“She was crying because of me.”
“Yes.” William nodded. “And you did nothing.”
James closed his eyes.
William leaned forward. “You keep speaking as though leaving were something noble. It wasn’t. It was fear.”
James stiffened, but William didn’t relent.
“Understandable fear, but fear nonetheless.”
“So what should I have done?” James asked, his eyes stinging.
“You should have trusted her not to stop loving you and to decide for herself whether you were worth the risk or not,” William answered simply. “You’ve been my closest friend for fifteen years, and I’ve watched you bury every feeling you’ve ever had under charm and wit. I’ve also watched my sister become happier than I’ve seen her in years.”
James opened his mouth, and William held up a hand, cutting him off.
“I’m not telling you what she feels. That’s for her to tell you.”
James nodded slowly.
“But I am telling you this.” William’s voice became firm. “She deserved to hear the truth from your mouth before you decided what was best for her. You don’t know what she’ll say when you get to Blackmoor. She may send you away. She may not forgive you today. Heck, she may not forgive you at all.”
James absorbed that.
“But if you stay here because you’re afraid of the answer… then this conversation was for nothing.”
That hit him somewhere that ached.
“I need to go to her,” he declared.
“Yes, you do.” William nodded.
“I need to—” James stood. Sat back down. Ran his hand through his hair with the restless energy of a man who had been sitting still for too long and had too much to do and could not determine the correct order. “There is something I need to do first.”
William frowned. “What could possibly?—”
James simply gave him a look, his expression tightening.
William held his gaze for a long moment before giving a single nod. “Very well.” He rose from his chair. “But listen to me.”
James looked up.
“I don’t care what business demands your attention first. I don’t care how complicated it is or how long you’ve convinced yourself it will take.” William stepped closer. “But when it’s finished, go to her.”
James swallowed hard. “I will.”
William’s eyes remained fixed on his. Then, he reached out and gripped his shoulder. “Good.” He released him. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re the man you believe yourself to be.”
The words lingered between them.
“Thank you for coming,” James said.
William shook his head. “Don’t thank me. Go and deserve her.” Then he opened the door and left.
For the first time since Isadora had walked out of Ashbourne, James knew exactly what he had to do.
He only prayed he had not realized it too late.
