… Neil crumpled another piece of paper and threw it on the floor.
Damn, damn!
Everything he tried to write was a complete nonsense. And the very idea of answering Terry's letter seemed to be absurd.
But it was the best of a bad lot.
Neil could not allow Candy to answer the letter by herself in no case. The thing is not that he did not trust her, but all this farewell script does not promise anything good. Having written the last letter, she will remember about him, then again and again, she will cry... no!
It is also dangerous not to answer at all, he would come and check whether Candy is going to marry him, and he might even meet her.
Damn! It is impermissible anyway.
Daniel decided to take it upon himself. He will answer right now, while Candy is resting, and if she asks about it in the morning, he will say that he just did not want to worry her and answered by himself. If she gets angry because he did not involve her in this business, well, he will be ready to endure her discontent. But there will be nothing to be done, and she will not write him.
Neil gnawed the tip of the pen. But the letter must be convincing and full of dignity.
Convincing - that this actor did not come to check. And full of dignity - well, it goes without saying.
Neil leaned back in his chair and looked up. Memories of the distant past floated in front of him. College!
God, how he hated this man!
If he had been asked then who he hated more, Candy or Terry, Neil would difficulty answer. The hatred for Candy was familiar, and this Grantchester…
He hated everything in him. His insolent habits, pretty face all the girls, including his sister, was thrilled with, his mode of dressing, his appearance. His indifference to the opinion of others.
But most of all he hated the fact that Terry was constantly out of his business.
Legan sighed. Maybe he should have been grateful to Terry that he stopped him when he mocked Candy, but ... Damn, it was not his business.
Thoughts about this man reminded Neil of the worst of his actions, and that person revealed them. And he hated him for this too.
Moreover, although he would never have admitted this, he hated him purely as a man because he was stronger.
And also because Candy loved him. This can not be forgiven. He was fraught with danger.
Neil sighed again and dipped a pen into the inkwell.
'I'll write as it is, and damn him. He doesn't deserve the honor.'
He began to write quickly, imagining himself and his enemy, when they were fifteen, and trying not to re-read the written.
'Greetings, Terry..
I ripped about a dozen attempts to answer your letter, so be content with this one.
Me and Candy are going to be married. My intentions are the most serious. I'm not going to discuss the remaining issues of our private life, neither with reporters, nor with my family, nor, especially, with you.
I consider insulting your doubt in the bride's voluntary consent to the marriage, and I am also not going to comment on it.
Good luck. I really hope that my answer will be enough that we no longer receive letters like that.
Daniel Legan.'
Neil quickly folded the letter and put it into the envelope. Having written the address and the addressee, he sighed with satisfaction. 'I hope he has the intelligence to understand that the fact that I answer to him means that the truth is on my side.'
The man rang the bell, and a servant entered the room.
'Send it immediately,' Neil ordered.
'But it's already evening, and it would be better…'
'"Immediately" means immediately! I want this letter to be on the addressee's desk until this morning.'
'Yes, of course, as you say.'
Daniel sat back in satisfaction in his chair. Then he collected the drafts of the letter and threw them into the fireplace.