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His footsteps fading.

The door closing behind him.

And finally, Soleil allowed herself to cry.

Chapter Twelve

As Soleil came down to join her family for breakfast, Aurora turned towards her with a bouquet of lilies.

Her heart sank.

“Yes,” her sister said with a nod. “It is from the marquis again.”

She forced a smile. “How lovely.” She took the flowers and gave it to one of the maids. “Throw it away please.” Behind her back, the baron and his younger daughters exchanged looks of dismay.

Fleur waited for her oldest sister to take her seat before saying, “ANEX has also sent a missive. I have taken the liberty of reading it—-”

“Fleur!”

“And it says that your request has been approved,” Fleur finished. “Whatdidyou request? It did not state so in the missive.”

“When have you developed this interest in reading other people’s mails, Fleur? I am terribly disappointed.”

Fleur ignored that, asking again, “Whatdidyou request?”

Soleil said calmly, “Nothing that would affect anyone of you.”

Ah.The baron and his daughters had no trouble reading between the lines, knowing that meant it had to do something with the marquis.

The rest of the day proceeded as it had in the past month. It was like any other day for the Orpheline household – or what it used to be before anyone of them had become acquainted with the marquis.

Callers came during the day to be entertained, the sisters talked among themselves about the missions ofTrois Belle Lamesover supper, and afterwards the baron would retire while the sisters dressed up to attend a ball. It was near dawn when they returned home, and after bidding each other good night they went to their respective bedrooms.

Soleil took a shower, changed into her sleeping gown, and threw herself on her bed.

It was so, so silent.

She tossed and turned, knowing that she needed to come to a decision soon.

She closed her eyes, knowing that if she only opened her mind just a little bit, she would be able to hear him.

And she wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to hear his voice. But how could she ever listen to it, knowing that because of her curse she had unknowingly used his pity to force him into tying his life to her?

There was only one way to release him, and she had to make a decision about it soon.

Forcing herself to get up, she hurried to her writing desk and pulled the drawer open. Taking a clean sheet of paper and pen, she began to write.

After, she pulled the bell and waited for one of the servants to come knocking on her door. “I’m sorry to have waken you,” Soleil apologized, “but it is urgent that you send this to the Marquis of Lunare tomorrow night. Simply proceed to the town hall, let them know this is my missive, and they will know how to reach the marquis.”

“Yes, milady.”

“You must not give this until it is about, oh, shall we say six in the evening?” By then, it would have been completed, and there would be no chance for anyone to stop her. “It must not be earlier than that. Do you understand?”

“Yes, milady.”

“Thank you.” She hesitated. “And please do not let anyone know about this.”

“Yes, milady.”