"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."― Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

William was quick on his feet.

"Where?" William quickly turned around panicking, "Sorry, ya my friend. I came to meet ya without telling but do not scare me like this I almost shit my pants."

Half of the people went back to doing their business, not paying heed to the two men. William needed to make sure they were all alone out of the sight of everyone.

"You know I need some money, my friend," William said unashamedly.

"Everything okay there lad?" Someone shouted in the dimly lit stable.

"Yes, this is my friend from the village. I will take care of him," He replied to whoever had called out to him. He went forward and held William's arm shoving him to the other side.

"My lord, you are horrible at acting," He said surprising William. He never expected anyone else other than Kathalina to speak to him so unabashed.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"I need to meet Lady Kathalina."

"Why?"

"That." William wanted to say it was none of his business but if he needed a favour from this man he would need to appease him.

"I have to ask for forgiveness from her ladyship," William said sincerely. The other man stared at William for some time trying to find if he was lying.

"I am only doing this because Lady Kathalina has been miserable ever since she returned from the manor. She walked like a ghost that day when I brought her back. I knew it was something you did that made her like that and I am only helping you so that her ladyship will be happy again," He said narrowing his eyes.

When William nodded, he signalled him to walk behind him. They made way through what seemed like the servants' quarters. It was past midnight and everyone was exhausted. Some people gave suspicious glances at William's intimidating figure but everything was handled perfectly by the man leading him.

"You wait here, if anyone asks tell them you are Timmy's friend," He said.

William stood beside the door where Timmy entered. He patted himself on the back for not screaming at Timmy for hurrying up and what was he doing inside?

"Sheela," Timmy's voice was heard faintly outside, William's ears perked up. He slightly opened the door further to hear the conversation.

"Please tell me, her ladyship has retired to her chamber and her despicable fiance has left," Timmy said almost begging.

"Timmy, her ladyship is getting married a day after. How can you still be infatuated with her when you know it is going to end in heartbreak?"

"I am not infatuated with her ladyship. I admire her," Timmy said protesting.

"Same thing different words," The lady said paying no heed to Timmy.

"No, it's not. Her ladyship taught me the words, they mean different things," Timmy continued his protest.

"Like you know all the words and their meaning in the language," The woman said exasperated.

"At least I know more than you," Timmy said proudly.

William held himself back from interfering. Seriously, do they even have time for this?

"Get out, you pompous bastard. And go find someone else to bother to find if her ladyship is well or not from next time. For today her ladyship has already retired to her chamber," Sheela said, shoving Timmy out of her quarter when he tried to thank her.

"Was that necessary?" William asked Timmy irritated.

"We had to know if her ladyship is in her chamber or somewhere else in the manor to find her," Timmy said matter-of-factly. William ignored the jab his way, his mind focused on meeting Kathalina.

They made their way through the service doors and Timmy stood in front of one particular door. William understood it was Kathalina on the other side. His heart started racing faster.

"My lord," Timmy interrupted his fears, "I will guard outside and say her ladyship called me and I forgot to ask her the details. I will knock on the door that is your cue to hide."

"You are smarter than you appear. Where did you learn all this?" William asked fairly surprised at the intelligence of a mere carriage driver.

"Lady Kathalina, of course," Timmy said proudly, "She has been sneaking around since she was a child and she had no qualms over playing with service people children. Being only a year older than her ladyship I was her companion in most of her mischief."

William couldn't believe the words spoken so nonchalantly by Timmy. Lord and Lady of Liverpool allowing their only daughter to play with the servant's children seemed unbelievable.

"My lord, we won't have much time," Timmy said signalling him to enter through the door.

William opened the door ever so slightly checking if anyone was in there besides Kathalina.

"You better growl at her feet," He heard Timmy say before he slipped inside.

William held his breath standing rigid in his place, his back pressing on the service door. His eyes moved frantically everywhere to check if there was anyone else who wasn't supposed to be there. Except for the sounds of fire crackling in the hearth and the rustle of sheets from the bed, William didn't hear anything else.

He left a sigh of relief. He walked towards the bed carefully, he can see Kathalina's figure covered under loads of blankets. He gathered up all the courage to speak out when suddenly Kathalina jumped off the bed to the other side snatching the glass from the side table and aiming to throw it at him.

"Kate," he cried out, hoping the glass hasn't left her hand.

"William?" She asked, "Is that you?"

William realized even though the chamber was brighter than the service corridor it was still too dark for them to properly see each other. He couldn't believe the first thing he did was scare Kathalina by entering her chamber like a thief.

"Yes, it is me," William said, still afraid of the weapon in her hand, "If we move near the fire you would be able to see me better."

Kathalina moved first and William walked towards the hearth his eyes not yet able to meet hers. William almost fell backwards when Kathalina jumped on him to envelop him in a crushing hug. William too startled took a moment to hug her back.

It felt so wonderful to be in her arms. He could feel her slender figure has become thinner and he felt a pang of guilt strike his stomach. Her smell was still the same though and he inhaled her deeply, relieving his frenzied brain.

William felt like all his energy had drained out. In a million years he hadn't expected this outcome. His eyes watered remembering the day he spent agonizing over her and he held her even tighter. She reciprocated by tightening her hold.

Soon, Kathalina struggled against him, William too afraid to let her go didn't budge.

"I can't breath," Kathalina whispered making William lose his hold. She was still in his arms breathing in the air her lungs so desperately needed.

William cursed himself for not knowing how to hold a lady properly. He never felt the urge to hold someone so close. But with Kathalina he wanted them to melt into each other so that they won't know where she ended and where he began.

Once Kathalina had her fill with air, she embraced him once again in a tight hold. Even though William wanted to stay like this forever he knew he was on a time limit here.

"Kate," He whispered, circling his fingers on the back of her head slightly, "I need to tell you something."

"What is it, my lord?" She said, burying her nose in his shoulder.

"About the Ledger," He said carefully.

"You are going to tell me you weren't a part of it," She said her voice hopeful.

He knew that's what she wants to hear. But William was here, to tell the truth without thinking about the consequences.

"I was," He said hardening his heart.

But it hurt more than he imagined when she left his arms and took a step back with the despair so plainly in her eyes.

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