Page 255 of Night's Fall
“I cannot tell you how much it’s delighted me to see my son so settled with you.Socontent.”Shetook her hand from my elbow and wrapped it around my upper arm. “Butthese are troubled times, dear.Wewill all need a good amount of patience to deal with each other through them.”Herfingers tightened, almost painfully, before she said, “Heloves you.”
“I love him too,”Iwhispered.
She released the pressure on my arm by releasing me.
“I know.Thisdelights me as well.Justremember, at your beginning, not even thinking, the love had not yet blossomed, but even so, you put yourself in front of a stream for him.However, my son was not there when you were in danger.AsIsaid, after a life whereIsought as much attention asIcould find led me to a life whereIhad more attention than anyone could need, andIthrive in that life,Idon’t understand your aversion to it, butIknow it’s there.Youmight not understand how his struggles manifest, but you must give him room to best the struggles.”
I nodded, but asked, “Isthere some wayIcan help him?”
She took my elbow again and started us walking. “Myson, he was always one to retreat and lick his wounds.Theyhealed, and he moved on.Ican’t know, but my suggestion would be, make sure he knows he can count on you, but let him sort his own head out.”
Another vote for space, it would seem.
“Thanks…um,Maman.”
She smiled at the hall instead of me and stopped us atAleksei’sdoor.Itwas a small smile, butIadored it.
That was when she looked at me. “Sleepwell,ma fille.”
Jeez.
She was killing me.
She patted me on the arm and continued down the hall.
I turned to the room, opened the door, walked through the vestibule and stopped dead whenIsaw two of the staff carrying my clothes across the sitting room toward the princess’s bedroom.
Uh…
My heart thudded painfully, my senses clicked in thatAlekseiwas in his study, and my voice sounded strangled whenIsaid, “Goodevening.”
“Good evening, mistress,” she replied.
Her face flushing, her eyes averting, she scurried away and disappeared into the bedroom.
Now my pulse was hammering asIwalked on unsteady legs to the study.
The door was open.
AndAlekseiwas indeed in there.
He was sitting behind the desk, had stylus to a display and didn’t look up at me even as my beast reached to his, his surged in return, andIknew he knewIwas there.
My throat closed andIknocked on the doorjamb.
His head came up.
“Hey,”Ipushed out my greeting.
“Please come in.Closethe door,” he said perfunctorily.
Space, patience, space, patience, let him sort his own head out.
I walked in, closed the door behind me, then moved to stand between the two chairs in front of his baronial desk.
“Did you get dinner?”Iasked.
“We had food brought in,” he answered.
