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“Dr. Gray,” I say.
I tense for him to give me shit for calling him that, but he only says, softly, “I thought I might find you down here. I went out to look for you and saw your boots at the rear door.”
“I did not wish to disturb you.”
“You accompanied Annis to the hanging, did you not?”
I hesitate. Then I nod.
“And…?” he says.
“It was—” My voice catches. “It was awful. I knew—I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect… It was awful.”
“Yes.”
I lift my gaze to his. “You’ve…”
“Twice. Hugh had to be there, and I did not wish him to go alone. If I’d had any idea Annis would go, I would have insisted on joining her, but she fooled me, as usual.”
He motions for me to sit again, and I slide down the wall. He lowers himself beside me.
“Thank you for being there for her,” he says.
I nod.
His voice softens. “I am sorry you had to endure that.”
I nod.
“I am sorry you have had to endure all of this,” he says.
When I open my mouth, he puts one gentle finger to my lips. “Do not say it isn’t so terrible. I will no longer take umbrage at the suggestion that you miss your home, Mallory. I understand you can be content here and still miss it.”
I nod, and feel the first prickle of tears.
He sits back against the wall, and his hand finds mine, entwining our fingers.
“I will miss you when you are gone,” he says. “If I respond poorly to the reminder that you wish to return, that is all I am thinking. That I will miss you.” He pauses, and then says, his voice barely audible, “Terribly.”
I squeeze his hand, and the tears finally come, rolling down my cheeks as we sit there, hand in hand.
I will miss you, too, Duncan. Terribly.
