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“If I say yes?”
“I will not believe you.” This time, she did cross her arms. “The William I know would not associate himself with such things.”
William barked a harsh laugh. “The William you know no longer exists, Beth.”
“If that is the case, you would not be calling me by that name. That is all the evidence I need to know that you are still there.”
He opened his mouth to retort—and could find nothing to say. Even though tears were drying on her cheeks and her eyes could not fully settle on his face, her tone was unchallengeable. And she was right. He’d fallen back into his old practice of calling her ‘Beth’ the moment he saw her.
As if he was still attached to the past he’d tried to cut off.
William didn’t allow his speechless state to last any longer than a moment. “Believe what you will, Elizabeth,” he emphasized. “But let me tell you this last bit of advice: leave this place as quickly as you can and return to the safety of your home. It is in your best interests, I assure you.”
He had the strength to turn away this time. He believed that, after telling her what he could, he had handled her appearance well. Once he walked away, he would once again cut off his past like he’d done before.
But he should have known it wouldn’t be so easy.
“What if I tell you that I won’t return home?” came her whisper from behind. William froze. In the distance, he saw the light from the tavern. In the silence that ensued, he heard the noise of its patrons and his own pounding heart. Then, she continued, “If you walk away from me right now, I will only turn and find that inn myself. And that is only if I find I cannot follow you for the rest of the night. You can say what you will, but I won’t listen. I’ve spent such a long time trying to find you that I won’t let you disappear again.”
He suddenly felt cold. The mere thought of Elizabeth braving the streets on her own again had him washed with fear—a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Even when he’d faced rowdy men in a brawl, a knife pressed against his neck, he’d felt no fear. When he’d stared down the barrel of a pistol while being robbed, the emotion had been absent. But here, at the very thought of this woman he’d forced himself not to think about for so long being all by herself…William hated how desperate that made him.
He didn’t turn, not willing to weaken his resolve when he said, “That might be the stupidest thing you have ever done.”
“You often called me stupid in the past,” she murmured.
“Do not speak of the past. It will not help you here. I have told you what you should do and if you do not think to heed my advice, then that is your prerogative.”
She said nothing for a moment and then, in a small voice, whispered, “I won’t give up on you, William. If you walk away from me, I will only find you again.”
So darned stubborn. William gritted his teeth. Without saying another word, he began making his way back to the tavern. She gasped behind him and it took all he could do not to turn back.
She’ll surely return home. She cannot be so foolish as to remain in this place after what nearly happened.
He didn’t feel very confident about it, but he wouldn’t turn. That day seven years ago, he’d made a vow. The life he’d once lived would be no more. The people he’d once known would be dead to him. And the girl he’d once loved…it would be like she’d never existed. He’d gone through much to ensure that he was never found, that it would be like he’d died. It wasn’t fair for her to show up so unexpectedly and stir things in him like this. Not after the terrible week he’d had, not after he’d finally shed the dead weight of a man he was so unfortunate to call a father.
He wouldn’t turn. He couldn’t. He’d promised to leave Elizabeth in the past and so that was what he should do.
After walking for about a minute, William couldn’t resist the urge any longer. He glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment, expecting to see her standing in the same spot staring after him. Or perhaps making good on her promise to find the inn on her own. But she was following him, a few feet behind, and when their eyes met, she came to a stop.
William let out a breath of frustration. “Have you gone mad?”
“Many years ago,” she said instantly, her voice strong enough to cross the distance between them. “You had disappeared by then, so I am afraid you missed it.”
