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“Some of the women know a little but we have not had a doctor here in years. There are too few of us to keep them busy I suppose.”

Elena said nothing about her talents, simply saying, “I will give you an answer in the morning.”

Thomas shook the man’s hand and joined Elena on the narrow path back to the inn. The village was unremarkable in the fact that it looked like so many other villages they had passed through.

“Why didn’t you tell him you were a doctor?”

“Because I am not a doctor, simply someone who knows about certain herbs and remedies.”

“You know you are more than that. I would be dead if not for your knowledge.”

“I had reason to keep you alive.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had to tend to your wounds or else the French were going to burn down the village and everyone in it. I saved you to save myself and those I cared about.”

“I understand that you had no choice, but you did not have to help me escape. You could have saved yourself. Were you not worried they would do good on their threats when we escaped?”

“By then I knew them better. They would certainly have killed me but to burn a whole village was not going to work; they could not fight a whole village, but they could burn down my house because no one was there to defend it.”

“So, you just hoped they were bluffing.”

“I don’t know that word.”

“You knew they were not seriously going to do it.”

“I guess so. All I knew was I did not want to give them any joy in the killing of you or me.”

“Well, you certainly did it well. So far, the French have been far ahead of us and should not be any bother in the future either.”

“I’m tired,” she said but her tone was sad. “I’m going back to the inn.”

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’ll meet you for dinner later. I need some time alone to think.”

“Of course,” he said, letting her walk away from him.

It felt like a premonition, a preview of her walking out of his life. His throat closed up and his eyes burned, and for lack of anywhere else to go, he wandered all the way to the seawall and sat there watching the sun go down.

Across that blue expanse lay home. His mother, his sister, and Lucinda. His duty lay over the waves, but then there was Elena. He had a duty to her too. He might be worried for nothing; she might decide to come with him, but something deep inside him knew she would not. It left him heavy, and every step back to the inn felt like his legs had turned to lead.

It was no surprise to find that she was not in their room. All her clothes were gone, and her father’s doctor’s bag. She’d left him. Rather than tell him to his face, she had run away, but to where? He punched the wall near the door, resting his head on the wall. Looked down at his now bloodied hand and gave a bitter laugh. Elena would not be happy.

Thomas went back downstairs to the innkeeper.

The innkeeper’s eyes were full of empathy. “If you are looking for your wife, she left hours ago.”

“In which direction?”

“That way,” the man pointed out the door.

Not helpful. “How long ago?”

“Oh, hours ago.” Also not helpful. “She paid her bill too, but you can stay another night.”

“Gracias.”