24. the goodbye

Simone sashayed into the breakfast room with a bright smile.

"Is it Christmas?" Gale asked, staring her up and down.

"Why?" she asked, looking down at her dress. It was white with lace ruffles around the neckline. Her hair was tied in a blue lace ribbon, the tail reaching the middle of her back.

"Which present box did you climb out of?" Price asked, his food halfway to his mouth.

"I like the ribbon, Sisi," Roxie said, reaching for the ribbon as Simone settled beside her.

"Beautiful as always, darling," the earl said.

"But you look a little too dressed up, don't you think?" Damon asked with a frown.

"Is it for your suitors?" Freda asked. "Has someone finally grabbed your interest?"

Everyone was looking at her, including Daniel. Perhaps she had overdone it, she thought. But then, this was not the first time. She had done this many times before whenever she finished a dress. "I just think it's a very beautiful day."

"But it's still raining," said Gale.

She rolled her eyes. "I like the rain."

"Since when?" Harry asked.

"Since I woke up and heard the pitter-patter in my windows! Now, please, spare me. My ribbons feel insulted."

"Give them no mind," Lydia said, forking her eggs. "What do you plan to do today? We're finally being discharged from prison."

Simone stole Daniel a look, and he, in turn, smiled and bent his head and pretended to continue eating.

"Lydia is going to Viscount Rothsport."

"Was it today?" Simone asked Lydia. "Do you need help with your painting articles?"

"Emmeline will be enough, but you can come with us," Lydia said.

"We'll come," said Gale. "It's about time we call on Quincy."

"Can we borrow a carriage?" Price asked Harry.

The eldest Stratford just nodded, wiping the corner of his mouth. "Be careful, the lot of you," he said. "No more accidents." To Roxie and Freda, he said, "And no trip to the deck until the roof is dry."

"We're going to call on Dorothy," Roxie said. "Can we take Mr. Mewl with us?"

"No," Damon retorted. "The cow stays."

"What about you, Your Grace?" asked Price. "Plans?"

Simone stared at Daniel. He smiled at Price and said, "I'm planning to borrow Harry's study to pen missives to some correspondence."

"Remind me to give you the papers to take to Web."

Simone frowned. "Take to Web?" she asked, confused.

"If you were not so busy tying ribbons on your hair, you would have been here just in time to hear the duke's announcement."

"What announcement?" she asked, looking at Daniel.

"Emmeline and I have decided to cut our vacation short. I have urgent matters to attend to in Coulway."

"Too soon?" she asked before she could stop herself. She turned to Emmeline, adding, "But I was just starting to spend more time with you."

"I'm certain we'll have more in the future," Emmeline said. "We're not leaving today, of course."

"When?" she asked, seeing Daniel look at her from the corner of her eyes.

"In three days," replied the earl. "Took you quite a bit of time to figure out you can't marry my grandson," he added to Emmeline.

"Grandpapa..." Harry gently said as he stood, tone laced with warning. "We gave your suggestion a try. Emmeline and I have decided we're best matched as friends."

Emmeline's laughter rang in the room when the earl grumbled under his breath. Simone, on the other hand, was still in shock. She knew he would eventually go, but she did not expect it to be too soon!

***

It was Sunday again, and everyone was in their best behavior. Geneva Withers was still in attendance, the incident a couple of Sundays ago seemingly forgotten. Roxie's head was lolling and Gale was nonchalantly holding her by the sleeves so she did not fall forward. Freda was staring absently at something on the altar. Lydia and Emmeline whispered to each other while Price sat with Damon by the only open doorway at the back, obliged to make certain that no one would make any attempt to escape. Harry sat with the earl in front, supporting the sleeping old man.

Simone was beside Lydia and beside her the duke. They had not had any chance to be alone, partly because Simone was hesitant to risk it. Daniel, however, seemed baffled why.

"It's the wager," she murmured under her breath when he asked.

"Are you serious?" he asked. "About the wager?"

"Of course. Now, let's not talk about it. We're in the house of the God."

"Then you mean you'll refuse to be alone with me until the two months is over?"

"Yes. You're leaving on the morrow for Coulway, cutting your vacation short of two weeks." She grinned, staring at the altar. "And once you leave, it's a sure win." When he made no comment, she rolled her eyes to the side. "You're staying in Coulway for more than a fortnight, yes?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll send you your winnings once we win."

The vicar spoke louder, eyes on the Stratfords, and Simone shut her mouth and tried to listen to his words until they floated without sense in her mind. Staring at Roxie's lolling head made her sleepy as well.

"Sisi," Daniel murmured beside her.

"Yes?"

"Are you not planning to say goodbye to me?"

"Of course," she said. "I already penned a letter."

This time, he moved, his head snapping down at her. "A letter?" he whispered in disbelief.

She nodded. "Stop staring. Price is at the back. Let's not give him ideas, please."

"I'm starting to think we should." His voice sounded like a growl.

"You would dare not. I want to win this wager."

He shook his head and faced the altar. After a while, he whispered, "Meet me in the woods."

"What?"

"The same cabin," he said.

"Which one?"

He surreptitiously shifted his hands over his lap so his little finger brushed against hers. "You know which one."

She swallowed and cleared her throat. "I might be busy after this."

"Once the after-dinner tea," he added, ignoring her statement.

She bit her lower lip. "I have to catch up on some sewing."

"Sisi..." he said with warning.

Letting out a dramatic sigh, she pulled her hand away from his touch. "You can wait, of course, but I can't promise anything."

She let her eyes wander to the opposite pew and caught Mr. Skelton's gaze. "Oh, look, there's dear Mr. Skelton," she said with a small wave of her hand. The man merely nodded with a small smile before looking away. When she stole a look at Daniel, a throaty chuckle escaped her. When she realized what she had done, she covered her mouth with her gloved hand and pretended to cough.

"Are you all right, Sisi?" Lydia asked.

She nodded, stealing Daniel another look as she bent over to let out a few soft coughs. He shook his head and sighed, staring at the vicar. By the time the mass was over, Simone was uncertain if he took her seriously. If so, would he still wait for her in the cabin? Mayhap she should have not toyed with him.

***

When Daniel went to the cabin, he was sure Simone would follow, but as the crickets and the soft rustling of the trees continued to dominate, he began to question his own instincts. Perhaps she was not jesting earlier.

He started pacing back and forth on the deck of the cabin, hands in his pockets, thoughts wandering to what he would be facing once he reached Coulway. He feared that he may get cold feet again, like many times in the past, and go back to Dafield without achieving anything.

"You look mad," Simone's voice said from below the deck.

He turned and smiled. Her light yellow dress was almost white under the moonlight, her hair swept to the side, tied with a blue ribbon. "Quite," he said, walking over to the landing of the deck to meet her, watching her steps, ready to make a rescue if she stumbled. "I was beginning to think you were serious."

"I may not enjoy Sunday service as much as Geneva Withers, but I try my best not to lie inside a church."

He chuckled, taking her hand and leading her toward the end of the balcony. It was not wise to enter the cabin, he thought, as he leaned back against the railing, elbows supporting his weight. She was facing the trees, arms on the railing, moonlight painted on her face.

He turned his head to the side to look at her.

"What are you smiling about, Your Grace?" she asked, stealing a look.

"I just realized you're two years older than my age when I met you."

She frowned. "And?"

"And you're the same age I was when I started to realize you meant more than just a friend."

Her face was flushed, but she turned her head to look at him anyway. Her round brown eyes blinked at him in disbelief. "You never told me."

He shrugged. "I did not think it was the right time."

"Why?"

"You just debuted."

"So you thought it was fine that I take my first kiss from someone else?"

He laughed. "I never thought of that, but I wanted you to relish your youth."

A dramatic sigh escaped her. "And look where I am now. Almost a spinster."

Daniel leaned to the side and bent to plant a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "What happened to being a duchess?"

He felt her smile against his lips. "Don't think I've been waiting for you, Your Grace," she said, leaning away to sternly look at him. "I have been busy relishing my youth that I forgot time was moving."

His laughter echoed around them and he straightened. "Did you bring the letter you wrote me?"

"I'll give it to you upon your departure." A serious look transformed on her face as she looked at him. "Are you scared?"

His lips curled in a sad smile. "I've always been scared."

He understood now why he wrote to her many years ago and why he felt devastated when he stopped. Talking to her now, hearing her honest thoughts and questions, felt liberating. It made him believe he could live his dreams because she was the one person who was genuinely happy to witness him live it. And her own stories gave him more dreams—of wanting to be a part of her wonderful world here in Abberton, to belong to her family. Her openness and innocence were refreshing, even today. He thought, even always.

"You don't look scared."

The smile on his lips stretched wider. "I'm not as scared as I was before I came here."

Her eyes narrowed, and she nudged him with her shoulder. "Why? Because of me?"

Instead of saying yes, he bent again and, this time, his kiss gave her the answer. "Will you wait for me?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, facing the moonlit view. "With my suitors. And Mr. Skelton."

"I am not the jealous kind," he told her, turning around to also share the view, elbows on the railings, one hand reaching for hers.

"Of course, you're not. You're a duke. You're too high to be intimidated by the lower class."

He rolled his eyes to the side. She was teasing him again. He sighed. "You can do whatever you wish while I'm away."

"Thank you."

"And while you do so, please be careful. No accidents."

"Fret not, Mr. Skelton shall attend to my injuries."

He tightened his hand around hers. "Of course."

She chuckled. "Write to me."

He smiled, feeling oddly excited to have something to look forward to while he was away.

An hour later, they walked back to the manor, hand in hand under the moonlight. But before they entered the courtyard, they could hear Leroy asking someone if they had seen Simone.

"Someday, I'll have a word with that man," Daniel said under his breath.

Simone laughed and pulled away from his hold. She walked backward, cheeks puffing at her wide smile. "Good night, Your Grace."

Before he could offer a reply, she turned and entered the courtyard.

"Miss Sisi! Where have you been? Were you alone?" he heard Leroy ask as he sighed and leaned against the wall to wait. Hands in his pockets, his head dropped and he started to silently chuckle as Simone told Leroy she was out in the woods making traps.

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