Isabelle
Isabelle sat under the shade, in rear garden. She glanced into Alfred Gaunche’s eyes. It scared her how much they looked like Thomas’ eyes. She felt a slight rip of terror flow through her, as if it were a bad omen. A confirmation of her worst fears.
Isabelle glanced down at the stone bench they were seated on. “I’m almost afraid to tell you any of this.” she hesitated.
He knew she was going to end any hopes he had of engaging her any further. “Best to say it quick then and get it done with.” Alfred said snippily.
“The reason I can not see you is because there was a man I knew before you. He was a scoundrel.” Isabelle turned from him a little. “He was a thief. I was young then, and unschooled in the ways of Love.”
“So you gave yourself to him?” Alfred interrupted her in shock.
Isabelle paled quickly and faced him, “I did not!” She hurriedly continued to explain, “I was alone then, I saw no future of a husband or a family. I promised myself to him.” She looked down again at the stone bench, “A few years passed and I had not heard a word or a letter from him. I had an opportunity again to become a mother and a wife. So selfishly I reached out to take it before I grew too old. Then Thomas showed up, and threatened me. He said if I ever married he would come back and destroy my life, and my family if I had one.”
She looked into Alfred’s eyes. “And to make matters worse your eyes are a haunting reminder of his. It’s like a haunting reminder of what he will do to me, if I do not wait for him.”
“If my eyes look like his, how do you know I am not him?” he questioned.
“You look different. He was pale, his face was sunken in.” She looked at the flawless tan skin on Alfred’s left cheek. “He had a scar on his left cheek, and pale long hair the color of gold.”
“Did you love him? It’s obvious he loved you, he didn’t try to steal your innocence.” Alfred watched her closely as she looked again at the bench. “There is no harm in loving a scoundrel. Many women do it, to no avail. The trick to it all is having one love you back. You must have a power few women possess.”
Isabelle looked at him, but avoided eye contact.
Alfred wanted to reach out and kiss her so badly, but resisted the urge. “So is that to be that then?” he questioned. “You are going to dismiss me on the chance this so called thief comes back. When in all of reality, he is probably already dead and food for the crows. Many clever thieves are hanged outside the town walls.”
Isabelle looked away from him and fought back the urge to cry.
“I will stand up to him if he ever comes for you. I will defend your honor by letting everyone know you told me everything this scoundrel threatened. I will expose him for the extortionist he is. I know why he desires you the most, so much so he would take you for himself. You are worth a fortune for a wife. I have all the wealth I need, and for that of three men. I will marry you for qualities I have yet to discover. If only you will give me a chance to be worthy of such secrets.”
Isabelle looked up into Alfred’s eyes. Perhaps she could see them in a new light, then her thoughts traveled to Thomas.