“What a spectacular night! The Moon is somehow even brighter than last time, wouldn’t you agree, Your Grace?”
And with that, they fell into pleasant conversation. It was as though they resumed exactly where they had left off the last time they did this.
It feels as though we never even left this garden in the first place.
Indeed, what if the events of the past few weeks, including that terrible conversation with Colin, were merely a dream? Dreams that took place within one never-ending night.
As they sat down on the rocks by the reflecting pool, Anthony cleared his throat, “I have something for you, Miss Meyer.”
“For me, Your Grace?”
He nodded and pulled out the precious paper from his pocket. “This is a star atlas. I managed to borrow a copy from a subscription library, which I then traced over by hand.”
Anthony watched her eyes widen as he unfolded it before her.
She exclaimed, “Your Grace, it looks quite professionally done. Yes, the lines have been drawn very neatly.”
He rolled his eyes, “Remarks spoken like a true governess.” He teased, “Shall I fetch you a pencil so that you can mark my work, Miss Meyer?”
He dodged out of the way, chuckling as she swatted at him. But she gasped as she caught herself, “I am so sorry, Your Grace. I don’t know what came over me.”
Anthony raised his eyebrows in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“Just now, Your Grace, I swatted at you as though we were friends or equals. I… forgot my place. I offer my sincerest apologies, Your Grace.”
He held up a hand to stop her, “Miss Meyer, if you ask me, I would say that wearefriends. Wouldn’t you agree?”
She seemed hesitant to make a reply, so Anthony continued, “Well, whether you agree or not, I know one thing is certain; I would not be out here if I did not consider you a friend. What about you, Miss Meyer? Do you consider me to be your friend?”
Without meaning to, Anthony held his breath as he waited for her response, which came softly and timidly.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And do you really mean it, Miss Meyer? You’re not just saying it to avoid slighting me?”
She straightened herself at once. “Of course not! I wouldn’t lie to a friend.”
Anthony could not help but smile. “So as a friend, would you please do me a favor?”
“Why, of course! Anything, Your Grace.”
“Splendid. Then here is my request—call me Anthony.”
Meredith’s heart, which had been beating wildly up to this point, suddenly seemed to stop.
“Pardon me, Your Grace?”
The Duke tutted, “Ah! There it is again. Have you ever seen Kenneth or Colin refer to me as ‘Your Grace’?”
Meredith shook her head.
“Exactly!” he proclaimed, “That’s because the three of us are friends. And now that you and I are friends, I think it’s about time we dropped the formalities. What do you say Miss Mey— or rather—”
Meredith laughed as she watched him inhale sharply before finally finishing his question, “What do you say… Meredith?”
“I think you have a very good point… Anthony.” She gestured towards the star atlas.
