CHAPTER 38 - Reunion

Andre stared at her with wide eyes.

- Oscar, what does that mean? - he managed to choke out - Do you..?

The woman moved closer and stood on her toes so that their faces were right next to each other. She closed her eyes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. At first Andre started in surprise, then with his free hand he pulled her tightly towards him. Kissing her, he doubted it was real all the time. It was hard to count how many times he had dreamed about it, how many times he had imagined it. Only the heat of her lips, stronger than in his dreams, convinced him that it was all for real.

- My God, how pale you are, Andre! - whispered frightened Oscar, when she broke away from his mouth and looked at his face - Your wound..?

- It's out of emotions - he smiled reassuringly - The wound doesn't hurt anymore.

- Still, you absolutely must sit down! - she ordered.

She pulled his hand and, ignoring his protests, sat him down on the sofa, then sat down next to him and began to look at him intensely.

- Are you going to keep me in suspense for long? - he asked half annoyed, half amused.

- No - she replied shortly. She leaned closer and kissed him again. Then she touched his right cheek gently - This scar gives you charm, do you know?

- Oscar! - he admonished her.

- All right, all right - she laughed - I remember everything, Andre - she said, touching the scar on his cheek with her lips - How we met. My vacation in Etretat. And what we did when you came to Paris in November two years ago..

Andre shifted uneasily and stopped smiling.

- You're not still angry about this, are you? - she asked surprised.

- I was never angry - he replied, touching her hair gently – Rather a little rancorous, scared. I will never forgive myself for what happend then.

- Stop it - she said, kissing him again.

- Oscar, wait! - he tried to gently push her away from him - You haven't told me everything yet. Since when.. since when have you remembered?

- It didn't happen overnight - she mused – Some scraps of memories occured when I was sleeping before, but I couldn't distinguish them from dreams. Then.. Then I found out that you died.. That night I dreamed about your death.. I saw you die when your heart was shattered by a bullet.. - her voice broke.

- I wasn't hit with a bullet, Oscar - Andre said carefully - I got a bayonet hit in the flank - he lifted his shirt, showing the bandage that was wrapped around his stomach

- I know, I know, Andre - she whispered - I don't understand that either, but it was like.. that Oscar really was me.. I can't explain it to you. I felt her despair, her tears. When I saw you die in front of me.. It totally broke my heart. It looks like the shock was so bad that the fog that was covering my mind started to descend. Every day I remembered more. But it didn't make me happy . What did I need these memories for, if you were gone?.. - her eyes glazed dangerously

Andre reached out and pulled her close to him.

- Why didn't you tell me this right away when I got back?

- How was I to tell you? - a few tears had already begun to run down her cheeks - You didn't seem to notice me at all! And if you did, you were looking at me with such a gloomy face..

- Right - he nodded with a sigh - My behavior was terrible. Especially that all I wanted to do was come over and kiss you just like that - he demonstrated without thinking.

- You'd make a scene! - she laughed as she finally managed to pull away from his mouth.

- What an irony! To escape death in America to die at the hands of your father back home - said Andre cheerfully.

She looked at him, laughing so carelessly.

- I'm so glad you are back, Andre - she hugged him tightly - I didn't even realize how much I missed you.

- Me too, darling - he whispered - There wasn't a day when I didn't think about you. These eighteen months were the greatest torture.

- You owe yourself - she joked, laughing softly.

- It's true - he replied - But I was really angry at first. But then.. with each passing day, with each passing month, I realized the mistake I had made. Unfortunately, once you reach America, it's not that easy to come back. Ships came, but few left. Besides.. when the second, third ship did not bring any letter from you.. I thought maybe it was better that I left. And I tried to live from day to day, to work my best, and to wait for my opportunity to return. And then the fights started. You already know the rest of the story.

- How did it even happen that you went to fight? You were supposed to be careful - Oscar miffed.

- It seems that accidently I revealed that I had quite useful skills - laughed Andre - And apparently someone thought that I would be more useful in a fight than in a stable.

- Fersen wrote to me.. - she broke off, but then finished bravely - Fersen wrote that he did not know who gave you the order to fight.

- But it doesn't matter Oscar anymore - Andre said reassuringly - Now nothing else matters but that I'm back and that you remember everything.

- I don't know if everything, Andre - she said seriously - You'll have to tell me about all details from the day we first met. Hiding nothing - she raised a finger in a warning gesture.

- Okay, honey - he agreed - But not today because you look really tired. Wouldn't you rather go to sleep and rest?

- Yes - she nodded - But you stay with me! - she smiled defiantly.

- If I stay, you will not rest - he laughed softly - You don't think that a man who couldn't touch you for two years will just fall asleep next to you.

- Why not? - she joked - It's late and you're hurt.

Andre laughed. Then he got up, took her in his arms without the slightest difficulty and carried her to the bed.

- Silly little Oscar - he said, kissing her neck.

- How do you allow yourself?! - she feigned indignation - Do you know who you are talking to, soldier?

- Sorry, Colonel - he muttered in her ear - But I just can't help myself!

- Andre.. - she sighed as his hands started to wander over her body.

And then they both forgot everyhing in a violent wave of passion.

...

While earlier afternoons in the lounge with Andre and the whole family had been a source of anxiety and gloomy thoughts, now it was rather sweet torture. Oscar took her permanent place and tried not to look in Andre's direction. When their eyes met by chance, Oscar's cheeks started to burn, and it was very annoying. But it was impossible to avoid it, for his gaze gleamed with happiness. As she looked at his beaming face, she couldn't help remembering what they were doing together that night. She could still feel the burning touch of his fingers against her skin. His hot breath on her cheek. The trembling of her body as he entered her eagerly. She heard her own scream.

Andre was a cute lover, gentle and passionate at the same time. Oscar had never felt such a fever as in his arms. She had never felt so feminine.

The words of one of the brothers-in-law interrupted her wool-gathering.

- Why don't you come with us next week to the carnival party in Versailles? - de Vojer suggested jovially.

Oscar twitched. How could she forget about that goddamn party? The biggest and most festive of this season parties was an annual, tiring duty. Admittedly this year, the entire burden of the organization was on the shoulders of Girodelle, but she had to appear anyway. It was not proper to refuse the Queen.

- I'm sorry, Count - Andre replied politely - But this is not the place for me. I am not a noble.

Vojer looked a bit like a child whose toy was taken away.

- Well - he scratched his head, embarrassed - But that shouldn't be a problem! After all, we have our wonderful sister-in-law! Mademoiselle Oscar, would it be possible to take Monsieur Grandier with us?

Oscar cast a surprised look at Andre. The other stopped smiling and looked back at her darkly.

- I don't think that's a good idea - she said seriously.

- But why? - her brother-in-law saddened - It will be fun! We will introduce him as one of the guests!

- Mademoiselle is right - Andre interrupted.

- Dear Monsieur Andre - added Josephine - if you are concerned about the right clothes, you can count on us.

Oscar shifted uneasily. Her family seemed to be treating Andre like something like a mascot. And she also saw that while he liked their company, the idea of the party was a step too far. She was not wrong.

Andre got up.

- Thank you very much for the offer - he replied, his voice trembling slightly. He suddenly found it highly inappropriate to sit in this living room - But I'm only a servant, and I know my place. I'll go now. Please forgive me.

Oscar saw the man who had just said he was a servant walk away without asking anyone's permission. She laughed silently. This man was full of contradictions. She waited for a few moments while her relatives, amazed at the development, stared at each other in amazement, then briskly followed him. She didn't care what they thought. She caught him right outside his bedroom door.

- Don't hold it against them, Andre - she said, choking with laughter - They probably meant well. I bet they've never met an interesting man like you!

- I just feel uncomfortable when I'm being taunted - Andre gasped as he closed the door to the room a little too loudly.

- But you got them absolutely wrong! - she shouted in surprise - I don't think they meant something like that!

- Perhaps you are right - Andre with a sigh fell back into the chair - But a commoner like me, as a guest at the dance party at Versailles! Could there be anything more inappropriate?!

Oscar leaned against the closed door and folded her arms over her chest. She really didn't know what to make of it. On the one hand, she really wanted Andre to accompany her. Thanks to this, this evening, instead of being torture, could even become enjoyable. On the other hand, she could see all too well that Andre was very opposed to it. Knowing him for so long, she noticed that he felt offended by the proposition. He might be a man of poor birth, but he had his pride and didn't like being joked about.

- Do you think I should accept their invitation? - Andre was staring at her intently as she stood lost in thought.

Oscar sighed.

- To be honest, I'd rather you come with me. But I also understand your objections.

- Oscar, I will go if you want - he walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders - But I will not pretend to be anyone. I will go as a servant, not as a guest.

She looked at him indignantly.

- It's absolutely impossible! - she screamed - You're not.. - she trailed off as if she had just realized what she wanted to say.

- I am, Oscar - whispered Andre sadly, running his fingers gently over her cheek - I am a servant and you know it. Perhaps we both forgot about it for a moment, maybe we got too carried away by our emotions. But nothing will change the fact that we belong to different worlds.

- It's so unfair, Andre - Oscar moaned, and he hugged her to him.

- I know, honey, but we can't help it - he tried to comfort her unsuccessfully - Come on, let's sit down and talk about this unfortunate party, okay?

She nodded her agreement.

…

- I still don't understand what has offended Monsieur Grandier so much in my proposition? - de Vojer blurted at breakfast the next day - It seemed to me that every plebeian dreams of being at a party in Versailles..

- Honey.. - his wife scolded him.

- What!? - the other huffed.

- I think it might be exactly that - General said laconically.

- I don't understand - his son-in-law stared at him.

- I think I know what our dear father-in-law means - said the Count de Foix - We nobles, it sometimes seems to us that every lower class person is just waiting for an opportunity to blend in with us. But it looks like some of them will not find it appropriate and necessary. This is very wise of Monsieur Grandier.

General de Jarjayes looked carefully at his youngest son-in-law and nodded approvingly.

- Oh, come on! - de Vojer said loudly - He could put aside his plebeian pride just for this one evening!

Oscar listened to his speech with growing annoyance.

- Monsieur Grandier has agreed to come with us - she said, for the first time this morning.

- Really? - rejoiced brother-in-law de Vojer - What great news!

Josefine and Camille began to clap.

- How did you convince him, sister-in-law? - de Bouville asked curiously - He seemed very sure of his decision.

The general shot Oscar a frightened look, but she didn't notice it, staring at the contents of her plate.

- I have my ways - Oscar said, looking up at them sternly.

- Ooh, sister-in-law Oscar is so dangerous - chuckled de Vojer - I wonder what arguments did you use..? Will Monsieur Grandier be able to go to the party on his own?

- Herbert! - Josefine scolded him again, trying to suppress a laugh in a handkerchief, while casting a knowing glance at her sister Camille sitting opposite.

- Andre Grandier will go to the party as my steward - Oscar continued undeterred - He will not pretend to be a nobleman.

De Vojer's brother-in-law opened his eyes in astonishment and said nothing.