A/N: A short update. To the readers out there who have read and reviewed, you guys rock my world!
A week later in Ireland, Damian looked at the crashing of the waves against the sharp edged rocks from the cliff. The storm within him raged the same. He missed her soft voice and her shy smile. He missed her calm eyes and welcoming presence. Her caustic remarks. Hell, what didn't he miss about her? The need for her was like a thirst that was not satiated. He doubted it could ever be. He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt to control his emotions. But she still ruled his thoughts.
Mary, if you can somehow know what I think now, know that I need you to love me. Don't push what we have away love .Open your heart. Know that you are the only one for me and no one else.
Back in England….
It rained heavily outside with the skies dark and gloomy, mirroring Mary's mood perfectly. Mary gave a distressed sigh and sat near the fireplace with a cup of tea. Did it rain this heavily in Ireland? She prayed that it didn't and if it did, please let him be indoors. It has been a week since she last saw him and she was miserable. Was it possible to miss a person very much? Where you expected every letter to come from him or expected him to walk in at odd moments?
Every time she thought about their conversation before he left, Mary's mind blanked and her heart clenched tight. She was without a direction not knowing what to decide. She yearned to say yes and be with him but she was terrified of making a mistake. She couldn't stand it if one day he woke up and realized he had settled for someone that is less. Her.
"Mary?" She heard the dowager call. Blinking back unshed tears, she turned back and smiled. She immediately went to help the dowager who could walk with the aid of a walking stick now.
"I thought you were still resting, my lady. It is raining heavily outside and it looks like there is nothing much that we can do. I didn't expect it to rain today." In the fire light, the dowager looked like one of the other worldly being. Her skin seemed to glow with her hair red as fire.
"The weather in Devon is always unpredictable, Mary. You will get used to it. I will like to have a cup of tea too, if you don't mind."
Theresa looked at Mary and shook her head inwardly. Since her son went to Ireland, Mary was slowly with drawing herself into her own inner shell. Oh she was amiable as ever, the perfect companion, but her eyes showed different. They never lie. If she thought nobody else could see her sadness, Mary was wrong. Theresa had done waiting for Mary to talk to her. She will talk to her today even if she had to tie her down. She waited for Mary to settle down. Theresa gave her a small smile and sipped her tea.
"Mary, I'm not getting any younger and so is Damian. As a mother, I believe he will only be happy after he has his own family. Do you find fault in that?" Theresa asked watching Mary closely.
"No, you have the right to feel as you do. He is, after all, your son, my lady." Mary answered not looking at the dowager. Here comes the part where the dowager will probably say some duke's daughter will suit him fine. Mary braced herself.
"I'm glad you agree. Then why in the world are you taking a long time to say yes, Mary?"
"I'm sorry? I don't understand what…." Mary began.
"Stop avoiding, Mary. It is high time we discussed about this. I have to be dead and buried to not to notice how my son and you are in love with each other. Why make it difficult? Life is unpredictable, you can never know what happens tomorrow. Why are you wasting time?" Theresa asked firmly.
"It is not as easy as you think it is, your grace. Yes, I love Damian and he says he loves me too. But for how long? He is everything to me suddenly. He…he overwhelms me. How could he be so in such a short time? I can't help feeling the way I do. I don't deserve him, my lady. That's the truth." Mary answered and stood up pacing. She needed air.
"You don't deserve him? Where do you go off thinking like that? I didn't raise my child to be such a shallow person. He was thought to see the person within."
"Yes, that is exactly what I meant. He is so good that he don't deserve somebody like me. A person who is depressed and repressed. I can't help being the way I'm. It seems to me that I have always been like this since the day I can remember, my lady."
"And Damian can't help from falling for you the same way you can't help being yourself. I know my son, Mary. I will also say that he could not have selected a better person than you to fall for. It is a shame that you don't think so yourself." Theresa finished. Thunder slashed outside as if to deepen the impact.
Mary looked at the dowager speechless. It struck deep.
"I know my lady. I have always thought of it that way myself. Now if you will excuse me." Mary said, cooler than an ice and tried to walk away.
"Child, I have come to love you and that is why I feel I have the rights on you too. Be sure that I never meant to hurt you and if I did, I'll like to apologize for hurting you but not for saying what I said. Somebody needed to tell you that. Mary, open your heart without reservations. That is the key to true love. Follow your heart for once. The heart knows what you need best." Theresa said kindly.
In her room, Mary stood near the window looking straight at the heavy down pour. She placed a hand on the window.
"Damian, I need you. Come back home soon."