Willtilexxx 22 01 23 Eliza Rae No Other Lady — Xx...

Arthur Pendelton read it for the dozenth time, his sherry going warm and untouched. The code was one he and Eliza had devised as children— WillTile meant “Willing to elope,” the numbers a date and time, the XX a promise: no other lady, ever. But Eliza Rae had married Lord Ashworth three winters ago.

The telegram lay on the mahogany sideboard, its yellow paper seeming to glow under the gaslight. WillTileXXX 22 01 23 Eliza Rae No Other Lady XX. WillTileXXX 22 01 23 Eliza Rae No Other Lady XX...

Outside, the January wind howled. And Arthur poured two glasses of sherry, knowing that for the first time in twenty-two years, the promise would not be broken. Arthur Pendelton read it for the dozenth time,

“The telegram,” he said, tapping the paper. “It arrived an hour ago. Dated next week.” The telegram lay on the mahogany sideboard, its

A soft rap came at his study door. His housekeeper peered in. “A person to see you, sir. Says her name is Mrs. Ashworth.”

Eliza stepped inside, still wearing a traveler’s dust cloak. Her eyes were the same storm-grey he remembered. “You came,” she whispered.

She smiled, slow and sad. “Then we haven’t much time. The ‘No Other Lady’ was for me, Arthur. I sent it before he died. Before I was free.”