“Anything.”
“Will you write to me and assure me you are safe?”
“Yes.” The tears in her throat were so thick they threatened to choke her.
“I will miss you, dearest Milly.”
“Oh, Apple-blossom, I-I shall miss you also. But I have to go.”
“I know, and I also know you will not give me the reasons.”
“I-I cannot.”
The fingers squeezed around hers.
“Mr. Howard asked me to marry him tonight, and I said yes, and then he kissed me.”
“I am so happy for you.”
They could not see each other’s faces clearly, but Milly could feel Apple-blossom’s happiness. She knew it was tinged with sadness because of her departure, but Milly knew that marriage to Mr. Howard would occupy Apple-blossom from now on.
“Thank you for teaching me so much, Milly.”
“And thank you for teaching me much also.”
“How to be part of a family?”
Milly sniffed. “Yes. It has been wonderful.”
“I-if ever you want to come back here, Milly, the door is always open, even when I make my home with Daniel.”
“Th-thank you,” Milly said, knowing that would never happen. “I will leave Daisy here with you, as she is so happy.”
“And we shall treasure her always.”
“I-I shall be gone before you rise.”
She would now have another pain inside her, just to the left of the one she experienced when she thought of her aunt, and below the one that had Joseph’s name on it.
Apple-blossom kissed her cheek softly, and then left, closing the door behind her, leaving Milly to lie in silent agony until the gray streaks of dawn filtered through the gap in her curtains.
Dressing quickly, she crept through the quiet house. She would miss them all dearly. She would also miss Daisy, but the little dog belonged here now.
Milly did not look back as she made her way down the driveway and then onto the road that led back to Spindle. It was cold, and small needles of rain fell. Milly felt nothing; in fact, she was numb. Her only intention to get to the stage and away from here. The walk was not a great one, and soon she had reached the houses that led into town. She could see the odd flash of a candle or lamp as she walked, but did not encounter anyone. By the time she arrived in Spindle she was wet through, as the rain had set in.
The coach was not due for two hours, or so the woman slumbering in her seat at the inn had told Milly. After purchasing a ticket, she looked for a place to sit until it arrived. She did not want to stay at the inn, or anywhere someone could chance upon her... or he could find her, but did not want to go so far that she did not hear the stage arriving.
Of course Joseph would not come looking for her, as he did not know she knew that he knew... Lord, that made her head hurt.
“But the point is, Milly, he has no idea you know,” she muttered, crossing the road.
He would still be slumbering in his warm bed, but she would leave nothing to chance, and stay hidden until the stage arrived.
Looking around the small town, she saw a church and graveyard. Making her way through the narrow gate toward the church, Milly walked up the steps and into the entranceway. She then sat in a corner out of the wind and rain.
Where would she go now? Was it time to leave England? Perhaps Scotland? She could find work there, surely. The weight of what she was about to do again settled heavily on her shoulders, and suddenly she was so tired.
“When can I stop running?”
