Rory:

"Give us a kiss!" A worker cried. I felt myself flush red at the eager cheers of my men. Suddenly I felt a gentle hand on the back of my neck and Cecilia's lips pressed gently against my own.

The moment she kissed me the cheering gathering of men disappeared to me, it was just Cecilia and I. I pulled her closer as I wrapped my arm around her waist before she pulled back blushing lightly as she lowered her eyes from mine.

I couldn't stop the smile that spread over my face, the estate had been saved and Cecilia had just kissed me. I wasn't sure, but I knew I had to ask her, I had to know.

"If you'll excuse us," I called out to the men, "You may all have the rest of the day off." There was a round of whooping as the workers whistled and cheered for us again.

My arm remained around Cecilia's waist as we wandered over to where our horses stood tied to a post. I waved my thanks at a few of the workers as they began to go their separate ways, cheering all the while.

We mounted our horse before setting off towards the manor in silence. My mind was churning, should I ask her should I not? Now that it had come down to it I found myself losing confidence.

What if she said we were simply friends? No, hadn't she shown that she must feel something more than just friendship between us? Surely she wouldn't have kissed me if she didn't.

If I didn't know I would surely drive myself crazy wondering, I knew she could not love me as I loved her if at all, but I hoped, I prayed, that she held me in some regard. I craved her and her love like a starved man craves food, I needed to know if I would starve or survive.

I watched her as she rode next to me, a picture of beauty and grace as the wind blew gently through her hair. I opened mouth but found that no words came out, how would I ask her how she felt? I tried again but again I failed to find my voice.

Come on man, pull yourself together. It's a simple question, you just have to ask it. I willed myself to break the silence. Plucking up as much courage as I could muster I spoke.

"Cecilia," I heard the tension in my voice, but it was now or never. "Yes?" she replied, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

"What... What are we?" I asked, hoping she understood what I meant, I didn't know if I would be able to go through with it if she asked me to elaborate. She looked at me her eyes wide before turning her head away from me. A moment later she spoke up but kept her head bowed away from mine.

"We are two people whom, by unfortunate circumstances, were forced to marry each other, that is all." She said, her voice dismissive and cold. I felt an immense stabbing pain in my heart, I had not thought she would say that. Friends perhaps but not just people forced together due to unfortunate circumstances.

I found myself nodding as I gritted my teeth. How had this day managed to turn so sour so quickly? One second we were kissing and laughing but now we were silent as a thick tension filled the air.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I left something in the fields." I lied, bowing my head towards Cecilia before turning my horse around and galloping back the way we had come. I needed to be alone, I needed to think.

**********

Ever since that fateful day Cecilia and I had avoided each other like the plague, we ate at separate times or skipped meals entirely. I regretted ever bringing the stupid thing up. We had been fine before, happy, but now... Everything was going wrong, I couldn't sleep at night, I lost my appetite and I kept myself to my study with the bottles of whisky as my sole companion.

On the rare occasion that Cecilia and I bumped into each other we would barely acknowledge one another and would avert our eyes immediately. I had tried to stop loving her, tried to forget about all the moments we had shared, every touch, every kiss.

I had tried every which way I could think of, but the longer time went on, the more my love for her grew, like some unstoppable force of nature that man could not touch.

I wondered if it would ever stop, would we speak again or would we continue to act like the other didn't exist forever? I knew I couldn't go on for that long without speaking to her. I felt the need to apologise to her, for what I wasn't sure, anything to provide an opportunity to speak to her. But still I held back, afraid of pushing her further and falling harder.

Every time I saw her I wanted nothing more than to grab her and hold her and never let her go. I wanted to sleep with her in my arms again, I wanted to feel her lips against mine, I wanted to run my hands through her hair, I wanted her to smile at me the way she used to. I wanted to love her.

I made my way through the busy streets of the town in the direction of the church. I meandered between the sea of people heading to the weekend market holding my hat to my head. The wind had picked up since I had arrived in the town a few minutes ago and I struggled to keep my top hat from blowing away.

I left the Clampton carriage in an unobtrusive side street not wanting to parade my title and wealth. I told the driver I would not be gone long as I only wanted to pay a short visit before battling my way against the wind and into the town.

I walked to the far side of the town where the small stone church was located, my mind was instantly submerged with images from my wedding with Cecilia. It seemed I could not get away from the girl no matter how hard I tried.

I sighed, I had gone about this marriage the wrong way from the start, no wonder things had turned out so badly. I recalled the way I had scorned Cecilia on our wedding day and insulted her with my cruel talk of entertaining mistresses.

I had set myself up for failure and disappointment from the start. If only I'd known back then how things would have played out. I let out a groan of irritation, I needed to stop thinking about her.

Rounding the side of the church I saw the small cherry tree at the far side of the graveyard. I made my way slowly over to it. The tree was bare, its blossoms having fallen from the tree and formed a layer of death over the ground beneath it.

I stooped down so I was kneeling in front of the small stone beneath the tree. I didn't care that the grass was wet from the morning frost nor that the cold whipped around my body with such ferocity I seemed the single chosen victim of its assault.

My eyes caressed the familiar words engraved in the stone. Here lies Jonathan Huntington II, a loving brother and son, he will be dearly missed,1855-1874.

"Jonny," I whispered using the nickname I'd given him as a boy. "I don't know what to do." I brushed the rotten blossoms from the base of the stone, clearing a small grass patch around the grave.

"You always knew what was best, you always knew what to say and do. I am no good at being the duke, and even worse at being a husband. Jonny, please, I need your help."

I remained in front of his grave begging for help and apologising as the wind continued its merciless assault.

When I pulled out my pocket watch I realised that I had spent over an hour at the graveyard and needed to head back to the manor. I brushed the dirt from my knees and boots as I stretched my limbs. I left the graveyard surrounding the church without looking back.

I walked quickly through the market street where men and women were selling their wares. Some stalls stocked fruits and vegetables, others candles and logs. My attention however turned to a smallish stall a bit away from the other stands.

An old man with grey hair and a pair of dirty spectacles stood behind the curious stall that seemed to be selling various bits and pieces. I spotted a silver candelabra and a small wooden train among the clutter, but one piece in particular caught my eye.

I moved closer to the stall that seemed vacant of prospective customers and picked up a silver locket from the collection of ornaments. I ran my thumb over the silver vines that encased the small pendant. It was definitely the same one, but how had it ended up here?

"Pretty isn't it?" I was startled as the old man who owned the stall peered over at me through his heavily rimmed spectacles.

"Very," I concurred.

"Yes," the man purred, "I got it a few years back, but it never seemed to take anyone's fancy. Well, until now." He offered me a wide smile revealing an incomplete set of yellow teeth.

"How much for it?" I asked the man.

"I can do it for you for ten pounds," the man offered, "but I'm afraid thats the lowest I'll take it for." I grinned, the locket was worth more to me than any price the man could've named but I didn't expect it to be quite as low.

I handed over the money and took the necklace from the man who placed it in a small green velvet box, "Free of charge," he smiled.

"Thank you and good day to you sir," I returned the man's smile and hurried back in the direction of the coach I had arrived in.

Hey all,

Another short chapter I know - sorry! Still, hope you like it! Let me know if you like it and please keep votinggg! Can't believe this already has almost 10K reads! You guys are amazing! Have a great day guys - Nearly the weekend!

Much love

xxx