Daniel shook his head.
“How dare you,”I hissed.
He sighed. “No. That’s not–” He looked up at her. “I love it, Miss Jocelyn. I do,” he said. “That’s not what’s wrong.”
She glanced between us. “What's wrong then?”
“Lets, uh...Let’s take a walk,” Willoughby said. “I need to be anywhere else.”
Mr. Evergreen and I sat in silence for a while. We left shortly after their departure. Then walked back in silence, too. The moment we arrived at the stables, I couldn’t bear it.
“I’m sorry,” I said, defeated. “Is that what you wish to hear?”
“You’d be better to tell your knight those words, not me,” he returned. “I can’t believe that happened. I can’t believe you said those things. It’s not your business.”
“I… But he loves her,” I said. “Helovesher and he refuses to confess.”
“Why must he?” he asked. “Why must a person confess something if they don’t wish anyone to know?”
I pouted.
He went on. “I don’t understand how you could hurt your friends like that.” He began to desaddle our steeds and put their things away. I watched him stomp across the barn, his steps heavier with every pass.
“I just… I didn’t mean to hurt them,” I said. “I was trying to help. I don’t understand.”
“Understand what? Basic decorum?”
I scoffed. “No. I don’t understand how Ser Willoughby has a chance to declare his love for the one woman he wants, yet he refuses. I mean, even if he had not confided in me, one could ascertain his feelings. Just look at him look at her,” I argued. “It's like a fairytale–they’re written so perfectly for one another. You might as well call it Once Upon a Knight! Howdarehe refuse to display his feelings because he thinks he knows what’s best.”
“Maybe he does,” he replied.
“He doesnot.At least not without allowing her to make her own decision,” I said. “She’s part of this, too.”
Cyrus nodded. “I think you overstepped. No, I know you did. The man trusted you. You exposed his secrets. Josie trusted you. Can you imagine the things she could reveal about you?”
“I didn’tmeanto expose their secrets. I don’t want you to think I’m rotten. I thought I was helping,” I said, wringing my hands. “Willem, theyloveeach other, not just fancy. Love. Why can they not say it and be together and be happy?”
He canted his head. “Does that sound familiar to you?”
“I…” I shook my head. “No.”
“Besides. If she truly is a widow, what’s to say she’s even ready for another marriage? She could still be grieving.”
“She wants to marry him. She loves him!” I said.
“Sometimes, love isn’t all the math,” he said. “Sometimes, circumstances prevent such happily ever afters. Yes?”
“Are you suggesting something?” I asked.
“I…” He hung his head. “No.”
“You are, aren’t you?” I asked. “You don’t think this, us, has a happy ending?”
Cyrus locked his jaw.
“Say it,” I said.
“I…I saw Sameer yesterday,” he confessed. He cast his eyes to the ground. “He’s ended things with Agatha.”
