Lips That Lied || hs

Thirty-Four

Edinburgh, United Kingdom
January 1852

The hour was late when Henry had at last reached a settlement with Thomas and Harry; and as he suspected, his leniency was the very thing that enabled it to come about so peacefully. Each party was relatively pleased by the outcome, though there was undoubtedly some tension that lingered in the room as both Frenchmen made their leave. They proceeded down into the pub, where Harry and Thomas took a seat at the bar for just a few minutes before parting ways.

They drank in silence for several minutes before Thomas interrupted the heaviness of the evening with his words of gratitude.

"Harry, what you did in there, I- I'll never be able to repay you for the kindness you have shown me." Thomas watched Harry with urgency gleaming in his eyes, wishing for his friend to look at him and tell him that he was going to be alright. Though, one look at Harry was all it took for Thomas- or anyone, really- to notice the anguish that was brewing behind Harry's troubled countenance.

Harry didn't respond to his friend, for the turmoil within was nearly too much for him to bear. It was his duty to go through with the plan to which he agreed, and so he would do it. That night had been the greatest test of Harry's honor that he had come to face, and he knew that for Jane's sake, he would have to follow through with the promises he made there. Failure to do so would result in the breaking of the vow he had made to Thomas all those months ago; and whatever his attachments to Jane, if this plan of Henry's was the only way to fulfill that promise, Harry knew that he had no choice but to carry out the very deed that would crush his spirits forever. And besides, Henry was victorious no matter his decision, so why not comply and emerge with some shred of dignity?

"Harry, I owe you my life," Thomas said to him softly, his voice engrained with such sadness that reflected how difficult it was for him to speak at all. But Thomas's role was easy in all of this, and so he felt deeply for his friend and the act he was being asked to perform.

Harry shook his head bitterly, pressing his lips together in a firm line as he tried to maintain what little self-control he had remaining. He wanted to scream and cry; he wanted to walk upstairs and point a gun at Henry's heart, telling him to go to Hell as he pulled the trigger. Harry was enraged, and it took all that he had in him to keep from acting on his wounded emotions.

"I made you a promise, so I am keeping it." Harry's voice was low and tense as he spoke, and it was all Thomas needed to hear to know that Henry had turned Harry against him. Should he have been surprised? Henry's ability to control and manipulate men into feeling and acting in the ways that he deemed necessary was incomparable to any man that Thomas had ever encountered, so it was only natural that his power should take its effect on Harry.

Observing Harry's hardened expression, Thomas knew that he could offer his friend nothing but his sympathy and thanks. Other than that, there was nothing to be said between them. The gravity of their circumstances had extinguished any sense of companionship that they had once had, and so Thomas resigned to the silence that Harry seemed to require.

The minutes dragged on as the two men drank their fill, Harry's indifference and frustration enforcing a crushing silence upon them. But at last, Harry willed himself to rise. He had already wasted too much time there apart from Jane and was determined not to throw away one more second to that musty, old pub. He had one night to remain with her, and so he would cherish the moments he had in hopes that he might never forget the woman who would forever hold his heart.

Harry said farewell to Thomas, his countenance no less solemn as Thomas sought to comfort him with words that went in one ear and out the other. Their departure was less amiable than Thomas would have liked, but he understood Harry's dismissive attitude and did not press him to speak more than the few words he gave during his departure.