CHAPTER 19 - Explanation

They galloped along the river and only after a long time made a stop at the place Oscar had indicated. The river formed a small pool with a shallow entrance to the water. They left their horses on the riverbank and sat nearby. They were silent for a long time, staring at the pool, finally Oscar spoke first.

- I'm sorry you had to witness this embarrassing scene. I don't know what got into Fersen.

- Don't worry - Andre replied calmly - Maybe he had some serious reason.

- He had no right to behave this way towards me, no matter what the reason was. He never behaved like this before - she said.

- You're absolutely right, he had no right. But maybe he is just jealous of you, Oscar.. - Andre asked with a heavy heart.

She frowned at him and snorted angrily.

- Jealous? Yes, I guess so.. What an idiot! - she muttered irritated.

They were silent for a moment longer. Andre felt something inside him dying. An aristocrat. A handsome foreigner. A good friend. Or maybe something more? He could not compete with someone like that even with a noble title. Let alone in his, God pity, situation.

- Last year Fersen asked me to marry him - Oscar admitted suddenly, almost in a whisper.

Andre held his breath. It was probably even worse than he could imagine. Well, he should expect a woman like Oscar to have admirers. Even if she wore an uniform, she still remained a beautiful, desirable woman.

- I didn't give him an answer - Oscar continued unimpressed - until today.

Andre's eyes widened in astonishment.

- Does it mean that you .. - he began hesitantly, hopefully - that you refused him today?

- He wouldn't be so furious if I had accepted his proposal, would he, Andre? - she said in a calm voice and smiled at him.

- But why? - the man asked, as if he had forgotten he had promised not to question her. The question slipped out of his mouth without volition.

- There are several reasons. But let's say the most important of them is that I don't love him and he doesn't love me. Such a marriage would be completely pointless.

- He looked involved.. - Andre replied with a hint of surprise.

- Fersen loves Marie Antoinette, only her. I would be for him.. a kind of escape, a solution to the problem. It's not a good beginning to a married life, Andre - she laughed - As for the involvment.. I think he was just surprised by your presence. He probably never thought he would see another man by my side - she added ironically.

- But.. - Andre started to say, but he forgot what he wanted to say right away.

- What is it, Andre? - she asked, turning to see his confused gaze.

She moved closer to him and brought her face closer to his.

- I'm not Fersen's property. I also don't care about him at all. I can do what I want, with whomever I want - she whispered on his lips.

- Oscar.. - he only managed to grunt before she pressed her lips to him and he couldn't think of anything other than her lips anymore.

She kissed him gently at first, in a few short, quick bites. Then she pressed her lips tighter to his and opened her mouth. They both trembled as their tongues met and gently clung to each other. At the same time, Oscar pressed against Andre's body lightly but firmly, so that in a moment the man landed with his back on the soft carpet of dry leaves.

- What are you doing, Oscar? - he whispered in surprise, breaking away from her for a moment.

- Be quiet, Andre! - she said commandingly, but her voice was hoarse and she was out of breath and no longer sounded like a stern commander.

She kissed him again, then moved her lips to where the jaw ends and the soft skin on the throat begins. She ran her lips up his neck, inhaling the scent and savoring the taste of his skin. She has never felt more excited! Her whole body was ablaze with some strange fire, and her lips found a way, as if they knew what to do. It was terrifying on the one hand, and fascinating on the other, and she didn't want to stop at all.

- You are beautiful.. - she muttered in his ear, stroking his chocolate-colored hair, just like the fantasies that attacked her almost every night since she met him.

Andre's mind couldn't cope with the mass of impressions and thoughts. The rational side of him was screaming at him to stop her, because what they're doing wouldn't lead to anything good. But it seemed that the other side was winning. The one Oscar set on fire by kissing him like that and saying those sweet words to him. His hands rested on her back, under her cloak, pulling her tighter, and then his fingers slipped, stroking the sides of her body. Oscar sighed and clung to him tighter, unconsciously teasing his manhood. Andre groaned, unable to help himself. She stopped and looked at him curiously.

- What's happened? - she asked softly, with genuine concern.

- Don't do it, Oscar - he replied, gasping for breath - Don't hug me like that, or I'll go crazy.

- Maybe that's what I want - she smiled mischievously.

- We can't.. - he replied, regaining his sobriety more and more.

- Why? - she leaned over and gently bit his neck.

- Oscar! - he laughed and pulled himself up, dragging her effortlessly behind him. - You're crazy, I always knew that!

- I think I should feel offended, Grandier - she pretended to be angry, but the ends of her mouth twitched in muffled laughter.

- You have no reason, mon cherie - he touched her hair and kissed her cheek gently - It's a compliment!

He got up, reached out to her, and helped her up from the ground. They stood facing each other for a moment, holding hands and looking at each other with a smile.

- You probably don't know, but you are a mystery to me, Oscar - Andre said finally.

- A mystery? - she was surprised.

- Exactly. You command the guards and from what they say you are great and also very strict. I saw you talking to your captain, giving orders. You are amazing! And at the same time.. We can talk freely and joke. You climb with me to the rock shelves. And you kiss me like you just did. Who are you, Oscar? - threw her a cheeky smile.

She looked at him carefully. Completely accidentally, he asked her a question that she couldn't answer herself. Who was she really?..

- I don't know, Andre.. - she whispered - Is it so important? I'm just Oscar..

- You're right, cherie, it doesn't matter. Sorry for saying this - he moved closer and hugged her tightly - Maybe we should be back by now. I'll have problems with Grandma if I don't drive you back to dinner - he laughed.

She nodded and part him with a sigh of disappointment.