"What?"
"I never imagined this."
When they left, Evelyn held his arm. The innkeeper smiled.
"You from whom I have learned."
"You're checking the bill." Evelyn watched him count the coins.
Nathaniel insisted on paying. They had lunch there.
"Some things never change." The innkeeper shook his head.
She laughed. "No."
Nathaniel looked at Evelyn. "Did he ever learn to stop staring?"
The innkeeper grinned. "Yes."
Evelyn smiled. "You married the gentleman." Then at her. He looked at Nathaniel. "Not anymore."
She laughed. "Miss Bennett."
The old innkeeper recognized Evelyn. They entered the inn. She smiled.
"Good. I remember that, too." She looked at him. "You remember a cat, but not our first kiss?"
"Of course. You still remember him. He used to sit there."
"The cat? The cat is gone." She looked toward the window.
"I remember everything." He smiled. "Because you always remember. You always mention that."
"I was correct."
"You were arguing."
"Yes, you were here."
Nathaniel stood beside her. She stopped outside the inn. Evelyn walked down the same street where he had first seen her arguing over two pennies. The village looked smaller than he remembered. Nathaniel accompanied her. She wanted to visit the woman who had helped her when she was younger.
The following spring, Evelyn returned to Belford.
"That is why I am no longer afraid."
He looked at her. "Certainly, you can depend on me."
She touched his hand. "Now I think it depends on who you depend upon. And now, I used to think dependence was weakness, Nathaniel." She became quiet. "I realized how much of my life now depends on your presence."
"Then what?"
"No. You thought I might never return. I agree. I was gone for two hours." She laughed. "I was terrified when you left the house this morning."
"What? I have another confession."
He leaned back. "I am."
"You should be."
"I am pleased." She smiled. "Anger makes people careless."
"What?"
"I remembered what you said, but you didn't. I wanted to. You could have humiliated him."
"How?"
"You were different today."
Evelyn watched Nathaniel. Their son slept peacefully. That night, they sat together beside the nursery.
"Better." She smiled. "I'm asking what then?"
"No, you're ordering me." She looked at him. "Then come upstairs."
Nathaniel took her hand. "I feel tired. And I thought I would feel triumphant."
She looked at the empty doorway. "Yes."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you all right?"
Then he turned to Evelyn. Nathaniel watched him leave. The matter ended. He signed the agreement. That broke him. He received certainty instead; Sebastian had expected anger.
"And I will remain something without him," she continued.
Nathaniel looked at her. "I was something before him."
Evelyn remained calm. "You were nothing before him."
He laughed bitterly. "You did."
She shook her head. "No, you ruined everything."
"Yes." She met his gaze. "You."