Page 35 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Ella leftWilliamat the split in the road.Theyhad both agreed not to tell anyone about their plans until he could get a ring and askMrs.Afor her hand in marriage.They’dplan a small wedding, since neither of them had means for anything more.Hewould take a job asDarby’scarriage driver until he found something better.She’dwork forLillianat least until the summer.They’dlive in the servants’ quarters until they could afford a place of their own.Itwasn’t the most promising future, but it was theirs.
She walked along the road, enjoying the peacefulness of the night.Theshadows raced ahead of her, leaping from spot to spot, dancing outside the bright moonbeams.Thesweet scent of dusk surrounded her.Itreminded her of someone.Someonewho wasn’t meant for her.Thane.
The dark outline of the inn came into view.Alight mist filled the air as she made it to the circular drive.Ellawas about to cut through the back when she saw a man sitting on the front steps.HadMrs.Aforgotten a late check-in?Asshe got closer, she recognized the man.ItwasThane.Sheshould turn away and leave him.Butshe never claimed to be the smartest.
“Why are you sitting in the dark?”
“’Cause.”Thaneclosed one eye and looked up at her. “Whyare you walking in the dark?Andcan you stop moving?You’remaking it hard to focus.”
Ella tried to hide her smile. “Areyou drunk?”
Thane held up one finger, taking a drink from a flask. “IfIsay no, will you trust me?Imean, trust me ifIsay no.Ah, fuck it.Whatdoes it matter?Ilost.”
She had never seen him so informal.Hisjacket lay in a heap at his feet.Hisshirt was unbuttoned a little too far.Hishair was too dark.Hismouth, too perfect.Thatwas the problem; he was too perfect for her and her simple life.Thanewould’ve grown tired of her if not this year, then one of the following.Everythinghad worked out as it should. “Comeon, let’s get you to bed.”
“Really?”Alazy smile crossedThane’smouth.Hetook another drink. “Comehere.Iwant to ask you something.”
She would probably regret this, but she did.Shesat closer than she wanted to.Hesmelled like the night and whiskey.
“How rude of me.Here.”Hehanded her the flask.
Hel’s teeth and all the gods above and below.Helooked dangerous sitting in the moonlit night.Hishair was a mess.Hisshirt clung to his lean frame, and his eyes were bright with whiskey.She’ddrink dirty dishwater if he asked her.Shetook a swig, coughing as it burned her throat. “Shit, how do you drink that?”Shecoughed again.
“In large quantities?”Thanetook the flask, taking another drink. “She’smy sister.Misery.”
“Your sister?”Thischanged nothing.SheandWilliamwould marry.
“Half.She’smy mother’s bastard.See, my mother slept with a man to get back at my father for having my brother.”Thanehiccupped. “Ihave another sister namedSuffering.Theyare horrible women.Stayaway from them.”
Ella doubted that his sister’s name wasSuffering.Butshe had learned to never argue with a drunk. “Wow, sounds like a great family.”Ellahadn’t realized she was leaning against his shoulder. “You’renot going to puke, are you?”
“Maybe.Thishas never happened to me before.Beingdrunk in this world, that is.”Thanelifted the flask to his mouth. “Isit normal for my face to go numb?”
“I think you’ve had enough.”Ellatook the flask and stood. “Comeon, let’s go.”Shereached forThane’shand.
“Why did you leave me?”
His voice, raw with pain, cut her to the bone. “Ihad to.”
“I was stupid.Idon’t want to wish you away.EverydayIwake without you,Ifeel like… likeI’mdying.Imiss you so much.Please, just come back.Therecan be no light without you.”
Ella fought the disappointment she felt.Hewasn’t seeing her.Hesaw the woman who left him.Shewould forever be in his life. “Comeon, you need to sleep this off.”
“Only if you swear you’ll come back.”Thanestood, swaying a bit. “I’llget on my knees and beg if that’s what it takes.I’llgive it all up for you.Ineed you like the airIbreathe.Please, dove, come back.”
Ella let his words skip by, not letting them sink in.Asbeautiful as his words were, they were spoken in the accent of whiskey.Drunkmen would claim anything to get a woman into their bed.Once, a guest told her he was death.Thanewas no different, as much as she wanted him to be.Hewas drunk, and he’d just called his sisterSuffering. “Thane.”
“Aurora.”
Ella recoiled.Thename wouldn’t sink in.Itfloated on top of the water like oil. “Whatdid you say?”
“Aurora.That’syour name.Youare whatIhave been searching for.”
She shook her head.Thewhiskey must have affected her more than she thought.Whycouldn’t she hold on to the name or words he spoke?Theyslipped through her fingers like sand. “Ican’t understand what you are saying.”ShewatchedThanefalter, almost as if she had hit him.
“I know.”Hehung his head. “Godsbelow,Iam so fucking sorry.”
She had never wished to be someone else more than right now. “Comeon.It’slate, and you’re drunk.”Ellastepped down.Hispain left a bitter taste in her mouth.Itfelt like her own. “AndIforgive you.”
