A Life of Secrets by Margaret Kaine

Author:Margaret Kaine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2019-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

The days and hours of Philippe’s leave seemed to melt away, and far too soon the prospect of him returning to France, to the front, hung over the young couple like a black cloud. Deborah did her best to distract him, trying to guide their conversation away from the inevitable, but both were becoming more subdued.

‘To be with you, ma chérie, I cannot say how wonderful it has been.’ He was holding her in his arms, secluded as they were in their special place by the lake. There was a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the tree where they stood, with occasional birdsong the only sound to intrude on their private world. ‘We have talked of our future together, my Deborah, but,’ he smiled down at her, ‘I have not made the formal proposal.’

With one knee resting on the grass, he gazed up into her eyes.

‘Lady Deborah Claremont, may I, Lieutenant Philippe Lapierre, have the honour of making you my wife?’

Deborah, her heart beating wildly with excitement and love, knew that she would never forget this moment. ‘My darling, I would be so very proud and happy.’ Her eyes filled with tears, not only of happiness but desperate hope. She reached out and drew him to his feet, her hands going up to cup his face. ‘I love you, Philippe Lapierre, don’t you ever forget it.’

‘And you, chérie, are the light of my life. But now I have to ask your papa’s permission?’

She nodded. ‘He likes you, I can tell.’ She laughed with sheer joy. ‘But not as much as I do …’

Later, Philippe emerged from her father’s study with a wide smile. ‘He has given us his blessing.’

‘Did he say anything else?’

‘That we were very young. But in these difficult times, such things do not seem so important.’

‘I must tell Mama,’ Deborah flew upstairs to her mother’s room, to be greeted by a knowing smile and hug.

‘I have never seen such love, such devotion,’ the Countess said. She raised one eyebrow. ‘Please God, we will have a wedding soon.’

‘Philippe is going to write to his mother. It would be unthinkable for her not to be able to attend. Do you think the Germans would allow her to come?’

Her mother shrugged, her lips tightening. ‘Who can foretell what that nation will do?’

There was champagne that night, and with the staff informed of the news, congratulations to the young couple when Deborah took Philippe downstairs to meet them.

But much later, her euphoria dimmed when unable to sleep, Deborah’s mind filled with an image of Philippe in his room at the other end of the corridor, resigned and filled with dread, knowing that he was returning to France to face certain danger. She couldn’t bear to think of what dark thoughts he must have, so slipping on her ivory silk dressing gown, Deborah silently opened her door.

Philippe’s unlocked room was lit by moonlight when she went in, and as she came closer, he turned on his pillow to face her, wordlessly pulling back the coverlet, and slipping beneath the cool linen sheets she snuggled into his embrace.

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