Chapter Text
Phillip opens the velvet box. Anne gasps. The ring catches the light and reflects it in a million of colours. Set inside pure gold, a diamond the size of a fingernail. It’s beautiful; more beautiful than anything she’s ever been able to lay eyes upon in her entire life.
“Will you marry me?”
Tears itch at her eyes. She can’t. She knows she can’t. No, it’s not that she can’t. It’s that she shouldn’t. Their relationship started in secret, behind closed doors. He, the son of the wealthy landowner. She, the daughter of his servants. She’s fallen for those laughs and that smile and she’s come to miss the nights when they couldn’t talk to each other, about everything and anything. The state of the world, the new circus in town, their love of singing and dancing. They used to meet away from the prying eyes of Phillip’s cruel father. In the library and in the gardens and even running away to see the circus a few times. But now Master Carlyle is dead and buried and has left the mansion in his son’s care.
“Can I?”
Phillip’s mouth hangs open. His eyes grow wide.
“What do you mean? I… I don’t understand.”
“The world would never accept that.”
Phillip’s eyes turn from seas to iron.
“I don’t care what the world accepts or not. I love you, Anne.”
“You do?”
“Of course, I do. Now, can I ask you again?”
A laugh bubbles in her throat. His face melts into a grin. Anne straightens her back and rubs away imaginary dust from her shoulder.
“All right. Let’s try that again, Mr. Carlyle.”
“Will you marry me?”
“Of course, I’d love to!”
The ring on her finger, she falls in his arms and he falls on his butt. Giggles erupt from the both of them. She shushes him, he giggles some more. Then, they kiss.
Behind the closed door, one man watches through the keyhole.
James Gordon Bennett, the butler, leaves in a huff.