She looked down at the water swirling her skirts about her legs, as if she had not noticed it before, and went rigidly still. She made an abortive movement as if to flee, but Tristan would have fallen; she remained where she was.
“Is it truly the water you fear, or only drowning in it?” Tristan said softly. I could hardly hear him over the wind and waves. “I do not aim to be cruel—I will let you go if you wish. But I swear,
Genevieve, I will let no harm come to you if you stay. I have seen how you watch the sea. I believe you loved it once. Will you stay, and discover if you love it still?”
She looked at him a long moment, dark eyes huge in her delicate face, then nodded.
They walked deeper into the water. I could hardly tell who supported whom, Genevieve trembled so, but she did not a
