Part 4. Admission of Love.
Night was beginning to fall. Marguerite's condition had not changed greatly. Roxton and Veronica sat beside her holding wet cloths to her feverish skin.
"She'll be all right Roxton". Veronica was telling the hunter. "We just have to keep doing this until her fever breaks".
Roxton looked up at the young woman sitting beside him. His rich brown eyes filled with concern for the woman he loved.
"I know. But it's this waiting". Roxton said.
"You love her, don't you?" Veronica more stated than asked.
"Yes". Roxton's answer was faint but audible. Louder her said, "Yes, I lover. But I don't know if she feels the same way".
Veronica looked at him. How could a man of his experiences, a man who had a whole wall full of hunting trophies and medallions for his horseback riding skills, be so blind when it came to love?
"She loves you. More than anything". Veronica assured her.
"Then why won't she admit it?" Roxton asked.
"For a smart man you really can be rather dumb". Veronica said with a slight chuckle.
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Roxton was surprised at Veronica's laughter.
"When Marguerite looks at you, I don't know, there's something in her eyes. Her look says it all". Veronica said.
"It's called hatred. You've heard her say it many times". Roxton said his voice faltering as if he wanted to believe what Veronica was saying to him, but didn't trust it.
"It's not hatred. It's love, passion, whatever you want to call it". Veronica said to him. "Marguerite hides her heart to protect herself".
"I would never hurt her. I know in the past..." Roxton trailed off.
"In the past she has trusted and been betrayed. She's hiding from the feelings she feels for you because she is afraid of being hurt again".
With that Veronica took the cloths and water out to get another cold batch leaving Roxton alone with Marguerite.
Gently with his fingers, Roxton brushed back some of Marguerite's stray hair off her face. Her pale skin showed up the circles under her eyes.
As Roxton ran his fingers through her tangles she rolled onto her side. Lifting one hand unconsciously, she closed her slim fingers around one of Roxton's fingers.
Roxton shivered at the touch. He could feel the heat in her hand on his.
"I love you Marguerite". Roxton said to her. "I love you.
Night was beginning to fall. Marguerite's condition had not changed greatly. Roxton and Veronica sat beside her holding wet cloths to her feverish skin.
"She'll be all right Roxton". Veronica was telling the hunter. "We just have to keep doing this until her fever breaks".
Roxton looked up at the young woman sitting beside him. His rich brown eyes filled with concern for the woman he loved.
"I know. But it's this waiting". Roxton said.
"You love her, don't you?" Veronica more stated than asked.
"Yes". Roxton's answer was faint but audible. Louder her said, "Yes, I lover. But I don't know if she feels the same way".
Veronica looked at him. How could a man of his experiences, a man who had a whole wall full of hunting trophies and medallions for his horseback riding skills, be so blind when it came to love?
"She loves you. More than anything". Veronica assured her.
"Then why won't she admit it?" Roxton asked.
"For a smart man you really can be rather dumb". Veronica said with a slight chuckle.
"What's that s'posed to mean?" Roxton was surprised at Veronica's laughter.
"When Marguerite looks at you, I don't know, there's something in her eyes. Her look says it all". Veronica said.
"It's called hatred. You've heard her say it many times". Roxton said his voice faltering as if he wanted to believe what Veronica was saying to him, but didn't trust it.
"It's not hatred. It's love, passion, whatever you want to call it". Veronica said to him. "Marguerite hides her heart to protect herself".
"I would never hurt her. I know in the past..." Roxton trailed off.
"In the past she has trusted and been betrayed. She's hiding from the feelings she feels for you because she is afraid of being hurt again".
With that Veronica took the cloths and water out to get another cold batch leaving Roxton alone with Marguerite.
Gently with his fingers, Roxton brushed back some of Marguerite's stray hair off her face. Her pale skin showed up the circles under her eyes.
As Roxton ran his fingers through her tangles she rolled onto her side. Lifting one hand unconsciously, she closed her slim fingers around one of Roxton's fingers.
Roxton shivered at the touch. He could feel the heat in her hand on his.
"I love you Marguerite". Roxton said to her. "I love you.