CHAPTER 12 - Friendship flourishes

The next day, Oscar got up a little later than usual. She was sure Andre wouldn't show up that day because he would like to spend some time with his grandmother. Or with Rosalie. Probably both. After breakfast, she called Jerome, and they spent more than two hours practicing with the sword. She needed to get tired, very much, to stop torturing herself with thoughts. After training, she went to drink tea on the terrace in her living room. The view from there was really spectacular. The sea stretched to the horizon, emerald green and gentle, like Andre's eyes.

„How is it - Oscar thought - that every thought leads me to him? I was gonna stop this!" - she scolded herself

But it wasn't easy. After the previous day, she thought about him all the time. He was brave. „More bold than brave" - she laughed in her mind. Crazy soul like she was. He was funny, she loved to laugh with him. His presence was like a breath of fresh air. Like a ray of sunshine. Like going back to childhood. Would she be able to do without him now?

Oscar, despite her fascination, was painfully aware of reality. She knew this vacation would end soon and she would have to leave. And he would stay in Etretat. With a piece of her heart. She was sure of it.

...

After lunch, she went to practice shooting alone, because that idler Jerome was nowhere around. The garden was a perfect spot, spacious but at the same time sheltered by lush vegetation and trees. When finished, she took the box of guns and sat down under the tree. The sun was penetrating the treetops, it was warm and quiet. Oscar closed her eyes and tried not to think about anything. She was very afraid to imagine what Andre was doing now. And with who.

- Oscar - she suddenly heard the most beautiful voice in the world next to her. She opened her eyes and saw him leaning, staring at her with a smile – I'm sorry, did I wake you up?

- I don't think I was sleeping - she smiled in response - What are you doing here? - she added, sincerely surprised – Are you not with..? - in fact, she did not know what to call Rosalie. His girlfriend? Fiancée? She felt a twinge of pain in her heart.

- No. Grandma felt tired and went to bed - Andre replied, oblivious to her hesitation.

- But I meant.. - she began, but didn't finish - Never mind. So what are you doing here?

- I've been looking for you - he said simply and sat down next to her - Have you been practicing? - he pointed at the box lying nearby.

- Yes, I practiced a little, fencing in the morning, and shooting now - she counted and suddenly remembered something - You promised me sword duel once! I hope you will keep your word.

- I always keep my promises, Oscar - he replied in a serious tone.

„My God - she thought - how wonderful it is to hear my name from his mouth."

- Tomorrow morning, then, unless you have other commitments - she ordered.

- Other commitments can wait - he said, smiling again - I am here to serve you, Mademoiselle - he joked.

- Well then - she agreed, and after a moment's thought she asked - Why have you been looking for me?

- Because, maybe.. - he started a bit hesitantly - Maybe you would like to go for a ride with me.. There is a ravine nearby. Sometimes I go there when it's as hot as it is today.

- Is it possible to die there too? - she asked boldly.

- If that's your wish, I'll try to think of something - he laughed.

- Then let's go - she stood up and added enthusiastically - I will not miss it for anything in the world!

They reached the ravine in less than twenty minutes. They stopped at the edge of the green wall.

- We can make a detour - said Andre - It will be a longer route, but less tiring. We can also go this way - he pointed to a tangle of vegetation - but we have to follow a narrow path, quite steeply down. You choose! - he said in a voice with a hint of amusement.

- Do you think I'll be scared? - Oscar replied, pretending to be offended, and he laughed - I'm a soldier after all. We're going quicker way!

Andre drove first to show her the way. A dense curtain of leaves closed behind them as soon as they passed. A path, only one horse at most, led down the slope, constantly downhill. They started to slide down very slowly, taking care not to slip on the roots and damp leaves. It was actually a bit cooler in the ravine because the dense roof of trees blocked most of the sun's rays. After a while they fortunately reached the flatter place, but Andre continued. He stopped and dismounted only next to the enormous cave. Oscar looked around with interest.

- Come on! - Andre pointed to the inside of the cave

They tied the horses to a tree and went inside. The cave looked like an animal's open mouth, it was spacious and very dark in places.

- It's a little creepy in here - Oscar said, but she didn't look scared.

- When I was a kid - Andre said thoughtfully - we used to come here often to play. It was the pirate hideout where we kept our treasures. Or the cavern of the huge dragon we had to defeat.

- You? As far as I know, you don't have any siblings - asked Oscar.

- Yes – we, my friend Eugene and I, sometimes the other children - he explained - I know you might find this strange, cause Eugene is the son of a baron. But his father sometimes let me play with him. We became friends despite the difference in birth. We rode horses together. And I was able to learn fencing courtesy of the Baron de Valory. It was very generous of him.

- I understand - she thought and after a moment added - I had no friends in my childhood. I had to play alone..

- It's very sad.. - Andre said softly.

- It doesn't matter now - she said quickly - I had to deal with it somehow. But I learned how to climb trees. And hold my breath underwater for four minutes. Once I almost drowned exercising - she laughed - Father told me to train for hours. Sword, guns, horseback riding - her voice grew serious - It was a hard time, but it makes me who I am now. I don't regret anything.

- But it was a crazy idea after all, your father's - Andre admitted - I'm talking about raising his daughter like a boy.

- It's possible - agreed Oscar - I didn't think about it - she cut the subject, wandering around the cave.

Andre looked at her closely but said nothing. This woman was a real mystery to him. Sometimes she was sweet as honey and sometimes hard as steel. A striking mixture.

„I have to be more prudent, stick to the rules" - he thought.

He should be careful not to let this fascinating mixture hit to his head.

- Let's get out of here, Oscar - he said quickly, as wanting to chase away uninvited thoughts - There's a small stream nearby. We'll water the horses and eat something.

She nodded in agreement. Soon they reached the stream and sat on large stones, horses grazed freely alongside. The man took out bread and cheese and they ate in silence for a while.

- Is it true - Andre began after a while - that you hit the Duke de Guemene?

Oscar looked at him surprised.

- How do you know that? - she asked suspiciously

- Jerome - he said simply.

She waved her hand indifferently.

- There is nothing to talk about. It was a long time ago - she replied, but seeing that he was trying to suppress a laugh, she added harshly - Don't laugh, Andre! It was a serious matter! In front of me that monster shot a little child whose only fault was that the boy was hungry. When I saw the Duke laughing, I went berserk.. It was hard to get out of that later, believe me. If it weren't for Marie Antoinette, I would probably be sitting in the Bastille now instead of talking to you.

He looked at her, moved.

- You're a good person, Oscar - he said after a moment.

- I don't know that, Andre. But certainly not very smart - she laughed ironically - And a little too impulsive.

- There is nothing wrong with having a lively temper. It is quite the opposite. - he smiled at her - And I think you are a very wise woman, Oscar.

They looked each other in the eye for a moment, and Oscar felt her blush and her heart pounding. But the man suddenly looked away and stood up abruptly.

- Maybe we should be back by now, it's getting late. Probably everyone will wonder where you are - he said, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

Oscar sighed and stood up.

They went back a roundabout so as not to tire the horses with climbing. Standing in front of the manor, they shook their hands.

- Tomorrow morning - Oscar reminded him, and he nodded.

...

The next morning, after breakfast, Oscar went to the training place. Earlier, she gave Jerome the morning off. She didn't want anyone to disturb her.

Andre showed up shortly after.

- Good morning - he said.

- Good morning - she replied, handing him the sword.

- Thank you, I have mine - thanked Andre, pulling the sword from behind his back - It may not be as beautiful as yours, but it should do.

- Okay - the woman smiled - Can we start?

He nodded his agreement. They stood facing each other, looking at each other intently. Andre noticed that her gaze had lost all the softness from the previous day. She was serious and focused now. She hit first, he parried the blow, then the same situation repeated several times.

- Andre! - Oscar exclaimed reproachfully, interrupting the fight - But you're not attacking at all! You can't just defend yourself all the time!

- I'm sorry, Oscar - Andre sighed heavily - I told you I wasn't very good at this.

- Let me judge it, okay? - she retorted slightly irritated.

The man nodded and attacked. Oscar blocked his blow without hindrance, then allowed him to attack again.

- It's not bad, really - she stopped him - Will you let me give you advice?

She walked over to him and touched his shoulder.

- Elbow a little lower, slightly. And when you attack, don't raise it too high, you expose yourself. Wrist straight - she touched his hand for a moment - Hold your posture and everything will be perfect.

They practiced for almost an hour, taking short breaks for Oscar's directions. Then they sat down to rest, leaning their backs against a tree trunk.

- Thank you, Oscar - said Andre after a moment of silence - For your practical advice. And for fighting only half of your capacity.

- Come on - she pouted, sending him a smile - It was supposed to be a pleasure today. I'll practice with Jerome tomorrow.

- I wish I could be as good as he is - Andre said with a sigh.

- You just have to practice more, that's all. You know, Jerome is good, but I also have better opponents. My father who still is a great swordsman. My deputy Girodelle is wonderful at fighting, he's the best of my soldiers. And Fersen.. - she stopped suddenly. She didn't want to talk about Fersen.

- Fersen? - Andre asked surprised - Hans Axel von Fersen? Our Queen's lover?

- It's him - she admitted in an undertone, though she was still not used to the new Fersen's name.

- Actually, why does it surprise me! - Andre said, a bit to himself - You are the commander of the Royal Guards, you must meet him every day.

- Not every day. And in Versailles we rarely have a chance to talk, even more fencing. Jarjayes Manor is better for that - Oscar replied, a little too honestly, and when she realized she turned red.

The man looked at her long and carefully. He had no right to question her, actually. But he felt that he just needed to know what was behind that blush that was now spreading across her face.

- He and I have been friends for a long time - Oscar said finally, as if hearing his thoughts - He was actually my only friend.

- Why „was"? - Andre asked inquisitively

- Now I have you also, don't I? - Oscar replied and smiled brightly, and he replied the same

...

Oscar struggled to regain her balance for the rest of the day. It was a difficult task, because from one day last November her balance was upset completely and nothing she did help to regain it. Moreover, what she had done made the situation much worse. She shouldn't have come to Normandy at all. And at the same time, she felt that she just couldn't do otherwise. Something drew her to this man as if they were tied together by some invisible thread. And she thought he felt it too. Or was it just only her imagination?..