Almost, Completely His

Chapter 17

Arthur

The next morning was conflicting. I left Celeste’s bed and kissed her good morning before she fell back asleep.

I had spent a wonderful night with Celeste, one only further igniting my desire and care for her and wounding me at the reminder that I’d be leaving.

It was now hard to imagine a life where I wouldn’t see her in the morning, kiss her soft lips, and end my day with her in bed.. enjoying her in every way.

As I finished dressing Mother knocked on my door.

“Can i come in dear?”

“Of course mother.”

She walked in and smiled sadly at me. Her butter blonde hair was in a neat updo and her blue dress was simple but beautiful, yet I could see the parts of her dress that she had been twisting in her hands.

“Is everything alright?”

“You know it’s not.” She clenched her teeth and looked me straight in the eyes. “If you’d only let your father and brother help you then you could find a way to stay home.”

“What are they going to do Mother? Reprimand the King? Threaten him?” I walked to her and gently squeezed her shoulders. “Mother, there is nothing that can be done.”

Her green eyes shimmered with tears but after a couple seconds she held her head up high.

“If you are so adamant about leaving, then we will host a luncheon. No ball, no big event, just something small with the people who know you and will miss you.”

I nodded knowing that what she meant was ‘people who will miss you when you die.’

“Of course Mother.” I kissed her cheek and she patted my arm. She needed this more than I. The only thing that mattered to me was spending time with my family and the woman I loved before I left.

———————-

“Were you serious about what you said yesterday?”

“What do you mean?”

Celeste turned in my arms to face me. We had escaped to the fields far from my house and sat under a huge oak tree. It was her favorite place to read and our favorite place to talk and watch the sky.

“About coming back for me..” she looked at me with hopeful large brown eyes. She bit her lip nervously. “When you come back will you come for me?”

“Of course. Of course I’ll come for you… I am yours.” I said kissing her nose. “But Celeste, you must understand that this is war. I might not-“

She shook her head and placed a finger over my mouth. “Don’t you dare say that Arthur.”

“Celeste..”

“No. I won’t have it.” She turned around but I could see her eyes filling with tears.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer to me. Her back pressed against my chest and her citrus smell enveloped me. I leaned forward and placed my face on her shoulder. Her curly hair smelled clean and was silky soft.

“If I come back Celeste, I will come for you. I will run to your doorstep wherever you are and ask for your hand. I will come for you my love.”

She let out a shaky sigh and nodded.

“Then I will wait for you my love.”

——————

Later that week guests began to arrive for the small luncheon.

Mother invited her friends who had seen me grow up and even allowed the servants to rest and enjoy. They too had known me so well and I was happy to enjoy their company.

Lady Thompson walked over to me and I couldn’t help but smile at her. She was so warm and joyful.

“My dear boy! It’s so good to see you!” She pulled me in for a right hug.

“I agree Lady Thompson.” I looked over her shoulder and noticed her daughter walking slowly towards us.

Rachel Thompson bowed slightly at me. “Evening your grace.”

“Rachel you know you can just call me Arthur.”

She nodded politely and smiled as I kissed her hand.

Rachel was a quiet girl. She was younger than me but older than Celeste. While Celeste was 15 Rachel was 18. She was already out and in search of a husband.

“How did the social season treat you? Many fine balls I presume.”

“None that were worth remembering.” She muttered.

“RACHEL!” Lady Thompson gasped. Rachel shrugged and I smiled. She had always been soft spoken but when she talked it was ever so entertaining.

“But to answer your question Arthur, there were no proposals this season.” She looked away and her dark blonde-brown hair shimmered in the sunlight. I never knew what her hair color was. It was light brown-almost blonde but not completely.

“That’s hardly a defeat Rachel. We all know that the social season are shark infested waters. This isn’t the end . Of course you’ll find a suitable match before I return.” I told her cheerfully. Hopefully she’d remember that this wasn’t her fault. Society was ruthless.

When she looked back her blue eyes seemed tired. “That’s unlikely.”

I spent the rest of the evening talking with family friends and the house staff. They all wished me the best and promised to look after my family while I was away.

“Oh no need to! Charles will make sure everything is running smoothly.” I told them laughing.

A gardener and Celeste’s maid Pearl eyed eachother.

“Maybe.” Enrique said. “But he is your brother. He is suffering as well.”

I found my way to Charles who was drinking a glass of dark liquor off to the side.

“You know, if you interacted more Charles… you could find a nice lady here to wed.” I teased. Charles was charming and polite but he wasn’t very social.

“It’s not my highest concern at the moment.” He looked at me and I saw the tired look in his eyes and deep frown. “I can’t imagine you gone brother.”

I felt a lump in my throat. Charles and I had always been so close. “Well you won’t have to. We’re going to die together remember?”

He laughed. As kids we had agreed to die together at the exact same age. Which was impossible since he was 7 years my elder.

“Well you better make it back so that we can do it.” He smiled at me. We both stood in silence and I looked across the garden to find Celeste happily chatting with Rachel. They were sitting on a bench with lemonade glasses in hand and Celeste was talking loudly. She was washing her hands in the air yelling a story and Rachel who usually kept to herself was following along and smiling.

“Do me a favor brother.”

“Anything.” Charles replied quickly.

“Take care of mother and father please. I know you will, and it is absurd for me to ask you for this, but there is a chance I won’t return.. and you know that.”

He nodded.

“And in that case, mother will be heartbroken and father will keep to himself.”

“I will take care of them.”

I smiled at him. “Take care of yourself too brother. You’re not made out of stone.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m serious Charles. I want you to be happy. Promise me you’ll be happy.”

“Fine. I promise.”

“And promise I’ll have a sister in law when I return as well.”

He grimaced. “We’ll see.”

————————————

At night I made my way to Celeste’s room after chatting one last time with father and Charles.

She opened the door and her eyes were red and swollen. She had been crying.

“This is it isn’t it? You’re leaving tomorrow.”

I grabbed her in my arms and closed the door.

“Yes.”

She gripped me tightly and sobbed. I felt tears in my eyes and didn’t care that I was crying like a child.

I had never thought about love or saw a wife in my future. I had never entertained the idea of a family of my own but Celeste had changed that.

I had found love in this young woman. In the girl I had despised as a kid. The one who spoke too loudly and mad a mess wherever she went.

“Celeste.. promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Promise me that if anything happens… anything bad. You’ll be smart.” I took a deep breath. “That you’ll do the right thing and take care of yourself if I don’t make it back. You’ll make sure you’re safe.”

She nodded and I felt both relieved and heartbroken. I didn’t want to imagine her marrying another man, loving another man or having a family with him. But I also didn’t want her to waste her life waiting for me and not securing a safe future for herself.

“But I’ll wait for you Arthur. I’ll wait until you come back. Even if something happens.. I’ll keep waiting for you to come back to me.” She said crying.

I pulled away and kissed her tears away.

“Write to me. Please. As much as you can,” I pleaded.

She took my face in her hands and kissed me. “Of course.”

My heart broke knowing I had to leave her. I didn’t want to. I hated the world for tearing me from her.

I soothed back her dark curls and caressed her face. “I love you.”

She gave me a smile and laughed. Knowing how crazy it was that we had found love in eachother.

“I love you too.”