixed in an intense regard on her. He bent down to kiss her again, when all of a sudden, he was shoved out of the embrace. There was a loud snort.

“Mickey, you traitor.” Charles laughed. Then, looking down with a grimace, he cried out. “ Oh-ay. You pushed me right into a pile of…” Chastity doubled over with laughter as the large horse bobbed his head up and down at the viscount, who was now trying to scrape his Italian loafer on a tuft of grass.

Just then, steps sounded outside, and Louis walked in. Charles’s eyes widened in surprise. “Louis, I haven’t seen you here in ages.”

Louis grinned, looking like a much younger version of himself. He dropped a holdall on the ground and went back to stand by the pony’s head. Behind him they could see Grégoire lifting Thomas from the pony’s back. “Actually, I thought I would come and ride today. It’s been awhile. Hi, Miss Whitmore. I saw Grégoire in the outdoor arena and walked back with them. Thomas told me he’s your son?”

Suddenly, Chastity felt faint. What will Louis think about all this? “Hi, Louis. Yes, he is.” She spoke cautiously. “It’s a lovely day for a ride.”

Thomas walked towards the tack room with Grégoire leading the pony in his wake. “Mom. It was amazing. This big kid said I rode him really well, and he knows this pony. Can we come here all the time?”

Chastity laughed and gave a discreet swipe at her still-moist eyes. “Yes, honey. I think we can do that.”

“Yippee,” was the gleeful response.

Louis came out of the tack room, carrying a saddle and bridle and speaking over his shoulder. “He seems to be really comfortable with horses. He’s a natural.” He disappeared in the stall containing a dappled gray horse, who let out an excited whinny. “So you haven’t forgotten me then, Viva.”

Charles paused in his efforts to clean his shoes and raised his eyebrows at Chastity. He flashed her a broad smile and mouthed, You see that? Leaning on the wall outside Mickey’s stall, he called out to Thomas. “Bravo, Tommy. As soon as you’re strong enough, we’ll have you here riding every day.”

Then, winking at Chastity, he glanced back down. “ Ho , Grégoire, you’re just in time. Hand me that rag over there, will you?”

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