The End of Us novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Read at 8:49

"No," I said.

I said it loud enough to carry to the back of the granary hall.

Marina turned her wet eyes toward me.

"I'm of sound mind," I said to the bench. "I answered every question you asked. I will not be placed in anyone's care, and least of all hers."

The middle elder nodded slowly.

"The petition was already denied, Mistress Dunstan," he said. "The Council cannot place a woman in custody without her consent. Please sit."

Marina's lips pressed together.

For half a second her face lost its sweetness, and then it came back.

She sat down with the baby, and Maud put a hand on her shoulder.

Quinton did not look at either of them.

He looked at me the whole way as Keith walked me out of the hall.

I went back to the cabin, and I took a long bath, and I slept for four hours without dreaming.

At dusk, Ginny left for her shift at the hospital.

Keith was down at the bridge, meeting with his guard.

I was alone in the cabin when someone knocked on the door.

I opened it.

Marina stood on the porch in a long grey coat, with her blonde hair tucked behind her ears and no baby.

"I came alone," she said. "I need to talk to you."

"You can talk from there."

"Please, Isla. It's cold."

I did not let her in.

She stood on the step with a small velvet pouch in her hand, and she looked at me with her wide, sorry blue eyes.

"I owe you an apology," she said. "Maud told me to say what I said at the hearing. I didn't want to."

"But you said it."

"I'm frightened of her."

"So am I," I said. "That's not why I'm leaving."

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