Page 45 of Dagger’s Shield

“So Maëlle made a life for herself away from here, away from us,” my mother murmured.

The last two words hurt the most. As I’d told Dagger on our first night here, the only thing I knew I wanted to do with my life was to get away from Valais. Not from my mother. She became collateral damage, and I hated myself for allowing it to get that bad. Especially now.

What would have happened if I hadn’t come home? She’d told me my father said the illness would pass. Would it have killed her because she wouldn’t seek treatment on her own? At the thought that it would have, a tear ran down my cheek.

When I reached up to brush it away, my mother glanced over her shoulder. “Ma chérie, come and join us.”

Dagger stood when I entered the room. “Madame Valais, I enjoyed our talk very much.”

“You needn’t run off,” she told him.

His eyes met mine. “Actually, I do.” He kissed my cheek as he passed. “I’ll see you later.”

My mother was frowning when I took his seat. “What is going on, Maëlle? And do not tell me nothing. Why would your fiancé leave the room as soon as you enter?”

“He knows how much I wanted to spend time with you, Maman. He was being courteous.”

“He’s a good man, ma chérie.”

“I know he is.”

“I saw you, you know? Standing outside the door, listening.”

Heat crept up my neck to my cheeks.

“What were you thinking you’d hear?”

“I don’t know.”

She covered my hand with hers. “Perhaps something that would give you a reason not to marry him.”

“You’re wrong,” I said.

“Very well. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you today anyway.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, find Marthe, and ask her to bring the box in. She’ll know what you’re talking about.”

I found her a few paces away in the hallway and wondered if, like me, she’d been eavesdropping.

“Maman is asking for a box.”

Marthe nodded and walked in the opposite direction. I returned to the solarium.

“While we wait, I want to tell you a story,” said my maman.

When she took my hand again, I feared more tears would fall. “Are you sure you don’t need to rest?”

“Non. This is important for you to hear. It’s about your father and me.”

The muscles in my shoulders went tense. While I didn’t know the details, I’d witnessed enough of his behavior toward my mother when I was growing up. I doubted there would be anything she’d tell me I didn’t already know.

“He was so charming. I fell in love with him almost instantly. When we were courting, he’d send me flowers, write me letters, and bring me little gifts. He was always the perfect gentleman. Perhaps he knew my father would kill him if he wasn’t.”

We both laughed. I barely remembered my grandfather, but from what I could recall, he didn’t like my father much.

“He invited my parents and me to Valais one afternoon. We’d been dating for six months or so. Marthe had prepared a lovely lunch for us. Before we were seated to eat, he led me to this same room, got down on one knee, and proposed. Before I could answer, it began to rain. Not sprinkles, a downpour. The solarium wasn’t like it is now. Then, the roof leaked in several places, including right above him. Rather than stand or move to stay dry, he stayed where he was, waiting for my answer.”