The Betrayal Read Free Page A

that my father must have had proof of your friend’s evil practices. He appears stern, but he is a fair and just man, Susannah.”
    â€œWe should not be here together. We have to stop our secret meetings. They put me in great danger,” Susannah said softly.

    â€œYou are in no danger,” Edward replied. “I … wanted to talk to you, Susannah. I wanted to—”
    Before Susannah could back away, Edward had his arms around her waist. He lowered his face to hers and kissed her.
    The hat tumbled off his head, and he pressed his lips against hers, urgently, hungrily.
    Susannah was breathless when she finally pulled free. “You—you are suffocating me!” she exclaimed, grinning at him. She raised a hand to his shoulder. “What if the Evil One is watching us?” she teased.
    To her surprise, he pulled away from her touch. His dark eyes flared with anger. “I
told
you,” he warned, “do not joke about the Evil One.”
    â€œBut, Edward—” she began. His intensity always startled her.
    â€œYou know I cannot bear blasphemy,” he interrupted in a low, steady voice.
    They had been meeting secretly for weeks, stealing moments behind the grain barn or behind the trees at the riverbank. Susannah had been surprised by Edward’s seriousness, by his solemn attitude about most things.
    She liked to tease but quickly learned he didn’t share her sense of humor.
    Why did she care so much about him? Why did she think about him night and day? Why did she dream about being with him forever?
    Because he needed her. Because he seemed to feel as she did.
    She gazed up at him coyly. “Being here alone together in the woods, that is a crime against villagecustom,” she said. “What do you think your father would say?”
    He picked up his hat from the ground, gripping it tightly in one hand. “Being here with you, Susannah, is no crime.”
    â€œWhy is that?” she teased.
    He hesitated, gazing at her as if trying to see inside her head, to read her thoughts. “Because we love each other,” he said finally.
    And before she knew it, they were wrapped in each other’s arms again.
    I want to stay here, Susannah thought happily. Stay here with Edward in the dark woods. Live in the wild together, just the two of us, away from the village, away from everyone.
    She pressed her cheek against his, surprised that his face was as hot as hers.
    A sudden noise made her cry out and pull away.
    Voices!
    â€œEdward—someone else is here!” she cried, raising her hands to her cheeks in horror. “We’re caught!”

Chapter 3

    Edward’s dark eyes grew wide with fear. He grasped Susannah’s hand tightly.
    They listened, frozen together in the dark woods as if they’d been turned to stone.
    The voices rose, carried by the wind.
    Chanting voices.
    â€œBurn the witch! Burn the witch! Burn the witch!”
    â€œOhhh!” Susannah gasped.
    The chanting voices weren’t coming from nearby. The wind was carrying the sound from the commons.
    â€œThere is no one here,” Edward said, smiling with relief.
    â€œPoor Abigail Hopping,” Susannah whispered.
    â€œIf she is a witch, she must face the fire,” Edward replied, still holding Susannah’s hand.

    Susannah rested her head against his shoulder. “We should get back. I went out for firewood. I should have been home. My mother will think the Evil One has taken me.”
    â€œYou go first,” he told her. “I will wait here a while before I return.”
    â€œAre you going to tell your father … about us?” Susannah asked eagerly.
    â€œYes,” Edward told her. “When the time is right.”
    She leaned forward and kissed him again. She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to go back to her tiny, dark house. She didn’t want to return to all the anger and fear of the village.
    Edward gave her a gentle