Almost, Completely His

Chapter 22

Celeste

I felt like I was going to faint, like the world was crashing down.

And it all lit on fire when I saw the heartbreak in his eyes.

In Arthur’s eyes.

Arthur… he had come back.

My heart soared at seeing him in front of me.

The man I loved so deeply and for so long had come back. After five long years of fearing the worst, of not hearing from him or knowing where he was, he had made it back to me.

His golden hair was in a longer ponytail, strands fell over his tan face, his green eyes were shining with stories and wisdom, his body was stronger, bigger and harder than before. He seemed rougher, tense, but I still saw my charming and boyish Arthur there and it brought me joy to see him standing there in front of me.

But that joy crumbled when I saw the pain in his eyes.

He looked at the ring on my finger which weighed more now than ever before.

His green eyes flicked to my hand on Charles’s arm and for a second I saw horror flash across his face but he hid it immediately.

“Brother..” Charles said in a soft whisper. I felt him stiffen next to me and let out a shaky breath.

I knew Charles well enough now to know that he too was shocked and overjoyed to see Arthur but that he had noticed the pain in his brother’s eyes as well.

“Brother.. you’re home!” Charles detached himself from me and strode over to Arthur who was paralyzed- his eyes locked on my finger.

Charles pulled him into a tight hug, Arthur was still a bit shorter than Charles, and Charles was strong but Arthur was pure muscle now.

A loud gasp and trudging footsteps came from behind me and I turned to see Theodora and the Earl heading our way.

“My boy!!” Theodora wept as she reached Arthur. The Earl too had tears in his eyes as he pulled his son into a hug.

Theodora shoved her way through Charles and held her son tightly. Her tears fell on Arthur’s jacket and for the first time since I saw him he responded to someone.

He hugged his mother tightly and took the opportunity to hug his father. Charles remained at their side, wiping tears from his cheeks.

People around us clapped and smiled.

My heart tightened and tears filled my eyes. They were a family again. Arthur had come back to them after they feared they’d never see him again.

I began to wipe my tears away and I smiled, happy for them but when Arthur’s eyes flicked over to me once more I gasped at the anger I saw in them.

He looked at Charles too with furious and sad eyes.

Of course he did.

He had come back after five years, like he promised.

He had promised to come back to me and his family. He had promised to marry me when he returned and I had promised to wait.

And I had… for years I had.

But things changed.

My love for him didn’t, he was the only man I loved.. but I loved Charles too.

And I cared for him. Which was why I had no choice but to marry him if I wanted to save him.

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Theodora and the Earl took Arthur and Charles out of the great hall. I assumed to get him ready and comfortable. Enrique stepped out from a nearby room which a young man next to him who followed Arthur immediately.

Enrique looked pale and when he made eye contact with me he frowned.

Before I could make my way to him Rachel stepped in front of me.

“Celeste, are you ok?” She looked worried and placed a hand on mine.

I wanted to tell her I was fine, and that I was overjoyed to see Arthur.

But my lip trembled as I remembered the way he looked at me and I shook my head. She took my arm and led me to the small library in the Earl’s house.

“Dear God Celeste, who would have thought this would happen?” Rachel said as she closed the door and made her way over to the Earl’s tray of fine brandy.

She served me a glass and handed it to me.

I usually wasnt one for drinking but it seemed like the appropriate time.

“Did you see the way he looked at me..?” I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Celeste..”

“Did you see how disgusted he looked? How.. how.. angry? How betrayed?” My voice trembled and tears filled my eyes. My throat began to close up from the sobs.

“He hates me.” I choked out. “And he should… I promised to wait… I promised him I’d be here…”

“And you kept that promise Celeste.” Rachel said sitting next to me and taking my hand in hers. “You waited. For years you waited. You found your way out of marriages, turned down proposals and ignored advances from men in both Spain and London. You remained loyal to him without hesitation.”

I shook my head, her words not changing the guilt I felt.

“But you also made another promise..” she said. “You promised to be there for Charles.. to keep him company. To make sure he was happy.”

“I seriously doubt that Arthur will see it that way.” I spat out. “Getting engaged to Charles does not fall under that category.”

Rachel shook her head annoyed and she glared at me. “It does when it means you saved him.”

My heart broke remembering the fear in Charles’s eyes that day in the garden. The horror when I saw him and the fear in his voice as he ran after me.

But most of all, the panicked and hopeless look he had when Sarah was about to crush his world.

“You would never forgive yourself if you hadn’t stepped in that day Celeste.” Rachel said.

I nodded. She was right.

I had betrayed Arthur. I had broken my promise to him.

But I had done it for love for his brother. I did it to save him from the wrath and shame that would have fallen upon him.

“He didn’t deserve what would have happened.” I said getting angry. “He was in love with that young man.. for years he had been. He told me that after everything happened and he was forced to propose. He had to hide his love-no one should have to do that.”

“But he did.. and if you hadn’t stepped in Celeste.. I can’t imagine what would have happened.”

“You’re right.” I said straightening up and wiping my tears away. “And I wouldn’t change my decision for anything.”