She nodded.
At her answer, something glittered in his eyes. The color there reminded her of a pond hidden in a forest near Sky Manor—reflecting more green than blue.
And she knew that it was her memory of all that occurred that fateful spring that would provide her with the reason she needed.
“I can’t live with the possibility of you meeting the same fate.” Even in her own mind, her reason sounded melodramatic. And yet, her heart lightened at the confession. She couldn’t bear the thought of hurting him. “I’m…” She shook her head as she searched for her words. “I like you too much. That’s why I cannot marry you. You need to find someone else.”
At first, he didn’t seem to comprehend what she was saying.
“You believe—” He tilted his head. “That if you marry me, something bad will happen? To me?”
“Yes.” Something very bad. She held his gaze, feeling as though she would shatter into a million pieces any second.
“I’m willing to take that risk.” His gaze was as steady as his voice.
“But I’m not!” Distraught, she burst to her feet. “Why are you making this so difficult?” She dropped her gaze to his lap. “You should probably, er, put that away.”
He made no move to cover himself, though. He was so intent upon addressing her fear.
“But that’s…” He frowned. “You want me to find someone else?”
This was her chance to accomplish what she and Chloe had come here to do. It was her chance to get Allison out of her father’s commitment and thus save Miss Primm from the girl’s threat.
And it took every ounce of willpower that she possessed to follow through with it.
“Yes.” She couldn’t meet his stare.
The fire in the hearth crackled. The clock on the mantel ticked. Aside from those sounds, they sat in silence for what felt like a lifetime.
Until, with a long exhale, Emerson rose, tucking himself in as he did so.
She’d expected to feel his pain, or his anger even, but she felt nothing. It was as though he’d erected a giant wall between them.
Or was that her doing?
Either way, his acceptance hurt.
She’d resisted coming to Cliffhouse. She’d resisted the entire charade, but if she hadn’t come, she would have missed out on knowing him.
She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
Emerson had brought her back to life somehow. He’d reminded her that she was more than just a teacher, that life had more to offer a person than the sterile life of a spinster.
Was she to give all that up again?
Did she have a choice?
Careful to avoid touching her, he crossed the room to his desk where the addendum he’d had drawn up caught his attention.
In an almost violent motion, he drew it into his palm, crumpling it in his fist.
“Miss Fortune and I can leave tomorrow.”
“No,” he said. “You’ll fulfill our original agreement and stay until this house party is over.”
But… “Why?”
He met her gaze then, his eyes hard and cold. “Hell if I know.”
