Beth Through Time by Harmke Buursma

Author:Harmke Buursma
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harmke Buursma

15

A Large, Too Hot, Swallow Of Tea

The ride back to the house had passed in a blur. I went upstairs without speaking to anyone, merely climbed the stairs and let myself fall down on my bed.

My chest squeezed so tightly I could scarcely draw breath. Was this what it felt like to have your heart broken? How foolish had I been to fall in love with a man that was never meant to be mine. A sob slipped out while my hot tears soaked the bedspread beneath me. I curled up into a ball on top of my small bed.

The duke had looked so cold; just remembering his face made my heart clench. Now that he knew the truth, it made sense that he did not want me. What did I have to offer him? Why was I so naive?

My nose was stuffed up and my eyes hurt. Perhaps John had been right all along; perhaps I should have stayed in Westbridge.

The door to my room creaked open then my body jostled as Anne plopped down beside me. She gently laid her hand on my back. I rubbed my tear-stained eyes with the back of my hand, turning my head up towards her.

“You can say it...” Anne was quiet, but I could guess what my friend had been thinking. I had brought all of this on myself.

“Say what?” She brushed a few sticky clumps of hair back from my face and tucked them behind my ear.

I let out a rattling sigh. “You can tell me that you have said this would happen. That you were right from the start and I should have listened to you. I don’t know what I was thinking agreeing to Willa’s scheme. Perhaps if I had listened to you, I would not be in this predicament.”

“Beth—" Anne stopped, her expression sad. Usually, she could sound a bit bossy, but now her voice was soft, hesitant. “I have never wanted you to be anything other than happy. It pains me to see you laying here in tears.” She squeezed my shoulder as I propped myself up. “You are my most treasured friend. I can be a bit harsh in my warnings, but that is merely because I care, and I do not want to see you get hurt. I am sorry that this scheme between you and the duke turned out the way that it did. It is plain to see that you harbor strong feelings for him.”

I closed my eyes. “I think I may love him.”

Anne nodded as she processed my words. “The duke most likely will not want to speak to you again.”

My heart clenched at the thought of never seeing the duke again, to never again feel his hand slip around mine as he led me to the dance floor. A fresh wave of tears slid down my cheeks. I had to look like a mess with my hair in disarray, red eyes, runny nose, and tears streaking down my face.

“I know.”

I propped myself up more, sweeping my feet beneath me.

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