Loyal Lies

The drive home from therapy felt different. Lighter somehow. One session with Dr. Bennett had cleared the fog I'd been living in. It helped me finally understand what I'd been feeling for Silas all along. It wasn't just admiration for his perfect face or appreciation for his gentle demeanor. I'd fallen in love with him.

But what was I supposed to do with this realization? The thought of confessing made my stomach twist into knots. Would he see my feelings as a burden? An inconvenience to his duty? If Steven with his prestigious family background and impeccable credentials, hadn't been good enough for Grandfather, what chance do I have of convincing him about Silas?

I found Grandfather in the living room when I arrived home. He's hidden behind his afternoon newspaper as always.

"Welcome home, dear," he lowered his paper as I kissed his cheek. "How was therapy?"

"Dr. Bennett was wonderful," I tried to keep my voice steady despite my churning thoughts.

"Hmm." He folded his newspaper, and I noticed a strange glint in his eyes. "I have better news for you."

"What is it?"

"Go check the garden."

"Grandpa, I'm tired. I just want to-"

"Just for a minute," he insisted with an unusual smile. "Trust me."

Something in his tone made my feet move toward the garden. The golden sunset painted everything in warm hues, making the flowers glow like jewels. My eyes swept across the familiar scene until they landed on the tea table.

Time seemed to slow down. The teapot tilted gracefully, pouring amber liquid into a delicate cup. The steam rose in elegant swirls, caught in the evening light. The hand holding the pot was steady, familiar, attached to a crisp white sleeve and perfectly pressed suit. My gaze traveled upward, drinking in every detail I'd missed these past three days.

He looked up before I could say anything, those blue eyes finding mine across the garden. Even from this distance I could see them sparkle in the fading sunlight.

"Darjeeling tea?" His voice was soft and familiar like home.

I moved before I could think. He must have read something in my face because he set down the teapot and opened his arms. I crashed into him, wrapping my arms around his waist, breathing in the scent of earl grey and something uniquely Silas. His arms enveloped me while one hand cradling the back of my head. I felt the tension of the past three days dissolve.

I'd seen him survive that terrible night. I'd watched him stand there in his bloodied suit. But it wasn't until this moment, feeling and hearing his heartbeat strong and steady against my cheek, that I truly believed he's safe. He's finally here.

"Where have you been?" I asked against his chest.

"Just taking care of some personal matters, milady," his voice rumbled softly.

"Personal matters? More important than resting and taking care of your wounds?" My voice cracked slightly at the last word.

His fingers threaded through my hair slowly and gently. A shiver ran through my entire body at his touch, making me hyper-aware of how close we are. "The wounds were minor. I heal rather quickly."

When he gently pulled away to look at me properly, surprise flickered across his face. I must have looked a mess with tears threatening to spill and my cheeks burning hot.

"Are you..." I swallowed hard, finally voicing the fear that had haunted me for three days. "Are you going to quit being my butler after what happened?"

"Are you not frightened of me, milady?" he asked quietly instead. "After what you witnessed that night?"

I shook my head immediately and clutched his suit tighter. "No. Never."

A small smile tugged at his lips, the kind that always made my heart skip a beat. "Then I have no reason to leave." His hand moved from my hair to wipe away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "My wish is to protect you, milady. That hasn't changed."

The 'Milady' that usually kept us distant somehow felt different now. It felt warmer. Or maybe it was just the way he was looking at me, like I was something precious he'd protect with his life. Not because it was his job, but because he wanted to.

"The tea is getting cold, milady," Silas pointed out while his hand still resting gently on my back. I reluctantly pulled away, and he smoothly moved to pull out my chair.

"I missed this," I admitted as he poured the Darjeeling, the familiar aroma filling the air. "The temporary butler makes terrible tea."

"Is that so?"

"He puts too much sugar in everything. And he doesn't know I like a slice of lemon with my Darjeeling." I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, watching as Silas took his usual position standing beside the table. "Won't you sit with me?"

I remember that stormy morning when he had accepted my invitationn for tea date. That day had felt special, different just like now. Without a word, he gracefully lowered himself into the chair across from me.

"The garden looks beautiful at sunset," I tried to fill the comfortable silence. "The hydrangeas you planted have bloomed while you were gone. They're exactly the shade of blue you said they'd be."

"Indeed they are." His blue eyes met mine over the rim of his cup. "Though I must say, the garden wasn't what I missed most during my absence."

My heart skipped a beat. Was he saying...? But his expression remained carefully neutral, even as his words hung in the air between us.

"The temporary butler probably didn't know how particular you are about the hydrangeas' soil acidity," I teased, trying to hide how flustered I felt.

His quiet laugh was like music. "I suspect not, Milady."

We sat there as the sun painted the sky in shades of gold and pink, talking about what happened while he was away. We also talked about the hydrangeas and the tea and the weather. About anything except that night, anything except my racing heart whenever he smiled. This is enough for now. Just him, me, and the comfort of knowing he came back.