Almost, Completely His

Chapter 18

The next morning I sat in the tea room with Rachel Thompson.

She was the only person I had enjoyed meeting the day before. She was a little taller than me, talked softly and moved in a careful calculated way- like she was trying her best to not fall.

She was also very beautiful but not in a way that was absurd. She wore light colors and her dark blonde-almost brown hair was in a neat bun and her blue eyes were always sincere. She had freckles all over her round nose and cheeks and wore very little rouge to compliment her honey cream complexion.

I truly had enjoyed her company and invited her to tea. But now that we talked but I only half heard what she had to say. My mind and heart were distracted by the fact that Arthur was leaving in a couple of hours.

“I must say, you are quite distracted today.” Rachel said smiling sadly at me.

“Yes, I’m sorry. It’s just that Arthur is leaving this afternoon and it’s very unfortunate that we will be saying goodbye to him.” I said smiling tightly. “He’s been such a good friend.”

“Yes. Oh course he has.” Rachel said smirking at me. “You don’t have to hide it Celeste. I see the way you two look at one another. It’s quite obvious you two are in love.”

My initial reaction was of shock and I tried to object but Rachel’s blue eyes were daring me to lie.

“I thought we were hiding it well.” I admitted.

“Maybe to others. But I needed only ten minutes to see it.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen Arthur so smitten, and serious about anyone before.”

I smiled at first but then frowned. I felt my lip tremble and Rachel reached out to grab my hand. I looked up at her and her blue eyes were sad and understanding.

“I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now Celeste, but I do want you to know I’m scared too.” She sighed. “He’s been a good friend and I’ve always wanted him to be happy.. and now I want that for you too.”

I smiled at her. “We’re friends now too?”

She sighed. “I guess so. It’s very rare, I don’t have much friends outside of my brother, the Harris boys and my lady’s maid.” She shrugged but I saw sadness in her eyes. “I guess I’m not the type of person people want as a friend.”

I shook my head and glared at her. “You are most definitely the type of person I want as a friend. Plus, I don’t have many friends either. Im too loud, obnoxious and blunt.”

“And I too quiet, isolated and boring.”

“Then we are a good match.” I said. We both laughed and she wiped away a tear from my eye.

“I’ll be here with you through this Celeste. I promise..”

“I told him I’d wait for him..” I admitted in a whisper.

“Well, I’ll wait with you. We’ll wait for him to come back to you.”

In what seemed like a blur the entire house staff, Harris family, my brother, father and Rachel and I were saying goodbye to Arthur. The servants wished him well and some began to pray.

Enrique and father hugged him and told him to take care, that they believed they’d see him again.

The Earl tried not to cry but his tears fell anyways while he hugged his son. Theodora too cried in Arthur’s arms and pleaded him to come back home as soon as possible. Rachel hugged Arthur goodbye and said something to him in a dull tone that made him laugh.

He then stepped in front of Charles who looked like he was falling apart.

“Brother.. there is so much I wish I’d have told you. I can’t imagine you not-“ Arthur interrupted him with a hug.

“Well, you better tell me when I get back.”

Charles hugged him back and they hold held on tightly to one another.

Finally Arthur stood before me. Rachel took it as an opportunity to distract Theodora and the Earl by comforting them in which everyone else joined in too.

“This isn’t goodbye my dear.” Arthur said in a low voice only I’d hear. He hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek quickly so no one would see.

“I’ll see you soon.” I whispered in his ear and kissed him back.

He pulled away and I looked at him trying to remember every little thing about him.

His long golden hair in a ponytail, his bright mischievous green eyes, strong jaw, light stubble, broad shoulders, full lips, light freckles over his long nose and playful smile.

I inhaled his mahogany scent willing myself to hold it in for as long as I could. He leaned down to kiss my hand and I bit my lip trying to hold on to the warmth of his lips. He looked up at me with both love and pain through unshed tears.

“I love you.” I said in a shaky breath.

“I love you too.” He whispered.

He hugged everyone one more time and when he held me again he held me tight.

“Wait for me Celeste.”

“Of course my love.” I said softly in his ear.

I don’t remember much of what happened next. Except that I felt like I was going to crumble at the sight of his back to me.

Of seeing him walk away into a dangerous and unknown situation. That the world was sending him far from me and trying to keep us apart.

I don’t know how I got to my room but Pearl was there, closing the door as Rachel walked in too . Pearl was looking at me with sad eyes. I guess she knew too, Rachel said it was obvious to anyone who paid attention.

Rachel took me in her arms and I couldn’t stop the tears that followed. I cried hard in her arms and she soothed me as Pearl held my hand.

This was too painful. I didn’t know how I was going to get through this.

But I’d have to. Because the love of my life was going to fight everyday to come back to me.

All I’d have to do was keep my promise and wait.