Page 70 of The Masked Baron
She closed her eyes and saw the smooth contours of his face. Perhaps it would be easier to hate him if he did not look like Adonis without his mask. Turning from the window, she crossed to her desk. She wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed a few times. She pulled out a piece of parchment and dipped her quill in ink.
Dear Papa,
I am terribly confused about you and Mama. I cannot stay here any longer. I have fallen in love with Lord Cadogen. I thought he loved me back, but then I discovered I was a pawn he could use and discard at will. Today he found his sister. He will not have need of me any longer. His sister will comfort him, and I will return to Corbridge.
I cannot forgive him...
Andalin stopped writing. She could not forgive him? She had seen the way anger had destroyed Ellis. Of course she could forgive him. She loved him! She could choose to be angry, but then happiness would always evade her.
She knew Ellis possessed goodness. In his presence she was safe, her words and opinions were of worth, and he treated her with respect far above her true station. She wanted to believe his feelings for her had changed like Andalin’s had during their time together. She could not deny herself the chance of a relationship with the person she cared about most, even if nothing came of it.
Thinking of Papa and the secrets he had kept did not change her perception of her happy childhood. But Corbridge would never feel like home again—not without Ellis. It was time for her to make her own life. Ellis might have deceived her, but his declarations must have been sincere. Yesterday had been far too real. If only she could erase the hurt he had caused.
She crumpled up the letter and threw it into the fireplace. Some time ago she had promised herself to not act rashly. A decision did not need to be made this minute. If Ellis wanted to ask her to leave when he returned, then she would leave. Until then, she would try to help Eliana and Miss Dubois feel comfortable. Her heart might ache for all eternity from unrequited love, but there was finally a worthwhile task for her to do. And she would do it.
***
Ellis pulled the reins toward the path leading to the waterfall. What could have happened to them? Wolves? He thought he’d managed to clear the area, but there was always the possibility of a hungry pack travelling through. He studied the ground for tracks. He’d not ridden far when he saw two horses out of the corners of his eyes. He turned his head, and relief poured through him. He nudged his horse in their direction.
“Cadogen, your mask!” Kerrigan called as they got closer. “This must mean...”
Ellis felt the sides of his lips pull upward. “She is home.”
Kerrigan’s mouth opened as wide as a fish’s. “Home? You found her?”
Ellis laughed. “Yes.” He told them a shortened version of the scene at the waterfall.
Mr. Lewis threw his hat into the air and hollered a triumphant cheer.
Ellis had to know. “What happened to you two?”
“Lord Kerrigan’s horse threw a shoe,” Mr. Lewis said.
“We returned and switched horses,” Lord Kerrigan began, “then decided to take a shortcut to make up time.”
“Might have taken a wrong turn somewhere,” Mr. Lewis said, tugging his hat down lower, no doubt to warm him from the oncoming evening chill.
“You were lost?”
“Well, we found our way eventually,” Kerrigan said, chagrined. “But what are we doing talking here? Let’s get back!” Then, with a slow grin, Kerrigan kicked his horse into a hard gallop. Ellis and Mr. Lewis followed in fast pursuit. The men agreed to wash up before springing themselves on the women. Ellis’s clothes were covered in dirt and needles from tackling poor Miss Dubois.
Ellis hurried to change as quickly as he could, eager to resolve things with Annie. He was also keen to reacquaint himself with his sister. With his heart equally full of dread and hope, he went first to Annie’s room. When he found the bedroom empty, he hurried to her second place of retreat, the library. She wasn’t there either. His gut clenched. He had seen Ginger in the stables, so she couldn’t have left. He took the stairs two at a time to the sitting room, where he could ask the others if they knew where he would find her.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw his Annie with a small smile, visiting with his sister and Miss Dubois. The latter two were dressed in gowns far nicer than the ones they had arrived in. He observed his sister before entering; oh, how she had changed. Her hair was a shade darker, her face leaner, and her freckles all but gone. All three were beautiful, but his eyes were only for Annie. She wasn’t the young, naive girl who had joined them so many months before. She carried herself with elegance and maturity, and more importantly to Ellis, she seemed at home at Braitwood Hall. It was as it should be. She would be the lady of his house. It would be their home forevermore.
Feeling brave at the smile he saw on Annie’s face, he proceeded into the room. His heart fell when Annie’s smile disappeared at the sight of him. Her eyes drifted to her teacup, and at once there was tension in the room.
Eliana gave him an encouraging look and pulled Miss Dubois to her feet. “I insist on giving you a tour this minute. I cannot wait a second longer to see everything again myself. Will you excuse us, please?” Eliana pulled Miss Dubois along before she could respond.
Ellis stopped them at the door. “I am afraid the house will not be what you remember. I hope it does not disappoint you too much.”
Eliana’s solemn gaze spoke volumes. “Time has a way of changing everything. It is to be expected.”
As her skirts swished past him, he made a note to thank Eliana later for perceiving his need to be alone with Annie.
Annie would not meet his eyes, even when he sat down beside her. When she did not move away, he took it as a sign she was at least willing to hear him out.
He leaned his head near hers. “Annie,” he began awkwardly, “I apologize for... for everything.” She did not so much as look up. He felt like an adolescent in love and afraid to act. He tentatively put his hand on hers. “Can you forgive me?”
