I turned around and stared into the darkness. "Edmund?" I called softly, so as not to wake my sleeping dog, Perseus, beside me.
"Hello," I heard a voice almost growl beside me. I turned sharply and stared into my cousin's dark eyes. I felt a sudden urge to be in his arms like we had been by the willow; that last peaceful moment between us before his arrest. But his expression seemed to strictly forbid my doing so. His arms were folded across his chest, his face was tight and his eyes were narrow. His whole body seemed to scream, 'How could you?' I turned my eyes away from his penetrating gaze.
"I didn't mean to, Edmund," I whispered.
"' Didn't mean to?!'" he roared. "You were in league with Dudley to bring me down the whole time!" Perseus groaned and rolled over in his sleep. Edmund stared at him for a moment and then turned his gaze to me, his eyes now full of sadness. "I never felt that way about anyone before, Mary," he said softly. "You brought me so close to you and then to do what you did..." he now turned away and stared into the darkness. His body was shaking and before he turned, I thought I saw a tear on his cheek.
"I am sorry Edmund," I started to say, but he turned to me, now looking angry, and interrupted.
"I suppose I was mistaken then," he said through his teeth. "It appears all women really are vipers."
"I am not a viper!" I stated.
"No? Prove me wrong then," he said, seething. "Were you not putting on an act when you came out of the carriage that first day?" Did you not have a plan with Dudley to make certain of my quilt and to destroy me?!"
"But I can't tell you how much I wanted to escape him that day," I nearly screamed. "To ride off with you into the sunset. I loved you, Edmund. I still do!"
We
stood facing each other, the fury apparent in both of us. Suddenly,
he pulled me into his arms, kissed me, and returned me to my
position.
"As did I, Mary," he whispered. "And I still do
as well."
For a
moment, I was too dazed to move. When I finally looked up at him, he
was smiling down at me. He drew me closer and whispered into my ear,
"You still have the ring I gave you that day, do you not?" I
touched the delicate emerald on my left hand and nodded. "Then you
are still destined to by my bride." I pulled away and stared at
him.
" I have horses ready," he said. "Will you come? If
not, then never expect to see me again." I looked at my sleeping
dog, at the building that had been my home for so little time, and
finally back at him.
"Yes. I will come with you, Edmund." He grinned and pulled me after him.
A few moments later, I took my last look at the palace, and then Edmund and I rode off into the darkness.