Page 10 (1/2)

"What’s wrong?" Blade asked

"Nothing," Es as silence settled over the yard After a hed "Course it ain’t Don’t think I’m a fool, Esme Or blind Any ‘alf-wit could see you’re upset and people is startin’ to ask why"

The angry swish of her skirts "What have you told them?"

"Same as you’ve told me Nothin’"

More silence Rip pressed his back into the bricks, straining to watch and hear

"’ave you told ‘im?" Blade muttered "Bout ‘ow you bin feelin’? Because I could--"

"Don’t you dare say a word to hiasped "You promised you wouldn’t Let me deal with this"

Rip frowned

"Runnin’ away ain’t dealin’ with it, Es"

"I’ away" Es over her face "John doesn’t wantabout hiht from the kitchencut across Blade’s face and his tawny eyebrows arched "’E don’t want you? ‘E told you that?" Even from this distance the words were incredulous

"He said he couldn’t… Not with me" The words were a choked whisper "The other day I kissed hih--" Her face screwed up "And tonight…He virtually told me I should have married soed her into his ar "Don’t cry, luv" He looked up suddenly, light glea off his eyes as they cut directly into the shadohere Rip atching "Sure there’s got to be a reason for it Man’d be a fool not to see what’s right beneath ‘is nose"

Rip’s blood see was like a knife to the chest… but he couldn’t have moved toward her if he tried

Esme wanted him? Not as a friend or a master, but as a lover? The world seemed to skew on its axis, words and conversations between the Why the hell hadn’t she told him?

"He doesn’t want my blood," she sobbed "He toldht you wanted more’n to be his thrall?" Blade asked

"I do… I did…" she faltered "I’irl anymore, Blade I’ve buried a husband and forced myself back to my feet after his , she whispered, "I forgot what it was to hope, to dream I should have known better Dreahed and kissed her hair with rough affection as she drew her face away from his shoulder and rubbed the wetness froht be the one who knohat it’s like to lose ‘ope, but I found it again" He gave her one last squeeze "You’ll sort ht to treat you right Do the right thing by you" His voice lowered in warning "Or else"

And that was for him

Esme scraped the last of the tears fro to sort out," she said sadly "I can’t do it anymore, Blade I can’t" Her voice dropped to a whisper "There’s no point in drea down at her "Give it soot an inklin’ o’ your mind"

Es her fine features "I shouldn’t see why He … intentions Maybe ‘e didn’t understand yours?" Blade drew back "You co "Not yet I don’t want anybody to see I’ve been crying"

Blade stared at her for a long moment Finally he nodded "I’ll see you in the mornin’ then Just… Don’t ‘ate me, luv"

"Hate you for what?" Esme frowned

Blade took several steps back, toward the door "Interferin’"

"How did you--" She froze then and Rip knew that she’d realized they weren’t alone Shoulders stiffening, she turned with a horrified look on her face, eyes darting through the shadows of the yard as she searched for him

Blade took the chance to disappear into the house Coward Rip’s fists flexed as Eshtened

Esme’s head tilted toward hi

"John?" she whispered

No chance to fade away as he dealt with the sudden confusion that left hi his hands into his pockets Instantly her eyes lit on him and they stared at each other across the yard, the silence thick and heavy He couldn’t breathe, all of a sudden She looked so beautiful, even with the track of tears down her face And frightened and confused

He didn’t knohat to say

Esaze darted toward the door as if in betrayal Slowly she looked back at hi have you been standing there?"

"Before you come out," he replied quietly

Her chin quivered "You heard it all?"