Page 54 of Love Set Apart
“I may have exaggerated them a bit.”
“What do you mean exaggerated?”
“Do not be angry with me.” He lifted his eyes and then quickly glanced back down at the floor. “He never said anything at all.”
“I am very disappointed in you, Concino. Why would you tell me lies?”
“I was jealous. I was afraid you would begin to favor Barbieri over me.”
“Over you? Why would you think I would favor him over you? I don’t even know the man.”
“I have always been jealous of him. Please forgive me.”
“You are forgiven. It was a mistake on your part. One you shall never repeat. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I understand.”
“Go away. I cannot stand to look at you.”
“You wish me to leave?” Concini asked. He appeared quite panic stricken.
“Not forever, you fool. Go. I am angry and it will take me time before I wish to see you again.” Marie looked to the side. It was obvious she was punishing him by removing her attention from him.
He bowed to the Queen Mother and left the room appearing quite dejected.
Edna turned toward Angus. “It worked. Now we’ll have to see what she does next.”
“Hopefully she releases Matteo from the betrothal,” Angus said.
“Only time will tell. Me only concern now is that as the Queen Mother she may no’ wish to admit she was wrong. If that is the case, we are back where we started.”
“I wonder where Matteo is?” Angus asked. “I thought he’d be here this morning.”
“Maybe we should go look for him,” Edna said. “We can tell him what happened with Concini.”
“Ye’ll no’ tell him about yer spell,” Angus said.
“Doona worry. I willnae mention me part in it at all.”
“Let’s see if he’s in the garden,” Angus said. “He enjoys sunning himself on one of the benches.”
“Ye ken a lot more about him than I do,” Edna said.
“We’ve become friends in the short time we’ve known each other.”
“Lead the way then,” Edna said, allowing Angus to guide her outside into the sunshine.
They were walking down the center aisleway when something caught Edna’s eye at the far end of the garden. “Look,” she said, pointing towards two figures entering the garden from the rear gate. The man headed for the stables and the woman for the palace. “It’s Robert and Emilie.”
“So it is,” Angus said.
“I wonder where those two love birds have been?” Edna couldn’t help but smile. “Isnae love wonderful?”
“From me experience, aye, it is,” Angus said, raising Edna’s hand to his lips. “It is the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world because I have ye.”
“Angus, ye’re such a sweet talker,” Edna said.
“It’s the truth. Our love has been the most important thing in me life. I cannae imagine how I would have turned out without ye.”
