“You would have found another love.”
She shook her head. “You are my destiny.” The seer was right. Decimus was her destiny and she planned on seeing to his demise, so that Michael could live.
“Destiny makes the choice for us then.”
“Destiny presents us with choices; it is up to us. Destiny presented us to each other; it is our decision what we do with our love.”
“We have no choice in this matter,” he insisted.
“But we do.”
“You know I cannot walk away from those who need my help,” he said, frustrated by his own reasoning.
“Everything changes yet remains the same.”
He shook his head. “You said that before falling asleep and I wondered what you meant.”
“You fight for the innocent who suffer, but the innocent continue to suffer. No matter how many people you free, there will always be more people who need freeing. Thus, things change, yet remain the same. Only until man opens his mind and heart together, will ample change take place. You should be aware of this since you spoke with my father and know of his teachings.”
“Some teachings are easier to learn and practice than others. But tell me, could you have allowed Jenna and William to suffer?”
“Not when I had it in my power to see them free.”
“Then how do I walk away knowing countless people will suffer because I was not there to save them?” he asked.
“There will always be countless people you cannot save, perhaps it is time to change your fighting tactics.” She hurried her hand to her mouth to cover the huge yawn that attacked her.
“You need more rest,” he said and reached for the tray, most of the goose pie gone.
She snuggled down under the blanket. “You will join me?”
He placed the tray on the table and returned to the bed to kiss her cheek. “I will join you shortly.”
One tired eye widened. “I had forgotten. We have visitors.”
“Someone in particular who is determined to see you well and gone from this fortress.”
“Reena.” Mary smiled. “I look forward to speaking with her. And Brigid, she is well?”
“She sat with you while you slept.”
“It is so good to have caring friends.” She yawned again.
“Sleep,” he urged her. “You will visit with them tomorrow.”
Her eyes were already drifting shut and her words a mere mumble. “I love you.”
He sat watching her sleep, thinking of his love for her and the tiny babe that nestled safely in her stomach. He would protect them both with his life never letting any harm come to either of them. That was the very reason he was sending her away, to keep his family safe. He had been unable to protect his family once; he would not see it happen again even if it meant he could not be with them.
But her words had made sense. How long could he continue leading this double life before someone discovered his secret? How many could he save and how much of a difference did it make?
Was there a way for them to be together?
Did he dare hope that they had a chance?
He shook his head and walked to the window, leaning against the wall and looking out on total darkness. He had lived in the shadows for over twenty years and was barely thirty and four years. How much longer could he exist in darkness?
Had not his path been defined for him after losing his family? Had he not made a pledge to avenge their deaths? Had he not kept it?
He had placed his family in danger once before because he listened to others’ opinions. He could not be persuaded again to make a foolish choice. He had to know his wife and child would be safe, and they could only be safe far away from him.
As much as it hurt him to let Mary go, he had no choice. He would make plans and see that Roarke took her to safety, and he would say his last goodbye to her and his unborn child.
Mary woke to a delicious scent and found Reena and Brigid sitting at the table in her bedchamber whispering and eating.
“Save some for me, I am starved,” she said and threw the blanket back to hurry out of bed.
The three women squealed with delight and hugged each other. Reena fussed over Mary, finding a black velvet robe, though the sleeves too long, for her to wear. Reena saw to freeing her hands, folding the velvet sleeves back several times, then the three gathered around the table to share the morning meal and talk.
“First, we must know you are well,” Reena said. “You looked so very pale yesterday and then Decimus told us of the child you carry.”
“I am fine.”
“Are you sure?” Brigid asked, placing a protective hand on her rounded stomach. “You do not want to take a chance with your or your child’s life.”
Mary rested crossed hands on the table and prayed the choice she was about to make was a wise one. She had no doubt that she could trust the two women; it was that she would be placing them in danger that made her reconsider.
“Your note was clear,” Reena reminded her. “You need help and that is why we are here.”
“The help comes with a steep price. It places you both in extreme danger. I have no right to ask you to take such a risk.”
“We are friends.” Reena said, covering Mary’s hands with her own.
“Brigid, you are with child and I understand if—”
Brigid added her hand to theirs. “You are with child as well, and as Reena said we are friends.”
Mary nodded and spoke before she could change her mind. “I helped two prisoners escape the fortress and was only returning from a day’s walk when you arrived.”
The two women stared at her in shocked silence for a brief moment.
“You took a risk being with child and being Decimus’s wife,” Reena scolded out of concern.
“I risk much more than an escape,” Mary said and looked to each woman.
Reena spoke low. “There is gossip in the fortress about the babe’s father.”
Mary grabbed hold of her goblet of cider and rested back in her chair. “What is being said?”
“That you were with child before reaching the fortress,” Reena confirmed. “Since all knew you arrived on your wedding day, and due to Decimus’s firm belief in Church doctrine on celibacy before marriage, it is thought he is not the father.”
“Decimus will learn of the gossip soon enough,” Brigid said. “What then?”
Mary thought the timing perfect. The gossip would serve her plan well and lead to the conclusion of the ideal solution to her problem, though she required help in implementing it.
It had to be carried out precisely, leaving nothing to chance and making certain that in the end the Dark One had no choice but to follow her plan. Was it fair of her not to give him a choice? But then he was not giving her one. He insisted they could not stay together. She thought otherwise and intended to prove herself right. She had to; she refused to live life without him.
“Mary,” Reena said, drawing her out of her musings. “Decimus will show no mercy if he should discover you helped prisoners escape. And I hate to think of the consequences when he discovers the truth about the child you carry.”
“I have a plan.”
“Will it free you?” Brigid asked hopefully.
“I will need to go away and never return,” Mary said with sadness, knowing she would miss her friends. “There is no other way.”