Page 16 of Only You

Paris

There was a moment when Sabine first woke up; the sun had just started to rise on the horizon, making the sky blush.

She would watch the sky change in a trance, savouring the quiet and the smell of Damien on the pillow that she would switch with her own the moment he left.

In those moments, she could pretend she had woken up early and that Damien had only left their bed to make breakfast for them in their home.

Then, the sunlight would fill her room, and Sandra would knock on her door. It was her only warning before the madness would start.

A month had already passed, and, most days, Sabine could hardly believe she was engaged.

The announcement had been sent to the paper and Madame Roulet made sure they visited every linen shop in the city after Sabine had shown her her ‘meagre’ trousseau.

She had some dresses from when she arrived, a few jewels, including her ivory necklace and emerald ring, and some swathes of kita fabric, but not much else.

According to her guardian, she needed much, much more.

‘We need it to at least match your ring,’ Madame Roulet told her. ‘You need sheets, napkins, a new nightgown, and the lack of linens! Not to mention we still have to get the dressmaker to design your gown… I shall tell the general to ask your father for more ivory.’

When she and Madame Roulet weren’t running around town, Lamont would visit her.

Since the wedding date loomed so close, both Genevieve and Madame Roulet were keen on them spending as much time as possible to learn more about each other.

He always showed up with an eager smile and bland conversation that did nothing for the restlessness under her skin since she no longer had time to fence or go for a walk through the gardens.

To try and combat that, perhaps inject some kind of novelty into their interactions, she suggested they spend the afternoon horseback riding outside the city. It didn’t take long for her to realise that it was a mistake.

‘Easy, slow down, Sabine,’ he admonished. ‘You’ll scare the horse.’

It was his third reprimand and the second time he had reached over to grab her reins, as if she were moments from going out of control. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from snatching away the reins.

‘You don’t need to worry. As I’ve said before, I’ve ridden horses for a while,’ she said, straining to keep her voice calm.

‘But these are Anglo-Arabians,’ Lamont emphasised. ‘I highly doubt you’ve ridden these before. Why, my father only has these due to a bet he made with a diplomat. Can you believe it?’

She didn’t answer nor did she bother to tell him that she learned to horseback ride on Andalusians when her father made an under-the-table trade deal with a Spanish diplomat. She could only imagine how he would react to that.

‘Now, if you look out west,’ Lamont said next to her, ‘you will see—’

‘I don’t care,’ Sabine cut in and Lamont froze. She had never spoken harshly with him before. Truthfully, she had done her best to spare his feelings, but it was becoming more impossible with each passing day.

‘Why would you not care?’ he asked. ‘You said you wanted to explore.’

Sabine rolled her eyes before dismounting her horse, stomping down the path that led back towards their carriage.

‘Sabine, mon coeur ,’ Lamont called but she didn’t stop.

A few moments later, his footsteps followed, and she wished she weren’t wearing a dress, if only so she could outrun him.

‘My darling, slow down.’ He grabbed her arm, but she snatched it out of his grip before turning to him.

‘Are you sure you feel all right? I should have known the heat is too much for you,’ he chided.

‘The weather is cooling, and I grew up in a place much warmer than this,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘The thing that is upsetting me is you .’

‘Excuse me?’

‘You are irritating! You have been following me around like a hen. Not even my father was so overbearing!’

‘I apologise.’ Lamont’s face reddened, already trying to reach out to her. She narrowed her eyes at him, silently warning him.

‘I figured we could use the day for ourselves to get to know each other better,’ he reasoned, still looking baffled at her reaction. ‘I’m glad we’ve made each other’s acquaintance. You’re a charming girl but I want to try to get to know you better.’

Sabine looked at him with genuine confusion, stepping back when he attempted to embrace her.

‘Who is this “charming girl” you speak of?’ she asked. ‘You have no inkling of who I am. How can you when you’ve never asked me a true question?’

‘What do you mean? Of course, I know you,’ Lamont refuted, his feet shifting with discomfort.

Sabine held back a scoff as she crossed her arms. ‘What do you know about me?’ she asked him.

‘You are graceful and gentle.’ She hummed at the vague description. ‘You’re quite the social butterfly.’

She couldn’t help but throw her head back and laugh.

‘Monsieur Laurent, my favourite activity is swordsmanship,’ she corrected.

‘Those acquaintances I’ve made are strictly to strengthen my father’s relationships for his business endeavours, and there is nothing graceful about my feelings towards you. ’

Lamont’s jaw dropped and Sabine sighed tiredly.

‘I’m surprised you are unaware of the nature of this arrangement,’ she continued.

‘You are a little boy looking for praise from a woman whom you were taught from birth would be in your shadow, clapping for you. No matter the expectations of me as your wife, I refuse to be her. Though I understand that life and duty will have its way, let it be known that I do not care to bond with you in the present nor in the future.’

A neigh interrupted them, and she saw the horses starting to trot away.

‘We should head back,’ she said. She lifted her dress so she could catch up with her horse, mounting it in one easy lift. She watched Lamont do the same before heading back, neither of them saying another word.

‘He’s so immature,’ Sabine yelled, every word accompanied by a swing of her foil.

Damien parried the wild swings easily, letting her get her anger out.

It had been a coincidence that he happened to be at Roulet’s house during the day, having to deliver a message to the general.

He hadn’t expected to see her, knowing she was going to be with Lamont the entire afternoon.

However, the moment she stomped inside the house, she demanded a fencing lesson from him.

Practice would be a generous label on the session, with her mostly ranting between strikes. She didn’t even take time to change from her riding outfit. He knew he should remind her that the staff could be listening but figured she would only erupt later at a more inopportune moment.

Still, he couldn’t resist the correction, ‘Watch your backfoot.’ She made the adjustment before groaning.

‘And to think my form is getting worse because of him,’ she said.

She turned away from Damien, her shoulders moving with deep breaths, but the tension never left them.

He wanted to massage them until she relaxed but knew they were only metres away from the house.

Her exclamations were already enough of a risk.

Instead, he stood by her, staring at the garden wall with her.

‘Worried or defeated?’ he asked.

‘What?’

‘From my experience, most anger boils down to the two,’ he said, looking out the corner of his eye. ‘So… worried or defeated?’

Sabine’s grip on her sword tightened.

‘Both,’ she confessed. ‘Defeated that he’s the one I’ll have to be legally tied to. Everything I have will be owned by someone so condescending and oblivious. Worried because… how will I survive this marriage? Just the thought of him—’ She shivered.

Damien didn’t know what to say. It was hard enough overhearing their discussions of the wedding date and knowing that every other afternoon was spent with another man.

Yet, the jealousy took a back seat at her misery.

He doubted that anything he did would be enough to help her endure a life that she hated.

Still, it didn’t mean he couldn’t try.

He stepped back and drew a circle around him. Sabine watched him with furrowed brows. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Land a hit,’ he said. ‘If you do, you’ll get a prize.’

‘I highly doubt that I can do that now. I haven’t practised in weeks.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I know you. If you want it to happen, then it will,’ he said. ‘So, do it.’

Sabine stared at him for a moment, a shine coming to her eyes before she stepped closer to the circle. She took her stance, and, at his nod, she raised her foil.

Sabine wasn’t wrong about being out of practice.

Her balance was lacking, and her footwork was clumsy, and she slower than before.

Still, she continued to try, circling him relentlessly.

Sweat broke out across her forehead as she tried to land a hit, her frown deepening at every failed attempt.

He was tempted to go easy, but he knew that wasn’t what she needed.

She needed a challenge. She needed to endure. So, she kept going, kept fighting.

He watched her form grow sloppy and opened his mouth to call time when she stumbled. He reached out to catch her, only for her to sidestep him and land a hit on his back. He turned in shock to see her smirking, her now inside the circle.

‘A lovely trick,’ he said.

She shrugged. ‘I figured I would try something new.’

He shook his head but couldn’t hide his smile. ‘Very well. I’ll have your prize tonight.’

She pouted for a moment before looking over her shoulder. She quickly looked away and cleared her throat.

‘Evening, General,’ she greeted. Damien peered over her shoulder before stepping aside, making sure he was a respectful distance from Sabine.

‘Good evening, Sabine,’ he greeted. ‘I’m surprised you’re still here, Captain. I was on my way to the caserns to speak with you.’

‘I apologise, General. I ran into the captain when I returned from my excursion with Lamont. I remembered that we haven’t had a lesson in so long. I insisted on him staying,’ she said.

‘That’s quite all right,’ General Roulet said. ‘However, I must steal him away.’

‘Of course.’ Sabine took the practice sword from Damien. ‘Thank you for your indulgence, Captain.’

‘I hope I don’t make terrible company,’ he teased.

Sabine looked at him with a smirk, but her eyes were soft. ‘You’re the best company I could ask for,’ she reassured him. ‘Second to the general, of course.’

General Roulet chuckled before motioning for Damien to follow. Damien let his eyes linger on her for a few more seconds before tearing them away.

He made sure to give as much attention as possible to the general as he reported about disturbances around town and reports from overseas, but his mind couldn’t help but linger on Sabine.

Were it not for her teasing the general, her words would’ve been cause for concern.

Yet, she said them anyway. She wanted to make sure he knew.

And for that, he knew he would endure anything with just one word from her.

He would grant any request, even if it took him away from his bed in the middle of the night and risked his future.

He would do anything for the look of glee on her face, like the one he saw under the moonlight when he presented her with a golden bangle engraved with flowers, small rubies dotting their centres.

The way she panted in his ear, writhing underneath him moments later, the world could burn for all he cared.