Eloped?
As in marry?
As in marry him?
Yes, Belle. He said as much—twice!Gather your wits!
Her throat tightened. This could not be happening. Surely this couldn’t be happening. A dream, thismustbe a dream.
Yet even as she thought it, she wondered how she’d not anticipated this rash action on his part.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“You lied to me,” he simply replied.
That brought her up short. “I beg your pardon?”
“You were shot, and then you lied.”
So that had been the last straw, the one to push him over the edge.
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
Simon, apparently noting the action, handed her a canteen of water. “Here.”
She took the flask with shaky hands and drank a few sips before handing back the canteen.
This was unacceptable.
She could not marry him, no matter what. But how to defuse the situation?
“I was only grazed, hardly shot,” she began.
“You were shot at,” Simon growled. “And I did not even know! You never thought to inform me, even though you had opportunity enough. You chose to risk death over appraising me of events.”
Belle supposed she could not argue the claim. It was true. Guilt poked her in the chest. She’d not thought of it like that, only believed it was best at the time.
“I’m sorry, Simon. But I still cannot marry you.”
But he wasn’t finished.
“You were delirious from blood loss, and you let me think you were foxed!” Simon raised his voice. “How could you do that?”
“Well, I was pickled, somewhat, so that was not a complete lie.”
“That is not the point!”
Memories began to filter through her mind of that day. Giggling. She recalled too much giggling.
“That day is a bit hazy. I was in shock, Simon. I cannot recall much after leaving the park. Besides, I should hardly be punished for a lie with marriage.”
A sudden memory of her stuffing her mouth with lemon cake surfaced and she almost groaned. What a fright she must have appeared.
“Punished with marriage?” He paused momentarily at that. “Nonetheless, the point here remains clear. I cannot protect you the way you require protection unless we marry.”
She was listening to Simon, but another memory tried to push through to the surface. She recalled him standing over her and…
“It is not your place to protect me,” she absentmindedly replied, focusing in on the memory.
