No Time for Regret
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine. I’m just borrowing them for a little while and will return them when I am finished.
Author’s Notes- This is my entry for Day 3 of my January writing challenge: “I still don’t know if this is a love story or a tragedy.” This was the one prompt I had a specific character in mind for because that line was meant for Eleanor, my TRR MC. This is part of the “Path Least Expected” series, it takes place immediately after “One Story Ends, Another Begins”.
Pairing- Slight Eleanor/Dante (MC/Other) and Liam/MC
Rating- PG
Summary- Eleanor tells the Beaumont brothers that she’s going to London with Dante.
Words- 1409
Eleanor knocked on the door of the suite the Beaumont brothers were sharing.
Maxwell opened it immediately and motioned for her to come inside. “Hey Eleanor, what did you need to talk to us about?”
“Yes, what was so important that it couldn’t wait until we were back in Cordonia,” Bertrand asked imperiously.
Eleanor took a deep breath, knowing it was better just to get it over with. “I’m not going back to Cordonia.”
The brothers exchanged a look.
“What do you mean?” Maxwell asked, “of course you are, that’s where the tour is going next and there’s still, there’s still two weeks before the wedding. We still have a chance of clearing your name and then you and Liam can be together.”
Bertrand was surprisingly quiet. Eleanor met his gaze and saw that, unlike Maxwell, he’d already accepted how the story was going to end.
“Liam and I… We’re not going to have a happy ending,” she tells Maxwell gently, “you told me that you would be with me to the bitter end, but I don’t want to stick around until then. I want to write my own ending.”
She took the cheque out of her pocket and handed it to Bertrand. “I know that my leaving leaves House Beaumont in a tough situation, but this should help.”
She still felt a little weird taking Dante’s money, but he’d managed to convince her that it was something he wanted to do and he could easily afford it.
Both brothers stared at the cheque.
“Eleanor, where did you get this kind of money?” Maxwell asked, fixated on the amount.
“I’m guessing from the person who wrote the cheque,” Bertrand said dryly, “but why is Dante Nevrakis writing me a cheque for a very large sum of money?”
“Dante?” Maxwell repeated in obvious confusion. “What does he have to do with anything?”
“I’m not going back to New York,” Eleanor said softly, “I’m going to London. With Dante.”
Both brothers were quiet as the processed what she was saying.
“So you and he…?” Maxwell asked finally.
Eleanor shook her head. “No. Well, yes, but not in the way you’re asking, our relationship’s between platonic up until now.”
Or at least mostly, Eleanor acknowledged to herself that something had been building between her and Dante since the moment they’d met, they just hadn’t acted on it until now. “But yes, I am leaving with him and I do plan on seeing where our relationship goes.”
“What about Liam?” Maxwell asked her quietly. “You two were…”
“We were,” Eleanor agreed, “But… It wasn’t meant to be. Honestly, I still don’t know if this is a love story or a tragedy; if it’s possible to salvage a happy ending out of this. But I do know that if it is possible, it won’t be with Liam. That door has closed.”
It hurt to say it out loud, but it was the truth.
“I already told Liam I’m leaving,” Eleanor added, though she refrained from adding any of the details.
“We’ll miss you,” Maxwell said after a moment and she could see the disappointment on his face, “but we want you to be happy, Eleanor.”
Bertrand was still contemplating the cheque in his hand. “Lady Eleanor,” he said finally, “I know that I’ve made it very clear how much our house had riding on you becoming queen and I might have stressed how dire our situation is, but… It is not your responsibility to fix our finances and you don’t have to make a decision about your future based on our welfare.”
“I’m not going with Dante because of the cheque,” Eleanor assured him, touched by Bertrand’s obvious concern, “and the cheque isn’t a trade-off, Dante offered it even if I went back to New York or continued on to Cordonia. He wanted me to be able to make my own choice about my future without any guilt or obligation.” Dante had made that very clear when they’d talked and when she’d expressed doubt about accepting the cheque. “He also offers it as a thank you for House Beaumount standing by my side and doing your best to help me clear my name.”
Bertrand raised an eyebrow at that last part, but he didn’t comment. “My pride says I should refuse the cheque,” he admitted instead, “but I believe our situation is past the point where I can listen to my pride. Tell Dante that we appreciate it, as for you Lady Eleanor, I hope you know that you will always be a member of House Beaumont.”
Eleanor felt tears prick the corner of her eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly, “that means a lot to me.”
Bertrand nodded stiffy. “Yes, well, if you’ll excuse me, I have affairs to settle. Lady Eleanor, I hope you have a safe journey.” With that Bertrand turned and exited the suite, leaving Eleanor and Maxwell alone.
“So you’re really leaving?” He asked quietly.
“I am,” Eleanor confirmed, biting her lip. This was going to be the hardest part, saying goodbye to her friends. Well, the hardest part, after telling Liam, but she’d already gotten through that, somehow. “We can stay in touch though.”
“Of course,” Maxwell assured her, “you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Good,” Eleanor said, moving to hug him. “I really will miss you, Maxwell.”
“I’ll miss you too,” he told her, holding her close. He pulled back and looked at her carefully. “Be happy, ok? You deserve it.”
“I’ll try,” she promised. Eleanor sighed, “this really is for the best, Maxwell. I… I already feel lighter, like a weight has been lifted off my chest. As much as I love Liam, I’m not cut out for this life. I thought I was, but the last months, the things I’ve learned… It’s all weighed on me.”
“I know,” Maxwell admitted, “I could see it, I just… I guess I kept hoping it would all work out and that there would be a happy ending for everyone.” He paused and looked at her carefully. “Do you really think you can find a happy ending with Dante?”
“I do,” Eleanor admitted, “I mean, I don’t know for sure, but I feel drawn to him and I want to see what there can be between us. In a lot of ways, I feel the way I did that day in New York when you asked me to come to Cordonia. Before I fell in love with Liam, when I just knew I was drawn to him and that I needed to see what this thing between us was.”
“That didn’t work out so well for you,” Maxwell pointed out.
Eleanor shook her head, “I don’t regret coming to Cordonia, Maxwell. I made amazing friends and even if we aren’t meant to have a happy ending, I don’t regret loving Liam.”
Whatever happened next, whether her future was with Dante or not, Eleanor knew that she’d always have a special place in her heart for Liam and that a part of her would always love the Cordonian King. But loving someone wasn’t always enough.
“I’m so grateful that you offered me this chance,” Eleanor told him sincerely, “I hope you know that.”
Maxwell just nodded, “I still wish it had worked out differently.”
Eleanor didn’t echo his thoughts, because the time for wishing was passed, instead, she leaned in and hugged him. “Take care of Liam,” she bade instead, “he’s going to need his friends.”
“I will,” Maxwell promised, “and you take care of yourself, ok?”
“I always do,” Eleanor said and then she turned towards the door. “I’ve got to go find Drake and Hana and say goodbye and then I have a flight to catch.”
She also wanted to say goodbye to Penelope and to Olivia, though she was sure that Dante’s cousin already knew that she’d be leaving.
Maxwell nodded. “Goodbye, Eleanor.”
“Goodbye Maxwell,” Eleanor said before she reached for the door and stepped into the hallway.
She let the door close behind her, taking a moment to note the symbolism because she was closing the door on one of the most important chapters of her life.
Her Cordonian adventure had not turned out the way she’d expected, but as she told Maxwell, she didn’t regret it. After all, she still believed that everything happened for a reason, and maybe her destiny wasn’t to meet and fall in love with Liam, but whatever happened next.
- End
