Beyond the Broken Angel

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

— date night —

April 16th, 1938

GISELLE WATCHED AS Will mowed the lawn, sweat clinging his white undershirt to the firm ridges of muscle that wrapped around his torso as he pushed the push-reel mower along the grass.

She knew she should look away and continue watering the plants like she was supposed to be doing, but she just couldn't tear her eyes away from him.

That action was becoming harder and harder to accomplish the longer she stayed at Dare Manor. It had been almost a month since she had been back, and something had begun to change between them. They spoke more often than normal, and stole glances at each other whenever they could, Giselle often catching Will already looking at her when she went to look at him.

It reminded Giselle of when she used to have crushes in school. Her heart pounded excitedly when she looked at him, and the fluttering sensation that took over her stomach when he was near almost made her giggle in elation.

Except, none of her past crushes were as intense as the one she had on Will.

Was this love?

"Quite the 'Peeping Tom,' aren't you?" Marguerite's melodic voice made Giselle jump and whirl around, her cheeks reddening in shame.

Marguerite grinned as she strolled into the conservatory, wearing a blush pink dress and matching heels, her hair was neatly curled and her cheeks were rosier than they had been at lunch only hours ago. Giselle also noticed the fresh red lipstick on her lips.

"Are you going somewhere?" she asked.

Marguerite's brows lowered. "I told you where I was going at lunch," she complained. "Remember?"

Giselle frowned, thinking back. The only memory she was able to retrieve was of Marguerite rattling on about men named Reuben Porter and Jim Ludlow while Giselle tried her best to block out the incessant chatter. "Oh yeah," she finally said, "aren't you going on a date with that Reuben guy? Or was it Jim?"

Marguerite pursed her lips. "Were you not listening to a word I said? I'm going with Reuben and Jim is going with some Welsh ninny named Enid," she said the woman's name in disgust, her upper lip curling into a sneer. "I don't know what he could possibly see about her that is appealing."

"So? Why are you so worried about her if she's going with Jim?"

"Because I'm trying to marry Jim!" Marguerite exclaimed, crossing her arms sassily. "Don't you ever hear a word I say?I've been trying to get his attention since I moved here. He's the most handsome eligible bachelor there is. And he's rich!"

Giselle frowned in distaste. "So you only like him because he's handsome and rich?" She shook her head. "Marguerite you're a gold digger."

Marguerite didn't burst into flames like Giselle thought she would at the comment. Instead, she lifted her chin and smiled. "No, I'm just a woman who knows what she wants."

"You don't want love?" Giselle countered.

"Not as much as I want the money." Her eyes narrowed on Giselle's disproving gaze. "Don't look at me like that," she hissed. "There's nothing wrong with what I want, and I'm sure I'll love him eventually. He is very charming, after all."