Chapter 14 #3
The moment she uttered the devastating words, she watched Theo’s face drain of color.
He didn’t move or say a word. He simply stared at her with an expression of shocked disbelief, and what she thought might be regret.
As Genevieve took in his expression, she realized she was holding her breath. She released it.
When Theo didn’t move or speak, she started to tremble.
He’d said she was strong, and she could only pray he was right.
If he didn’t say or do something in another minute, she would need every bit of strength she’d ever possessed to turn and walk away.
All she needed was a sign from him. A sign that said his love for her was strong enough to accept her as she truly was.
But her prayers were only met with silence, and the sign didn’t come.
The hope she’d allowed to live in the back of her mind began to shrivel up and die.
It had been madness to even think he would be willing to forego an heir—an heir she couldn’t give him.
She’d been such a blind fool. What man’s love would be strong enough to marry a woman with a past like hers?
A woman who couldn’t produce an heir to carry on his family line.
What had possessed her to tell him the final truth?
Hope—she’d allowed herself to believe him when he’d repeatedly said the past didn’t matter.
Genevieve swallowed a sob of pain. Deep inside she’d known she’d been deceiving herself, but she had still hoped.
A large knot formed in her throat, and Genevieve swallowed hard in order to breathe.
She’d capitulated to Theo’s demand for an explanation, and he’d still not said one word.
He’d not even stepped forward to take her into his arms in a silent gesture of comfort, understanding, but most of all—his love.
Silence continued to weigh down on her body as every one of her limbs grew numb.
If Theo were going to say something, he would have said it by now.
She’d done as he’d asked and given her reason for not marrying him.
Yet, he’d not spoken a word. Not one. It was a crushing silence that told her all she needed to know.
As her ability to maintain her composure threatened to give way to stark desolation, Genevieve knew she had no other option but to leave.
There was nothing more to say that his continued silence hadn’t already said.
She had no need of his pity, and the last thing she wanted from him was a proposal of marriage based on honor.
The numbness taking hold of her limbs grew stronger, and Genevieve turned and walked toward the door.
If her legs gave way beneath her, he would see how devastated she was by his silence.
Still, he said nothing, not even a demand for her to stay, and the thought of him witnessing her pain would be almost as vicious as his inability to react to her confession.
Without a word, Genevieve unlocked the door, then wrapped her hand around the cold metal of the brass doorknob and pulled the door open.
Just before she stepped into the hall, her heart told her to pause in hopes that he would stop her.
For a fraction of a second she hesitated.
When Theo remained silent, her heart splintered into a thousand small fragments, and she knew it would never be whole again.
Fingers tightening around the brass knob, she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
Grateful she’d managed to make her exit without stumbling, she closed the door behind her.
The instant the door clicked shut, Genevieve’s hand latched onto the door frame to keep from falling.
All she wanted right now was to crawl into her bed at home and sob every bit of her heartache out of her body.
One hand braced on the wall, she staggered her way along the corridor to the stairs. As her hand grasped the bannister, she wobbled in place for a moment until she was steady enough to remain on her feet. At the foot of the stairs, she turned and headed toward the back of the house.
Behind her, she heard Jamie call her name, but she didn’t stop. She had no intention of being in the house when Theo came downstairs. In less than a minute, she was in the mews where a carriage always waited for anyone leaving the safe house. Arnie helped her into the vehicle.
In a sharp voice, she ordered Arnie to take her home and stop for no one.
The young driver bobbed his head, then climbed up onto the coachman’s seat and with a gentle slap of the reins, he urged the horses forward.
The moment the carriage rocked into motion, Genevieve leaned back to rest her head on the leather squabs, closing her eyes, and fighting back tears.
Could someone die of a broken heart? The question went unanswered. It didn’t matter, anyway. Just as she’d survived the brutal loss of her innocence and all the horrors of the East End, she would survive losing Theo.
She knew it would take time, but eventually her heart wouldn’t ache as if someone had ripped it out of her chest. In time, she’d even be able to be in the same room with him without feeling the urge to cry. But if there was one thing she was certain of, she would never be the same.