Chapitre 25: Chapter 25
"Oh! Stefan that we did was so beautiful!" Francesca felt paralyzed by what she had just experienced.
Stephen smiled and hugged her tighter in his arms, whispering tender words of eternal love and devotion to her.
"I love you, I will love you forever, Francesca. You are the love of my life." Ηe told her and kissed her on the forehead.
"I love you too, Stefan. So, much!" she replied in a sweet voice. "From the very first moment I saw you at Lord Augustine's mansion, when you got a job in the stables."
"Since then huh?"
"Yes!"
"But has been almost two years since then," he remarked, impressed.
"I know. It doesn't matter, it was worth the waiting. I don't regret for anything. You are mine now."
"I was blind and stupid that I hadn't noticed you before."
"I know that too," she giggled, and Stefan laughed.
"I promise you to make up to you for the lost time."
Francesca got up, leaning on her elbow to look at him better. "Hm… Interesting. And how are you going to do that?" she asked.
"Every free minute we will have from the job we find, we will spend it together. Mostly in bed." He replied with a smirk, and his eyes shone.
"Hm… Good idea! I accept your offer. And we will do what we said, right? "
"Do you mean to leave the town?"
"Yes."
"Once we raise enough money, we will leave as we planned."
"Great. We have to start looking for a job immediately."
"Okay. We will start tomorrow morning."
"But now let's get up. We need to get to the market to buy some food. We have nothing to eat," Francesca informed him.
Her gaze fell on his lips, and she remembered how soft and velvety are. Those lips knew exactly how to kiss her, taking off her senses, blowing up her mind.
Suddenly she felt the desire to feel it again, and she bent down and kissed those lips.
Stefan responded immediately, claiming her lips violently. He laid her back on the bed and towered over her. Francesca spread her legs, ready to welcome him again, tempting him to continue for more than a kiss.
***
Stefan rolled to the side, weary, trying to catch his breath.
Francesca lay down, resting her head on his shoulder, and hugged him from the waist, also out of breath.
Stefan put his hand on hers.
"I'm so happy Stefan!" she whispered to him.
"Me too, my love. I am delighted with you. I feel like I will die if I lose you.
"You will not lose me my love. Here I am. Forever. I will not be able to bear to lose you either," Francesca said, squeezing him on her.
Some hour later, they got out of bed, got dressed, and left their house, embracing each other.
They asked and found out where the market was and went shopping. If they were a little longer late, they would find it closed.
When they returned home, Stefan lit a fire in the hearth, and Francesca filled the earthenware cooking pot with water and put it on the fire to boil.
She planned to put in some meat and vegetables -mainly potatoes and carrots.
Francesca opened the windows to let in some fresh air and cleaned the small house until the food was ready.
It may have been closed, but it had collected enough dust. It needed cleaning.
After she finished cleaning, they ate and lay down.
A big day awaited them when the next day would dawn.
***
The next day was sunny with clear skies.
As they were eating breakfast, they had a conversation. Would they split up to cover more houses where they would ask? Or would they stay together and spend more time searching?
Francesca expressed her phobia of getting lost in the town she knew almost nothing about, so the matter ended there.
They would stay together. Stefan didn't leave her alone.
They started by asking the rich houses if they needed staff. They explained that they were a legal couple and showed them the document confirming their marriage.
They had visited half of the rich houses by noon asking for a job. Some replied that they didn't need any staff, and others either needed only Stefan for the stable or Francesca as a maid. But the couple wanted to work in the same house.
So they decided to ask everywhere, and if they couldn't find something for both of them, they would consider working separately.
They were located on the outskirts, at the houses on the fingers of the town, where it was quiet, and the landscape behind them was full green by the countless trees. The air was cooler and more fragrant on this side of the city.
They looked around and talked about their next step when Stefan saw a tower on a small hill beyond the last houses where they were standing.
"Do they live people in that tower?" Stefan wondered.
"I don't know. We need to know before we walk so far unjustly. I'm already exhausted." Francesca complained.
"Okay. But we have to wait for someone to come by and ask for information".
"I don't mind. Let's wait. We will rest a little as well. Look! That tree is the ideal place to get some rest." Francesca exclaimed, pointing to a big tree, and she was already on her way there.
Stefan followed her, and they sat under the thick shade of the tree.
"If time passes and no one comes, then we must go and check." He informed her.
"Okay."
Time went by, but no pedestrian passed. Only carriages.
Stefan got up. "We lost a lot of time. Let's go and check." he told Francesca, and she got up without complaint. She had rested enough and could now continue walking.
They followed the dirt road that led to the tower. The tower building was visible. There was no garden in front of it; Not a single tree. There was no movement of people. It gave the impression that it was untenanted.
It was gray and dull. Francesca shuddered at the sight of it and wondered if it was a good idea to get there in search of work.
They reached the big wooden door and waited to take a breath before they knocked.
When they felt ready, Stefan took the big iron knocker in his hand and knocked on the door.
They waited for a while until they heard footsteps coming from inside. Stefan and Francesca looked at each other in surprise and smiled.
The door opened with a slight creak, and a maid appeared in the opening.
"Yes?" she asked, frowning.
"Hello. Can we talk to your master, please?" Stefan requested.
"Are either of you sick?"
"No. Why?" Stefan looked at her in astonishment.
"Because my master is a doctor, that's why I asked you."
"Oh! That's nice!" Francesca uttered in a moment of awkwardness.
"Since you are not sick, then what do you want from him?" the maid asked again, looking askance at them from top to bottom.
"We want to ask him if he needs staff. I know about horse care and my wife from home care," Stefan explained.
The maid looked at them thoughtfully for a while and then suddenly said: "Wait a minute," slamming the door in their faces.
Francesca looked at Stefan, puzzled. "What was that?"
Stefan shrugged. "Let us wait as he told us."
After a while, the door opened, and at the opening, a man appeared. His sight nailed the couple to the ground as they were staring at him in amazement and surprise as well.
This man was tall, husky, and well-dressed. He was not in his early youth but certainly didn't call him an old man.
He was handsome but different! His dark hair was cut very close to his head. His nose was wide, and his lips full fleshy. They were not used to seeing such men walking freely on the street, especially a doctor.
"My maid told me you are looking for a job," the man said firmly with his deep voice and a searching look with his big black eyes. He was used to people looking at him like these two people did. It didn't bother him anymore. On the contrary, he felt proud of himself and what he had accomplished.
"Yes, she told you right," Stefan said in a barely audible voice.
"I am Dr. Mason."
"I am Stefan, and this is my wife, Francesca."
"So, you are married! It was the next question I would ask you." said the man and smiled slightly, revealing his dazzling white teeth.
Francesca had lost her words as she was looking at him stultified. She thought better of it and remembered that she had heard his name mentioned again and how a good doctor he was, but what she was seeing in front of her, she would never imagine.
"Yes, we got married recently." Stefan explained.
"And you are looking for a job?!" said the doctor, thoughtfully looking at them. His gaze, however, remained for a little longer fixed on Francesca's face.
"Yes," Stefan confirmed. "I know about horses, and Francesca about housework."
«The timing is perfect! I need staff indeed. But, Francesca, you need to know that for a while, in addition to the standard duties you will have, you will have to help the cook with the food, especially when I have guests. Until I find a girl solely for this job."
"There is no problem," Francesca assured him.
"And there is a condition," the doctor said.
"Which is?" asked Stefan.
"You are obliged to come and live here in the tower with me. I like my staff to be available whenever I need it. You will have food, shelter and a pay."
Stefan and Francesca looked at each other. "We agreed!" they said in one voice.
"Okay then. I will waiting for you tomorrow, early in the morning."
"Thank you very much, doctor Mason." Stefan said. "You will not regret it."
"I am sure about it. You seem nice people. Have a nice day".
"Same to you Dr. Mason. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Dr. Mason said and closed the door, leaving them alone.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone