Eva's Sins.

LXVIII

„Some of us hide from themselves, others - from fate"

  Even if Alice told him to release Eva from that „dungeon" in which they lived, without forcing her in a way or another, Brian considered this as being impossible - just to let everything end like that: so suddenly, so incomprehensible, without an explanation to that constant „why" that was resounding in his head.

  „I must see Eva," he said, after a few hours of walking back on forth through Alfred Stonebridge's office, in the desperate attempt of brooding those thoughts about an uncertain situation, illogical even. Yet, he couldn't find any logical answer to all those questions that dwell in his head. That's why, he rushed to leave the office, slamming the door behind him.

  Then, he rushed to climb the stairs and, getting in front of Eva's room door, he knocked. But he received no answer, and this amazed him. „Does he sleep already?" he asked in a whisper. Yet, he didn't know why, but he felt that he couldn't give up on the idea to see her and talk to her, for he wanted to know why she decided so suddenly to leave Image and return to London along with Mrs. Huntington and Beth, instead of trying to form a family with Laura and him.

  „Eva, we must talk!" he said in a loud voice, knocking again. „Please, I know you hear me! We must talk, even if I know you are so upset with me and you don't want to see me. But... if you need explanations, supplications, or whatever else... I'm ready to do that. For your sake and of Laura, I'm ready for anything. Of everything, do you hear me?" but again he heard no answer.

  That's why, due to a weird impulse of his heart, he pressed on that doorknob and entered the room. But... there was nobody - the room was empty, the bed carefully arranged, and only the raindrops were heard beating on the window as if playing the drums.

  Suddenly, he winced, hearing a movement behind him and he turned: it was the nursemaid with Laura in her arms, heading toward his room, for she bathed the girl and changed her clothes and Laura fell asleep so soon. That's why she decided to leave her in her crib to sweetly sleep.

  Seeing Brian staring thunderstruck at her, the woman said, after glancing in the room: „do you look for Miss Stonebridge?" and Brian instinctively nodded yes. „She just climbed into Mrs. Huntington's carriage. It seems that they go to London today, for... Stan put already her luggage behind the carriage."

  Brian's heart stopped in his chest, his slow breath stopped rushing throughout his body too, and he felt his mind numbed: Eva left without saying goodbye to him.

  Then, so sudden that he made the poor nursemaid wince and crawl back, Brian jerked from his place and ran in a hurry down the stairs.

  Getting in front of the main door instead, he stopped, not knowing if it was good what he wanted to do: to run after her meant to give up on his principles, to step on his ego, to swallow his pride. Yet: that „I'm ready for everything for you and Laura." was told by him with his heart. So, his hand rushed to touch the doorknob, the door noisy opened, and he sank into the night, running like a chased spirit after that carriage that was leaving, and calling Eva's name.

  But... Mrs. Huntington's carriage was rushing already on that road across from the forest onto which, a year ago, Albert and Emily took Eva out of that village. But, instead of Beth, who also ran then after the carriage, calling Eva's name, was Brian this time, in a desperate attempt of making her stay, of forcing her to change her mind and not abandon him and Laura.

  Eva instead pretended not to hear him, because the carriage didn't stop even for a second. Per contra: Mrs. Huntington, who was in the driving box, pulled the reins, and the horses started their gallop through the rain, cutting that harsh autumn wind with their black manes while the carriage's wheels were cutting the mud of the road - the same muddy country road that saw Eva leaving that village once, a year ago and which seemed to be the last road she was moving onto while leaving that so well-known town, heading toward nowhere.