Page 59 of Love Set Apart
“Your Highness, your mother has requested we take this man to Le Havre so he may return to his homeland.” Concini said.
“That is not what he wishes and it is certainly not what I wish.” Louis stared at Concini with obvious disdain.
“Your mother will not be happy,” Concini said, appearing to believe that Louis would be put in his place by this pronouncement.
“It is not my mother’s happiness I am concerned with. Robert is my guard and I want him at the palace. You will do as I have commanded. Do you understand?”
“As you wish,” Concini bowed his head to Louis.
“Untie his hands,” Louis ordered.
Concini motioned to the man closest to Robert who did as he had been ordered.
Now that he was free, Robert stretched his arms high overhead before bringing them back down and rubbing his wrists.
Edna could certainly sympathize. Riding for hours without her hands tied was giving her aches and pains she hadn’t experienced since, well, since the last time she’d ridden this much.
“We will return to the palace,” Louis motioned the men with his arm to turn their horses for home.
The men all started moving in that direction.
“Wait!” Edna shouted. “Emilie has been taken to a convent.”
Robert stopped his horse, exchanging a worried glance with Edna and then turning to Louis. “I must get to her, Louis,” Robert said. “Ye ken that I love her and ye’ve told me more than once that ye want me to be happy.”
Louis took a moment before speaking. “Then go. You will be together after all. I understand the palace is not a place you will wish to be.”
“Thank ye for this,” Robert said, smiling warmly at Louis. The two clasped hands in a handshake. It would undoubtedly be the last time they would see each other.
“You have been a good friend to me. I do not wish to give you up, but as you say, I want you to be happy. Also, it will make my mother quite angry to hear what I have done.” Louis laughed as he motioned to the men as they trotted off towards Paris.
“Do we ken how to get to this convent?” Angus asked.
“I’m hoping Robert does.”
“If it’s Port-Royal, it’s in the Valley of Chevreuse. It is about a half day’s ride from here.”
“That’s exactly where she is. We should get started then,” Edna said.
As the three of them rode towards Chevreuse, Edna was relieved that she now had Robert with her. Once they had Emilie they would have to decide what was next. She had some thoughts on the subject, but she would wait to hear what Robert and Emilie wanted for themselves.
* * *
“We will makecamp here for the night,” Robert said, hopping down from his horse.
Angus followed suit before lifting Edna from the saddle.
“Are ye sure ye doona wish to continue?” Edna asked.
“I am quite sure, as it is already too dark to ride safely. It has been a long day and we all need our rest.”
Edna knew he was doing this on her behalf and was grateful. “We’ll get started early tomorrow morning then.”
“Aye. Emilie will be safe at the convent until we arrive.”
“I couldnae agree more,” Angus said.
Edna did some stretching to help alleviate the stiffness she was feeling in her back and neck. When she stopped, Angus was right there to rub her shoulders. “Thank ye, love.”
