“Congratulations,” Simon said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness as he forced himself to focus on Tobias and Emma. “You’ve made the right choice.”
Tobias looked up at Simon, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Simon. For everything. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do this without you.”
Simon nodded, though the words felt hollow in his throat. He had given Tobias the courage to confess his love, but in doing so, he had lost his own chance at happiness.
Emma smiled at Simon, her eyes still glistening with tears. “We’re going to be a family, Your Grace. A real family. And we have you and the duchess to thank for that.”
Simon forced a smile, but his heart wasn’t in it. “You’re going to be a wonderful family,” he said quietly. “Catherine is lucky to have both of you.”
Tobias and Emma exchanged a glance.
Once again, as Simon watched them, his chest tightened with the realization that he had never allowed himself to have what theyhad — to feel the kind of love that could heal even the deepest wounds.
“I shall get you back home,” Tobias said to Emma. They were chatting with each other, and then disappeared down the hallway, their voices fading into the distance. The house was quiet now, the only sound being the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
With a heavy heart, Simon turned and walked back towards his own room, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him. He knew what he had to do — knew that he had to fulfill the promise he had made to Harriet. But the thought of what that meant, of the future he had resigned himself to, filled him with a deep sadness.
As he reached his door, Simon paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He could feel the pull of his emotions, the longing to be with Harriet, to tell her that he didn’t want to leave her, that he couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone. But the fear, the doubt, the memories of his father’s failures, held him back.
With a heavy sigh, Simon pushed open the door and stepped inside. The room was dark, the only light coming from the moonlight streaming through the window. Simon walked to the window and stared out at the garden below, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been — of the life he might have had if he had been brave enough to reach for it.
But as the minutes ticked by, Simon felt the resolve harden within him. He couldn’t risk it — couldn’t risk becoming like hisfather, couldn’t risk hurting Harriet in the way his father had hurt his mother.It was better to be lonely than to break her heart.
CHAPTER 30
Harriet stood outside Simon’s room, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been preparing for this moment all evening, trying to steel herself for what she knew she had to do. But now, standing before the door, her resolve wavered.
You can do this.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had made up her mind; this was the only way forward. It was what they had agreed upon, after all. Simon had made her an offer, one that would give her the child she longed for — a child she could raise, even if she would be raising it alone. But now, with her hand on the door, she felt a creeping doubt.
“Just get it over with,” she whispered to herself, trying to summon the courage to push open the door.
The door creaked open, and Harriet stepped inside. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a single candle on the bedside table. Simon was standing by the window, his back to her, gazing out into the night.
He didn’t turn around when she entered, but she knew he had been expecting her.
Of course he was.
Harriet closed the door behind her, the soft click sounding unusually loud in the quiet room.
She took a few hesitant steps forward, her heart in her throat. The atmosphere was thick with tension, an awkwardness that neither of them knew how to dispel.
Simon finally turned to face her, “Harriet,” he said quietly, his voice low and even. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
His words were meant to reassure her, but they only made her heart race faster.
“I know,” she replied, “But we agreed…”
Harriet could not go back on her words now. Neither could he.
Simon nodded, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt.
“We don’t have to rush into this,” he said softly, taking a step closer to her. “We can take our time.”
Harriet shook her head, her throat tightening with emotion.
“No,” she whispered, “I want to do this. I just…”
