Chapter 12: The Goodbye
Nesta remained with Quinn after her dad went up to bed. He had his finger in a book, and he was looking at her with a smile on his face.
"Hope you're okay, My Lady," Quinn asked.
Nesta looked up from the book she was reading and said, "I am fine. How are you?"
"I am doing great. What's the title of the book you're reading?"
"The Wheel of Power."
"What's the story about?" he asked.
"Politics," she said, and looked up to meet his gaze.
"You find politics interesting?"
Nesta noted he looked a bit stunned. "Yes."
"I find that surprising."
"Why?"
"Because women do tend to find it boring."
"Not all women," Nesta said. "I play chess, so in a way, I understand politics and strategy."
A brief moment of silence passed between them, then Nesta broke it by asking, "So, your stay with us comes to an end tomorrow?"
"Yes. But we'll definitely meet in London. You'll be coming with your father, right?"
"Yes. It feels like a lifetime since I last visited London. After what happened with my father, I came to stay at the manor while he dealt alone with the world.
I was ashamed of it all. I left because I didn't want to hear the whispers and gossip. I left because of my sanity."
"Then you did the right thing," Quinn said, and gave her a studying look. "Do your friends come visiting?"
"No. Not since I moved here. One did write, but her husband warned her against it."
"Your father was framed."
Lord Bramford had Nesta's complete focus.
"I had no right," Quinn said, "but as a potential business partner with your dad, I had to investigate, and it resulted in that.
They set the Dowager as a trap in an effort to stop your dad from being rewarded by the king. But it's all gone now."
He probably had to know a lot of people to have been able to discover the truth.
Even her father wasn't this resourceful when he was respected by everyone. Who was he?
"If you have no friends to come to check up on you from time to time, then, I must ask, will you be pleased to visit my home in London so I can introduce you to my sister. She's a jewel, and you'll love her."
"Thank you," Nesta said. "I look forward to meeting her."
They stayed up late into the night, and finally, Nesta being considerate, decided to let him go to bed.
"You have a long day ahead tomorrow," she said. "I would let you have your rest. Sorry for keeping you up this long."
"I enjoyed your company, my Lady," Quinn said. "I eagerly look forward to seeing you in London."
Nesta gave a single nod. "Goodnight, lord Bramford. Do have a great night."
"Goodnight, Lady Weaver."
Quinn stood and took Nesta's hand when she offered it, and he kissed the back of her palm.
Nesta went up to her room, she met Lillian half dozing on the sofa. "Lillian! I'm sorry for keeping you. You must go to bed. I can take care of myself."
"Are you sure, my lady?" Lillian asked.
"I am absolutely sure. Are you sure you can find the way to your room? I won't want you stumbling along the hallway because you waited for me. Sleep here." Lillian was about to protest. "I insist, and it's final."
Lillian nodded, she moved to lie on the bed.
Nesta undressed, and got into her nightgown. She joined Lillian on the bed, and soon, sleep found her.
The next morning, while the sky was a cloudy gray with no sight of the sun, the Earl of Devonshire, and his daughter, Lady Weaver stood with a row of servants before the manor to bid lord Bramford goodbye.
Lord Bramford had a smile on his face as he spoke with Nesta's father, then he came to Nesta to have some final words with her.
"This is not goodbye," he said. "I'll see you soon should you come to London.
Your dad knows where I live, and I'll make sure you have enough fun and make new happy memories."
Nesta smiled at this. "It was nice having you here. You'll be missed."
And it was indeed nice having him.
Quinn kissed her hand, and turned to her dad, and curtly nodded, then he walked into his carriage, and Preston closed the door.
The clatter of horses and the distancing wheel of the carriage all said goodbye, and for a moment, it felt like this was really goodbye.
Nesta smiled to comfort herself. She would see him again.
Her father looked at her and went back into the manor, and so did the servants. Lillian moved to stand next to her.
"I see you already miss him," Lillian said.
"The house will recognize his absence and will most likely return to its quiet and boring state," Nesta said and turned to face Lillian.
"That's for certain. However, I won't be leaving you behind. You'll be coming with me."
Lillian beamed with a smile. "Thank you, my lady."
Nesta watched Quinn's carriage, smaller and smaller it became. Turning, Nesta walked back inside with Lillian next to her.
The manor did feel unusual. It had been minutes, and she was missing his presence.
She returned to her room, hoping to see the last of his carriage from her window, but the horizon was clear, and all she saw was the sun coming out from behind a gray cloud. Surely, his carriage was hidden behind trees by now.
She would see him again, and the joyful leap within her confirmed it.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone