Page 111 of To Know Miss May

He nodded, seeming to think for a moment. “Well, I’d consider last evenin’ a success, then, wouldn’t ye?”

Yes. Livvy would consider it a success. But not for the same reasons Father did.

Before she could tell him the truth, he headed down the corridor. “I’d love to discuss this more with ye, but I’ve got to be gettin’ back.” He paused at the door. “Ah, I nearly forgot. Sir John be gone from the castle again. ’E’s allowed the doors to be opened for a tour this afternoon for family o’ those who work for ’im. I said ye’d attend.”

Livvy paused. Family of those who worked for the castle? She’d definitely be up for that.

She bade farewell to Father, then set aside her frustrations for not being able to speak with him about August. Perhaps this was for the better. Perhaps this had happened for a reason.

After all, she’d hate to share her love for August, only to have August discover the truth about her past and no longer wish to be a part of her future.

The heavy feelings that accompanied the thought refused to budge. She knew August, just as she knew he would never leave her for something her mother had told her ten years prior.

But Livvy also respected August far too much to allow their relationship to grow further until he was in possession of all the facts.

So her final secret would become August’s, as well. How she prayed he would come to accept it as she had.

* * *

Livvy had toured the castle before, but that did nothing to stop her from admiring the beauty within the private doors once again.

The beautiful entryway. The Chevy Chase room with the frieze depicting the hunting scenes around the entire upper wall. The grand blue drawing room painted the color reminiscent of a creamy blue sea at sunrise.

Each window revealed another view of the sea, of Penzance, or of Marazion, each more spectacular than the last. And though the rain caused a cold mist to surround the Mount, preventing much of a view at all, Livvy marveled at the sights.

When she wasn’t marveling at August, that is.

He and his family had decided to join the tour. Father had not. Those facts alone had turned this day into an even better one than she’d hoped for.

Except for, of course, the fact that she still had to accomplish the task she’d set before herself.

She did her best to explore the grounds with a focused gaze, moving with the group and speaking with others in another attempt to find her courage. But with her mind so preoccupied, she was finding it more difficult than ever to enjoy much of anything.

Emma had been unable to make it, and the Moon sisters were mostly preoccupied with their other friends, but Livvy didn’t mind, taking the opportunity to observe August—who spoke with all those around him—and Mrs. Moon, who was as kind as she always had been.

As they explored the library with its red velvet chairs and leatherbound books in shades of brown, black, and maroon, Mrs. Moon asked how Livvy was faring with the novels she’d borrowed.

“I be nearly finished with The Hermit’s Cell,” Livvy said. “I be sorry it be takin’ me so long.”

But Mrs. Moon shook her head. “Ye just take your time. After all, ye be a much faster reader than I.”

Livvy typically was, but those last few weeks with August had prevented her from reading very much at all, which she found herself not minding so very greatly.

Sacrilege.

As they moved through the corridors to the next room, Livvy found herself looking at August again, attempting to focus elsewhere, but as he looked in her direction and smiled, her heart twisted.

She couldn’t do this any longer. She needed to know. She needed him to know.

The tour moved them to the balcony outside, a large, open area without any cover from the rain pouring from the skies above. From the balcony, Marazion to the north and the sea to the east could be seen, as well as the stunning walled garden below.

Most people simply skittered to the upper balcony—which led around the castle walls and to the next indoor section of the tour—so they avoided getting wet at all.

Livvy, however, lingered when she caught sight of August hovering near the edge of the balcony, peering down at the gardens—no doubt admiring the work he and others created in tending to the flowers, shrubs, and trees.

She looked around, only a few stragglers remaining aside from her and August. She could wait to tell him, use the excuse of others being nearby to stop her words. But then, would she ever find the courage to speak such things aloud again?

Drawing a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and stepped through the rain. She would get this over with, and she would get it over with now.