Rose scowled. “He would never do that.”
Lisbeth only partially listened to the chatter around her. Thomas would be here soon. She had to see his mother before he reached London. Why didn’t she tell him the whole truth in Syria?Because he will hate you, she reminded herself.
Regret flared in her, and she bit her lip, knowing the truth would end any reconciliation between them. Reconciliation? She’d left Thomas in Syria, planning to see him never again. Hadn’t she? She needed to think and be alone.
Lisbeth rose to her feet, startling everyone. She forced herself to smile. “I must go. I have an appointment that I just remembered.”
Addie asked, “Will you return?”
“I don’t think so, but I will be back tomorrow.”
She headed to the door, hoping she wasn’t causing a scene. Lisbeth reached the bottom of the grand staircase when Rose said, “Lisbeth.”
Turning back, she saw that her friend’s face was filled with concern. Rose rushed down the stairs, stopping in front of her. Lisbeth waited.
“Do you know why he is returning?”
Lisbeth shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“You seem upset.”
She was, but also, a hum of need coursed through her. It was as if her body refused to allow her to keep Thomas in the past. Or was it her heart?
“Lisbeth?” Rose said, concern flaring in her eyes.
She shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ve too much to do, is all.”
“If you need anything, will you let me know?”
Lisbeth forced herself to calm down. “I will. Truly, I’m fine.”
Rose looked as if she wanted to say something else, but Addie called her from the office. Lisbeth squeezed her hand. “I’m fine. Go, Rose.”
Her friend frowned at her but went. Lisbeth walked towards the door. She took a deep breath. Thomas would be in London in a few days. She needed to tell him the truth as soon as possible. He deserved that. Pain pierced her heart because she suspected Thomas could forgive many things, but not this.
*
Thomas sat inthe small pub in Guernsey. The small island was their last stop before they arrived back in England. Word had traveled quickly that he was on the ship. Women and men both greeted him everywhere he went. The serials couldn’t truly be that successful, were they?
A server with her bosom on full display sashayed towards him. He looked down, not wanting to give her a hint of encouragement.
“Mr. Easton, is there anything you need?”
He lifted his head and had to admit she was quite beautiful. Still, she wasn’t Lisbeth. No, this woman was stunning in her own way with her hourglass figure, brown curly hair, and heart-shaped face. Yet, he felt nothing. He shook his head. “No, I’m fine.”
Disappointment flashed on her face, and she walked away. Matthison hollered, “I could use another pint.”
She didn’t look back. His friend laughed. “Imagine how insane it will be in London. Guernsey is a small island. Is your lady worth your attention? You could pick any woman you want or multiple.”
Lisbeth was the only woman he wanted. He would show her that loving and choosing each other after all these years was the right thing to do. They’d taken different paths for reasons out of their control, but now they could do as they liked.
“She is worth it. I love her.”
Matthison choked on his drink. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”
“We grew up together, and then she married another in England.”
His friend nodded. “And you became the famous explorer Thomas Easton.”
