Wandering Soul by Cassandra Chandler Page B

walloping I promised you the first night you came.”
    â€œI do not doubt it, sir.”
    â€œWell, then. I’m off to make dinner. You kids have fun.” Winston stood and slowly shuffled down the hallway.
    â€œHe threatened to wallop you on your first night here?” That was hardly the welcome she wanted for Dante.
    â€œThere were extenuating circumstances.”
    â€œI can’t imagine what they were. Maybe he was joking.”
    â€œI am quite certain he meant every word. It was shortly after your collapse.”
    â€œHe was probably just upset.”
    â€œWe both were.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to scare you.”
    Dante let out a short chuckle and shook his head. His right side was toward her, and he inclined his body so most of his face was covered with his mask. Elsa couldn’t stand when he did that, hiding right in front of her.
    â€œThe matter was hardly under your control,” Dante said.
    â€œStill, I wanted your first days to be pleasant. That’s one of the reasons I was trying to put this off. I want you to be happy here.”
    â€œHappiness based on half-truths is seldom lasting.”
    â€œFull disclosure, then. Or as close as I can manage.”
    Elsa held out her hand to seal the agreement. At least, that was what she told herself she was doing. She wasn’t just coming up with an excuse to get him closer. The flutter in her chest when he took a step toward her and gently grasped her hand had nothing to do with it.
    â€œI appreciate your efforts.”
    He let go of her hand, which was just as well since it was already starting to shake. He sat next to her and waited for her to begin. If only she knew where to start.
    Going all the way back to the first time she’d time traveled was much too intense. The memories there were dark enough that Elsa never wanted to think of them again. Besides, she didn’t want to overwhelm him with too much information. She decided to start with the legend, since Dante was so focused on that at the moment.
    â€œThese legends that grew up around you, they have very little to do with who you are or even what Giselle said about you. The story has taken on a life of its own.”
    â€œA nefarious one, it would seem.”
    â€œThere are many versions of the story. Some are frightening, but some are actually quite lovely.”
    â€œFrom what Rachel said, I do not see how that can be so.”
    Elsa sighed, trying to find the right words. She knew this was a turning point both in their relationship and in Dante’s relationship with her time.
    â€œThere’s something compelling about the notion of an artistic genius working so hard to keep creating his art. It resonates deep within many people’s souls.”
    â€œEven if he resorts to murder?”
    â€œNot all of the stories say that he did. Some of them say he was blamed unjustly.”
    â€œAs Giselle blamed me for Heinrich’s death.”
    â€œI’m so sorry. I couldn’t keep her from saying so in your time. But I can write a different story now. Your story.”
    â€œYour book?”
    â€œOur book. I won’t write it without you. And I will never show it to another person unless you want me to.”
    Elsa picked up her laptop. She typed in her password and opened her manuscript folder, then turned the computer around so he could see the screen. He shifted closer as he watched her use the track pad to select the document.
    â€œThis is the file with everything I’ve written so far,” she said. “It’s only a rough outline and notes, really. Tap it twice, and the file will open. Or you can press the key that says ‘delete’ and the file is gone. I’ll promise you I will never try to write it again.”
    â€œYou identify so strongly with this character who would do anything for his art, yet you would destroy your work so willingly?”
    â€œYou’re more important.” Elsa