Page 19 of When the Duke Met His Match

Wright thought to himself for a moment, fingers interlocked on his desk. Then he sighed again and pushed the glasses further up his nose. “I’ll try my best to make something work, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“No matter what happens, you have my thanks, Lieutenant,” Theophilus murmured in return, offering him a slight bow of his head. He turned on his heel and went toward the door.

“Wait just a moment,” Wright said, stopping him in his tracks.

The young soldier craned his neck to meet his gaze. His brows raised in silent question.

“You know, I have always been fond of you, Theophilus,” the lieutenant began, his gaze more serious than it had been. They seemed to offer him a gentle warning. “I am saying this as a friend, not as your superior. Don’t let yourself get attached. The forbidden is always alluring. But if you go down that path with her, you will only find heartbreak and misery.”

Theophilus swallowed back the slight embarrassment and gave the man a nod. He reached for the door and left without another word.

Chapter Eleven

ODETTE

The news reached the crowded cell faster than she would have anticipated. It didn’t take long for the guards to erupt in their delighted cheers and some hushed sneers against the French. After many long years of fighting and destruction, it was over.

The war had come to an end, and England won.

Odette’s heart squeezed in her chest the moment she heard, accompanied by the feeling of dread that swelled over the last few weeks. Her cellmates murmured to themselves about the English victory, but she could only think about everything they had lost and everything that would soon be taken from them.

If the French had lost, then what did that mean for France? What about her parents and herself?

All their efforts seemed insignificant then, and she was still locked away. She couldn’t ignore what felt like a rock in her belly and the distress that cloaked her.

Had it truly been for nothing?

“Toussaint,” one of the guards called to her, opening the cell door. His voice was somewhat lighter than usual, less bristled and cruel. “With me.”

Begrudgingly, she climbed to her feet and followed the guard as she usually did. He seemed to be in better spirits, but more apprehension crawled beneath her skin as she walked. She couldn’t fight the feeling that everything was horribly wrong and her life was about to be changed forever.

Odette jumped as another of the guards erupted in a triumphant cheer, and many of the officers wore pleased expressions. They seemed grateful for the end of the war, surely since they found themselves in the winning position.

The smiling faces she passed on her way to the small room left a lasting impression on her. Even as they disappeared from view, their expressions of joy remained etched in her mind, causing a painful ache in her chest.

It was a feeling she longed to experience for herself, if only for a fleeting moment. Yet, as she thought about her family and the uncertain future that awaited her, that longing for happiness weighed heavily on her, causing her bones to ache.

They moved through the familiar halls until they reached the usual room, and she was escorted inside before the door locked behind her.

Glancing over at the table, she found Theophilus already sitting with a smile on his face. Even if she had no reason to feel relief, that pleasant glow in his expression eased her tense shoulders.

The young officer seemed to have that effect on her, even if she constantly reminded herself he was the enemy. Regardless, her body seemed to come to life whenever they were forced to be around one another. It was involuntary, but he made her curious.

“Good morning, Odette,” he murmured, allowing her to catch a glimpse of his dimples. He gestured toward the chair. “Please, join me. I have something for you.”

She froze the moment he revealed the small gift to her.

It was a caramelized apple on a stick—her favorite.

“You remembered,” she managed just above a whisper, hands shaking as she reached for it.

Theophilus looked pleased by her reaction, and he nodded. “Did you hear the war is over?”

She savored the sweet stickiness of the caramel as it melted on her tongue, mingling with the juicy flavor of the fruit. For a brief moment, she felt transported back in time to a simpler era, to the days when she lived in France with her father. Her childhood memories came flooding back, vivid and intense as if they had been waiting for this moment to resurface.

Odette nodded and swallowed what was in her mouth. “I know. Congratulations to the winning side.”

Theophilus seemed to soften at the sadness that lingered in her voice, and he shook his head. “All that means nothing now. We’re entering a time of rebuilding and regrowth.”