Page 13 of Love Set Apart
“Nonsense. Ye can and ye will.” Edna’s determination and confidence were on full display.
“You are so sure of yourself, Madame.”
“’Tis me job and one I’m verra good at, if I doona say so meself. I’ve matched many couples. Ye are here. Robert is here. This will be a piece of cake. Leave it in me hands and yer wish will come true. In the meantime, go along with the plans that have been made for ye.”
“The Comte is a good man. He has been very kind to me, but I can tell he doesn’t love me any more than I love him.”
“That will make me job much easier.” Edna lifted Emilie’s chin with her hand. “Do ye trust me?”
“I do.” Emilie looked up to the sky. Through the morning light it was still possible to see a faint portion of the moon. “The moon has worked some magic that I do not understand.”
“No’ many do. Let’s just say it was a combination of things. I believe ye received a stone from Madame DuBois.”
“Yes. Do you know her?” Emilie asked.
“We’ve never met, but ye see it was Madame DuBois, the stone, and the full moon that caused yer heartfelt plea to travel across time, all the way to Edinburgh in the year 2022 to reach me, and lucky for ye it did. I cannae say nae to love.”
“You are from the future?”
“Aye. I’ve traveled far just for ye,” Edna said as she gazed into Emilie’s eyes with what she hoped Emilie would see as a sign that she really was there to help.
“I am amazed and happy that it is so.”
Edna noted the relieved tears that sprung to Emilie’s eyes. She took out her hankie and handed it to the lass. A sense of purpose and satisfaction overcame her as she too became somewhat emotional. “All will be well, me dear. Let me do me work and before ye ken it ye will have yer man.”
Emilie bowed her head briefly in apparent acknowledgement. “I am blessed. Thank you.”
They continued walking as Emilie dabbed at her cheeks with the hankie before holding her head high as she got a hold of herself. They caught up with Angus and Matteo who had stopped near a pool of water and were engaged in conversation.
“Angus, we should be on our way,” Edna said as they approached.
“We will see you this evening.” Matteo said.
“Aye. We wouldnae miss the opportunity to wish ye well.” Angus shook Matteo’s hand and bowed slightly in Emilie’s direction. “Shall we?” He held out his arm for Edna to take.
Edna peeked back over her shoulder at Emilie who was once again walking along with the Comte. “This went well. Our mission should be complete in nae time.”
“It seems the Comte is no’ keen to marry,” Angus said.
“What do ye mean?” Edna asked.
“We spoke for some time. Each time I mentioned Emilie his mood changed. When I asked him if he was happy to marry her, he surprised me. It seems that the Comte is a bit of a miser. When I pressed him, he confessed that he did no’ wish to marry. He is only doing so because the Queen Mother arranged it. The last thing he wants is a wife. It is an expense he does no’ wish to incur.”
“Oh, my. We must make sure they do no’ marry then. Nae matter what happens with Robert and Emilie, she must no’ marry this man.”
“He is no’ unkind. He enjoys Emilie’s company and he would be good to her, but as he told me, he is frugal and a wife is an expense he does no’ wish to have.”
“He’s so much older than Emilie. He must be her father’s age or older.”
“And he has avoided marriage to this point. Perhaps ye can make his wish come true as well.”
“I believe we can fix it all. Emilie will have her heart’s desire and Comte Matteo Barbieri will have his money.”
4
As they walked away from the palace, Edna stopped. “I must see Madame DuBois.”
Angus lifted an eyebrow in puzzlement. “Who?”
