Page 85 of To Know Miss May

“Very well,” he said, allowing his impatience to finally take the reins. “I can see I be wastin’ me time at the moment. When ye be ready to be a friend yourself, ye know where to find me.”

“Don’t expect to see me any time soon.”

Her words had been spoken in anger, and he knew more than anyone, words born from such an emotion were not to be trusted.

Yet still, they pierced through his heart.

The girls and boys reached them, but they had no effect on an already ended conversation. A break occurred within the elderly couples in front of them, and Livvy slipped between them and away from August in seconds.

August stopped, standing to the side of the footpath and shaking his head as the group of young individuals filed past him with laughter and conversation he couldn’t help but envy.

Well, this was just excellent. What a wonderful Sunday this was shaping up to be.

He had no idea what he’d done to upset Livvy. She no longer considered him to be her friend. Mr. May would surely see his failed attempts at befriending his daughter. Nicholas and Emma would be outed. August would leave the Mount after failing all of his friends.

And worse than anything? He now had no hope that the stars would align to help him one day find a way to be with the woman he loved.

Excellent Sunday, indeed.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

“There’s no trust, no faith, no honesty in men...”

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

August walked back up the Mount to where his family and a few others lingered near the church. He had a mind to return home and stay in his room all day, if only to avoid questions from his family—he was certain they’d seen him run after Livvy that morning—but he needed to speak with Emma first.

He only hoped that when others saw him speaking with his supposed intended, any rumors his sisters might have already brought about would settle.

When he reached the top of the Mount, his family was already speaking with the Pengellys, his parents sharing a laugh with Emma’s.

Ophelia’s words from before returned to his mind. “Ye already be upsettin’ Mother and Father with your confuddlin’ behavior.”

Regret spread throughout his guilt-laced soul. He hated misleading his family—especially his mother. How much longer would Emma and Nicholas need him to lie to everyone he knew and loved?

“Moon,” a voice called to him from behind.

August cringed. He’d thought Mr. May had already left the courtyard.

Turning around, ensuring he maintained a safe distance from his family to avoid them overhearing and asking him more questions he couldn’t answer, August turned to face the man who was the cause of all of his problems.

“Mr. May,” he greeted.

“I trust ye be ’avin’ a fine sabbath,” Mr. May said.

August clenched his teeth, attempting to calm himself at the feigned pleasant conversation taking place between the two of them.

How Mr. May managed to sit through church, praising God after all he’d done, was beyond August. He longed to shout out, “This man be a deceiver!”

But then, who was he to talk? He was just as much of a liar as Mr. May.

“Fine enough, sir,” he lied yet again.

Mr. May glanced around them, then faced August with a whisper. “I do wonder if I might speak with ye for a moment.”

August’s jaw was beginning to hurt with how he ground his teeth together. “Perhaps we might wait until tomorrow.” Speaking with the man would be just the thing to solidify this as the worst Sunday of his days.

But Mr. May shook his head. “’Twon’t be long. I only wish to speak o’ your progress with…”