Page 35 of Love Me Forever

She didn’t look too convinced. “He can’t be my parent too.”

“Why not?”

“You said I’m living with you, and now you’re marrying him. Mama said the King was stupid because he’d fallen in love with the nanny, and he didn’t see how mean the guy was. That’s why she said she wasn’t going to get married because the guy might be like the nanny, and she wasn’t risking it.”

“Wait a minute. The King was in love with the nanny? You didn’t mention that.”

She shrugged. “I forgot that part.”

For Elira’s sake. That changed the story quite a bit. If the King had grown feelings for the nanny, it was no wonder he didn’t believe his son. He must have thought his son was annoyed with the prospect of a future stepparent, and it was only near the end when he realized the Prince had been telling the truth. They’d put the abusive nanny into the pot as revenge.

No wonder she saw Remus as a bad man. Her Mama must have had a bad experience too. Maybe she’d escaped an abusive man and decided she’d never remarry and potentially put her daughter’s safety at risk. Everything had been twisted in her head so she thought Remus would be mean and dump her out into the woods too.

“So you think Remus is going to be like the nanny because I’m marrying him?”

“Yeah, and that’s not fair because you said I could stay with you. You didn’t even say there was anybody else.”

Because he’d been afraid Remus might leave. How could he explain that to her?

“Éloïse, I was trying to make you feel better yesterday, and it’s true you’re living with me. I figured you could meet Remus afterward. I promise you that he’s not a bad man, and he’d never be mean to you. I wouldn’t let him. He’s a good man, and ifanybody ever tried to harm you or me, he’d put them in a pot for dinner.”

Actually, he’d do worse, but she didn’t need to hear that.

“I’d never bring a child home if I thought they wouldn’t be safe. I promised you’d be safe, and I meant that. I know what it’s like to be…unsafe, and I’d never put a child through that.”

She bit her thumbnail as she watched his face like she wasn’t sure if she could believe him.

“We love each other very much, and we’re both going to try our best to be good parents to you. That’s why he went out to get you things that you need.”

“He’s not going to put me outside to be eaten by panthers?”

“No. Your new life isn’t going to be like that story.”

They heard the door open at that moment. “I’m back, and I have presents for Éloïse!”

“See? I bet the evil nanny never bought the Prince presents. But parents do.” Sébastien smiled at Éloïse who drew her legs up and leaned on him.

He hugged her as Remus came in laden with packages. “The seamstress is coming later, and I’ve got some things you can open.”

The soft package was likely second-hand clothes so Éloïse didn’t have to wear the same dress every day until her new things were made. Remus had bought her quite a few toys too. Sébastien eyed one that was long and wrapped in brown paper.

“Uh, Remus?”

“What?”

“I hope that’s not what I think that is.”

“What? Women can fight too.”

“She’s five which means she’ll be whacking everything in the house.”

“Nah. I had one too, and I only hit Quintus with it when he annoyed me. Let her have it.” Remus held it out toward her.

The prospect of a toy seemed to interest her, so she took it with a suspicious glance and tore at the brown wrapping to reveal a small, wooden sword.

Sébastien tried to sound excited. “Ooh, look at that. How nice.” Éloïse banged the blade on the edge of the desk, and he suppressed a sigh. Not even a minute had passed. “Please don’t break or scratch the furniture.”

“What do I do with it?” she asked.

---