‘At last we have dispensed with themy lords,’ he growled, grabbing her other arm, too. ‘You cannot fight me, so relent—please, Rebecca—and explain yourself! I at least deserve that!’
Her attempts at wrenching free ceased, and she slackened beneath his fingers, his touch alone keeping her upright.
‘If this is about last night—’
‘Liam...’
It was more a breath than a spoken word. His heart lurched as he searched her face, imploring her silently to look at him. She looked so defeated, sotired...
God help me. Please say I alone am not the cause of such pain...
‘Now. Tell me. What are you doing?’
‘Leaving,’ she said meekly. ‘I thought it obvious.’
‘Why?’ Liam asked, unable to conceal the pain in his voice.
There had to be something more to this—but what elsecouldthere be?
‘It’s time. You knew I would one day.’
‘Not like this. Rebecca, please, I beg you, tell me. I know something’s wrong—you won’t even look me in the eye, damn you!’
She did look at him then, and his heart broke with the pain and fear he saw in her eyes.
There is something more.
‘Why?’
‘I can’t,’ she breathed, her voice faltering.
‘I won’t let you leave like this, not until you tell me the truth.’
I won’t let you lie to me as Hal did and risk losing you.
‘I will drag you back if I must.’
Rebecca shook her head despondently and he felt her lose what little strength she had left. He guided her gently to the ground, and she stayed there, on her knees, until finally a sob wrenched free of her breast.
This most certainly wasn’t just about them.
This was worse, much, much worse.
‘Oh, God,’ Liam said, all at once understanding.
Only one other thing has changed...
‘It’s him, isn’t it? Mellors?’
Rebecca nodded, and he pulled her close against his chest. He let her cry all her tears, her sobs cutting through him like daggers, until she had none left to cry.
‘You should’ve said something, come to me... I would’ve...’
‘I swore I would quit the house if my secrets endangered it,’ she croaked.
‘It is not up to you to quit this house. He will never set foot here again—’
‘He knows!’ she exclaimed, and the terror in her voice shattered his soul. ‘If I stay, he will stop at nothing. I must go. It is time.’
