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“I'm sorry, but it’s the truth. I was.Was. Past tense. Even then, I was still able to enjoy myself. And I felt different after I confronted Jason. Oddly, I think it flipped a switch inside of me. It gave me the strength to deal with my parents—especially my mother—and finally say all the things I’ve needed to say, things I’ve beenafraidto say, for so long. I felt empowered, in a way.”
“I’m glad something good came from it.”
She leaned away from him to get a better look at his face. His deep brown eyes were intent on hers, and while she saw warmth and love there, she also saw sadness and guilt. She placed a hand on the back of his neck and guided his lips to hers.
He held her head, sliding his fingers into her hair, holding her gently but steadily. She missed this, the taste of him, the feel of his lips on hers. She deepened it, and he kissed her back with equal fervor, until he finally pulled away from her and smiled mischievously.
“Maybe we should save that for the Ferris wheel.”
And they did. They went on every ride the fair had to offer, but when it came time for the Ferris wheel, he refused to go on until he’d won her a stuffed animal, and proudly presented her with a three-foot tall stuffed panda bear. Grabbing her by the hand, he led her to the short line for the ride.
She left her prize with the attendant, who was happy to keep an eye on it. Will did exactly as he promised while the wheel slowly went around, kissing her endlessly until the whistling and catcalling from the teenagers in the gondola behind them became too much of a distraction and Elizabeth began to giggle.
They snuggled together instead, taking in the view of the neon lights, colorful tents, and masses of people. When they were stopped at the very top, all alone, she pulled him toward her and kissed him again, and they separated when the wheel began its descent.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She stared into his eyes and clearly saw the love there, shining back at her. “I love you too.”
She kissed him one last time before their gondola came to a halt at the bottom of the wheel, and as they exited, she thanked the attendant for keeping tabs on her bear.
“I've already thought of the perfect name for him,” she told Will, and smiled widely. “Ferris.”
* * *
Will was upand at his desk early Monday morning. It had been tough to say goodbye to Elizabeth last night, but they’d had a fantastic weekend, and after their trip to the fair Saturday night, they’d spent most of Sunday at the beach, until he needed to leave for Boston.
He’d asked her to tell him what happened with her parents, and as they lay next to each other on the beach blanket, she told him everything. She seemed relieved that they’d finally been told the entire truth about Jason, and she confessed to Will that during the course of their discussion about Lydia and Wickham, she’d had to tell them what happened to Georgiana. He understood her reasons for doing so, and assured her it was okay.
“I’ve only talked to my dad a few times since then, and he just skirts around everything,” she said. “And I haven’t talked to my mother at all. Part of me is worried she’ll make some kind of scene at the wedding.”
“And embarrass Jane? Never. And she would have to get through me first.”
He sincerely hoped that wouldn’t happen, but he’d learned that with Mrs. Bennet, it was best to be prepared for anything.
He left his office now and went downstairs to the kitchen to pour himself another cup of coffee. Georgiana stood in the kitchen, clutching her phone with tears in her eyes.
“Georgie? What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I just got off the phone with Maggie. Wickham has been named as a suspect in another rape case.”
Will’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Does this mean he'll go to jail?”
“Maggie said it’s too soon to know for sure, but it could move in that direction. The woman went to the police within hours of the assault, and then to the hospital… They were able to put together DNA evidence, and also performed a drug test that came up positive for Rohypnol. Wickham's DNA was a match.”
“Oh my God. This–this could be it, this could be what puts him away.”
He was overwhelmed with relief. It didn't take away the pain of all that had happened in the past eight months, but it sure as hell helped to ease it.
“Maggie said she would keep us updated on the other case, but she can’t say too much. I guess it could be a few months before it’s tried, so Wickham will be locked up for a while.”
“The longer, the better.”
“I'm leaving for the Cape tomorrow,” she said, smiling now. “I'm going home.”
He wrapped her in a hug, feeling as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. “We're both going home.”
