Chapter Thirteen
“BecauseI loved another.”
He held her chin as she tried to drop her eyes.
“You’re lying.”
“No, please. No good can come of these questions.”
“Damn you, tell me the truth!” His roar startled her, and for that he was sorry, but he needed to know. “Tell me, please.”
“I cannot.”
“Cannot or will not?”
“Please, Lord Ellsworth. Let it alone. No good can come of revisiting that time.”
“I loved you, and you walked away from me. I deserve the truth more than anyone, and you are not leaving this church until you give it to me.”
She sniffed, and then shook herself free from him. He let her walk about the small entrance. She would not leave; he would be on her in seconds if she attempted it.
“You have to understand, there was danger... is danger.”
The words were quietly spoken, but he heard them.
“Danger for who?”
“It matters not, only that it was there. My father....” Her words fell away when she realized she was about to speak ill of the dead.
“Was the danger because of him?”
She nodded.
“Then is the danger not gone now your father has passed away?”
Her body twitched at his words. She stared up at him, and he could see she had not thought of that. But why should she, as he had only just told her about her father’s death.
“Perhaps, in light of that, you will be able to return to society.”
“Perhaps the danger is gone, as you say. But I have been gone for too long, and there is no possible way I can return to society, if indeed I wished to.”
“No one disputed the story your aunt told, especially when your father left society.”
“But surely no one believed that?”
“Some possibly did not, but as neither I nor you aunt said different, they could not question our word.”
He saw a flash of hope in her eyes that she battled to subdue.
“I have no wish to return to society, or money to live on. No, it is best I remain as I am.”
“You can live with my family.”
“No!” She looked horrified. “I could never do that, and you know that too. Besides, Eleanor—”
“Was your best friend, and you walked away from her also.”
“Yes. How is she?”
