Page 133 of To Know Miss May

He walked across the pathway along the harbor, leaving Livvy with the only person who’d come to bid her farewell—the only person she’d told when she would be leaving.

She turned to her friend with a soft smile. “Emma. Thank ye for comin’ to see me off.”

“I wouldn’t ’ave missed it.” She hesitated. “I know someone else who wouldn’t ’ave wished to miss it either.”

She didn’t have to say the name of whom she’d been referring to. Livvy’s eyes traveled the length of the Moons’ home, settling on the window she knew belonged to August.

Immediately, however, she looked away, keeping her voice low in the darkness of the morning. The sun had not yet risen—nor had half the Mount, August included.

That was precisely how Livvy had wished it.

“I know,” she said, tears pricking her eyes, the emotion being her unwanted yet constant companion for days now.

She reached into her reticule, ensuring Father still had his back turned to them before extending a small, folded paper to Emma. “This be for ’im. Will ye see that ’e gets it?”

Emma nodded, hiding the note at once in her hands. “I will. But…be ye certain ye don’t wish to speak with ’im yourself?”

Livvy nodded. “I did last night, but ’twill be too ’ard to do it again. ’E won’t understand, but I do ’ope me letter sheds more light than I could in person.”

After her time with August, she’d spent the better part of the night writing the message, though she knew, even though she’d poured her heart and soul into it, August still wouldn’t understand.

How could he? He’d always been loved by both his parents. He’d always been cared for. They’d always been proud of him.

But she had never felt any of those things from either of her parents. So perhaps this action, this leaving the Mount, would finally earn her Father’s respect.

Or per’aps not.

The voice inside her head spoke out again, pouring down upon her like an overwatered flower, rotting out her hope.

“Ye know,” Emma said softly, “’e’s done ’is best to prove ’imself to ye.”

Livvy nodded. “I know.”

“’E’s e’en gone so far as to tell people the truth o’ what ’e’s done to stop the untruths goin’ ’round. ’E’s enlisted ’is family and me and Nicholas to ’elp, too.”

Livvy paused. A niggling feeling nudged its way into her heart, whispering more doubts into her mind. She didn’t know he’d done any of that.

“But I’ll not attempt to convince ye to stay when ye’ve already set your mind to leavin’,” Emma said, breaking through Livvy’s thoughts. She reached forward, taking Livvy’s hand in hers. “I’ll miss ye, me friend. Write when ye arrive, so I know ye be well-settled.”

Livvy nodded, squeezing Emma’s hand tightly in hers, though her mind still fidgeted, as if she had a pebble in her shoe of which she could not be rid.

“Ye must write to tell me when ye and Nicholas depart from the Mount,” Livvy returned, and Emma nodded.

Another moment passed by, the girls staring at each other with looks of sorrow. Livvy did her best to swallow her emotion, though a stone still welled up in her throat. “I can’t thank ye enough for your friendship, Emma. I only wish we could’ve ’ad more time.”

“As do I.”

They shared a solemn smile, then Livvy reached forward, embracing Emma tightly before pulling away and giving her a nod of farewell.

Without looking back, Livvy walked past the Moons’ home, praying with all of her might that she would escape before August discovered her absence.

Be that really what ye wish for?

She tried to set the thought aside. After all, she’d already made her decision. She was leaving. That very minute. And she was doing so for Father. So why, now, was she second-guessing everything?

Telling herself it was merely worries for the future, she reached the causeway, where Father stood waiting for her.

He gave a short nod, then led the way forward without a word.