Page 33 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Someone who can recallyourloan.Howlong has it been,Albert?Nine?”Thanesmiled. “Whatwas the deal?Ten?”
“You don’t know me.”Alberttugged at his jacket.
“Oh, butIdo.Andmy father always collects his debts.Now,Isuggest you leaveMs.Ellaand her friendWilliamalone.OrIwill be forced to collect your debt sooner.AndIwill make it very painful.”
“You can have the whore.”AlbertlookedEllaup and down. “She’snot that pretty anyway,” he spat out before storming out the gate.
“Are you alright?”Thanestepped closer.
“I’m fine.”Ellarubbed her arm.
“Ella,Iwant?—”
“Please don’t say anything.Justgo away and leave me with whatever prideIhave left.”Sheshoved the next sheet into the tub.Hertears blurred her vision, turning the wash water into a watercolor of sheets and dirty water.
“Please, let me explain?—”
“Explain what?Godsabove,Iwas ready to…”
“Ready to what?”Thanestepped closer.
Ella looked at him.Hedidn’t look like his arrogant self.Infact, he looked worn-out.Hisnormally flawless appearance had cracked.Hisdark hair was a tangled mess that grew worse every time he touched it.Thegray of his shirt and trousers was a sad replacement for the crisp black silk he normally wore.Butit was his eyes that made her heart ache.Theywere dull, like a star ready to burn out.Shewanted to step closer and smooth away his pain.Butthat was not her duty.
“Nothing.”Ellawiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.Shehad been ready to walk away fromWilliamfor him.Aman she knew nothing about but who drove her to do such foolish things.Aman who made her not want to beEllafromRiverton.
“Please, don’t shut me out,”Thanepled.
“Shut you out?Ishould have never let you in.”Ellalaughed.Darkclouds formed in the sky above them.Theywere heavy with the threat of rain.
“Gods above, not again,”Thanecursed, scrubbing his face. “Thisshouldn’t be happening.Nothere.Notwhen you don’t?—”
“Thane,” the pretty blonde woman called from the gate. “It’stime to go.Youhad your chance.”
Ella smiled. “Youbetter hurry off,Mr.Tenebris.She’swaiting.”Ellawanted to hate the woman.Shehad done the one thingEllahadn’t been able to do: remember.
“She is not what you think she is.Ican explain everything, please.Meetme tonight.Wecan talk.”
“About what?”Ellafought the urge to slap him.Tokiss him.Todump the dirty wash water over him.Thisman was infuriating.Hemade her feel every emotion in one heartbeat.
“About us,”Thanesaid.
He was too close.Tooclose for her to think, to breathe.Shelooked at him, ready to let the lies cut her tongue.Shewanted to tell him to leave and never come back.Butthe words slipped away each time she formed the thought. “WhydoIhate you so much?”
The stress fell fromThane’sshoulders. “BecauseIalways mess things up.Ihave to takeMiseryback to her father, but we need to talk.Andyou won’t hear me unless… please just let me try and explain.”
Ella watchedWilliamtalk to the womanThanecalledMisery.MiserysuitedThanebetter.Hersoft green silk gown complemented her fair complexion.Acomplexion that had not seen the sun’s reach.Thewoman smiled and giggled atWilliam.Thegems that hung from her ears sparkled in the pale light.Williamsmiled warmly back, uncomplicated in his simple clothing.HewasElla’stype.Thetype that worked every day for every coin they had.
Thane turned and looked atWilliamandMiserybefore turning back toElla. “It’snot what you think.She’snot whoI’mlooking for.”
“It’s not me you are looking for either.Williamhas asked me to marry him.”Herwords had their intended effect.Thanepaled, and his gray eyes dulled even further.
“I see.Well, then there is nothing more for me to say.Goodday,Ms.Moon.”
“Good day,Mr.Tenebris.”Shelooked away, afraid he’d see the lie.Thishad gone on for too long.Shehad tried to forceThaneinto a life that never existed.Shewanted him to fill a hole that was not his to fill.Ellabrushed by him.Hisscent still raked across her nerves.Herheart broke for something she never knew.
William stepped through the gate. “Areyou okay?Didhe hurt you?”Williamducked to meetElla’sgaze.
“Who?Than—Mr.Tenebris?No,Ihaven’t been sleeping well, andIguessI…I’mjust tired.”Ellaforced a smile.Evenafter everything, she still couldn’t bring herself to makeThanethe villain of her story. “I’msorry,William.I’vemade a mistake.”
