Page 97 of The Darkest Oath

They all wanted her to marry him and have a family to work Charonne’s soil. But Élise’s heart remained frozen, trapped between a past she couldn’t release and the faint, flickering hope of the future she had once imagined. She saw Rollant in her mind, aged but strong, sitting across the table from her, eating breakfast together in the golden light of morning. Try as she might, she couldn’t picture Hugo the same way.

And yet, her life in Charonne had taken root. The seasons passed, her garden flourished, and the ache in her chest dulled but never disappeared.

A knock came at the door. Élise glanced up from the bread dough she was kneading, brushing flour from her hands. Her thoughts would have to wait.

Hugo and his sisters stood in the doorway. Giselle and Gabrielle were dressed in their best, clean, pressed dresses and braided hair with ribbon. Hugo’s hair was slicked back and curled at the edges, framing a face freshly shaven. Élise couldn’t help but chuckle at the parade before her.

“What is the occasion?” she asked, peering up at Hugo with a wide-brimmed smile.

Élise wiped her hands on her apron and motioned for them to come inside. Giselle and Gabrielle slipped past her, giggling and whispering as they set a basket of herbs on the table. Hugo lingered at the door, his gaze soft but hesitant.

“Hugo?” Élise tilted her head, smiling softly. “You’re looking very serious today. What is it?”

He stepped inside and glanced at his sisters. “Gabrielle, Giselle, could you please go into the bedroom for a moment? I would like a moment alone with Élise.” He glanced at Élise. “I hope that’s acceptable; it is quite cold outside.”

She nodded. “Of course.” Her hand rose to her hip at the close of her bedroom door, knowing his sisters could easily hear whatever they discussed.

“You’ve intrigued me. What is all this about?” she asked, waving toward the herbs and his pressed vest and coat.

His blue eyes sparkled, and he pulled out a small wooden ring. Though not ornate, it was smooth and carved with care. He held it between his forefinger and his thumb.

Her heart sank, though she kept a smile on her lips.

“I made this for you,” he whispered. He transferred it to his palm and held it out for her. “It’s not much, but I wanted it to be special.” He cleared his throat and adjusted his coat.

“Thank you, Hugo,” she said. “What is it?” She played dumb, hoping to draw the event out so she had time to think.

“Well,” he said, but faltered before taking a deep breath with a soft grin. “You know how I feel about you, Élise,” he began, sure in his words. “I’ve loved you for years. I’ve worked hard to build a good home, a place for a wife and family to thrive. I’ve done my best to build a good name. I want to share it all with you. I want to be your husband. Will you marry me?”

The world fell silent, except for the giggling coming from her bedroom. Her eyes rimmed with instant tears.

Hugo was safe, kind, and giving. He was everything she needed in a man, a husband, and a father to any children they may have. He was a respected herbalist, a healer, educated, and well-read. He’d generously given his time to further her quality of life. His boyish charm would have wooed any other woman.

She was a fool if she said no.

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears.

“Say yes, Élise,” Hugo said, his azure eyes pleading.

Her gaze dropped to the ring, and her chest tightened around a slowing heartbeat. Her hands twitched at her sides, knowing the prudent girl would take it.

She met his gaze. Hugo’s eyes searched hers, hope mingled with fear. “You don’t have to say yes right now,” he added quickly, his voice thick with nerves. “I just . . . I needed you to know how I feel. We’re getting older. Time is passing, and I—I want you to know I’m here, Élise. I’ll always be here.”

A few tears escaped the well and ran freely down her cheeks. She looked down at the ring, then back up at Hugo’s face—earnest, kind, and filled with a love she wished she could return in full.

Her voice trembled as she spoke. She wanted to treat Hugo fairly, for he was her friend. “Hugo, you deserve someone who loves you as much as you love them. Someone who can give you their whole heart. I don’t know if I can be that person.”

He stepped closer, his hand still outstretched. “I don’t care,” he said softly. “You’re enough, Élise. Whatever part of your heart you can give me, it’s enough.”

Giselle and Gabrielle gasped, their joy so immediate and overwhelming that Élise felt trapped beneath its weight. She wished social protocol allowed them to leave—anything to give her space to think. Everyone wanted this union. If she said no, they might ostracize her, and she’d be alone in a world that did not forgive loneliness. How would she survive?

But if she said yes, she’d be lying to Hugo. And Rollant—Rollant had been gone for three years. Three years of silence. Was she a fool to cling to a memory? Was she still just a silly girl, infatuated with the impossible dream of a man who had likely already moved on?

She was a woman now, and women should want stability and security with a man who showed up every day, not pining for the ghost of a first love. Rollant was the passion she yearned for, but she had to accept he wasn’t returning. Perhaps Hugo’s steady love was enough, if not the love she had once known.

Her fire for life had already faded. Maybe it was time to put the girl’s heart aside and extinguish it altogether. As Rollant said, maybe it was easier to live life not feeling when you are torn from those you love.

She slid her hand into Hugo’s, still unsure of her answer. Her heart screamed for her to wait—wait for the ghost of a man who might never return. But silence had been Rollant’s only answer for three years. Her gaze met Hugo’s patient eyes. Her breath hitched, her fingers trembling in his warm, steady grip.

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