Time for love is short

It felt a little intrusive to ask the servant, but it had her intrigued. Why on Earth hadn’t he slept there last night.

Her immediate worry was that he had found another warm bed, an occupied one. He had been a gentleman in every sense, he was affectionate and attentive, but they had gone no further. But it had only been a couple of weeks, surely not long enough to push him towards other company.

I wanted to thank you. she smiled as she spoke to him, her hand resting on his. For being so patient with me. I feel so much more myself now, thanks to Lady Adelaidah and Dr Smith. But most of all because of you.

She paused as the Butler brought in a plate for them both, filling her glass with a deep red claret.

It all happened too quickly to hide her reaction, and with his eyes focused on her’s, he could do nothing but notice.

Her eyes widened slightly, her brow furrowed in curiosity at the small but definite changes. Changes she was trained to read, to notice. Her grip on his hand tightly slightly at the surprise, this was a man she had come to trust, was falling for, her whole world was built around him and she did not even know anymore what he was.

The dinner continued as normal. Then Eliah excused himself to go to the restroom and then took her for a walk in the gardens.

The myriad of small, and not so small parts weighed on her mind. It was a puzzle she couldn’t solve, there was no logical answer.

She took his hand while they walked, she wasn’t scared, there was no reason for that. Just curious.

Eliah... she hesitated as she spoke, fragrant flowers perfumed the air as they walked among the same gardens where they had exchanged vows. There was something odd at dinner...

She stopped in her tracks, it was just the two of them here. Away from all the other distractions that a large house brought.

Still holding on to his hand, she reached up to caress his cheek with her free hand, a tender moment coming from her alone.

Your hands were cold, then suddenly warm, the colour returned to your usually pale face, your eyes and mouth from dry to fluid.

It was all in an instant, and it made no sense. And you know I am no fool or we would never have married.

She kept her gaze on him looking for an answer, her heart beating a little faster as she questioned him, waiting on his reply

Maggie listened intently, suddenly panicked at the thought of losing him.

Don’t say that, why would you lose me? We’ve barely got each other back after everything that happened. she tried to be clear, not to stumble over her words.

Whatever it is, we can face it together. You’ve shown me how strong I can be, well it’s true. You make it so, and I can do the same. Create our own synergy- a creation greater than its two parts.

All I want is the truth. It will be fine, all will be well. she tries to reassure him, sensing a rare concern on his side

She had never felt more wanted, she held on too not wanting to let go.

Maybe you shouldn’t tell me.. she replied holding back tears.

He would of course, and would ask again anyway. It was clear to the both of them that the decision was made.

They walk a little together in silence, as the lights of the house grow stronger, she turns a final time, her expression a little coy Can I stay with you tonight?

Maggie opened her eyes.

Sam instantly regretted it.

She wanted to be furious, to stamp her feet and throw expensive things round this expensive room.

But she wasn’t angry, she was disappointed maybe, baffled, curious.

The Sam that remained was not the same creature that existed two weeks prior, Dr Smith had seen to that, he had stripped away her warped view and shown her another perspective, a better one.  They were the same memories, her own memories but it had changed who she was.

And then there was Eliah.  Fists clenched at the thought of him, okay, maybe she was a little angry.

There was no fancy wedding, no years together.  No wonder last time was so fun...that she did remember, and felt herself getting hot under the collar at the very thought.

What was a lie, and what was truth?

Was she a prisoner?  Did she even want to leave?

She sat on the bed, twisting the gold band round her finger, but it stayed where it was, for now.

5pm seemed a very long time away, if she waited.

Getting dressed into clothes that she knew she couldn’t afford, she made the decision to explore. Starting with the bedroom, and then mentally dividing the house into useful areas. Eliah had a study, and that seemed the next most appropriate place, not that she knew what she was looking for.

She could have called her family, they would want to know that she was alright. But she wasn’t at the bottom of this rabbit hole yet, and she wanted to see how far it went. It was the same reason she didn’t run, that and curiosity and futility.

Curious what was behind all this.

And futile, the knowledge that a man with this much money and power could track her down in an instant.

The bath drew away some of the tension too, and the aches and pains at least had pleasant connotations, very pleasant she had to admit. It had been far too long, and Eliah was a baptism of fire in comparison to other lack lustre encounters.

Thomas’ entry jarred against the two worlds she now knew. As long as ‘trip to the city’ isn’t code for ‘dropped unconscious in the sea’...she thought privately before answering

Yes, thank you Thomas. I’ll be down directly.

So she would see the whole charade in detail it seemed

"Master Eliah gave me this letter for you Mrs. Ellison. Shall we."

The breakfast table was as always ready for her arrival.

Sam’s coffee went cold before her as read the letter again and again.

So there has been a first Mrs Ellison, it could easily fall from one of Daphne du Maurier’s dark tales.

And he wanted her, an easy thing to say after all the deception.  

Now, here was the rub, the problem, issue, conundrum.  It was entirely possible that she wanted him too.
Thomas..? she looked round for the ever present Butler.

Will you fetch me some stationery please, I would like to leave a reply in case Mr Ellison returns before me.

The nerves made it difficult to concentrate on food, she took a sip from the cold cup then pushed it aside.

What the f***was she doing?  This was insane.

There were too many loose ends, his cold skin, the identical pictures, his time references did not make logical sense. And yet, she wanted to stay.

The luxury she could live without, but she had found an equal, perhaps a superior, and was not about to throw that away without a chance to speak to him again

With her thanks for their assistance, Sam moved to a desk in the corner away from the food smells, and any distraction.

<Dearest Eliah,

It has only been a week and you have changed the very core of me.

You have altered how I see myself and the world around me, reminded me what I could become and given me a chance to be part of your life.

These things are not something I can run from.

Will you give me the chance to love you back?

Not as the old Sam, or as a memory of a woman you have loved and lost, but something new.

As planned, I am going to visit the practice, get my bearings, then I’ll be home at five, and we can talk over dinner.

I know that I do not have the full story yet, there are elements at play that I cannot even elude to, but I trust you Eliah. And the little I have I entrust in you.

Yours, Samantha >

She looked the letter over, prose was not her forte and perhaps it came across a little too romantic for her tastes. But the message was there, once we handed this to Thomas the deed was done.

Please ensure Mr Ellison receives this as soon as he arrives home. she says handing over the letter. I plan on visiting my practice then I’ll return home as normal, if you can let the driver know.

She watched him go and takes a breath, way to go Sam, gambling your life away on a hunch.