Free Written in the Stars by Patricia Rosemoor, Sherrill Bodine Page B

evaporating her listlessness, propelling her into
     movement.
    “Alice, leave us, please.” Surprisingly, she vanished without comment.
    Slowly closing the door, Will turned to her.
    Not able to wait another moment, she ran to be in the cherished warmth of his arms.
    He stood quite still, his hands gripped behind his back.
    She swayed to a stop, her eyes searching his closed face. “What has happened?”
    “Lady Elizabeth, I have come to tell you I am leaving tomorrow with a troop of my
     men to fortify our border with Scotland. This will be our last meeting. When I return
     you shall be my brother’s wife.”
    The words reached her, but she couldn’t understand their meaning, so foreign was his
     face and voice.
    When finally they penetrated her confusion she recoiled in disbelief.
    “So we are to repeat your mother and father’s tragedy.”
    For an instant she marveled at how she had known what weapon to use to drain his skin
     of color and bring blue fire to his eyes. To bring life to the hard-controlled muscles
     of his face.
    I know because I am his soul mate.
    “Elizabeth, you must understand I can offer you nothing but dishonor.”
    She held back the tears, the need to throw herself into his arms, pleading with him
     not to leave her alone. “You can offer me love, can you not, Will?” she asked softly.
    His eyes caressed her, giving her the courage to take a step closer.
    “Until the end of time, Elizabeth, I shall love you.”
    “Then do not throw away our future with both hands. I shall find a way for us to be
     together. I promise.”
    “At the expense of others? The guilt would destroy both of us.” The harsh weariness
     in his voice stopped her. She sensed his decision had been hard-won, but he had chosen
     honor, duty.
    She would not tell him of the danger she felt gathering around her. She sensed the
     burden of his choice was nearly more than he could bear. From deep inside, her love
     for him gave her the strength to meet the open plea in his eyes.
    “For now I give you leave to go, Will. Yet I promise this is not the end for us.”
    She thought he would touch her, willed him to do so, but she saw his shoulders stiffen
     in resolve. Recognized the determination in the firm set of his jaw. Ached at the
     agony in his eyes.
    Only after the door closed behind him, did she sink to the floor, bury her face in
     her palms, and weep for what lay ahead for them both.

Dunham Castle, 1601
    A dark energy grows heavily around me and I struggle to understand from whence it
     comes. I alone must discover the source of the danger. I call on the knowledge and
     power within me which grows daily. From it, I gain strength to accept my need for
     Will to be by my side for all time and to uncover the path of honor for both of us.
    Will believes he must choose honor and duty over our love, and I know I must be patient
     with his decision until the moment is right to reveal my choice.
    I defy the choice my father made for me and plot how I shall fall at his feet and
     beg him to understand I must be free to seize my own destiny. Out of his love for
     me I pray he will understand my change of heart. I came here to do my duty and in
     doing so I have found my heart’s desire for all time.
    In this time and place I choose both love and honor, for neither can exist without
     the other. I know my choice will shape your destiny.

Chapter Six
    Elizabeth lay awake throughout the long night, counting the hours until Will would
     leave her.
    Eyes acid-dry from endless weeping, she watched Alice leave the chamber to bid farewell
     to Tom before Will led his troops from the castle. She chose to be spared the torment
     of that sight for she feared watching him ride away would break even her iron resolve
     to find an honorable way for them to be together. If she broke, she would fall to
     her knees, begging him to stay.
    I cannot burden him with my need until I forge an honorable path for us both to follow.
    Sure in the