Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture

“What is it?” She looked up at him.

“Read it,” he urged, his eyes alight.

The announcement was from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and

it declared the opening of an exclusive exhibit of an extraordinary collection of Botticelli illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy , some of which had never before been seen in public. The announcement

went on to declare that the exhibit was on loan to the Uffizi from Professor Gabriel Emerson, as a gift to his fidanzata , Miss Julianne Mitchell.

She gaped at him in surprise. “Gabriel, your illustrations. I can’t believe it.”

“My happiness has made me generous.”

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“But what about the legal issues? And how you bought them?”

“My lawyer hired a team of experts to trace the provenance, which

ends in the late nineteenth century. After that, no one knows to whom they belonged. And since they were always part of a private collection, I own them legally and rightfully. Now I want to share them.”

“That’s wonderful.” Julia flushed and looked down at the ground.

“But my name shouldn’t be attached to the exhibition. The illustrations are yours.”

“I’m only sharing them because of you.”

Julia reached up a hand to touch his jaw. “Thank you. What

you’re doing is very generous. I always thought that those pictures should be available for people to see and to enjoy.”

“You taught me not to be selfish.”

She moved to kiss him, eagerly tasting his mouth. “You taught

me to accept gifts.”

“Then we’re a matched set.” He cleared his throat as he pushed

a lock of hair away from her face. “Will you accompany me to the

exhibition? We’ll schedule it for the summer. Dottore Vitali would like to host a reception for us, similar to the one he held last year for my lecture.”

“Of course I will.”

“Good. Perhaps we’ll be able to find a private corner of the mu-

seum so we can…”

“I’d like nothing more, Professor.” She winked.

Gabriel tugged at his collar involuntarily.

“Do you want to get married in Florence next summer? We could

have the wedding while we’re visiting the exhibition.”

“No.”

His eyes sought the ground as disappointment spread across

his face.

“Next summer would be far too late. What about next month?”

Gabriel’s eyes flew to hers. “I’d marry you tomorrow, if I could.

But are you sure? It doesn’t leave us much time to plan a wedding.”

“I want our wedding to be small. I’m tired of living alone. I want to be with you.” She brushed his ear with her lips. “And it isn’t only because I want to have you warm my bed.”

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Gabriel’s Rapture

A growl escaped Gabriel’s chest, and he kissed her firmly. She

sighed into his mouth, and the two embraced warmly before he

pulled back.

“What about your studies?”

“Lots of graduate students are married. Even if I only see you in

bed at night it will be more than I see you now. Please don’t make me wait.”

He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “As if the waiting wasn’t killing me as well. Where should we get married?”

“Assisi. It’s always been an important place for me, and I know

it’s important to you too.”

“Then Assisi it is, as soon as possible. Honeymoon to be deter-

mined?” He lifted his eyebrows suggestively. “Or is there somewhere particular you’d like to go? Paris? Venice? Belize?”

“Anywhere would be wonderful as long as I’m with you.”

He squeezed her tightly. “Bless you for that. I’l make it a sur-

prise, then.”

She kissed him again and within moments, felt the world spin-

ning around her. Everything fell away as she melted in his arms.

“I have something else I want to show you,” he said at length,

dragging his lips from hers.

He clasped her hand in his and walked over to the old apple tree

that stood on the edge of the clearing.

He turned to face her, eyes full of feeling. “The first time we met, I picked an apple from this tree.”

“I remember.”

“The apple represented what my life was like at that time — carnal, selfish, violent, a magnet for sin.”

Julia watched as he sank to one knee, pulling a golden apple

out of his pocket.

“This apple represents what I’ve become — full of hope. And love.”

She looked at the apple before her eyes sought his.

“Has a man ever asked you to marry him before?”

She shook her head, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Then I’m glad I’m your first.”

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He opened the apple like a magic box and Julia saw a sparkling

diamond ring nestled against a fold of red velvet.

“I want to be your first and your last. I love you, Julianne. I offer you my heart and my life.

“Marry me. Be my wife, my friend, my lover, and my guide. Be

my blessed Beatrice and my adored Julianne.” His voice wavered

slightly. “Say you’ll be mine. Forever.”

“Yes,” Julia managed, before the tears overtook her.

Gabriel removed the ring from the apple and placed it gently on

her finger before caressing her hand with his lips.

“I chose this ring a long time ago, when I picked out the wedding

bands. But it can be returned.” His voice was wistful. “I know you might want to choose your own rings.”

Julia examined the two-and-a-half-carat, cushion-cut diamond

in its platinum setting. The ring was old-fashioned with smaller,

bead set diamonds that surrounded the central stone and graduated

side stones that decorated the band. Although it was far larger and more ornate than she had ever dreamed of, it was perfect because

he chose it for her.

“I choose this one,” she said.

He stood up and she flew into his arms.

“I’ve wanted you forever. Since I first saw your picture,” she said as her happy tears spilled onto his chest. “I wanted you even before I knew you.”

“I wanted you when I didn’t even know your name — just your

goodness. And now I get to keep my Beatrice forever.”

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Chapter 53

A few days later, Paul received an email from Julia announcing

her engagement. It made him ill. Reading and re-reading her

words didn’t ameliorate his situation. Not one bit. But he did so

anyway, if not to torture himself then to have her new status indelibly impressed on his mind.

Dear Paul,

I hope this email finds you well. I’m sorry it took me so long to

answer your last message. Grad school is kicking my butt, and

I feel so behind in everything. But I’m loving it. (By the way,

thank you for the recommendation of Ross King’s books. I

don’t have much time to read these days, but I’m going to pick

up Brunelleschi’s Dome.)

One of the reasons I don’t have much time to read is because

I’m engaged. Gabriel has asked me to marry him and I said

yes. We’d hoped to get married quickly, but were unable to

book the basilica in Assisi until January 21st. Gabriel has

personal ties with the Franciscans, which is the only reason we

were able to book the basilica in so short a time.

I’m very happy. Please be happy for me.

I’m sending your invitation to your apartment in Toronto. We’re

also inviting Katherine Picton.

I’ll understand if you can’t or don’t want to attend, but it was

important to me to invite the people I care about. Gabriel has

rented a house in Umbria for the wedding guests to stay in