Miss Windsor had by now completely mastered the art of conversation with Jenkins. He would never compromise for his own gain or loss, but he might for the sake of others—especially those he held dear. Miss Windsor wasn't entirely sure how she'd co to this sudden realization, but she suspected the other Windsor was helping her. After all, that one had been a queen for a ti.
"Yes... alright. You're right. I shouldn't just keep piling all the responsibility and burdens on you. But..."
"Oh, Jenkins, forget those damned 'buts.' I know what you're thinking. Now, answer this: am I not beautiful?"
"No, you're very beautiful."
"So, you hate ?"
"How could I?"
"So, you're only rejecting because you're bound by your engagents?"
She posed the question skillfully, deliberately avoiding asking if he liked her. It spared them both the awkwardness, but it also stripped Jenkins of his only way to put an end to this.
"..."
He couldn't admit it. To do so would be to confess that, in his heart, he was willing to cross that line with Miss Windsor, held back only by the constraints of his betrothals. But Jenkins couldn't do that. He had already hurt enough people.
"I truly don't understand," Queen Windsor chid in. "You pledged to marry four different won, and yet here you are, talking to about fidelity..."
The other Windsor blinked. This was sothing she genuinely hadn't foreseen; no one had ntioned it to her monts ago.
"I don't want to be crude, but do you honestly think you're in the right?"
Miss Windsor gave Jenkins no opportunity to respond, stating her intentions plainly:
"Agree to her request. Take her away from here. When we get back to our reality, I'll speak to your other... ladies. I'll tell them about us, and I'll make it perfectly clear that I want you."
Even after steeling her resolve and mustering her courage, a faint blush still crept up her cheeks. Yet, aside from Jenkins, the other two won were deeply impressed with Miss Windsor. They were well aware that she was interfering in soone else's relationships, that it was immoral. But Jenkins himself was hardly a paragon of virtue when it ca to his own betrothals. When they weighed her actions against his, Jenkins seed far more in the wrong. Consequently, they felt mostly admiration and praise for Miss Windsor; any sense of disapproval was faint at best.
"I've already gone this far. Are you really going to shrink away again?"
She asked one last ti. Jenkins t her gaze, and in her eyes, he read a clear intention. If he backed away now, he feared sothing terrible would happen.
But he wouldn't back down this ti. Just as she'd said, if Miss Windsor was willing to go to such lengths, Jenkins knew he would despise himself if he retreated again.
Before answering, he asked himself a few questions:
"Do I like Miss Windsor?"
"Yes. I admire a woman like her. She's beautiful, remarkably strong-willed, full of life and optimism... She could even be a great help to professionally."
"Then why not agree to her and Queen Windsor's request?"
"Because it conflicts with the promises I've made to others."
"But now Windsor herself has promised to handle it. Do you have any other excuses?"
"But if I agree, I'll beco a despicable man—soone I myself would scorn."
"Is that all?"
"There's also the guilt I'd feel toward the others."
"Have you asked them what they think?"
"Is that even a question? What woman wouldn't be furious if her husband took up with soone new?"
"But this is different. Her reasoning is sound: for the sake of what's to co, she has to be by your side."
"..."
"I..."
He finally spoke. Whatever he did now would be wrong. The only question was who he would wrong: the won waiting for him, or Miss Windsor.
"I'll talk to them about this when we get back. You're right... you need a reason to be by my side."
He conceded.
"Is that all?"
Miss Windsor refused to yield.
"Alright. As for you... you're a very charming woman."
At Jenkins's sowhat awkward admission, a captivating smile finally blossod on Miss Windsor's face.
"Of course," he continued, "I don't want you to stay by my side just because you want to help ."
He went on, trying to make her understand the gravity of what she was doing.
"Of course not. I know exactly what I want, and I know exactly why I'm helping you. I'm well aware that I'm despicably ddling in your relationships. I know that. But I also know that I truly like you. Of that, I'm certain."
Reviews
All reviews (0)