"Maybe you should take the day off, Immy," Louis said for the third time in the last hour. "Rest a while. You've been working yourself to the bone."

This time, I didn't stifle my annoyance and dropped the dry fruits I was arranging on the shelves. "Tch. Do I look useless or weak to you too?"

"Too? Did someone offend you before now?" Louis asked, concern swimming in his eyes. I blinked back angry tears. It had done nothing but give me headaches in the past few days.

I didn't reply and just glared at him before walking away. Louis frowned and tried to speak again. Sarah materialised and covered his mouth with her hand.

"Louis, let the young lady breathe. Go chop some wood for the fireplace or feed the cow," Sarah said.

"We don't have a cow," Louis muttered behind the cloth pressing into his mouth.

"You can find one. Just go." As her husband walked away hesitantly, she stared after him with so much affection that I began to feel jealous.

Maybe I was doomed to be lonely in this life just as I was in my past life. It seemed that I was suffering from some great sin to be so unsuccessful with all my male interactions right from elementary school when my crush pushed me into the sand pit after I tried to give him my juice. If I had known that was only the beginning of a loveless streak, I would have locked my heart a long time ago and thrown away the key, at least before I felt so strongly about anyone more than I've felt in my life.

Just thinking of Lincoln that night on the stairs made my heart clench. With shaky hands, I resumed my duty of arranging fruits on shelves, waiting for Sarah to say her bit and be on with her business.

Eventually, Sarah shook her head, softly chuckling. "Men. They never understand anything."

"I can't understand them either," I said before I could stop myself.

Sarah's eyes widened. It was expected since I hadn't told anyone a trace of anything that had happened. Only Bella knew and she was sworn to secrecy. If Lincoln didn't seek me out, I was not going to do anything.

My eyes darted to one of Louis' pocket watches I had borrowed that morning. It was fifteen minutes to the time I usually meet Lincoln every Friday.

"Are you going to Mr. Castilla today? You haven't seen each other in a while," Sarah said. I could see on her face that she was piecing everything together.

I pursed my lips, staring at the watch in thought. This was a way to cement the end of our relationship. If he came, it meant that he wanted to talk things out and we could make up at least. If he didn't...

My hand tightened around the watch. I needed to know. "I have to go."

Sarah brightened up immediately. "Of course. You've already finished most of the work here."

I gave her a tight-lipped smile and left the store. The ten-minute walk to the newspaper stand felt like one of the longest in my life. I didn't even know if I was ready to see him again. Even if I did, what would I say to him?

I felt like pulling my hair out. When did Lincoln and I run out of things to say?

The newspaper stand soon came into sight. If he was coming, he would be there. Lincoln was never late on Fridays. It wasn't a coincidence that the Friday after we had a fall-out, he was late. He didn't want to see me.

I loosened my hair from its ponytail. I stumbled to the side of one of the buildings on the street, holding my head in a bid to reduce the loud, ringing sound inside. I didn't have the strength to cry or scream but somehow, my knees held me up and I started to walk.

When I became conscious of my environment, I saw that I was at the place where Lincoln and I first met. I bent and touched the slab of stone that still stood in the middle of the road that had caused Lincoln and I to share our first kiss. 

Had it brought more than one unsuspecting couple together?

Then I moved to the stone wall where we had both hidden while bickering in the middle of a gunfight. I let out a small pitiful laugh. How had we gone from slight dislike to mutual decency to actual friendship to unrequited love and finally to strangers? If Lincoln saw me on the road, would he walk past me like he didn't know me?

"Miss Danbury, I see you're reminiscing on the day you met me. I don't recall it being a pleasant memory but to each their own," a voice said behind me.

"I would be most glad if we postpone our infuriating conversations to another day. I'm not in the best of moods."

"What exactly would bother you to the point of giving up a chance to insult me?"

The disbelief in his voice irked me more than I'd like to admit. "Contrary to what you may believe, my life does not revolve around you, my lord. Please leave me to my thoughts and return to whatever illegal business you were handling." I could hear his footsteps come closer to me. "That I'm upset doesn't mean I won't injure you if you touch me."

Wisely, Baines stopped a few feet away from me. "Miss Danbury, your conduct displeases me. Here." I felt something hit my back. "Take care of yourself. You need to be in optimum health as a duke's wife."

Heated fury coursed through my body as I watched the wad of bills roll on the ground. I looked up at Baines, never hating him more than I did in that moment. 

"What is this for?" I asked, surprisingly calm.

He gave me an arrogant smirk. "Just a token of my affection. Something I'm sure that whoever your lover is cannot provide for you."

The fact that he was right didn't reduce my anger. It did the opposite. "Do I look like a prostitute? An object? Someone who can be bought?"

"Of course not. If you were, I wouldn't marry you." He leaned closer to me. "Miss Danbury, do not doubt my intentions. They are sincere. I can take care of you more than any man ever can."

It all keeps coming down to a man. My success and status always have to be tied to a man. Angry tears began to fall. I hated that the opportunity that Baines was giving me was the peak of whatever any woman could reach in the nineteenth century. I hated that the logical part of me wanted to take it so that I could be guaranteed a life without suffering. I hated that this man-child knew that what he offered was better than what I would receive anywhere else. Most especially, I hated that the only man I wanted to be tied to was somewhere, probably working and not thinking about me.

My throat began to clog. I pushed past Baines. "Get out of my way."

"Miss Danbury, it's customary to thank you when you receive a gift."

I turned around and gave him a glare that made him flinch. "It's customary not to harass other people but here we are."

I ignored whatever he said after. It didn't matter. At that moment, nothing did and I hated myself for it.

Why did my life look so bleak because a man I wasn't even dating all but rejected me?

Bella had told me that a crush wouldn't hurt that much, that I had fallen in love with her brother without knowing it. However, the l-word had seemed so daunting that I couldn't admit it then or even now to myself and much less, anyone else.

His face flashed behind my eyes again.

Could I be in love?

I knew I had romantic feelings towards Lincoln and hated the thought of any other woman being with him. I also wanted to be by his side or at least, be in contact with him at all times, especially when he's working and has a curious glint in his eyes. His intelligence was his most attractive feature.

Suddenly, my eyes widened. My hands reached up to trace the small smile on my lips. I still smiled at the thought of him despite that I was angry.

Maybe I really loved him.

I trudged back to Louis's mini supermarket, feeling a little lighter.

When I opened the door, I met Sarah pacing in the open space before the counter. As soon as she saw me, she rushed and held my arms. "You're smiling. Are you happy? Did you see him?"

I shook my head. "But coming to terms with my feelings helped."

Sarah leaned in unconsciously. "Your feelings?"

"I love him. Whether he chooses to avoid me or not doesn't change that." I let out a breath with a shaky smile. "There. I said it."

"You have to tell him," Sarah said.

I shook my head quickly. "No way. I don't need that to be thrown in my face."

"But-"

"Immy, you're here. Harry brought a few letters for you over some minutes ago," Louis said, coming out from the backroom.

I looked through the five letters. Only one stood out—the rest were invitations to social gatherings. It was written in familiar handwriting and dated three weeks ago. I began to read it closely.

To Miss Imelda Danbury,

In a previous conversation, you had told me that you have never received a casual letter from a friend so I decided to write you one. Reflecting on my decision, I think this letter is rather pointless and a waste of resources since we see each other often. Unfortunately, I cannot erase the ink and reuse the paper like you told me was possible in your time period.

Today at the office, I stumbled on the article I was supposed to write on the day we met. Due to your interruption and lapse in character, it was never published. It seemed almost sacred to alter. I apologize for being so unpleasant to you on that day. Our conversations have proved that you have a good head on your shoulders and are far more intellectually advanced than your peers. Any man would be honoured to call you his wife.

I do wish that you be careful when selecting a husband. Your demeanour causes men to flock to you and this inevitably causes problems for you. I do not like the hordes of men attracted to you wherever you go. It reduces you to an object available for display to the general populace. I hope that this message isn't interpreted wrongly...

I paused at that paragraph, reading one particular sentence over and over again.

I do not like the hordes of men attracted to you wherever you go.

"That's why he's avoiding me," I whispered.

Sarah who had also been reading the letter, turned with a confused expression. "What? Why?"

"I have to go," I said and left the store for the second time that afternoon.

That idiot. Did he think he wasn't good enough for me? It was probably the other way around.

As I ran to the Castilla house, I crafted the lengthy monologue that I would say to him when I saw him. My feelings were somewhere in that monologue. Sarah was right—I had to tell him.

My heart began to thunder excitedly when I stopped in front of the house.

Here goes nothing.

I went up to the house and knocked on the door. I could hear voices behind the door and then shuffling. After a few seconds, the door clicked open.

Bella's eyes widened and she reached forward to hug me. "I've missed you so much. The idiot keeps asking about your well-being and-"

Just another thing to solidify my thoughts.

I interrupted her. "Where is he?"

"He's upstairs. I have guests though."

I walked past her into the house, heading for the staircase.

"I hope Mr Castilla comes down later," I heard a female voice say. I turned in her direction with a death glare. "Miss Danbury? What a surprise to see you here."

I gave her a smile that was too wide. She shuffled uncomfortably in her seat. I rolled my eyes and turned to her friend. "Will you be here for dinner?"

From my tone, I hoped they could tell I didn't want them here. They shook their heads, looking scared for some reason.

I hummed. "What a shame. It would have been a lovely experience." I turned to Bella. "I'll go upstairs now."

"Sure," Bella said with an amused smile.

I walked up the staircase, glaring at the women as I did. Only when I stopped in front of Lincoln's door did I remember what I came to his house for.

I took a deep breath to calm myself and remember my monologue. Then, I opened the door without knocking.

All the words in my head evaporated. My eyes followed the shape and movement of his exposed back as he dug into his clothing drawer. When he moved to his side, his wet hair let more water droplets drip down his neck and...wow, his arms.

"Bella, I told you that I didn't want to be disturbed," he said. When I didn't respond, he turned around and stilled. Panic flashed in his eyes. "M-Miss Danbury, what are y-"

I shut the door behind me, walked to him, and pushed him. His knees hit the back of his bed and he fell backward. I lifted my gown and climbed over him, my legs on either side of his body. He held my waist to keep me steady.

"Andr...Miss Danbury, this is most-"

"Shut up," I said and kissed him.