Of course, this would not be possible without my dear partners in crime, LuvinEvian and Courtaney :) My eternal thanks for the giant stroke of good fortune I have knowing you ladies ;)
You--ah, we--have a lovely home, Julian," Eve marveled as she descended the grand staircase with her husband. "How long did you live here, before we married?"
He smiled indulgently at her. "Raven Hill is the Crane ancestral estate, Eve. The Cranes have lived here for hundreds of years."
"Oh." A rosy blush appeared upon Eve's cheeks. "That must have seemed like a foolish question."
"My darling, it was not foolish in the least. Whatever questions you have about me, or our lives together, please do not hesitate to ask." Julian raised her hand to his lips, pleased that Eve did not pull her hand away.
"Thank you, Julian." Eve was feeling more and more at ease with him, in spite of her inability to recall their marriage. "Where did I live before this?"
"You had a cottage near Harmony. You lived alone, as the very capable and very beautiful village healer."
"Alone?"
"Yes, my dear. You were highly successful, but did not want a husband at the time."
"And we met at the masque you held--that was the first time we ever met? I never treated you for any ailments before that?"
How do I tell you, Eve, that the viper's bite I informed you of before was not after the masque, but before? When I held you as my captive, when I was the fearful giant--the 'mountain creature' who fell in love with you, Julian agonized to himself.
"No, not directly. I sent Lisette to procure your herbal remedies, my dear." He so hated lying to his beloved, but the truth was far too much for her to deal with.
"I see." Eve did not know what to make of Julian's response. "You never came to be treated yourself? Why is that, Julian?"
"I--I was concerned with the running of the estate, my darling. Matters like that I left in Lisette's capable hands."
"So, coming to see the village doctor to make yourself well was not a priority to you." Eve shook her head. "Then why did you even bother inviting me to the masque, if you did not know me?"
Julian's throat tightened. Oh my sweet Eve. I wish I could tell you the real reason behind it all.
"I invited the whole village, Eve. Do you not remember me telling you?"
"You never mentioned inviting the whole village, you merely said you held a masque."
"I apologize, my dear. I did invite the entire village. And I saw you there, befittingly costumed as an angel." He smiled at the recollection.
"I remember you telling me. I just cannot help wishing you had made the effort to come see me, if I was such a good healer." Eve looked down.
Julian tilted her chin up to face him, wincing at the hurt in her eyes.
"Eve, please do not become upset about the past. You helped to change me from the selfish hound I was before I fell in love with you." He caressed her lips with his thumb. "If I could go back and do it all over again, I would do it differently, from the very beginning. The last thing I would ever want to do is to hurt you, my darling wife."
She smiled at him, though her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"I believe you, Julian." Eve placed her hand over his. "I do feel better."
He closed his eyes, regretting the lies he spun. Opening them, he kissed her cheek. "I am happy that you do believe me, my dear."
They arrived in the sitting room, where Julian led Eve to stand in front of a row of portraits. He pointed at the one on the far left.
"This is our wedding portrait, my sweet. Do you see how much in love we were?" He smiled at the sight of the painting of Eve and himself, dressed in their wedding finery. Unlike traditional wedding portraits, where husband and wife stood side by side, he and Eve held one another, looking into one another's eyes. "The artist was incensed that we chose to stand that way." He laughed.
"It is wonderful, Julian," Eve breathed. "We look so happy together."
"We were, my love. No other couple was as happy as we on our wedding day. Or after."
Eve walked to the next portrait. "Helene," she whispered. The sight of their chubby cheeked daughter ensconced in her arms in the painting brought tears of frustration to her eyes. She could not even remember giving birth to this precious child.
"My darling, why are you weeping? There is no reason to be sad; Helene will be here shortly, with your best friend, Grace." Julian drew a sobbing Eve into his arms. "Please do not cry."
She looked up at Julian, her shoulders shaking with her sobs. "I'm crying because I can't remember her, Julian. Our daughter, and I have no memory of her."
"Shh, my love. It will be all right--you will soon." Julian stroked her back in a comforting gesture.
"No, it is not all right, Julian. I cannot remember my own child--" Eve stood still for a moment.
"What is the matter, Eve?" Julian's brow furrowed as Eve drew away from him, her eyes wide. She crossed her arms over her breasts, and groaned as if in pain.
"I--I hurt here, Julian," Eve explained. "I don't know why."
Julian was confused for a moment, but soon realization set in. He smiled widely. This could only help Eve to remember, he thought joyfully.
"I know why you are in pain, my dear. You need to nurse Helene." His smile widened at Eve's shocked expression. "You have gone too long without nursing our daughter."
"She's not here yet. Julian, what do I do in the meantime?" Eve asked, her countenance showing her increasing discomfort.
"Helene should be here any time now. In the meantime, I'll have Lisette get you a warm damp cloth you can use to press against yourself." Happy thoughts filled Julian's head. Eve's maternal instincts would be aroused when she held their baby in her arms.
"Would you summon Lisette, then? This is really very painful." Eve squirmed as her breasts began to ache even more fiercely.
Julian immediately called for the faithful servant, and then turned to Eve, who held her chest tightly. "She'll be here in a moment, my love. Everything is going to be all right."
"Yes, it will be," Grace said, entering the room with Helene in her arms. Behind her, Lisette carried Helene's clothing.
"I'll put her things away, Lord and Lady Crane," Lisette said as she left the room.
Julian then turned to Grace. "Thank you, Grace. You could not have arrived at a better time. Helene needs to nurse quite badly, as Eve is more than ready to feed her," Julian explained, giving Grace a meaningful look.
"I--I don't know how to nurse," Eve stammered. "I do not remember." Helpless tears streamed her cheeks.
Grace glanced at Eve, her heart aching for her friend. Julian had sent a note with Lisette, explaining Eve's loss of memory, and Grace knew she had to help Eve in any way she could.
"I'll show you, Eve, to get you started." Grace took Eve by the hand and led her to a quiet corner of the room. After some moments, Helene was nursing contentedly, and Grace returned to Julian's side.
"She's nursing," Grace explained softly. "Julian, what happened? How could she lose her memory like this?" Her blue eyes searched his for an answer.
"Grace, if only I knew why. It happened so suddenly. It tore my heart out to see my wife look at me as if I were a total stranger." Anguish ravished his insides like a raging fire. "I thought seeing Helene, even a portrait, would spark some recognition, but it seems nothing, not even nursing our daughter, has helped."
Grace held her hand out to him. "I'll stay as long as it takes, Julian. We'll help Eve regain her memory." She looked over at Eve. "What else can we try?"
"Flowers?" Julian suggested. "Eve loves when I bring her flowers. Perhaps that will trigger a response."
"Then go pick her some, Julian. I'll stay here with Eve and Helene while you do so."
"Thank you, Grace. You and Samuel are dear friends to us."
Julian hurried out of the room while Grace went to sit next to her friend. Eve turned to her with a smile.
"She still seems to be hungry," Eve said, looking down at the nursing baby. "Thank you for showing me what to do."
"You're more than welcome. I know you don't remember me, but my husband, Samuel, and I are very close friends to you and Julian. The closest."
"That's wonderful, Grace. I could use the companionship." Sadness filled Eve's eyes. "I feel so terrible, not remembering Julian--my own husband, or my own daughter. This precious little darling. I know it is hurting Julian badly."
"He does love you so very much, Eve. He will be patient while you remain like this. I would not worry. The love you share is as of the fairy tales of old. It is so strong, it is almost magical."
Eve wiped her eyes with her hand. "Yet, I cannot remember this great love, and my husband is at a loss because of it."
"It will come in time, Eve. Don't upset yourself further, it will not do you or Helene any good." Grace laid a comforting hand on Eve's shoulder. She prayed Julian's flowers would help her dear friend.
"I will try not to," Eve agreed. She smiled gratefully at Grace. "It is nice to have a friend like you."
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Upon his return, Julian stood outside of the room for several moments. His hands were full of Eve's favorite blossoms--Sterling roses, purple coneflowers, and feverfew. This would indeed help her remember. He shook away any doubt. It just had to help.
Julian entered the room, his face lighting up at the sight of Eve smiling. He walked over to her, proudly displaying his gift. "For you, my love."
Eve stared at the flowers, her eyes troubled. Julian grew concerned at her expression.
"What is it, Eve? What's wrong?" he asked.
Eve looked at the flowers, then down at Helene, and finally at Julian, where her eyes lingered. "Flowers. You." She gasped. "Oh my goodness, Julian--I think I remember something!"
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