18. Chapter 18
Albrecht
A s the evening of the ball arrives, my heart beats like a drum in my chest, not knowing what to expect. Giselle could see me and slap me for the audacity to come here without her knowing, or best case scenario we’ll be back in each other's arms by the end of the night.
I arrive at the winery, my mask in place, blending in with the other guests. The atmosphere is incredible, filled with music from a string quartet and the warm glow of candlelight from elaborate candelabras that look straight out of a vampire film. Even with masks on, I spot Nello across the room, and he gives me a nod of encouragement.
I find a spot to hide out on the terrace, my eyes searching for Giselle. It seems like just yesterday that I met her here in this very spot. She captured my heart from the moment our eyes met. To say I’m nervous to see her again would be a massive understatement. But everything within me craves her… her smile, her touch, her laugh. I know that if she lets me back in, I’m never letting her go.
I’m sipping on my glass of wine when all the attendees make their way onto the terrace and Nello gets up onto the stage to welcome everyone.
“It is with a great honor that I welcome you all on this lovely evening to celebrate wine and the magic of autumn. To kick off tonight’s festivities, we have a very special performance for you. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will,” he announces and then walks off the stage and into the crowd. I watch as he finds his wife and joins her in sitting at a small table in the front.
When the stage lights dim and the haunting melody begins, my breath catches in my throat. Giselle steps onto the stage, a vision in white with haunting beauty. Her performance is mesmerizing, every movement precise and graceful. I can see the passion and pain in her dance, and it tugs at my heartstrings. She dances around like a mad faerie, spinning and jumping across the stage. I’m completely entranced by her.
When the final notes fade and the terrace erupts in applause, I can’t take my eyes off of her. I weave through the guests who have begun waltzing under the stars, my eyes locked on Giselle as she is greeted with congratulations. She hasn’t noticed me yet, engrossed in conversation with a group of admirers.
As soon as they walk off, I step up behind her, as I take a deep breath and confront her.
“May I have this dance?”
She turns, her eyes widening in surprise. “Albrecht?”
“I’m here, sunshine” I say, offering my hand. “You were incredible up there.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Your father invited me. Please , Giselle. One dance.”
She hesitates for a moment, then places her hand in mine. We move to the dance floor, and as I take her in my arms, I feel the world fade away. The classical music swells around us, and we begin to dance, her body relaxing into mine as I hold her close.
“I… I’ve been meaning to reply to you. Your letters… they mean a lot, and I think I understand now,” she says, her voice soft and trembling.
“I love you, Giselle,” I say, earnestly. “I could never be with anyone but you. My title, my obligations—they mean nothing without you. I’m staying in Napa indefinitely, whether I get the partnership with your father or not. I want to build a life with you.”
Tears well up in her eyes, and she looks away for a moment. “I was so hurt when I saw that article and thought you were with someone else back in Italy. I didn’t know if I could ever trust you again.”
“I understand,” I say, tightening my grip on her hand. “I made a mistake by not telling you the truth sooner. But I’m here now, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn back your trust.”
She gazes up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “What about your family? Won’t they be upset by you leaving them? What if they hate me for it?”
I shake my head. “They’re happy for me. They want me to be happy, and they understand that my happiness is with you. My parents support my decision and feel bad for pushing me so hard on the betrothal.”
A single tear escapes and trails down her cheek. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I whisper, brushing the tear away with my thumb. “More than you can imagine. Please, Giselle, give me— give us —another chance.”
She nods, a radiant smile breaking through her tears. “I’m ready. I want this, I want you . I love you, Loys. I never stopped, no matter how mad I was at you.”
My heart soars as I pull her close, our dance slowing as we gaze into each other's eyes. “I love you too, Giselle. And I promise I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me again.”
“You better not. My aunt may feed you to the fishes.”
We laugh and then our lips meet. We spend the rest of the song lost in each other’s embrace, the music and the crowd fading into the background. This moment feels like a dream, a beautiful, magical dream.
“I really need to change out of this tutu and these pointe shoes. Walk with me back to the cottage?”
“Of course,” I say, taking her hand in mine. And as we walk along the pumpkin-lined path under the starry sky, I know that this is it. This is the start of our forever together. And I may have been the one to charm Giselle when we first met, but she has bewitched me ever since and I’m one lucky man to be under her spell.