𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter sixty-nine; In A Carriage
" I am yours until the heavens collapse and the hells rise and the world is no more. "

THE GAME WAS really rather simple. Elspeth and Demetre were on a team, opposing Douglas and Fraser. The entire object was the kick a ball past a certain point on either side of the lawn, each time it passed the fenceline, Elspeth and Demetre were granted a point, while each time it passed the large rose bushes, Douglas and Fraser gained one.

Demetre had expected Elspeth to take it seriously. And the confirmation only made him smile.

They played for hours. Elspeth had no shame in maiming her brothers to score a point, and they had no shame in protesting her moves were against the rules. But, each time, Elspeth won, because she declared she had been the one to make the rules, so she knew them best.

And before they knew it the sun had set and they were exhausted so after chatting on the lawn, they all retired to their own chambers. And the next day, Fraser did not depart. Neither did Douglas.

They ate meals together and explored the estate. Demetre spent time with Nessa so that Blair could join in for the game the next night.

Douglas and Fraser stayed up late one evening, long after Elspeth and Blair and Nessa and Malcolm and Rowan had all called it in, when the moon was high and the house was quiet, and amidst sparse conversation they realized Demetre Langlois was a ghost of the night as well. Naturally, they invited him to share a drink with them, and it became a nightly ritual.

Before they knew it, they'd spent a week in the Liens Estate, and Demetre knew he could stay there forever.

He understood why Elspeth had missed it so. It felt like the entire world was right there.

The house, the people, the land, the orchard, the garden. He needed nothing more. Than this, with her, forever.

But when it was most calm, when the entire family was lounging in the living room; Douglas pawing at the grand piano, Rowan, Fraser, and Demetre chatting about the winter season soon approaching, Blair and Elspeth curled on a couch with Nessa between them, Demetre Langlois was reminded that he still had ties in France.

Things he could not avoid or dodge to stay in this heaven of a place. He had shed his cloak the first day and had not reached for it since. But he could not retire it just yet.

"Demetre," Malcolm called, entering the large living room, "This came for you."

Demetre furrowed his brows, standing from his seat across Rowan and Fraser to accept the letter Malcolm handed hesitantly.

When he saw the seal, his heart sank just barely.

"Ah," Demetre sighed, tapping the envelope in his palm, "Duty calls."

Elspeth frowned, her eyes following Demetre as he tore open the envelope and scanned over the words.

"Perhaps you can paint me something before you leave again," Blair said gently, pulling Elspeth's attention away, "Something small. I miss your artwork, Ellie."

Elspeth's heart tightened. She looked down, focusing on Nessa's wide eyes staring up at her to avoid the weight of Blair's request.

Nessa would be brilliant. She already was. Elspeth had no doubts the girl would carry on the Liens tradition of niching down into one aspect of art here soon. Douglas had always been a poet, though he's dabbled in music, it had always truly been Fraser's talents. Elspeth had been an artist from a very young age, starting with charcoal drawings before Hans purchased her first set of paints. And Hans himself had done them all. Excelled in writing, music, and painting; the one he loved above anything else was performing.

At younger ages Hans had set plays for his parents to watch, staring the Liens children themselves. Some were famous works, others were brewed by the boy himself.

Eventually, Hans stopped producing plays, and starting using his acting skills for other things. Like playing pretend with little Elspeth. Putting on funny voices for baby Nessa.

Elspeth wondered if Nessa would grow to be an actress in a famous play. If she would carry on the art that Hans never quite got to experience.

"I know it is hard," Blair continued, pulling Elspeth back into reality, "But we both know he would never want you to stop painting."

Blair was right, of course. Hans would have thrown a fit if he knew Elspeth had stopped painting because it reminded her too much of him. Because the thing that had brought her the most comfort and joy was now a tender subject.

But Elspeth simply didn't know if she could paint. Even if she wanted to.

"I. . ."

Elspeth hesitated, glancing back over to Demetre, who was now speaking quietly with her father.

"Is everything alright?" Elspeth said, standing.

Both men turned toward her, somber expressions on their faces.

"I fear the King requests my presence at the castle," Demetre said after a moment, "If you wish to remain home, Petal, I--"

"I'm coming with you," Elspeth said quickly, "Don't even suggest that sort of thing."

Demetre's expression softened, approaching the woman.

"My apologies," He said, "We must leave with haste."

She nodded, and everything started moving very quickly thereafter.

Things were being packed, too many conversations transpired at once, and Elspeth was trying to squeeze in goodbyes and planning with everyone.

Blair hugged her without another word of the painting. Fraser informed her he would write soon, he still intended to speak with his wife once returning to his home about moving them back to the Liens estate.

And Douglas flat-out admitted he wouldn't be leaving Scotland again.

With the religious tension high in Paris, he figured it better to have his things sent home and his house sold off.

So within hours, Elspeth Liens was sitting in a carriage with Demetre Langlois, preparing to set out for France.

"What is it?"

"Nothing good," Demetre said quietly, taking the parchment out of his breast pocket and passing it to Elspeth, "This was all he wrote."

Elspeth opened it nervously and frowned when she read Francis's neat penmanship.

'Return urgently. I need you, brother.'

Perhaps it was meant to be cryptic. Because whatever Francis needed Demetre for was so delicate it couldn't be admitted in anything other than spoken words.

But even this made Elspeth's skin crawl. Because she only knew of one thing that couldn't be written. One thing that Demetre was involved in, and no one else. And the addition of 'brother' only tightened the knot of worry in her stomach.

It was about Henry. Without saying, both of them knew. A man both Demetre and Francis were raised by. And punished by. A man they grew to love and hate and loathe together.

The center of the secret that they both bore every day.

"I will take care of whatever it is," Demetre said gently, reaching a hand out to hold hers, "And then we will return here. And sit with your brothers and Blair and Nessa and your parents for the rest of our days."

Elspeth smiled warily, clearly still unnerved by the message.

"You know, your parents gave me something," He said quietly, "Apparently Hans had it saved."

"What?"

"An heirloom," Demetre drawled off, "Something meant to be given twice, in fact. Once to someone, then to you."

Elspeth's lips parted, understanding exactly what Demetre laid forward.

"Oh?" She said finally, "And it was given to you?"

"It was," Demetre said gently, his eyes searching hers, "I could hold onto it. . . or I could give it again. Catherine does expect of us, after all. . . we could shake her plan off, of course. Or, perhaps follow her timeline. . . if it so suits us."

A week ago the idea might have scared her.

But now, she didn't have to hesitate.

"It does. Suit us. I think so."

Her heart sped as Demetre reached into his pocket.

"Well, then, Elspeth Liens. My little flower. . . would you allow me the honor of staying at your side for the rest of my days?"

Elspeth nodded eagerly as she laid eyes on the ring.

"Will you marry me, Elspeth?"

"Of course."

Elspeth breathed out a wild grin as Demetre slid the ring onto her finger. She lurched forward, grabbing his face in both hands and pressing a deep kiss to his lips.

And she only pulled away to push the carriage window open and push half of herself out of it, waving her hand wildly as she spotted her brothers, parents, and Blair.

"I'll have a husband next time you see me!" Elspeth shouted, her grin brighter than the sun above them, "I'll be a wife!"

Her family cheered loudly as the carriage lurched into motion, and Elspeth only returned to the carriage once they were out of sight, though her smile never faltered.

"I'll be your wife," Elspeth laughed out, "You'll be my husband."

"One month from our return," Demetre nodded, his own smile prevalent.

It was then her grin faltered. Her happiness dimmed.

"What is it, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Elspeth said quickly, forcing her smile to widen again, "Nothing."

"Petal. . ."

Elspeth frowned, her lips twisting to the side. She glanced out of the window, knotting her fingers together.

She didn't want to say it. Because she didn't want Demetre to think of it. To think she was comparing him to anything.

But she couldn't help the way her mind twisted.

"Flower, please. Shout if you must."

"I'm not angry," She said softly, "I'm scared."

"Tell me of what and I will cut it down."

"The last time I was engaged, it was stolen away because I waited. . . Today, I am glad it was stolen. Despite the pain, because it brought me to you. . . but it makes me fear that. . . returning to France, engaged, it might. . . especially with all that is going on, one could not help but worry."

"Nothing will tear me from you."

Elspeth turned back to him, and her expression nearly killed him.

She wasn't scared. She was terrified.

And no amount of words could ease her.

"Then we won't return engaged," Demetre said.

"Oh?"

"We'll return married."

Elspeth's lips parted in surprise again.

"A small church on the road. . . the driver as our witness. . . Catherine can still plan us a wedding. No one has to know but us and those we care to tell. . . but the moment we are wed, truly and honestly, Elspeth Liens, I am yours until I am six feet in the ground. Even after then. I am yours until the heavens collapse and the hells rise and the world is no more. Until the very end of time."

She reached out, holding his steady hand.

Elspeth Liens had learned a lot in the time she'd spent in France. About the world, about herself. She had learned more than she thought she could, and the largest thing she had taken from all of her adventures, all of her losses and gains, all of those events and meetings and people, was that very little mattered beyond the people you cared for.

Things could be given and taken. Wealth, titles, life itself; but no one could steal away friendship. No one could destroy love. Bonds that were built strongly enough would surely weather any storm that rolled in.

So those people should be put before it all. Before anything else. Before wealth and titles and life and fear and danger.

"Marry me tonight, Demetre."

"Nothing would make me happier, Petal."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
HEHE I just wanna know
if anyone expected the trip to
Scotland to turn out this way