Chapter 4
As Madeline and Elizabeth entered the foyer of Elizabeth's house. They could hear laughing coming from the room just to their left. Will's study. Elizabeth glanced to the right into the dining room and saw that the table was set for five instead of four. She picked up her skirts and in a flurry rushed towards the study. She threw open the doors just as Madeline caught up with her.
"Elizabeth! No!" she cried. She knew without looking who was on the other side of those doors.
"Will, how could you?" Elizabeth yelled at her husband.
"Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I assumed you would be staying at Maddy's house." They both turned to see Jack and Madeline looking at each other. Jack was so stunned to see her that he dropped his glass. It shattered onto the floor. Madeline's heart slammed against her chest. She wasn't ready for this. Not now. Probably not ever. He was as handsome as ever. If not more. His beard and moustach, neatly trimmed. His hair, now straight and flowing without any braids in it. He still wore the red scarf and beads, but to Madeline it seemed as if he had gotten more handsome. She began to panic. She had to leave. She slowly backed up. Not sure if her legs would hold her upright. As she moved, Jack stood up.
"Maddy?" he asked. Unsure if it was she. She had grown more beautiful than the last time he had seen her. Then again, the last time he had seen her, she was wearing a lot less than a dress. He had searched for her for the last five years. Never expecting her to be here. In Will's house. Time seemed to stand still. He moved towards her. Like a cat on the prowl.
"Maddy love?" he asked. Waiting for some sort of reply from her.
"I'm not your Maddy love." She said and turned and ran. Jack threw a quick glance to Will and Elizabeth before running after her.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth." Will said to his wife. Taking her in his arms and holding her tight.
"It's not your fault Will. In a way this is a good thing. Whether she realizes it or not. She needs to tell Jack about his son." They both walked to the window to see if they could see any drama unfolding.
Madeline picked up her skirts and ran. She needed to get away from Jack and everything that he made her feel. She turned and glanced over her shoulder and Jack was gaining on her. As she turned back, her heel caught in the cobblestone and she fell to the ground.
"Maddy!" she heard Jack yell from behind her. She felt the tears brimming in her eyes and she still wanted to run. She tried to get up, but by the time she did, Jack was behind her cradling her in his arms. She tried to push away from him.
"Let me go!"
"No!"
"Jack, please!" she begged him. He had his arms around her and it was more than Maddy could take.
"Maddy love. Why are ye runnin' from me?" Again she tried to push away from him.
"Let me go!" she yelled once again. As Jack tried to pull her close to him once again, he found the tip of a sword at his throat.
"My mum said to let her go."