My vows to him ring in my ears.I take thee. Until death do us part.
How can I promise two men the same thing? I only have one lifetime to offer. I squeeze my eyes shut and hear Henry Gould’s voice over the telephone.
He married a young heiress and then hekilled her. Got off on a technicality. What might he do to keep me?
I can’t breathe. I lean against Rupert.
Brutal death, it was…
But I have one single saving grace tucked in my pocket.
Which marriage would be valid? The first or the second?
A pause.Well, the first one.
I open my eyes. “I’m not married to you, AJ.” I stand taller. “You see, I’ve spoken to Mr. Gould. Even though I’ve lost my memory, my first husband is the only one with a claim on me.”
I brace myself for accusations of bigamy, threats of lawsuits.
Instead, he quirks a crooked smile and the floor falls away with his next words. “Afraid that’s me, my lady.”
Chapter 30
Amillionpuzzlepiecesflutterabout, madly trying to place themselves.Whywon’t the pieces lay down neatly? My brain stumbles. I hear music that isn’t playing as I look up into AJ’s face, thinking of when I happened upon this man in Pittville Park.
So now I’ll sing to you,
’Tis about a maiden fair
I met the other evening
In the corner of the square…
Such an unusual first meeting. Familiar. Natural, easy conversation straight off. But…impossible. I hold my head to block out the music, but it swells louder.
As we got into the cab
I asked her for her name,
And when she gave it me,
Well, mine it was the same.
“No! You…we’re not. Married.” I stumble through words. “It can’t be.”
“We were married. Until you died—or I thought you did. But…you didn’t. So yes, we are married, luv.”
So I lifted up her veil,
For her face was covered over;
To my surprise it was my wife
I’d rode down to Lamorna…
How familiar his face seems, as if we’ve been married a decade. It’s easy to be around him, to speak with him and know his mind. Ididknow his mind. I know it yet. The floor tilts. “I feel faint.”
“Come,” says Rupert, but I shake my head.
