The Soldier's Secrets by Naomi Rawlings

Author:Naomi Rawlings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2014-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The sun dipped behind the trees as Jean Paul trod back to his house, his feet weary and back aching. ’Twas two days in a row he’d worked past supper, and all because of the woman keeping house for him.

A fresh pang of hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he scowled. He’d not worked without sustenance all day because he enjoyed being hungry, but somehow the hunger seemed better than facing her. He only hoped she’d left a plate of food on the table.

He pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit chamber.

“Are you unwell?”

His eyes followed the soft voice to where Brigitte stood drying the last of the dishes and placing them on the shelf. Why was she still here? After everything he’d said to her this morn, the way he’d walked out on her before breakfast and tarried in the fields an hour later than yesterday, she should have fled long before now.

Yet she’d waited for him. He ran his eyes down her willowy form, so familiar as she stood in his house, puttering about with homey movements. A warm sensation started in the center of his heart and spread outward.

Something was changing between them, upsetting the precarious balance he’d instituted after his return to Abbeville. In the days and weeks they’d known each other, she’d become more to him than a mere stranger. She’d become someone he trusted; someone he cared for.

Someone he loved?

No. He couldn’t love her. He still loved Corinne.

Didn’t he?

Of course he did, and he always would. But his heart wasn’t full of only Corinne. ’Twas almost as though his heart had expanded and there was room for Brigitte, too.

“I’m glad you returned.” She came forward, her hair falling in wavy strands from beneath her mobcap and pink tingeing her cheeks from warmth of the dying fire. She was so beautiful it hurt to simply look at her. “I was worried.”

“I thought you’d be gone.” They were the only words he managed before he turned for the door, but her slim hand on his arm prevented him from heading out of doors. “I, ah...forgot something in the stable. I might be a while. Mayhap you should go home.”

“I waited for you. After you left this morn, I couldn’t...couldn’t...” She shrugged and looked about the house. “Please don’t leave again. Not without telling me what troubles you.”

What troubled him? The question brought memories of that morn flooding back. What was he doing standing alone with her, soaking in her company, enjoying her presence when he’d likely killed her husband? “’Tis best that I stay away.”

“’Tis not for the best when you starve yourself all day and then try to run the moment you see me.” Her worried brown eyes peered up into his face.

Did they see the horrors from his past? The evil things he’d done in the name of liberty?

“Come and sit.” She tugged on his arm. “Let me at least warm your food.”

No. She saw not the guilt, just his weariness and hunger.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.