The Gentleman of Greenstoke

XXII.

Arthur tapped his fingers on the chair lean in the drawing room as he watched Mr Karpusi and Miss Honda; both were amused and in high spirits while having a the conversation. It was the fourth time the Greek man had visited them; four days after Arthur had almost kissed the woman he was observing now. His face grew warm only thinking about his ungentlemanly move – he had been completely lost in her lovely brown irises and she had not discouraged him when she had stepped forward and not stopped his movements. He had seen it in her eyes; both were feeling connected and his hopes that she shared his affection grew again. Although the two had never spoken of that incident ever since it had happened; Miss Honda was acting in an extreme shy manner afterwards and he was certain that she felt a little insecure. Arthur did not want to overwhelm her with his feelings; he wanted to give her time. Unfortunately his Greek friend was disrupting his plans by being present almost every day.

Unbeknownst to the English man, Sakura was still pounding on their shared moment. She knew that he harboured feelings for her – which were not unrequited – but she waited for him to openly disclose them to her. If he intended on courting her, he needed to be clear with his words. Sakura knew it was silly to think in such a way with a man like him – who had problems expressing himself – but she wanted to be certain.

"Miss Honda, may I ask for a stroll through the gardens?"

She focussed on the Greek man next to her as she titled her head in question.

"I wished to privately talk to you," he affirmed in a soft voice.

"O-oh, of course."

Alfred and Arthur listened to them before they left the room – Sakura throwing a glance at the English man and his cousin. While the former was confused by this outcome, the latter was growing suspicious and nervous at the same time.

"Oh no . . ."

"What?" Alfred raised a brow.

"I hope he is not asking for her hand in marriage," Arthur spoke quickly, pressing his hands on the table to push his body up.

"Do you really think he would . . . Oh, now I understand."

"What do you understand? That she is absolutely wonderful and anyone would be lucky to marry her," Arthur sarcastically commented, walking across the room as if he was measuring the chamber with every step.

"Mr Wang's establishment of a trading company has failed. Due to that he will probably return home and take her with him when no one would marry her," Alfred disclosed to his cousin, "He hopes for her to have a bright future in England and Mr Karpusi must have asked him a day ago when we were taking a walk."

Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, "Do you mean to tell me that she will go back to China and leave England . . . us . . . me for good if she remains unmarried?"

"Yes."

"Alfred, where is that bloody ring?" Arthur pressed the question as he rummaged through his drawers. After Alfred had answered his question considering Miss Honda's return to China, Arthur had sprinted towards his room and almost broken the door when he was looking for his family's heirloom. Thirty seconds after he had entered the room, Arthur's chamber looked like a battlefield; but nothing could stop the Gentleman and the American smiled, content of this development. Indeed, his oldest family member had decided to openly admit his feelings towards the woman who had once hurt his foot. 'She needs to teach me those moves,' Alfred reminded himself and was excited to address her as his future sister-in-law, if Arthur would find that damn ring.

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At first Sakura thought that her Greek friend wanted to privately meet with her in order to ask her to marry him. She did not need to muse about his offer – if he would ask her. The Japanese would decline it, even if it would leave her in an awkward position. Sakura needed to affirm her stance. She did not love the imagination of him kneeling in front of her and it hurt her that she had to reject him, but her heart had already spoken for her – another man possessed her heart. The black-haired female readied herself to utter formal words of apologies; that she did not welcome an engagement and that she did not harbour any amorous feelings for him;. But she would clarify that she appreciated his friendship, although this seems rather painful, considering that she would reject him.