You Are Mine (English)

Chapter 407: Chapter 407: Hurry Up

Edie forced a bright smile when she realized Stuart was watching her with a puzzled frown. She swallowed before speaking to make sure the emotion was cleared from her voice. "I had a good time. Most of them spoke French, but they were very nice to me," she suddenly said, looking at him with her squinting eyes. She smiled to assure him it was okay, though her insides were torn to bits.

Stuart laid his hand over hers. His eyes darkened with feeling, but his voice was quiet. "Why did you leave early?" It broke his heart, knowing she didn’t tell him the truth. "Why is your gown so dirty? Did someone do something to you?" he stared at her as he asked one question after another. His dark eyes were full of concern as he looked at her smiling face. He couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. It was wrong to keep secrets from him. And now he had to face the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to confide in him.

Yet, she just smiled as if nothing happened. "Brittany and Cecil were with me. No one would dare say anything to me." Edie paused, taking a deep breath. "I was clumsy and spilled food on my dress. That’s why we left early," she explained.

Stuart felt weak, frantic, tortured by a mixture of conflicting emotions that raced through his body as he held her close. He took a deep breath and said, "If anyone ever looks down on you or makes you feel worthless, I want you to tell me."

Hearing his words, Edie trembled inside. She shook her head as she regained her senses. "I’m Stuart Yates’s wife! They would never offend me, knowing how powerful you are." Stuart didn’t know what to say, so he just sat back and looked at Edie. "I am so sleepy. I can scarcely keep my eyes open," she said with a yawn.

He kissed her gently on the cheek and said, "Go to sleep. I’m going to take a shower, and then I’ll join you."

Edie gently pushed his away. "Hurry up," she said, giggling.

About twenty minutes later, Stuart came back into the room. "She’s sound asleep," he said as he quietly walked up beside the bed. "I will always take you," he said. "I know you’re hurting, and I hate the thoughts of it. I never wanted this to happen to you." He caressed her face, rubbing his hand along her cheek, and sighed. "It’s my job to protect you no matter where you are." He took her hand. "No matter what, I want you to feel you can tell me anything."

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Edie and Stuart were still asleep when the knock on the door woke them at dawn the following morning. "Who would be knocking on the door at this hour?" Edie said, yawning.

"Edie," Cecil cries out. "I’m hungry!" He shrugged and knocked again. No response. "Are you awake?" he said in a loud voice.

Edie looked at the clock. It was only six-thirty in the morning. "I’ll be right there," she told Cecil. She tossed the covers back and started to get out of bed. "I’m going...."

Stuart stopped her in mid sentence, saying, "Relax, I’m here. You stay here and rest."

Edie stared at him with a surprised look on her face. "But..."

Stuart interrupted in a calm but firm tone, "But? What? I’m perfectly capable of getting Cecil something to eat." Then he left before Edie had a chance to say anything else.

Stuart opened the door, and Cecil stood to stare at him, his head bobbing, his eyes skating from side to side as he chose his words carefully. "Are you mad at me?

Stuart never answered him. He looked Cecil sternly in the eyes and asked, "What’s wrong with the servants?"

"Nothing...Edie makes....better food." As Cecil said this, his voice trembled a little. He was terrified. Then he reached back with both his hands and covered his bottom. "Don’t spank me, please!" he begged.

Stuart glared down at him for a second. Suddenly, he reached down and picked him up. He carried Cecil downstairs and put him in a chair. Stuart looked down and pointed his finger at him. "I saw everything! Next time someone says anything about Edie, tell them how you are, or mention my name." His posture looked menacing, his eyes widened, and his muscles appeared tense and ripple.

Cecil sat, shaking in the chair. All he could do was wait for what was to come next. Stuart took a deep breath. "I’m not going to spank you this time, but remember what I said." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Cecil nodded his head eagerly and said, "It will never happen again."

Stuart went into the kitchen and came back out with two pieces of toast. Cecil sniffed it and curled his nose up at it. "What’s this? Edie usually makes my porridge," he said, sounding disappointed.

"Did you not say you were hungry?" Stuart said, his tone of voice as cold as his carved-ice features.

Cecil picked up a piece of toast, sniffed it again, and dropped it back on his plate. "Is there any jam?" he asked. Stuart said no and quickly left.

Stuart left the kitchen and was passing through the living room on his way back upstairs when he noticed Edie. "What are you doing?" he asked, sounding surprised. "It’s too early. You need your rest."

"I couldn’t go back to sleep." She hesitated, feeling both excited but nervous at the same time. "I’ve been thinking. Would you mind getting me a tutor? I’d like to learn how to speak French."

Stuart felt sad, thinking about what happened to her last night. "You don’t have to. If you don’t like it here, we can go home. I want you to be happy."

His words were simple and beautiful. They fell into her heart like teardrops into a crystal pool, rippling through her soul the way a perfect phrase of music could. She studied him. ’Did he feel guilty?’ Edie took his face between her hands and looked into the deep brown of his eyes. "For now, we’re here. All your friends and family speak the language. I want to learn. I think it’s a good idea because when we go out next time, I’ll actually know what people are saying."

Edie’s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone. She made an indelible impression on him. Puzzled at her insistence, he had no choice but to agree. Stuart frowned. "I don’t like this," he said, shaking his head. "But I know how determined you are. Promise me, and you won’t push yourself too hard," he said with concern written all over his face.

"Stop worrying. Nothing’s going to happen," she reassured him. Then she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I love you," she said and laid her head against his chest.

Stuart hugged her back gently for a while, then he shook his head, bringing her hand to his lips for a moment. "To be clear, it’s not that I don’t want you to learn. It’s just I don’t want to see working too hard."