The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 02

The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 02

It was still early when Aveline walked into the town courthouse.

After she explained why she was there, the clerk spent a long time digging through the records. When he finally looked up, his expression had turned odd.

“Mrs. Caulfield… I don’t think there’s anything for you to annul.”

Aveline froze.

“What does that mean?”

The clerk opened the file and pointed to a blank line at the bottom.

“A marriage license has to be signed and filed to count. Captain Caulfield never filed yours. Legally speaking, there was never a marriage.”

Behind him, a junior clerk muttered, “I remember that day. Captain Caulfield said if he couldn’t marry the woman he wanted, he didn’t want another woman’s name on a legal record.”

His voice was low.

But Aveline heard every word.

She stood there for a moment.

Then she laughed.

It came out soft and empty, with no humor in it at all.

Bram had taken her lantern by force, yes. That was how their marriage had begun.

But after that, he had always put her first. He gave in to her, took care of her, handled everything with careful patience. He had not even touched her until she said yes.

Over time, she had given him her heart.

Only now did she understand.

Bram had planned the ending before they had even begun.

Fine.

Then she did not even need to leave him. He had never truly been hers.

Aveline walked out of the courthouse. Sorrel followed behind her, silent and worried.

Aveline did not look back.

She went straight to Greywake Wharf on the south side of town, where trading boats came and went from the Sable Coast all year.

She found the crew chief and asked directly, “Can your boat take me with you?”

The man was middle-aged, his skin dark from years of sun and salt wind. He looked her over.

“Ma’am, the Sable Coast isn’t a soft place. Long trip. Rough water.”

“I know. Drop me in Briarport. I have family there.”

He studied her face for a moment, then nodded.

“All right. We leave in seven days. If you’re serious, be here that morning.”

Aveline paid the deposit.

She did not want to stay beside Bram.

She did not want to go back to Foxglove Gap and face Thorne either.

Her parents had once mentioned that her aunt ran a business down in Briarport. That was enough.

As long as she was far from those two men, the world was wide. There had to be one place in it where she could breathe.

When she returned to Caulfield House, she met them at the front gate.

Bram was walking ahead with several shopping bags in his hands. Cressida followed beside him, looking up as she talked, her smile bright and sweet.

Bram was smiling too, lowering his head to listen.

Aveline watched them and thought of the clerk’s words.

The woman he wanted.

Her mouth tugged faintly.

She kept walking and brushed right past them.

“Aveline.”

Bram called after her.

He came over quickly, his eyes sweeping across her pale face. His brows pulled together.

“You’re still recovering. You should be resting. If you need something, send someone to tell me. I’ll handle it.”

Aveline said lightly, “I felt trapped inside. I came out for air.”

Bram seemed ready to say more, but his voice softened when he saw her face.

“Go back and rest. I’ll have the kitchen make you some broth.”

She nodded as if she had heard him and went back to her room.

By dusk, the door opened.

Bram came in carrying a covered pot.

Aveline was sitting by the window. He set the pot down, slipped an arm around her, and moved her to the table as if she were still his to hold.

“You’re not well, and you’re sitting in a draft?” he said. “Come on. Drink this while it’s hot. The kitchen simmered it all afternoon.”

Aveline glanced at the pot.

“I already ate.”

Bram lifted the lid and stirred it with a spoon.

“This isn’t dinner. It’s to help you recover. I asked the doctor. You lost too much. You need to build yourself back up.”

His voice sounded concerned.

But he would not look her in the eye.

Aveline watched his face, and the last warmth in her went cold.