Eve had hoped that her words would be enough to shrug Mr. Humphrey away from her and would send him on his way, but it seed like he was too intent on walking her back ho.
“I think Miss Barlow is right, Mr. Humphrey,” stated Mr. Sullivan, the polite smile still etched on his lips, “She and I have matters to discuss, and it would take ti. I don’t think it would be right to have a respectful gentleman like yourself following us. If it makes you feel better, I will make sure to see that the lady is safely seen at her house.”
Before Mr. Humphrey could say sothing more, Mr. Sullivan offered a slight bow, and both he and Eve started to walk away from there.
Eve didn’t turn back to look at Mr. Humphrey, and while looking ahead, she said, “Thank you for that, Mr. Sullivan.”
“You are welco. Though I do not bla him, you are a lovely woman and anyone would enjoy your company,” Noah complinted Eve, and her cheeks turned slightly red out of bashfulness.
It was because Eve was aware that Noah Sullivan wasn’t soone who handed out complints, especially won, as they hoped to catch his attention one day. He was a gentleman compared to most of the n she had t until now.
Eve waved her hand, which held the umbrella, “You are being generous, Mr. Sullivan.”
“I am not,” replied Noah, looking at her. The soft smile on his lips didn’t leave, and Eve cleared her throat before asking him,
“The head guard addressed you as Duke. Did your father pass down the title for you to take over the position?”
“He did,” Mr. Sullivan nodded, and Eve, who was walking, stopped and offered a deep bow.
“Congratulations on taking the position as Woodlock’s Duke, Mr. Sullivan,” Eve wished him.
“Thank you, Miss Barlow. I can only hope to uphold and do justice to the title,” replied Noah as they walked.
“Is it any different? From being a normal person to becoming a Duke?” Eve asked in curiosity.
Noah held a thoughtful expression on his face for a second before he shook his head. “I don’t think I noticed any difference apart from the duties that co from being a Duke. But I am guessing that I will be frequenting to adow to discuss things with the magistrate.”
That ant she would be able to see the man more, thought Eve to herself, and she smiled with that thought.
“How was your job interview today?” Noah inquired, noticing her carrying a box tied in a cloth and her umbrella.
Eve bead at his question like an excited child. She said, “I finally got the job.”
“That is wonderful. Congratulations, Miss Barlow. It is well deserved,” Mr. Sullivan looked pleased. “It is good to know that your hard work has finally bore fruits. God bless the family who decided to hire you as a governess. It must be a kind family.”
Eve smiled, unsure if the word kind was suitable to be used for the family, but rembering the little girl, she nodded in agreent. She replied,
“Yes, the little girl to whom I am acting governess to, she is a well behaved child and doesn’t trouble .”
“I am happy for you. This is sothing you have been looking forward to for more than five years, is it?” Asked Noah, and Eve nodded.
“I am too,” replied Eve, and as she said this, her stomach growled. It was loud enough for the man walking next to her to hear it, and a chuckle escaped from his lips. “My apologies,” she awkwardly smiled.
“Please, don’t be. It seems like you have been too imrsed with your new job and forgot to have your al?”
Already known to be clumsy, Eve decided only to smile and decided not to explain the mishap that was caused in the Moriarty mansion.
Noah then offered her, “How about I treat you to the inn’s food today? It was unfortunate that I wasn’t able to invite you to the celebration of becoming a Duke. As friends, we should celebrate that you are officially a governess and I am a Duke.”
“Friends?” she hadn’t ant to blurt it out.
Noah smiled at her, “I am sure that a Duke and a governess can be friends.”
“We can,” replied Eve in slight awe.
Though Eve and Noah spoke to each other, there had been no label between them until now. Hearing they were friends brought a smile to her lips.
And as delightful as Noah’s offer sounded, Eve wasn’t sure if it would be proper for her to accept it. After all, they were both unmarried. But at the sa ti, no woman in her right mind would refuse a al with the handso and kind man.
“You do not have to worry about the inn. It will be the one which is popular and not in a dark corner,” said Noah, already considering her feelings and his words made her smile.
“Forgive , Mr. Sullivan. I would, but my aunt might worry if I don’t return ho on said ti,” replied Eve, hoping Mr. Sullivan wouldn’t take offense to her refusal. “But, maybe so other ti?”
“How about lunch on Sunday? You can extend my invitation to Lady Aubrey. And Eugene, was it?” Noah made sure he got the man’s na right, and Eve nodded. “Let us have lunch together, this way there is no need for your aunt to worry,” he assured her.
A smile spread on Eve’s lips, and she nodded, “They would be delighted to join you for lunch. Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Sullivan.”
As they continued to walk, silence ca to fall between them. The chatter of people, the sound of the carriage wheels, and the clopping of the horses’ hooves surrounded them.
As they neared her ho, Mr. Sullivan said, “You are brave to have spoken to a head guard like that today. Did the scene that took place make you uncomfortable?”
Eve slightly pursed her lips and nodded, “It did. I do not understand how people can treat each other like this. Do people’s lives not matter?”
Noah’s face looked as if there was a faint smile, and at the sa ti, it wasn’t. He replied, “Every life matters. But the world we live in, it runs differently. There is more bad than there is good. It is why we need to preserve the little light that still exists. What we can do is watch our backs and the ones we care about, without getting into light.”
“Like getting into trouble with the head guard,” Eve murmured to herself, and her eyes t Noah’s black eyes.
It was just that she knew if one day she would be dragged into the cage, she would want soone to stand up for her and stop the guards.
“You have a kind heart, Miss Barlow,” remarked Noah, and they stopped near the front of her house gate. He looked straight into her eyes and said, “But you should know that coming under the radar of authorities’ eyes will get you into trouble.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)