Scorned & Craved: The Frenchman's Lionhearted Wife (Love's Second Chance Series: Tales of Damsels & Knights Book 6) by Bree Wolf

Author:Bree Wolf [Wolf, Bree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bree Wolf
Published: 2021-08-25T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

France & England at War

The moment Henri realized that the dream he had thought himself lost in was no dream, he felt like a battering ram hitting him square in the chest. He all but flew backward and off the bed, stumbling a few steps as he continued to stare at her.

Panting breaths left his lips, and he blinked his eyes, desperately hoping that this—she!—was nothing more than a mirage. She had to be! She could not possibly be here! Because if she were…

Swallowing, Henri raked his hands through his hair, then over his face as he closed his eyes, praying that despite everything he was mistaken.

However, the moment his eyes opened once more, he saw Juliette sitting upon his bed, her auburn hair undone and glistening in the silvery light of the moon. Her eyes were wide and dark as she looked at him, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she slowly pushed to her feet and then step toward him.

“Henri,” she began, tentatively moving toward him.

Henri flinched, then he squared his shoulders and met her eyes. “Why are you here?” he asked breathlessly, his mind still unable to believe what was right in front of his eyes. “You’re supposed to be on the Freedom. Violette is supposed to take you home.” He shook his head. “You cannot be here!”

Patiently waiting for him to finish, Juliette then lifted her chin, the look in her eyes one he would never forget. “But I am here.” Although her voice trembled, it, nevertheless, had a steely edge to it.

Shaking his head, Henri stomped toward her. He felt tempted to reach out and touch her, a part of him still not convinced that this was truly happening. “We agreed,” he snarled, feeling her soft breath fan against his lips. “You were to—”

Juliette scoffed. “We never agreed,” she insisted, her hands rising to settle upon her hips in an utterly defiant gesture. “You decided! You did not even consult me. You did not ask what I wanted. You decided and expected me to go along with it.” Pressing her lips together, she shook her head. “Well, I did not.” Her brows rose in challenge.

Exasperated, Henri once again raked a hand through his hair. “There was nothing to discuss. The only sensible course of action was for you to return home. You cannot be out here…at sea.” He lifted his hands, his eyes sweeping over the cabin, a gesture to encompass the life that was his, but could never be hers.

“Why?” Juliette demanded. “I do not see you insisting that Violet remain home where she would be safe.”

Anger tensed every muscle in his body, and he spun away from her, stalking a few steps to the door before whirling around to face her once more. “That is different. She is different. Violette knows this life. She knows how to protect herself. You…” Slowly, he shook his head. “You saw what happened the moment you left London.” Holding her gaze, he moved toward her, seeing the pulse beat rapidly in her neck.

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