Frances heard his words, but her mind could not accept what he was saying. They had grown close these past ten years. He was her dearest friend, and now he would treat her as nothing more than a stranger.
It was not possible that he loved her. Even if he thought he did, it was a lie, or he would not reject her like this—terminate a relationship when it was no longer convenient.
“I am wondering if I ever knew you at all.”
He winced, which gave her a small bit of pleasure. He was hurting her and she wanted to hurt him.
In an instant, words said to her in the past came to her mind. He wasn’t rejecting her, though he was, but it was more. “You are a coward.”
Seth flinched but did not argue.
“You once told me that you could never love anyone because the pain of losing Amelia had been nearly more than you could endure and you would never allow it to happen again.” Amelia had been his twin sister who he lost after she contracted measles at the age of fifteen.
“It is the truth,” he answered.
“Yet, you have claimed that you love me.”
“I do.”
“Is this not painful as well?” she demanded.
“More than I anticipated,” he offered quietly.
“Then why?” Frances cried.
“Because, when I walk out that door, you will still be alive. My happy, beautiful and alive dearest friend. And I will always be able to remember and think of you as alive.”
“So you will forsake any kind of love and you will go off to make your fortune, live a cold miserable life, keeping everyone at a distance, even to the detriment of your own happiness because you are afraid of loss.”
“Financial security is all that I need or want.”
“Those were the words of a boy.”
“I was five and ten.”
“Still not a man.”
“That does not mean they were not true and they remain the same.”
All Frances could do was stare at him, unable to comprehend how he could be so cold and treat her so callously.
“It is better this way, Franny,” he finally said.
“Just go.” Frances pointed to the door. “Leave. Make your fortune and I hope it brings you all the happiness in the world.”
He simply nodded and then left.
Once the door clicked shut, Frances collapsed on the settee and sobbed, certain that her heart would never recover.
The sound of applause jerked Frances from her memories and she realized she’d not paid any attention to the actors on the stage. Yes, she had watched them, but had not listened to a single line and would not be able to tell anyone what the play had been about if they asked.
“Now, aren’t you pleased that we came to the theatre?” Bethany asked.
“Yes. It was a lovely performance,” Frances absently responded. “We should hurry. There will be a crowd awaiting their carriages and I do not wish to be detained any longer than necessary.” Frances marched past her friends and into the corridor and assumed they would follow.
“Is something bothering you, Frances?” Bethany asked with concern as she hurried after Frances.
She certainly could not tell them the truth—that she needed to avoid encountering Lord Seth Claxton. “I fear my mind was on the new employment and I hope that I do not disappoint.”
