A Farewell Kiss by L G Rollins

Author:L G Rollins [Rollins, L G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798627839738
Published: 2020-05-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Quintin lay with his hands behind his head, elbows stretched out, the bed quilt kicked down next to his bare feet. Sunlight crested the windowsill and slipped its brilliant rays across his bedchamber floor. He’d hardly slept at all since quitting the ball last night.

Esther had met someone.

A lieutenant, apparently. Did he treat her well? Perhaps flatter her with compliments and shower her with flowers? Quintin himself had never been a lavish sycophant. He’d never really wondered if praise and accolades were important to Esther. It seemed now that he should have. Did this lieutenant make her feel safe? Did he hold her close and help her see that it was her gumption and spunk that made her so beautiful? Surely she wouldn’t willingly attach herself to a man who thought she should be forever subdued and demure, much like her own mother wished her to be. Surely not. Right?

Or perhaps she’d simply decided that their adventures were beneath her. That his inexplicable love for stories and heroes was childish. Perhaps she’d only not said so outright in an effort to be kind. She’d warned him weeks ago that she was not who she’d been, had she not? She’d tried most generously to put him on his guard. He should have heeded her warnings.

Instead, he’d continued on, hoping like a fool’s fool, that she would change back to the Esther he’d known. Hoping that she would remember why they’d been such good friends, and how perfectly they fit into one another’s lives. Not only that, but last night he’d learned through experience what he’d always assumed, that he and Esther also fit perfectly well in each other’s arms.

The room was growing lighter by the minute. Quintin had not moved in what must have been close to an hour. It was as though every muscle in his legs, torso, and arms were weighed down. He was being pressed tightly against the bed, his own turmoil not allowing him to toss or turn or move on.

And that was it. He couldn’t move on. He was stuck in the past, hoping and willing Esther to return to their childhood with him. Wanting beyond anything else for her to stay with him, just as she always had when they were young.

But she had moved on. She’d left and forgotten him long ago.

Everyone always forgot Quintin eventually. He’d just always thought she was the exception to that rule.

Quintin let out a heavy breath. He couldn’t force her to be with him, and he didn’t want to. If she was needing to let him go, then he wouldn’t hold her back. He had no desire to turn into a cage for Esther or anyone.

Should he write her and let her know he was returning to Cottonhold? He’d overheard Lady Harrington tell more than one of her friends that she would be at-home today, despite staying up late for the ball, and they ought to drop by. Quintin’s lips ticked up in a bitter grin; he

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.