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Back then, William’s body had gone cold when he’d read the news. Fresh feelings had rose within him with such ferocity that it was all he could do not to leave Africa on the earliest ship back to London. But he’d remained where he was, tucking those feelings away to continue his studies of the cotton trade. He’d never considered that she might have fought back. He hadn’t thought of the fact that she might not have been unscathed.
William shot to his feet, stalking out of the room. He broke into a light jog as he rushed through the hallway and headed up the grand staircase for Elizabeth’s bedchamber. When he finally made it to the door, he could hear her sobbing on the other side. He gritted his teeth and knocked.
The sobs ceased. William waited a beat before he said, “Beth, open the door.”
There was utter silence on the other end. For a few seconds, William was afraid she would ignore him entirely. He was considering simply ignoring her silence and going in nonetheless, but then the door opened.
Her tiny frame seemed even smaller, somehow. Even though her eyes were rimmed red, Elizabeth looked up at him unabashedly. No, she was glaring, and she was gripping the door handle as if she was trying to keep from socking him in the jaw. She’d done so once before when they were much younger, much to the dismay of her tutor.
William swallowed, realizing suddenly that he didn’t know what he planned on saying. “May I come in?” he tried after a moment.
Her eyes narrowed slightly but she stepped to the side, allowing him in. Even though it was his manor, and Elizabeth had only been here for two days, it felt a bit out of place, like he was an intruder.
Elizabeth kept the door open. She faced him, clasping her hands behind her. “Have you come to say more hurtful things?”
“I…” Now it was his turn to falter on his words, a feat that was not common for him. “I would like to apologize.”
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side. “For what, exactly?”
“I should not have said what I said,” he explained. “I have been rather rude to you ever since I brought you here, even though I have been making no genuine moves to make you leave.”
“I see.”
William’s brow twitched. “Is that all you have to say in response?”
“I am considering whether I should accept your apology or not,” she stated with a simple shrug.
William sighed. “I don’t have time for this, Beth.”
“Well then, your apology is not accepted. When you do have time for this, perhaps I shall consider this once more.” She gestured to the door. “You may leave. I would like to be alone.”
William stubbornly held his ground. He was smart enough to know that this would bother him relentlessly for the rest of the day if he did not rid himself of his uneasy feeling quickly. “I am unsure what else I can say for you to see my sincerity,” he explained. “I have allowed you to remain here, have I not? I have even bought gowns for you, so I simply cannot understand why you are so upset with me.”
Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to sigh, her shoulders sagging. “Yes, it is quite a lovely gown. I must thank you for that. And though you have hurt my feelings, I do not intend to leave here until I have received the truth of that day.”
“There are boundaries you cannot cross with me, Beth.”
“And I have every intention of trying nonetheless.”’
He stared at her. Elizabeth stared back. Even with red-rimmed eyes, she looked less like the apprehensive lady he’d found on simple chance and was more like the dominant girl he’d known of the past.
“It appears we have reached an impasse,” William pointed out.
Elizabeth only shrugged again. “I suppose it would not be the first time, nor do I think it will be the last.”
True. We clashed many times in the past.
The memory of their previous arguments brought a smile to his lips. Elizabeth, as if she was thinking about the very same thing, smiled slightly as well.
For a moment, they simply stood there, smiling at each other, the argument that had been rising between them dissipating into nothing. Taken by the curves of her rosy lips, by the light that sprang into her eyes, and the gentle splash of freckles that always grew darker during the summer, William said, “I fear you will be the death of me, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth’s smile slowly slipped away. Confusion darkened her eyes and William realized suddenly that he shouldn’t have said those words. But he was falling under a spell she had cast, growing an unreasonable need to bring laughter to her lips.
“What do you mean?” she murmured, as if she was afraid of his answer.
