The Bride Who Ran Away by Indiana Wake

Author:Indiana Wake [Wake, Indiana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fair Havens Books
Published: 2018-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

8

“This feels so strange.” Bryony said as she helped Melissa put her bags into the wagon. “I can’t believe you’re going. I will miss you so much.”

Melissa sat huddled on the porch of the boarding house, wrapped in a shawl. The moment had arrived when she had to leave. She didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t live there for nothing forever. It wasn’t fair and there were no men that could make her stay... not now her heart was breaking. When she first came out here she hadn’t expected love. All she wanted was a decent man and the chance of a better life and children. She knew she would love her children. For a moment she wondered if she should have accepted one of the other men who wanted to be her husband... only the thought of seeing Sean and being married to someone else made her heart bleed. She couldn’t do it.

She had cried all her tears, and now she was just feeling numb. Melissa didn’t know what to do anymore. She felt as if she had no choice and yet it hurt so much to leave her new friends.

“I don’t want to go,” she mumbled.

“You what?” Bryony had come over to stand in front of her at that point. She stared at her. “What do you mean, you don’t want to go?”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Then why are you going?”

“Because I thought I had no choice.” Melissa sighed heavily. “I gave my word and now I wish I hadn’t agreed to it.”

Bryony looked confused. She sat beside her friend, tucking her skirt around her knees.

“You’re not making any sense, Melissa. What are you talking about? No choice?”

“I can’t live here without an income and I don’t have an income without a husband.”

“Why didn’t you accept... this is about Sean?”

Melissa nodded miserably.

“Yes. I couldn’t live here and see him because I love him so much.” She looked down at the ground, aware that the driver of the horse and wagon Mary had found for her was waiting for her. “Sean doesn’t care for me in the way I care for him. It hurts too much to be near him and now I have to leave.”

“What?” Bryony started. “You didn’t tell him how you feel?”

“No.”

“You should have.”

“You don’t understand. I’ve seen it in his eyes. He doesn’t feel that way for me. When I spoke to the Abbess she said that this is very common. That many women come to the order in these circumstances and that they can live a fulfilled life. That is what I want now.”

“Oh, Melissa.” Bryony put her arms around Melissa. “What are you going to do now?”

“I’m going to have to go. There’s no other choice for me... nothing here for me... and my heart can’t take much more.”

“You could always stay here.”

“No I can’t.” Melissa felt her throat beginning to close. “I can’t stay here, anyway, if I’m near the man I love, and he refuses to show me anything. It’s painful.

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