Author's Note: I know, I know, it's short and took a long time to get here! Sorry about that! Really, though, there was only so much I could do with this chapter! There are longer chapters to come, though, I promise!

Chapter Twenty-One: Because I Love You

As I walked out into the cold night air, I could see the silhouette of another figure against the full moon. I walked towards it, knowing instantly who was there.

"William," I whispered, going to embrace him. Fortunately, I stopped myself, remembering that we were not currently on the best of terms.

He turned to face me and I could see his cold blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"Charlotte," he greeted me simply.

"I got your note," I said, feeling as though I needed to explain my presence.

"Yes, obviously," he answered. A small smile formed on his lips, but he quickly erased it. "Charlotte, I want you to understand that this has been very difficult for me."

"Yes, I know," I started in quickly. "William, I never meant for any of this to happen! And I wasn't going to leave with my brother! But I was caught between him and you, and I didn't know what to-"

He put a hand to my lips, silencing me.

"Charlotte," he began once again. "I ask that you do not interrupt me, otherwise I may never say what needs to be said. When I found that letter in your room, as you know, I was terribly upset and angered. I felt as though you had betrayed me. I had captured you, yes, but then I had taken care of you and looked out for you, and even…" he faltered slightly. "I even fell in love with you."

I started to say something, but then stopped myself. I could feel hot, angry tears spilling over in my eyes. I wanted, more than anything, to apologize, but somehow, I stayed my ground.

"I have given this all a great deal of thought," William continued. "For days I had no idea what to do about this letter. I even almost handed it in to my superiors at one point, but then thought better of that. I do not wish to cause you and your family any more trouble than I already have." He took a deep breath. "Therefore, I have decided that the thing to do is to let you go."

"William, no!" I protested. "I wasn't ever going to leave! Please, believe me!"

"I do believe you," he said. "But I also know you. And I know that you don't want to be a prisoner for the rest of your life. The best thing for you is to leave with your brother tonight."

"William, please!" I said again. Tears were now streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't believe that this was actually happening.

"Because I love you, Charlotte," he said. "I have to let you go."

He took me in his arms and held me as I sobbed. I did not want to leave. Had this all come about months, even weeks ago, I would have left as quickly as possible, but now I felt as though leaving meant giving up the only man I had ever loved. I would be leaving behind this life that I had built up here, and I did not want that.

"Charlotte, you have to go," said William, gently pushing me away. "Your brother must be here by now. I'll watch you leaving."

I nodded, and turned to walk away. I felt as though all of my strength had been drained from me. Lifting my feet felt like an enormous task. Slowly, I plodded along through the field. I could hardly believe that this was happening. I mad my way through the field to the edge of the woods where I had met my brother before. Sure enough, he was there, waiting for me.

"Charlotte, hurry!" he urged. "We have to go!"

I turned and looked back at William, standing in the shadows, waiting for me to vanish into the night. I looked at Nathan, his expression one of urgency, longing to leave this place forever. And then I thought, for the first time since this had all come about, of myself. I considered what I wanted to do. I could leave with my brother and be miserable for the rest of my life, or I could stay here with the man that I loved.

"No," I said quietly, looking down at the ground.

"What?" said Nathan, giving me a puzzled look. "Charlotte, what are you talking about? Come on!"

"Go, Nathan," I told him, crying once again. I knew that I was never going to see my brother again. "I can't go."

"What? Why not? You're here; come on!"

"Because, Nathan," I said, looking back again at William. "Nathan, I've fallen in love. And I am staying here."

"Charlotte, this is madness!" said Nathan, taking my arm.

"No," I told him, shaking my head. "Me even considering leaving is madness. I'm sorry." I gently kissed my brother on the forehead and told him that I loved him, and then I turned and headed back into the night.

I ran up to the mansion and could hear the rustling of branches behind me as my brother left. At some point, William must have begun running as well, because he met me halfway and we embraced one another once again.

"Charlotte, what are you doing?" he asked me, his voice quivering like I had never heard before.

"I couldn't go!" I exclaimed, kissing him. "I couldn't go!"

"Why, Charlotte? You have a chance to leave this place, to have a real life! Why?"

I pulled away just enough to stare up into his piercing blue eyes. "Because I love you, William."