Not gonna lie, Anon. I love this idea, because I cannot imagine that Eleanor, having lived through the Spanish invasion and lost everyone she loved except Max and James, would be even a little willing to let him disappear never to be heard from again. I’m imagining her staying behind at the Maroons’ island, hearing that James has “retired”, and knowing immediately that something is very, very wrong. And we all know how Eleanor Guthrie reacts when she’s angry and scared.