Lark was not convinced that Justin was satisfied with their conversation. He turned and entered the house, closing the door behind him.
Emma stood in the far corner of the kitchen.
Lark stood by the door. He wanted to give her as much distance as he could. “I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I was afraid you would react like that. At least you know that even though I become that… that thing when I am near you, I have never tried to lay a hand on you. You have always been safe with me.”
“I… I know…,” Emma replied uncomfortably unable to meet Lark’s gaze.
Lark made a decision. “I’m sorry Emma. I really am. I only wanted to be honest with you yesterday. I thought it was only fair that you should know the truth. At least from my side, my conscience is clear. However, if you prefer not to work here anymore, I can take you home. I can only ask that you don’t tell anyone about me.”
Emma hesitated. “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
“Why did you ask for some of my hair?” Emma asked.
Lark sighed. “I become the creature you saw when I am in proximity to any part of you as long as you are alive. In your previous life, it helped me when I lived in the forest. I lived more of my life as the creature I become when I’m with you than I did as a man because I have more power that way. It also helped me to know when you were reborn.”
“What do you mean? How?” Emma asked.
“As long as I held a part of you even after you died, I was able to change into this creature. Then, the day you were born, the hair I kept from your body when you were alive before, simply disintegrated into dust. When I visited your grave, I always changed into this creature but on that day, I did not stay transformed while I was at your grave. I didn’t understand why at first but then I realized it had to be because you had been reborn.
All the years since then I have never been able to change again other than when I found you just after you were born. I have waited all these years until now. I tested it last night. I ended the spell and then left your hair on a hook out by the barn. When I got far enough away, I became myself again. When I get too close, I become the creature that I have been cursed to be. I now know it to be true.
Emma studied him a look of respect and dismay in her eyes. “All these years… you have waited all this time… for me?”
“What could I do?” Lark replied.
“Even with no guarantee that I would love you?” Emma asked.
“No guarantee,” Lark confirmed.
“You have loved me all this time?” Emma asked incredulously. She stepped forward and pulled out a chair and then sat down. She felt weak as the import of what Lark was telling her finally hit home. “How many years have you waited?”
“Forty years give or take,” Lark replied.
“Can you show me where I am buried?” Emma asked.
“What is the point? What would it prove?” Lark asked.
“I am curious,” Emma said.
“There is no point. I am not going to dig up your body for you to see. Even if I did, what would be the point? How would it prove it was you? Besides, it is a journey of more than a day. It is two villages away in the woods. There is no way your father would let you go. Not with or without me.”
“What would you have me do then?” Emma asked.
“Kiss me,” Lark replied calmly, quietly. “One kiss is all it would take. After that, we could be together for the rest of our lives.”
“I… I… don’t know,” Emma said uncertainly.
Lark left the corner in which he stood, circled the table, and knelt before Emma before she could move.
“Yesterday you were ready to kiss me until I stopped you. What has changed?” Lark asked.
“What has changed?” Emma asked astounded. “How can you ask that? You have told me so much I never knew. You have shown yourself to me…”
“But I have not attacked you. I may be a monster hidden by a spell but I have never harmed you and I never will. It is magic that makes me this… this thing. It is only love that can break the curse. One kiss driven by pure, true love and the curse will be broken, Emma. You will never have to worry about any of this ever again. We can be together for the rest of our lives. I will ask your father for your hand in marriage.”
“No…,” Emma interrupted.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Lark asked.
“Father says I am to marry another,” Emma said.
And there it was. Life repeating itself all over again. Lark stood up and shook his head as he crossed to the window. He looked out over the yard.
“What is it?” Emma asked.
“Do you want to marry who your father wants you to?”
Emma hesitated, “No. I do not know him.”
“Then I can ask your father anyway. Surely he can understand that I can give you a good life here,” Lark said waving his arm at the fields outside the house.
” ‘Tis not about that,” Emma replied.
“What is it about then?” Lark asked.
“Never mind,” Emma said.
Lark looked out the window at the fields the disappointment clear on his face.
“What is it?” Emma asked.
“It was the same before. Your father wanted you to marry someone else but you were in love with me and I was in love with you. So, he had me cursed. The curse has tied him to your life forever as long as the curse remains unbroken. Your father now is your father from your previous life. And so it will be forever on into eternity until the curse is broken.”
Emma was quiet as she took in the news.
“I ask just one thing if nothing else. That you kiss me. Just once if you love me, Emma. You wanted to kiss me yesterday. If it is what you want and if you truly have feelings for me, please do so. End this. Marry the man you must marry if your father insists but please give me just one kiss. It will be the greatest gift you could ever give me.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t. This is all so much to take in,” Emma replied looking confused, pressurized, and unhappy.
“Very well then, let me take you home,” Lark said.
“Why?” Emma asked.
“Because you will be in no state to work here Emma. After all, I have told you, you will be looking at me every day and wondering what to do, what could have been, and what was. It will be fair neither to you nor me.”
Lark went to his bedroom and collected enough money to pay Emma. He placed it on the table before her when he returned to her.
“What is this?” Emma asked.
“It is what I owe you for your work and a bit more. You have done well here Emma and I am sorry to see you go but I think it is best if we do not see each other again. I will take you back to town and if you don’t mind please tell your parents that I had to go out of town for a while so have no need of you for the time being. Please tell them I will call on you when I return.”
“Where are you going?” Emma asked.
“Nowhere but I think it is the simplest and most reasonable excuse for you not having to come to the farm to work anymore.”
Emma took the money. “Very well then. Thank you.”
They rode back to town together and Lark met Emma’s mother. He told her had received a message from his brother and had to leave urgently. He would return and let them know when Emma could return to work at the farm again. Emma’s mother accepted the explanation and Emma went inside with her mother.