Disclaimer: If I were Elizabeth George Speare, then I would own these characters. Alas, I am not, so I own nothing.

A/N: I'm back! Sorry it's taken so long to update (What's it been?Three months?), but for a while I was idealess.

Chapter 7: Confessions and Explanations

As the early morning's first rays of sunlight hit her face, Kit was guided back to consciousness. She struggled to open her eyes, which were still heavy from the tears she had shed the night before.

As Kit sat up, she did not understand the feeling of misery that enveloped her head to toe. Then, looking at her bedside, she spotted the letter.

"Oh!" she gasped, feeling a peculiar tugging at her heart. She still had to make her decision regarding Nat. She got up quickly, grabbed the letter, and left the room where Judith was still fast asleep.

Kit slipped out of the house, unnoticed by anyone, and stole down to the Meadow. Once there, she fell onto what had once been the site of Hannah's homely cottage and wept again. After a while, her tears began to lessen and she began to meditate on what was to be done.

She reread the letter and turned it over, thinking. She noticed something on the back of the paper for the first time. In Nat's scrawl were the words I will return in a week's time for your answer.

After overan hour of careful, painful thinking, Kit knew what it was she would do. She stood up and returned home.

As Kit walked in the door, she noticed that the entire family was up and eating breakfast by this time.

"Kit," said Aunt Rachel. "Where were you? We were so worried."

Kit glanced at her relatives. They were well-meaning, but they simply could not understand, not this. "I'm sorry, Aunt Rachel. I needed to think. I'm going back up to bed," she said, heading towards the stairs.

"But Kit," Judith interrupted, "there is someone here to see you. In the company room. A young man," she taunted, her large blue eyes alight and smiling.

Kit turned around and flew into the room. "Nat!" she gasped quietly as she opened the door. Then she stopped suddenly. It was not Nat, but William. Kit stood confusedly looking at the young man who had not come to her rescue when she had needed him the most.

Kit just stood in the doorway looking at him, standing in the corner, fiddling with his beaver hat. What is he doing here? she thought.

William, growing very uncomfortable in the silence and stares of the damsel, ventured to speak. "Kit. I am so glad you were acquitted. You don't know how worried I've been."

The sound of his voice seemed to awaken Kit. "That's right, William," she replied coldly. "I don't know. And the reason I don't know is because you weren't at the trial. Almost everybody in town who was not ill was there, but not you. Where were you?" she demanded.

William turned pale. He had known Kit was going to be upset, but her fiery reaction caused him to quail, nearly bucklingunder her intensity. He began to splutter, "I-I-I just was, um, too upset. What would you have done if your wife-to-be was accused of practicing witchcraft?"

"I would have stood by her if I loved her!" answered Kit, scathingly. Taking a deep breath she continued, more calmly. "I think that must be part of the problem, William. You don't love me."

"No, no, Kit. 'Tis not the problem at all. I adore you. You must believe me," William implored, stepping towards her.

Kit looked up at the sound of earnestness ringing in William's quivering voice. She looked deep into his eyes and still saw the admiration they had held on the first day she had met him, many months ago. "Perhaps you are right. But you know there are other reasons a marriage between us would never work. For one, I know you know I do not love you."

"I know that, Kit, but I believe I can make you love me eventually. You must give me a chance."

"But we are so different. I will always shock you with my queer ways and I do not believe I will be able to change."

"Time changes people. If you marry me, you'll never have to do any of the work you so detest doing here. You may yet come to love me, Kit," William protested. "Please give me a chance. I must ask you now. Will you marry me, Kit?"

Kit looked up at him thoughtfully for a long moment. She opened her mouth to give her fateful answer, when a pounding knock stopped her.

A/N: Well, I've finally finished that chapter. I know I didn't change that much yet, but wait, it will come. Who could be at the door? What do you think? What should Kit say? Should I stop asking you all these questions? I've only an answer for the last one and that is YES. :-) Please review…I'd love to hear what you think!

Thanks to my original reviewers: Bac210, lilprincess, Steph, Laura Depp, and one with no name.

Thanks to: ffgirlmoonie and Angel of Despair (I heart you both!).

Author's Note: Well, I'm back once again. In four days, that's not too bad. I was so glad to get back to these chapters because I actually wrote the title names on them! I couldn't remember all of the old ones, so I made up similar ones. I'm starting to get ideas again for this fic, so once APs are finally over I should be able to finish up fairly quickly. Then I have prom, graduation, and my 18th birthday (the last two are on the same day, so that should be interesting). Anyway, please review!