That evening, Ellie tied her cloak around her neck in her room when her door opened. She frowned, looking in the mirror. The face she saw made her blood run cold. "Edward," she breathed, turning to look at him. "What are you doing here?" "I've just heard some unsettling news, Sweetness," the figure said, moving towards her. "Your father says that the marriage has been called off." She cleared her throat, her brows furrowing. "It has... I'm... I'm marrying someone else." A finger reached out and traced her jawline slowly. "You have such a beautiful neck," he said slowly. "I'm imaging a rope drawn around it." She jerked her head back. "Get out," she said furiously. "Get out or I'll scream." A low laughter came from the figure and he turned to leave. "Fine, then, Sweetness. We'll get resolution soon enough." The door closed behind him and Ellie shuddered, leaning back against the wall. * * * A couple of days later, Burke closed his suitcase, donning his hat.
She came out to him a while later, her cloak drawn around herself. * * * "Alright, Ms. Scarlet. You ready?"
She came over to him and slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head in the curve of his neck. "Hey, Xav." * * * "Mmhm. I got my travelin' hat, my dog, and my girl. What could go wrong?" His traveling hat was a dark grey with a bright blue ribbon tied in a bow around it.
He kissed the top of her head. "Good trip?" *** She flushed very lightly, tapping the rim of his hat. "That's cute."
She hesitated before shrugging. "As well as it could be." * * * "You think so?" he asked, taking it off and looking at it. "It's my adventure's hat."
She looked up at him gratefully, kissing his cheek. "Come on, let's go." * * * They got into their train compartment, with Burke setting their luggage under their seats and sitting down, looking up at her.
She led him deeper into the woods, her fingers laced with his. "There's an old mine I've been meaning to check out," she said thoughtfully. * ** He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "An adventure!"
She gave him a grin, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "God, you're hot. It should just be through here..." * * * "Are you cool enough?"
