Page 20 of The Girl Out of Time
“I see.” He cast his eyes downwards. “Did I do something wrong? Perhaps I should approach them—”
“No!” She grabbed his hand. “It’s not your fault. It’s them. But you must know …” She tilted her head until he raised his eyes again. “I’ve had a wonderful time with you, and I’ll always appreciate it. I’ll always …”
She trailed off, her eyes lowering to his mouth.This isn’t fair.This wasn’t how the stories ended, not even those with a tragic end. Perhaps the heroes would perish together, but they’d at least get their catharsis. There would besomething, not just a pathetic “Alas, this is it, goodbye.”
“Emmeline.” Leon lifted her chin with a feather-light touch and drew his eyebrows together. “I need to tell you something, but I don’t know in what manner to broach the subject—”
The cabin door burst open, almost flying off the handles, as Father’s tall, dark shape filled the doorway. Emmeline and Leon jumped apart, propelled off the sofa.
Father’s narrowed eyes inspected Leon, his jaw twitching. “Out,” he said through clenched teeth.
Leon cast a quick glance at Emmeline—perhaps asking permission to intervene—but she was too shocked to respond.
“Out,now,” Father repeated, and without a word, Leon left.
Father closed the door and made a step into a cabin. “In your own room, Emmeline? Are you out of your mind?”
“We were talking about books!”
“And I suppose that’s why he needs to touch you?”
She huffed, pacing in a circle before she faced him again. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Withme? I’m trying to keepyousafe.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Prevent you from making a mistake, from having your heart broken by some random stranger.”
“Leon is not a stranger!”
“Isn’t he? What do you know of him, of his character? I’ve asked. Nobody else has heard of him.”
“He’s here alone. So excuse him, if he hasn’t made friends with all two thousand people on the ship, so they could vouch for him!”
“And where is he from? Why is he going to the States, and what are his intentions there?”
“Perhaps if you hadn’t dismissed him outright, he could’ve explained that to you.”
“And perhaps if he had considered that from the start, instead of sneaking around with you—”
“He didn’t! I sought him out!”
Father’s eyes widened. “So it’s even worse.”
“Why, because a lady doesn’t seek out male company?”
“Because you don’t know what could happen!”
“And I guess I never will! Why do you even take me on travels with you, send me to school? Why do I need to know anything about the world, if you won’t let melivein it?”
“We’re trying to help you make the right choices.”
“You’re not letting me make any!”
He shook his head. “When you’re older, and have children of your own, you’ll understand.”
“Well, that’s not happening, is it?” Sarcasm dripped from her voice. “Not when you keep me in a gilded cage. Unless, of course, you want to pick the suitor for me? I’m sure you know best, and it doesn’t matter what I think, anyway.”
Father looked to the side, blinking. “Is that what you think of me? And your mother?”
“What else do you assume your actions make me think?”
