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He looked at her hard and long, his gaze so intense her insides squirmed but she refused to turn away. Did he see her resolve? Did he sense her determination?
‘Ish has grown into quite the country boy. He has raised a litter of puppies, is responsible for feeding the chickens and collecting their eggs and is assisting the neighbour feed and water his horses. He spends a lot of time outside in nature.’
Henry smiled, whimsical, his eyes distant. ‘And tell me about this fossil.’
‘You … you, know about that?’
‘Of course. I know everything, Ava. I know about the dogs and chickens and horses and this house and your life here. How much you paid for it, how you sealed the contract. Everything.’
‘Have you known where we’ve been all along?’ Her voice dropped to a whisper.
‘Not immediately, but soon thereafter.’
Deep down, she’d known that too, but he hadn’t come.
‘The fossil?’ he repeated.
‘I assume you know all about it, then?’
‘I want to hear from you. It sounds important, significant to your work.’
‘It’s historically significant. It’s a rare and extinct turtle and most likely there are other opalised fossils nearby, there usually are but nothing else has been located yet.’
‘The gems are pretty, huh?’
‘Yes.’ Of course, he knew about them, too.
‘Valuable?’
‘Most likely. But these are not necessarily items that value can be ascribed.’
Pacing towards her, he grasped her hands in his. The gesture was quick and hurried and caught her by surprise. ‘You will not return with me? Are you sure?’
She ripped her hands out of his grip and stepped back, creating space. ‘No.’ She swallowed. ‘Will you force us?’
He laughed. But it wasn’t contagious. ‘No. I will not. I could, you understand. But it is because I love you that I will not. One of the many reasons I fell in love with you was because of your determination, intelligence and your feisty grip on life. As you understand now, women are not like that at home. You were a breath of fresh air, an enigma. But I should have known better, you are right. Some things cannot be altered. I do not wish you to be unhappy or resent me or the life you’d be living. Of course, I wish you’d change your mind. But things have changed, too, in your absence.’
Her stomach clenched for another blow. He spoke with his gaze focused on the distance, the rear fence where Marmalade and Honey raced along the boundary, their manes flying. ‘You will always be my first wife, but I have taken another since you’ve left and she is pregnant with a son. The future is secure and the family are happy.’
Not unexpected but still a blow. But what did it matter? She’d been replaced and so had their son. It made things easier really, she should be pleased. The news steeled her heart, clamped it shut and turned it to ice. Yes, she’d loved this man, but she no longer did. He was a great love and her son’s father. Only.
‘If I had asked your permission to leave, would you have let me?’ she asked quietly.
The weight of the words hung in the air, loaded and heavy.
Henry hesitated, opened his lips to respond, closed them. ‘That would have been hard. My family would not have liked it. If you had not run, you’d most likely still be there.’ The steely glint in his eye unnerved her.
Simply nodding, what else could she do, she asked, ‘Okay, what now?’
He wasn’t quite finished with his platitudes. ‘I understand you are a strong woman and want to be in charge of your own life. You are not suited to being part of my family. I am sorry.’
Her body sagged.
‘I will grant you a divorce. I will make the arrangements, quietly and swiftly, and our son will remain living here with you. I could never take him away, even though he has an important role in the family, of course… I will visit when it suits and continue to focus on my life and the family dynasty. I will grant you an allowance?—’
‘No, Henry, that’s not necessary. I’m fine. We’ll be fine.’
‘Very well, I will give you a donation for your work here with the fossil.’
