“It matters not.” She dismissed him with a flick of her wrist.
“It matters a great deal, so don’t dismiss me, you little baggage.” He grabbed her shoulders, urging her to the edge of the seat. “Tell me what is going on with you. Tell me why you left London three years ago without a word. Why were you speaking alone with that man in the theatre? Did what happened today have anything to do with you?”
Her shoulders jerked beneath his hands.
“Wh-What do you mean?” Eyes wide, she searched his face.
“If that bullet was aimed at you, I want to know why. You can trust me to help you, Beth, if you and your family are in trouble.”
“Let me go, Nathan.” She was terrified now.
He didn’t, running his eyes over her pale face. A face that had once been so dear to him, he almost knew it as well as his own.
“Who was that man at the theater?” He spaced the words out slowly.
“He is the m-man I’m having an affair with.” Her eyes went to his right ear. “W-We are doing so in private, as he has no wish marry me.”
“You were never a convincing liar, even when you were pretending to be my perfect future wife.”
“Don’t do this, Nathan. We are done with. There can be no going back.”
“Do what?”
“Ask questions I cannot answer.”
“Why can’t you answer them?”
The tears were his undoing. They spilled over her lids and fell down her soft cheeks.
“Beth.” His sigh was ragged. “Don’t cry.” Using the cuff of his jacket because he’d forgotten his handkerchief, he gently blotted her tears.
“N-Nathan, you must not speak to me again.” She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and tugged them hard as she spoke. “You need to keep your distance. Promise me. Protect your family and yourself by staying away from me.”
“Why?”
She shook her head, easing back out of his arms. “Just promise me you’ll do as I ask.”
“If you explain things to me, I could help. I have contacts; my brothers too will help.
“I want only for you to leave me alone.” She looked out the window again, the tears still falling silently.
“Why did your family leave London in the middle of the season, Beth? Even if you wished to part ways with me, you could have stayed.”
“You m-must do as I say, Nathan. Leave this alone now, I beg of you.”
“You ask too much of me. Especially now I believe there is more behind your departure three years ago. You are in some kind of trouble that may have played a part in that. Then, I saw what I thought was the truth; now I see I let emotion cloud my judgement. I should have pursued you for answers. Demanded them.”
“No!” She’d been pale before, but now she was ghostly white. “Leave it, Nathan. This, us, was nothing. I-I don’t love you anymore. Why can’t you accept that!”
“There is no need to yell, Beth. Calm down.” He took her hands in his.
“I’m not yelling!”
“What are you scared of?” He saw the fear clearly etched in every sweet line of her face.
“I’m not scared.” She struggled to control herself.
“What is going on with your father?”
