Angie had just finished doing the housework after spending all morning in the streets with the rest of her tasks. She was carrying a plate in her hands when she reached the place where she was sure she would find him. And there he was. Lost in thought and focused on the project at hand, the pencil moved restlessly over the sheet of paper as he sketched with skilful determination. She came closer with slow steps, not wanting to interrupt that stroke of inspiration but she realized her mistake too late for his stare had already fallen over her. What had happened to the candid eyes that had caressed her the night before? They seemed cold and distant now…
'Did you want something?', his tone expressed perfectly what his cold stare had suggested only moments befote.
She looked at him in surprise at his change of attitude. 'No, I…uhm, I simply wanted to see if you were in need of my assistance around here, that's all'.
He did not answer but did a slight movement with his head. She did not know what to make out of his silence, she did not understand why had things turned so different after what had happened the night before. Resigned, she picked up the empty glass on his desk and put it on the plate.
He noticed she had not moved. He could see her perfectly from the corner of his eye, frozen, unreacting, barely holding the plate she had put his glass on.
'Don't you have other matters to attend, Angie?'. Not even a glance in her direction. 'If you have finished you may very well retire for the night. Go rest yourself.'
She felt her heart and feelings freezing with his coolness in that moment. Did he really ignore how much hurt was he causing her?
Repressing the sudden urge to cry a thousand tears of frustration, she merely sighed. 'Of course…thanks…'.
She was about to turn her back to him when she felt the touch of his hand on her arm stopping her flight. She could not prevent it. Every time he touched her his caresses had the same irresistable effect on her. Gradually, she levelled her eyes to his, so that they would meet again.
'I shouldn't have used that tone of voice with you… I apologize', his hand descended slowly to caress the sensitive skin of her arm. 'Everything's changing too fase and work's been harder than ever lately. I sincerely hope you'll understand and forgive my attitude for I'm only trying to cope with so many changes and it's been, well, difficult'.
A slight inkling of sadness imbued his voice. The dramatic touch that would save him the trouble of losing the person who'd become his way to the final revenge.
She could not suppress the smile that escaped her and the shiver that went through her body when she felt the touch of his hand on her arm. A couple of minutes earlier he had been harsh for no apparent reason with her but now, now he behaved like the courteous, sweet, seductive and affectionate man she had been with the night before in the park.
She nodded. 'It's ok…See you tomorrow'.
Her steps carried her away from the desk while he turned to what he had been doing before. Leaving the plate and glass in the kitchen, confused and gloomy, she went to the door and left the house.
Her small apartment was cold… It lacked so many things…She felt so lonely. Even lonelier after what had transpired between them. Even though he had apologized afterwards, she still couldn't understand it… She did not know his true feelings yet. She was very certain that her feelings towards him were powerfully true, but what about him? The worst of all was that she could guess the reason of their problem. It was that woman. That person that had broken his heart was still hindering him from moving on, from devoting himself to her with the same fervour she harboured for him from the beginning.
Quietly, she get off her clothes and put on her dressing gown with the intention of getting directly into bed. Once between the sheets, she tried to find warmth under her thin blanket. She closed her eyes and tried to ease her mind and rest her body but it was useless because she could not get sleep with a thousand questions bombarding behind her eyelids. Why? Why was everything so difficult? Why was she having so much trouble in finding the simple happiness consisting of the company of the man she loved? Sorrow invaded her soul, with an overpowering intensity. Tears started to form in her eyes and waterfalls of them cascaded down her cheeks. She extinguised the oil lamp and leant her head in the pillow, taking out everything she had not been able to express in front of him. It hurt so much…
Xxx
She watched in appreciation the new room that had become hers in the two days she had been living in that house. It had taken a good time arranging all her things in their correct places but in the end she could say the room seemed now cosier and to her liking. She sat for a moment in the bed, wishing give a break to her poor, tired legs when she hear a soft knock at her door. She could guess who it was…
'You may come in, Édmond…'.
Once he was given permission to enter, Édmond came in the room and looked around.
'I see you've finally adapted to your new lodging and put your things in order'.
She nodded. 'I don't know how to thank you everything you've done for me today. It was very kind of you having that…chat with Marie and Emma and rescuing my belongings'.
Ceremoniously, he had a seat next to hers on the bed. 'You already know there's nothing to thank', he frowned, looking pensive, and sighed. 'You see…I do not know if this is the best time to ask you this but I look at you and, even though I try quite hard, I cannot guess how you've found yourself in such a predicament'.
She froze. Her hands were locked on her lap and her eyes were lowered. What would someone reasonable do in her situation? A part of herself warned her about revealing a man she barely knew nothing about her real identity but then he had been so kind to her. And she needed someone she could share the weight of her ordeal with, even if it was only for a few minutes.
'Sometimes even I ask myself that question, Édmond', her tone was totally apathetic. 'You know, before I came here, I was married'. He feigned surprised. 'Yes, I know it's hard to believe it coming from someone as young as I, but I did it'. Nostalgia invaded her gaze. 'The person I married was the perfect gentleman who came from a very wealthy and important family. He was caring, polite, affectionate and a good man… He offered me the chance to have everything I desired. A comfortable life, a good home, surrounded by all kinds of luxuries and people who would watch over my well-being night and day. A nobility title even!', she sighed and her lips curled into a bittersweet smile. 'But what the heart truly feels cannot be changed, don't you think?', she looked at him with tortured eyes, a tear making her way down her face. 'And what I really wanted was never wealth or nobility', she stared to an invisible point across the room. 'He died at the hands of those revolutionaries…and another important person died a similar unfair death. I don't have the courage of contacting the few people I know and…', another tear crossed her cheek. 'That's how I ended in that disgusting residence. You already know the rest of the story…'. She lowered her head, feeling strangely relieved, as if she had taken a huge weight off her mind.
A part of him felt slightly touched by the young woman's retelling. Ah, deep in, she was just what she looked like. A little fairytale princess whose decisions had locked her up in the highest tower of a castle she did not really belong to.
He pressed a hand on her shoulder. 'You do not have an idea of how sorry I am…', he eyed his small watch. 'Oh, good Heavens', he left out a nervous laugh. 'Forgive me for taking some of your resting time, for I'm sure you need it after today's activities', he stood up. 'Goodnight, Christine'.
She looked at him, a little surprised. 'I'm really glad you offered such good listening ear'.
'Believe me, I felt that you needed to get quite as much off your chest and open up to someone who wouldn't judge you by what you had to tell'.
After saying that and giving a courteous nod in goodbye, he left. When she saw the door closing, her eyes opened wide all of a sudden. His caring, listening nature, his gestures, that laugh… and so many more details…
They reminded her of Raoul.