“Badr believes that our tunnel must have collapsed at some point because it simply ends without breaking into a larger room. We were out much sooner than your group.”
Lisbeth suggested, “You can ask Fadir to take you down the tunnel we took.”
Abbas shivered. “While it would be nice to see, I will decline. I’ve already told Easton I will sit out tomorrow’s exploration. I didn’t enjoy some of the areas of the corridor my group was in. At one point, I feared we’d get stuck. Badr told me I was being dramatic.”
She laughed. “I wish I could convince Benson to do the same, but he is adamant that he will go.”
“I’m grateful that you all will explore the last corridor on the map. I still have hope that the tablets will be recovered.”
Yes, Lisbeth wanted that more than anything, as well. If they had the completed deciphered epic, she suspected the Historical Society for Female Curators would be given a space at the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park.
“Me too. I want to believe we didn’t travel all this way for nothing.”
Abbas frowned and looked at Thomas. “Why do you think he has never returned to London? He is famous, and most would want to bask in all that.”
Lisbeth suspected it was because Thomas hadn’t wanted to see her. She glanced at him. The man was strikingly handsome, and jealousy unfurled in her, thinking about all the ladies who would flock around him if he ever returned to the city.
Why was she thinking about him returning? She had no right to be jealous if he found a lady to be in his life. She’d given him up long ago.
“Maybe he doesn’t want people fawning over him,” Abbas added.
Just then, two women placed food in front of him, and he beamed at them, delighted to be taken care of. Both Lisbeth and Abbas laughed. He said, “Maybe something else then.”
“I think so. Perhaps an explorer like him finds London boring.”
Abbas nodded, but Lisbeth didn’t believe her own words. No, she’d hurt Thomas Easton, and he’d fashioned himself into a completely different person, one that wanted nothing to do with England. It wasn’t hubris that made her believe that. She had endured her own profound loss and devastation when she walked away from him. That was how she knew.
Still, Lisbeth didn’t want to hurt him again, so she needed to ensure that he knew they couldn’t repeat what happened in the cavern. She would make sure he understood it was a one-time thing.
*
Later that evening,Thomas found Lisbeth sitting in the courtyard of the house they were staying in. She seemed lost in thought. He owed her an apology. Thomas shouldn’t have kissedher. He’d forgotten himself, and if he was being truthful, their history made anything else impossible.
He leaned against a stone wall, studying her. She’d cleaned up from their adventure earlier. His mouth quirked up in amusement at how much enthusiasm she had for venturing into different parts of the cave system. She may have the regal bearing of a duchess, but the thrill-seeker Lizzie was still in there as well.
She leaned back and stared up at the stars, twirling her blonde braid. She sighed. “You can come sit with me. We don’t have to avoid each other.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t.”
She glanced at him. Her blue eyes filled with disbelief. He joined her where she sat on an oversized rock. Thomas cleared his throat, unsure how to start, but eventually, he said, “I’m sorry for kissing you today.”
Lisbeth let out a puff of air. “I’m not sorry. I just don’t think it should happen again. We have different lives.”
Her lack of regret should thrill him, but it didn’t. She was right. They didn’t suit—too much had changed in the last ten years. Still, he believed they had loved each other long ago. Yet, she’d abandoned him. He asked, “Why did you leave me in Tuscany?”
Pain slashed across her face. He didn’t want to hurt her, but couldn’t let her leave without understanding why she’d chosen to return to England. She gulped. “Does it matter?”
“I would like to know,” he said quietly.
Lisbeth frowned. “Justin found me in Tuscany. He explained that the family was ruined, and my father was facing debtor’s prison. The only thing that could fix everything was my planned marriage to my eventual husband. If I married, my family would have enough money to make the earldom solvent again. Withoutit, both my father and brother were doomed to spend years locked away. So, I did what was needed.”
Fury and pain barreled through him. He’d suspected she’d left because of something to do with money, but back then her note had simply explained she wanted to return to England. She’d likely known Thomas would have gone after her if he suspected she still loved him. Lisbeth left him because of her duty to her family. Their eyes connected, both watery. He grasped her hand and said, “Thank you for telling me the truth.”
She nodded. “My husband, Nicholas, was a good man. We grew to care for each other, but he came into the marriage just as reluctant. Still, over time, we developed an unexpected friendship.”
“I’m glad you found happiness,” Thomas said and truly meant it.
He wanted to be furious, but what good would it do? She took a deep breath and faced him. “What we had, Thomas, was special. You were my best friend and my first love, but too much has changed for this…us…to become anything.”
