Wilting Roses (Formerly known as Arranged)

Final Blow

Chapter Twenty Nine

The horses hailed and the dust lifted as their hooves dug into the dirt. The carriage door opened and out stepped Dathan turning over to help Scarlett descend. Her hands trembled and she feared that he might sense her discomfort and nerves. She wondered what his reaction might be and then she pushed that thought away. Clearly Scarlett knew what it might be and she dreaded it. Sir Heart had insisted and she could not have protested enough. The old man hadn't budged as he was convinced Dathan was simply in a stage of regret. He wanted to see just how much he truly did love her.

The plan was to tell him that now she had begun to court another man and discourage him. Scarlett failed to see just how this would help him and feared the worst.

"I must know for certain." Sir Heart had argued.

"What if I lose him?" she asked.

"There are different kinds of love my dear, and I need to know just what exactly he feels." He protested.

"I don't think my heart could bear it." Scarlett said.

"Trust me. There is the kind of love that drives men insanely in love with a woman, therefore he resulting in refusing to let them depart from their side, turning into jealous rage and abusiveness. Then we have love for family, friends and nature. Above all of those stands the one that truly is love. It understands, it's compassionate, and withstands the test of time. It is willing to let go when that someone feels not the same." He explained.

Scarlett blinked back tears as Dathan's grip tightened around her hand, tugging her towards the living room area. Her heart rang out as her small petite feet rushed up the grand stair case and into the large resting area.

"I shall have a maid bring forth some tea," he said, as he left her side. Once the maid entered, she set before them their cups and tea pot, departing with a warm smile.

"That will be all, thank you," he said, offering her a nod and a small smile in return.

The cup in Scarlett hand quaked, her nerves getting the best of her as she occupied herself in taking a small sip only to burn her tongue in the process.

"I am glad we are trying to work things out like adults and not children. I am also glad that you and I might be able to make a friendship out of this after all." She said.

He smiled as he avoided his cup of tea and focused only on her. "Yes, I am happy that we can work this out, and further more Scarlett, in time I hope that this...f-friendship can turn into something more," he boldly said, his face twitching a little at the word friends.

"Well...I do not know about further...I simply wish to make pace between the two of us," she nearly whispered.

He stood then, taking a deep breath he stared at her for a moment before speaking in a low broken tone that nearly brought forth tears. "Scarlett, I love you, being friends with you forever will only kill me inside, don't you know how much I care for you?" he asked, his eyes glazing in the process.

Closing her eyes tightly she swallowed trying to put part of her concentration on the irritating soreness the tip of her tongue had endured from the hot tea. The lie was there too, at the tip of her tongue waiting to be spilled. Swallowing yet again she found her voice, her eyes opening to look into the depth of those dark sapphire eyes.

"I hadn't meant for things to change. The day you left we gathered ourselves and visited an old friend of my father's. I hadn't expected to feel the way I did towards the man's son. It was then that I knew that my feelings for you were merely friendly. W-we have been courting for three days now...I'm sorry." she said.

He looked away, his lips pressing into thin line as he pondered her words. Taking a few steps away he stared out the window, his shoulder slouching a little as he rested his hands behind his back.

"Who is this man? What does he do?" he asked.

She froze, she had not expected for him to ask such a question. Scarlett rattled her brain for an answer as she stood as well. "He is a blacksmith, his name is of no importance," she replied.

"Of course it is, he holds in his hands the heart of a woman who deserves to be treated will the upmost respect," he said, his eyes brimming with tears.

She bit her lip, starring down to her button boots. "Benjamin Knight, his name is Benjamin Knight," she lied. Regretting using a poor infant boy's name.

~*~*~*~

His eyes searched the heavens, refusing to weep over what was clearly gone from his grasp. Scarlett Worthington had moved on, and in her departure a man, a lucky bastard named Benjamin Knight had stolen her affection! Jealously spread through every inch of his body as he forced his eyes to dry instead of tear. Then awful, painful, sorrow was there to consume him as he turned to look at her.

"I must be honest, the news saddens me Scarlett; I had hoped that we might stand an opportunity to reconcile. Nevertheless, I am happy for you, I hope he makes you laugh and smile. I hope he fills your days with laughter and joy and every sunset you rest on his shoulder watching the sun go down." He forced himself to say with a smile on his face.

"Thank you," was all she could muster up and say.

"Scarlett Worthington, you have taught me a valuable lesson on love. I know now that this is my worst and final punishment for ever disregarding what a beautiful human being you are." Dathan said.

***

Author's Note.

Dont cry yet! There is still more to come although this might seem like the end to all you readers. Keep voting, reading, commenting. Stay Classy :) Oh and another thing I know there are some typos in there, I wrote the chapters but did not go through them correctly, so if you caught one of those little sucker please be sure to point them out, it makes my job easiers and what not. K thanks for reading.