Page 60 of A Noble Affair
Charles noticedthe red eyes and wan expression as soon as she opened the door, but he ignored it. He had already decided he would play it cool and not scare her away. “I came to take Thomas to the stables, if that’s okay. I gave him my word I would.”
Her eyes widened, and they both glanced towards Thomas at the table. “Oh you’re eating lunch? I suppose I’m a bit early, but you see, I’ve been up since early morning.” He glanced at Chastity and noticed that color rose to her cheeks at his unconscious reference to everything that had happened last night.
The truth was, he had barely slept at all. He had noticed her absence right away but couldn’t protect her and oversee the arrest and investigation, so he had to let her go. They had found the body of André Robin, and another skeleton that was assumed to be Pierre Maçon. It didn’t take long for Jean-Marc Bastien to confess to the murder in hopes for a more lenient sentence, and they were still trying to figure out the extent of everything Cyril Leonard was involved in. The list was long.
Thomas jumped out of his seat. “I’m done. I’m ready to go.”
“Put on a warmer sweater, honey, and then you won’t need to wear a coat,” Chastity said.
“Perhaps you’ll need something warmer too,” Charles suggested.
“Oh.” He could see she hadn’t expected to be invited, and he had to fight not to take her in his arms. “I drove because I wasn’t sure the excitement plus a walk would be good for Thomas.”
“I think you’re right,” she managed. “I’ll go see that he finds the proper clothes.” Charles watched her walk down the corridor, putting her hands up to cool her cheeks. The windows were ajar, and he went over to close them. It was a safe neighborhood, but it didn’t do to invite temptation.
After spillingout of the car minutes later, Thomas was almost jumping up and down. She had not seen him this excited since the accident, and she turned to Charles, her face flushed with gratitude. “I don’t know how you were able to get away at a time like this—or how you knew what this means to him, but thank you.”
He laughed and shrugged. “Oh, I was a horse-mad young boy at one time.” He didn’t look angry. In fact, he looked like he was… having fun. Chastity tried to wrap her head around everything, but nothing made sense. His behavior made no sense. He should hate her.
“Mickey,” cried Thomas, going over to the now-familiar horse, whose head nodded over the stable door. “Did he win the races?”
“No. Black Star took first place,” Charles answered. He went over to Mickey’s head and patted it. “Mickey’s racing days are numbered. He’s had a very successful career and will retire soon. But we’ve got a good foal that shows promise. Solid back, strong muscles in the hindquarters. Would you like to see him?” He signaled to the older man just rounding the corner of the stables.
“Yes,” was Thomas’s enthusiastic reply.
“Grégoire, can you take Thomas to see Bold Liberty? Just for a few minutes?”
“Sure thing.” Grégoire grinned at Thomas. “Come along, young man.”
Man and boy walked towards a large paddock, and meanwhile Charles leaned over to whisper to Chastity. “I warned him we might be coming and that Thomas shouldn’t do anything over-taxing.”
She had only time to breathe a “thank you” before her son called out to her. “I’m going to get to ride a pony, Mom.”
“Excellent, Tommy,” she called back, trying to keep her voice even, although everything inside of her was fluttering. A few minutes later, Thomas reappeared, wearing a borrowed black riding helmet and polished ankle boots. A groom, leading a smart-looking pony, stopped and held the lead rope while Grégoire carefully hoisted Thomas onto the saddle. He walked in the direction of a fenced sand schooling ring with Thomas hanging on to his every word. Just before the gate closed behind them, Tommy looked back at his mother and grinned triumphantly.
They were alone.
Charles moved closer, and she could feel his warmth seeping through his clothes. She was nearly breathless as he faced her. “You left last night without saying goodbye,” he said.
“I’m sorry. I knew you were busy. And I was just so shocked. I couldn’t believe that Marc was behind all that.” When she met his gaze, he took a step closer, and her last breath fled.
But she had to be sure he knew everything. “He was the one who got your son into drugs—I’m sure of it. I just…I didn’t know how to face you after that. I can’t imagine what you must think of me.”
“Can’t you?”
She heard the smile before she saw it and glanced up doubtfully. The fact that he was smiling dared her to hope. Still. “I decided to go back to the States at the end of the school year.”
Charles shook his head. “Chastity, stay.” It almost sounded like he was pleading.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and replied without conviction. “I can’t stay. I have no one to help me with Tommy. I have to go home.”
“Really?” he said. “Because I have something of a reputation for knowing how to care for people with a brain injury.” This made her laugh, tears on the ends of her lashes.
“Chastity, stay,” Charles said, again. He closed the distance and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close. With his other hand, he lifted her face to his, his expression questioning. He must have seen assent because he bent his head and kissed her decisively—and after a moment, more deeply. Chastity leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her more securely. She couldn’t process anything but his warm lips on hers.
When he finally released her, he gave a shaky laugh. “I have wanted to do that for such a long time.”
Tears started pouring down her face again, and she wiped them with the back of her hand. “I need a Kleenex,” she sniffed. She rubbed her nose on her sleeve. “I’m a mess.”
