Page 62 of Enthrall Secrets
Chapter 19
France
A WOMAN’S VOICE called out from the foyer and I rose from my corner chair in the bedroom. Danton was fast asleep. I didn’t want to wake him. He’d been sleeping a lot lately and I knew he needed it.
I left the bedroom and headed down the hallway, peering over the banister. My hands gripped the handrail when I saw a young dark-haired woman with two men standing behind her, both dressed in nursing scrubs. One of them pushed a wheelchair.
My friendly wave hid my dread as I made my way down.
The attractive woman began speaking to me in French.
I rested my hand on my heart in a gesture of sincerity. “My French isn’t that good. I’m sorry—”
“American?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s my brother?”
“Danton? He’s asleep.” I glanced warily at the two men. “Why are you here?”
She pushed past me and headed up the stairs. “Are you his nurse?”
“Girlfriend.”
She paused halfway up and stared back at me. The look on her face sent chills up my spine. “We’re moving him to the hospital.”
“But he wants to stay here.”
“Don’t put ideas in his mind.” She continued climbing the stairs. “He needs to be surrounded by good people.”
My world began to unravel as I followed her up the steps. I doubted I’d be able to make her respect Danton’s wishes. I’d never even considered the possibility I would have to do battle with his family to fulfill his dying request. In all the months we’d been here, no one had ever visited us.
“Can we talk before you go in?” I hurried toward her. “Please don’t wake him.”
She burst into the bedroom.
I was panic-stricken when I realized there was no reasoning with her. She stood a few feet from the bed staring down at him and I saw no affection in her eyes, just a woman on a mission to get her own way.
“I’m Scarlet.” I reached out and gently touched her on the arm. “I’ve been taking good care of him.”
She jerked away. “How do you know him?”
“We’re together.”
I wanted to say we were lovers, but was unsure how much Danton wanted her to know about us.
Slowly, she turned to look at me. “You know who he is?”
“How do you mean?”
She narrowed her gaze to make her point. “You know he’s one of the world’s most famous cellists. Right?”
“He plays for me…” The words sounded so infantile when held up to the light of her revelation. My gaze fell on Danton as I tried to understand why he’d never shared that truth with me. He was always so humble and gracious.
And he’d wasted his talent on me.
He had given so much and yet so much was being asked of him now. His wish to die at home was going to be violated.
