"Charlotte, excuse me, I need to go speak with you brother." I pull away with a smile, disguising my unease. Could he have done something?
"Have fun." Charlotte teases with a knowing smirk. Only she doesn't know my current motivation.
I glide through the hall, between tables and benches, to his side. "Étienne, can we talk for a minute?"
"Of course." He beams down at me, anticipation in his eyes, as he readily agrees.
"Let's go to the garden." I motion for him to follow me. He doesn't complain as he follows. We pass green leaves of varying intensity, along with their blooms. Some butterflies and bees flutter between the flowers to pollinate them. I walk past all these plants to the very back of the garden, where the foliage will hide us from prying eyes.
I turn on my heels to face him. "Charlotte and I just had a strange experience while on our stroll. Do you want to guess what happened?" I give him a chance to explain. Be puckers his lips to the side as if her is reflecting.
"What ever it is seems to have angered you, but both of you seem fine. Did someone say something like last night?" He tries. At the words a wicked gleam enters his eyes.
"The two women from last night came and apologized to us." I try to keep my voice and expression flat, not giving him a cue on how to act.
"I am glad to hear that they realized their mistake and apologized." Étienne says with the gleam in his eyes shifting to amusement. My suspicion is confirmed upon seeing his glee at the news.
"The problem was that they seemed terrified of something. Do you have anything to do with that?" His glee morphs into guilt. He looks like a child caught being naughty.
"What makes you say that?" He feigns his ignorance, but he has already given away his guilt.
"You do. What did you do?" I place my hand on my hip like a mother scolding her child. His lips pull up in an infuriatingly adorable crooked smirk. I narrow my eyes at him, warning that his tricks won't work.
"I didn't do anything wrong." When he sees my warning, his smirk becomes a pout.
"Then you can just tell me." He doesn't respond, looking over my shoulder for a solution. I recognize his apprehension, so I loosen my pose. I don't want to have a row, but I need the truth.
"I might have suggested that they were in the wrong and needed to apologize to you and Charlotte." The half-truth hurts.
"Étienne, don't lie to me because I need to know every facet of you. We are getting to know each other, and you have made it clear that your objective is marriage." With my words he looks me in the eye. I try to convey my trust and concern for him. He heaves a sigh.
"I threatened them." His face becomes an emotionless mask. He waits for my verdict.
"What did you use to threaten them?" My heart clenches thinking that the cold man before me could have used violence. I know it is unlikely based from our first conversation, and his abhorrence to its unnecessity, but I fear it still.
He sees my reaction and understands my anxiety. "I didn't hurt them. I am sure you have noticed my cold aura when I am mad. I just let my fury show and mentioned my political and monetary influence."
I am relieved but somewhat unsurprised by his answer. "Why did you do it?"
"I didn't like that you let them bully you. I had wanted to say something at the time, but you had stopped me. Therefore, I thought I could avenge you later." He gives a little pout when he mentions my interruption. I mirror his expression.
"They are below both of us. There was no need for retribution." He reaches out and encases my hand in his callused one. He looks at it and me as if I am something fragile that will break at a strong wind.
"That might be true, but I can't stand the thought of anyone bullying you." The side of my mouth quirks up at his bold admission.
"I can fight my own battles when needed." He keeps pouting like a child being denied his favorite toy.
"Okay, but if you need help, promise you will ask me."
"I promise, but you need to let me stand on my own." He nods his approval at my promise but continues to glower at me.
"Did you really think I had used violence?"
"No, but I needed to check." I reassure him. "As I said, we are just getting to know each other. Let's go back inside." I motion with my head back to the inn. He walks towards it, keeping my hand in his. Our return is more cheerful as we pass the same vibrant butterflies and flowers.
"How are your plans with my father?"
"Good." He responds with a monosyllable answer, challenging me to try to get more from his lips.
"Are you going to be in meetings with him for the rest of our stay here?" I hope that we can spend some time together. Even if we are just discovering each other, he makes me grin when he is around.
"No, I have something planned tomorrow." He hints but remains relatively closed. I study him from the corner of my eye.
"What is it?"
"You will see." He says with a knowing, and teasing grin.