***
“I suppose we should go back, shouldn’t we?” Caroline asked, her tone downbeat as they walked through the park. In unison, they both looked up to the dark clouds above as the rain had just begun.
I do not want to go back.
“Or we could stay,” Alaina suggested. “A little walk in the rain. Your father will hardly miss us, will he?”
“True. Yes, let’s stay.” Caroline looped her arm through Alaina’s, and they continued their walk around Hyde Park. It had been much the same ever since they had returned to London; every day, they would take solace in a walk in the park, far away from the Earl of Woolworth.
At first, they talked about what had happened. They had exclaimed in alarm their amazement that the earl had not dismissed Alaina from her position at once. They kept trying to guess why he would not get rid of her, but they had no answer for her. They also talked much about Marcus and David, especially how much they missed them and how far they were from their loved ones now. Caroline had apologized profusely for being the one to draw them both into this mess, though Alaina brushed off her apologies repeatedly, pointing out that she was as much to blame. After all, Alaina had agreed to the plan.
Now, though, they barely talked at all. They simply walked as the rain came down. Caroline’s fine dress was quickly wet, dragging puddles behind her, and Alaina’s poor fraying bonnet ran with water.
“Do you think it will pass?” Caroline said as the rain started to come down harder. Through the mist, Alaina could make out no other in the park. It seemed they were the only ones left here as everyone else ran to head home.
“The rain?”
“No. This feeling,” Caroline murmured, walking on into the mist down a solitary path.
“I hope so.” Alaina had a hunch the pain would not go away, not completely.
Then, two silhouettes moved in the mist. Alaina frowned at the sight, certain for a minute the figures were simply trees, and she imagined them moving toward her, but then she saw they were indeed people.
“Who’s that?” Alaina whispered for the figures were very intent on walking their way.
Both figures were tall; one dressed grandly in a top hat, open frock coat, and swagger stick. The other wore a cheaper and looser jacket.
“No.” Caroline halted, her arm tightening around Alaina’s. “It can’t be.”
“Can’t be who? What …” Then Alaina trailed off completely.
This has to be a dream. It is the only thing that makes sense.
Yet as the two figures appeared completely through the mist, she knew it was no dream, for she could feel the rain seeping through her dress. In front of her stood Marcus, his green eyes fixed to hers as the water ran down off his top hat. Beside him was David, whose own keen gaze was transfixed on Caroline.
Not a word was said between the four of them for a minute. They all just stared at one another, the air pierced by the heavy rain pattering around them.
“Caroline,” David was the first to speak. “May we talk?” He gestured for her to walk away with him a little.
Alaina protectively tightened her arm around Caroline’s, but she was too slow. Already, Caroline was pulling back from her. She nodded at Alaina reassuringly and parted, following David into the mist.
Alaina struggled to raise her chin to look Marcus in the eye at all. It was now more obvious than ever before the difference in their station. He was dressed beautifully in his grand coat and suit as she stood there with her poor gown, shivering in the wet and cold. She wrung her hands together in front of her, chewing her lip, uncertain what to say.
“Why are you here?” she managed eventually, desperate to end the silence.
“I had to see you.” He stepped towards her, so near that her stomach seemed to somersault within her body. She could remember at once the way they had shared themselves, making love in her bed. That seemed a long time ago now. “What happened …” He paused and grimaced. “It hurt.”
“I know. I’m so sorry,” she whispered in a rush.
“As am I.”
“What? What do you have to be sorry for?” she asked in wonder. He reached between them and caught her hand.
That touch, like fire, fought against the chill of the rain. He didn’t just take her hand but threaded their fingers together. Terrified, she stood stock still, fearing he would pull back at any second.
“For not understanding why you did it.” He stepped closer towards her again. “Had I a friend who was equally afraid of marrying at someone else’s order, maybe I would have done the same,” he said in a quiet rush, “but I couldn’t see that. All I could see was the lie.”
“One lie,” she murmured hopelessly, looking down at their hands grasped together. “Only my name.”
