"Dead?" Wolfgang asked.
"Dying...The letter says she's dying...that I must go see her before she's done for... With Clara in toe." James replied throwing the letter to the ground.
"Oh heavens, James... Do you need anything..."
"No."
"But..."
"Wolf, please do me a favor and keep this between us, I don't wish for Safa to know, she'll insist on being there for me...Not to mention I have no idea why my mother wants to see Clara, Safa will be too worried not to tag along and such trip is bad for her health, I can't handle being a nuisance to her anymore." James said picking and tucking the letter in his vest.
"I can't lie to Safa!...especially not when you're taking Clara, let's be honest with her, it's the right thing to do."
"I know, but Safa is finally having some normal days, she's being courted despite all odds!...she doesn't need another funeral, Especially not my mother's!
that...Creature...Barely deserves being called a mother. I don't want Safa to ask a million questions or feel like she needs to help me, she's not going to be able to."
Sighing, "You're speaking of funerals so soon, your mother is still alive My dear...are you sure you're alright with such news?" Wolfgang asked worriedly.
"I don't care if she's alive or rotting Wolf...I promised my father I shall do my best to respect her and avoid conflict, that is why I'm even considering to answer her letter after she abandoned me... Beside people will talk if I don't play the part of the grateful son." James replied.
The red head man now wearing his full attire, sat on the edge of the bed, Wolfgang joined him, settling beside him softly and allowing James to lean onto his shoulder.
"I never knew kindness from her...She was powerless against her father's choice of marrying her off to my father, she couldn't do much to prove herself in society and she was helpless against my father's neglect so she abused me...my Father, he wasn't a good man either but she chose to take out her frustrations on me.
I was just a means to an end all my life for both of them... The first time I had real purpose was when I met Clara... And then you and Safa."
Wolfgang listened with a wounded heart to James's broken confession, he gently caressed his lover's back as he continued,"Now she's dying and I have to go on and hold a funeral for her, pretend that she was something she's not because society demands it, well society be damned!
Why is she tormenting me even now, she had to go and ask for my sister now of all times! I'll be putting Clara through more trouble than she should have to go through just by taking her with me... Maybe I shouldn't include her..."
"I think you should James, Clara deserves to have this moment.
perhaps it'll be a piece of closure for her. perhaps your mother has a change of heart... Maybe she'll apologize to both of you, have a little faith." Wolfgang spoke in a hopeful tone, it made James almost chuckle at his lover's innocence.
"As if. And even if so...it's best if she doesn't apologize although I'm sure it will never happen, I wouldn't know how to handle it if it did... I might pity the ghoul."
"Is it always a bad thing to pity others James?"
"I can't be as big hearted as you Wolf...I shouldn't, the world is too cruel."
"You're already a big hearted fool... But just in case you need more support, Shall I accompany you then?" Wolfgang suggested.
Hearing that, James sat upright and turned to look at The blonde man with tired but Kind eyes, "Don't be ridiculous My love...Safa needs you here, last thing I want is to trouble you." he replied, holding wolf's hands in his own trembling ones.
"I can have Margaret stay here with her...She, Gertrude and miss Mary can all keep Safa company here and she'll be able to go ahead with her Courtship with Fabian as scheduled." Wolfgang suggested.
James pondered for a moment, "I suppose...With you by my side, Safa won't feel pressured to come as well...and I'll feel better."
Smiling, "Exactly...i worry for you love, I can't sleep if you're not here for days...Away from me, from us. I wish to be there for you during your best and your worst times James." Wolfgang replied lovingly, linking their foreheads together.
The words fell like cool summer rain on James's burned soul despite Wolfgang's warm skin sticking to his, "I fear too...That you have completely bewitched me, body and soul...and what better fate than to be your beloved fool, Wolf...please don't let me fall out of your heart ever."
...Next day...
For the first time in a very long time, Safa bid Wolfgang a temporary goodbye as he left with James and Clara, she was worried of course and wanted to tag along but Wolfgang convinced her to stay, sending for Margaret to join her.
He also sent a letter vaguely explaining his absence and the Change of circumstances to Gertrude who read it as soon as she returned from church.
"So young master... Do you still wish to take the lady on a boating day? The letter says nothing of changing the plan." Gertrude asked Fabian who was besides her as she read the letter.
"I suppose not, Safa made it clear she hoped for Clara to join...Beside I sensed she was uncomfortable with the plan regardless not to mention she would not be feeling herself with her friends all gone for a while." Fabian replied.
"How considerate of you, Then shall I write to tell her you're canceling?"
"No... Actually...i seem to have a different idea."
...Few hours later...
"Fabian...What is all of this? Are we not going out...? " Safa asked curiously, Fabian has arrived to the Vega manor, Gertrude with him and so were a couple of men carrying few boxes.
"Well I thought perhaps you would be far from being alright giving how your friends are away at the moment, I figured you would not enjoy the boats today so... I brought some souvenirs from my travels, things I collected, letters I wrote to my aunt telling her stories and some wood carvings I made that were inspired by my trips, I thought we can have a loving afternoon together going through all of this together. " Fabian explained.
Intrigued,"Hmm...does not seem to be ill thinking from you. Very well I shall entertain this idea." Safa replied following as Fabian's servants took the things he brought to the drawing room and began laying them on the table.
...Around a week later...
"Good morning, I have come here without warning so I hope you pardon my rash behavior...Hmm, Seems to me bridgerton boy is not around as much, Well that family does have their own book to get through." Safa said casually greeting Fabian as she barged into his dinning room while he's having breakfast.
The mere surprise made Fabian choke on his food, with a cackling Gertrude rushing to pour him water while battling her own laugh.
"How...When...Safa why are you here?"
"Well Wolfgang and the other two have yet to return..."
"Oh?"
"Former lady Teaton has died and they held a funeral...apparently."
Shocked, "OH poor Clara and James!" Gertrude's happiness disappeared as she heard the news, "Yes poor they...They are to return late, it would appear that James has fallen ill." Safa replied in an unusually tense manner.
Fabian could tell she wasn't alright, "ill, I see. I assume Wolfgang is still going to be there for him..."
Nodding, "Wolfgang sent me a letter, The doctor says it is mainly the stress and grief that ails James...
it is none of my business to say...but The late lady was not always aligned with James... It appears she reconciled with him and Clara before passing." Safa replied.
"How is Clara?" Gertrude asked, "Well she is being strong..." Safa replied unsure, "You must have been lonely and frustrated, left behind." Fabian said.
"Yes... I was. In my head I had no where better to go to... It was either you or lady Danbury...and I have yet to gather the strength to forgive her. I had sent Mary a letter, told her to take the day off." Safa replied taking a seat besides him.
Fabian smiled at her honesty, "Thank you for letting me know. I suppose we can do something to distract you?"
"Perhaps, I was hoping...Well, you could show me your workshop."
"You wish to see what newly crafted items I have made!"
"Yes, that would be lovely."
Fabian's smile only grew bigger at her suggested activity, but before he could turn to Gertrude to request adding a plate for Safa, a servant came rushing to announce an unexpected arrival.
"Young master... A man claims to be your friend from overseas, he wishes to see you, he is currently in the drawing room."
Confused, "Any name?"
"No. He insists on surprising you."
"Fair enough, Safa would you excuse me?" Fabian said earning a slight smile from the lady, he returned the smile casually before leaving to see who awaits him.
Safa sat patiently waiting for him to come back, Gertrude has went to bring her some breakfast, rightfully assuming She hadn't ate a meal yet.
As she sat waiting, Safa thought of many things, of her friends away, her pets at home and her now being here, she realized she felt comfortable and safe enough to barge into Fabian's home.
"Perhaps...i should...Truly give him a chance." she mumbled as she spoke to herself, Fabian has been nothing but good to her since they reconciled and began this Courtship, in fact Safa was so surprised in herself as she began to enjoy his company, especially that day when he showed her his travel souvenirs, he was still telling her about his many travels as Fabian had so many that haven't finished telling her about everything.
"How shameful of me... Am I finding this romance to be desirable after strongly denying it for years...Seems like I tortured poor Boyang for nothing." she mumbled again before smiling politely as Gertrude returned with the food.
But as Gertrude was serving her, "Gertie may I trouble you again, we need one more plate for my friend here." Fabian's cheery voice boomed in as he walked into the dinning room alongside another man.
As Safa turned her head to see who has Fabian invited, her Face dropped.
"Dear Safa this is my friend Boyang from one of my travels, I have yet to tell you about the trip where I met him!" Fabian happily said introducing his friend.
But the lack of response attracted Fabian's attention, "Safa...?" he noticed The other man was himself in disbelief.
"Boyang! It is really you..." she said trembling, standing from her seat with shaky hands.
In black and red traditional Chinese garment, stood an Asian man with pale kind and somewhat delicate features, long dark silky hair that he seemed to have loosely braided and thrown over his left shoulder, his eyebrows high with shock.
"Safa...you look...Somehow more...Beautiful than before." Boyang said mesmerized as he slowly walked with careful steps, leaning on own his cane .
It took Fabian a moment to realize his two friends seem to know each other very well, Gertrude has reached that conclusion and more, judging by how pale and sickly Safa seemed to be upon seeing the Chinese man.
"You...Know one another?" Fabian asked skeptically.
Safa remained eerily silent, clutching her cane tightly in her hand, "Yes I know her... She is the love of my life..." Boyang replied.