The Villager

16

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"Mother has been asking about you..." Tilley shares as she watches me walk back and forth, grabbing items I need for the cake I am preparing.

Of course she has. She is angry that she cannot control me any longer. She is also angry with me at the fact that I am divorced, but I could not help that, the Princess obligated that. I have not spoken to them since my marriage. My mother had a pocket full of wealth that my ex husband had gifted her and acted like she did not know me.

"She has been looking for you.."

"She knows where I work," I reply.

"She actually doesn't. I think you are forgetting you hid most of your past from her," she retorts. "Until Timothy."

"Yes, well now I can surely hide my future from her. I do not wish to speak to her much less see her." My smile is sarcastic, causing Tilley to chuckle. "How is she to you? Treating you like she did to me?"

"Much worse," she replies.

"What is she doing?"

"Mother is dolling me up, she calls me her golden child. She cannot stand when I speak of archery or the things I love the most in this world. It is like she is turning me into this lady whom she was when she was younger."

Reaching for her hand, I squeeze it. "Chase after your dream, Tilley. Do not allow her to play with your mind."

The bell rings above the door, and I turn when shock hits through me to my core. Miss Lumpkin stands before me and she was not on my list of customers coming in today. Tilley closes her book quickly, standing up from her seat and heading out the door with no words to me. She knew who she was, she knew how uncomfortable this all was for me.

"Miss Lumpkin, hello. I was not expecting you today. Where is Lord Hampton?" I am professional when it comes to her, greeting her with a smile.

"Are you busy? I could come by later..."

"No, not at all. Have you come for more testers for your cake? Oh, I just made one this morning that you would adore." I turn to go to the back. "This is a dark chocolate cake-"

"Actually, there is something I must speak with you about..." I did not like that. Did not like this.

My mind was racing with all the possibilities with what she wished for me. Did she perhaps want to know more about Timothy and his childhood? Did she wish to know what to do about him since he's pushing her away, not wishing to speak? Do I tell her the truth? That he truly doesn't wish to marry her? Perhaps, he was coming down with a chill and spoke out of his mind. Yes, that is it.

I turn back around to face her, holding up a gracious smile to hide the fear in my eyes. "Of course, what is it that you need?"

"There will be no wedding."

Her words haunt me. It rings into my ears and eats at my soul. Did I certainly hear her correctly? Perhaps, my ears are clogged.

"I know the two of you have a past together, and I know he loves you still. I can see it in his eyes, I'm no fool."

"I can assure you that whatever Lord Hampton and I had is long gone, it is in the past, I can promise that to you." My heart races, beating me in the chest as if something took brick and slammed it against me. I'm like a fish out of water, searching for breath but there's no air.

I will not allow this lovely lady to be hurt by what she thinks she knows. I will not allow her to suffer because of me.

"You love him." She knows it all too well, like she has studied me for so long. She gently smiles. "And that is fine. Completely fine. He is yours, Ruth. I will never be that lady to get in between true love, I won't do it. I cannot marry a gentleman whose heart belongs to another because I am worth far more than that. He is yours, Ruth Myers. He will always be yours."

"I think you shall go home and think about this before you make rash decisions. Tiffany, you have the ring, I do not! If he loved me like you say, I would be the one on the end wearing that ring. He chose you to be his wife, and that you will."

"You are a doll, Miss. Ruth." She smiles. "I can see why he loves you so much."

"He doesn't," I whisper, my voice breaking apart.

If he loved me, he would've fought for me. He would've never allowed me to marry another. I deserve better. She deserves better.

"Do you love him?" She simply asks me, and with the shake of my head I give her my answer. It is a lie, but I promised myself I will never fall to say those words again to him. "Do not lie to me, I am no fool."

"I did," I say. "I did love him, and I still care for him as a friend, but we are nothing more than friends."

"I must leave now, but think about what I said. Goodbye, Ruth." She takes her leave and I'm stuck in my spot on the floor. Why does this feel like a dream? Yes, it has to be a dream.

"Wish for me to cancel your appointments, dear?"

He heard everything, I knew that.

I brace a fake smile, smiling through the pain and shaking my head. "No, I am well. We have a busy day, so what are we waiting for?" Mr. Clementine frowns at my smile, but doesn't push it any further.

I worked until my hands could fall off. I work until my mind stops racing with Miss. Lumpkin's words and I'm not heaving for air. I don't sit down that evening until I get into my bed and allow sleep to fall over my soul.