Neil locked in his office and, taking off Albert's glasses with relief, collapsed into an armchair, resting his legs on the table.
It was good that all Legans were in the estate of Andrew, there were only servants in Lakewood who kept the house and horses tidy, and no one bothered to ask him why he was here and why he had come.
On the way to the office he met only a young maid and, of course, a butler, and ordered not to let anyone visit him, especially, his bride.
Now he sat with his legs up and looked at the ceiling. There were no thoughts at all.
Obeying a sudden impulse, he stood up and took a small hand mirror in a graceful frame from the cabinet.
Looking at his image with a swollen nose and yellowing bruises under his eyes, he suddenly laughed.
'Good, there's nothing to say. A classic cuckold.'
Cuckold!
A husband who is so weak that he cannot curb his own wife.
Society has always laughed at such men, of course, behind their backs. These men, usually, were cute, domestic, and were firmly under the heels of their charming spouses.
Neil had always been surprised. How is it possible to be so blind or weak-willed to leave for a country house when a wife stay in the city and visit noisy parties?
Now he almost fell for the same bait. Yes, everything was fine, and his fiancee loved him, but as soon as the first love was on the horizon... The end! The vows are forgotten, and she is already standing, squeezed in his arms and kissing him.
Damn!
Daniel tossed the mirror into the wall, and it fell broken.
He will not become a cuckold, no! It is better to cancel everything.
Neil covered his face with his hands. It's not so easy... He felt too fine with her to finish this way... But if she loves that actor, if she still loves...
Well, stop. But when he kissed her, that Granchester, her hands did not hold him, but hung limply along the body.
The picture of their kiss firmly crashed into the memory, and Neil remembered everything in the smallest detail. Perhaps, only the feelings of Granchester? But then, dammit, why did not she push him away?!
It's all nonsense, he's just trying to calm himself. And the fact is that his beloved kissed another man. That is the fact!
Legan furiously wiped all the papers off the table, dropped the vase and trampled the flowers. Kissed with this actor! D-damn!
There was a knock on the door.
'I said I do not accept anyone!' He howled.
'Neil, open it. It's me, Terry.'
Daniel even laughed. This day is becoming more and more pleasant.
Laughing, Neil answered as calmly as possible.
'Terry, thank you for the visit, but believe me, YOU are the last person I want to see.'
Granchester shook the door.
'Neil ! Open, it's very important.'
Legan sighed, and decided to open. Who cares? The sooner he open the door, the sooner this scoundrel will leave.
The door opened, and the men looked at each other silently for a while.
'Well, nice bruises,' Terry thought with satisfaction, and Neil was pleased to see the white scarf on the rival's neck, which most likely covered the fingerprints.
'It's about Candy,' Granchester said softly.
'Well, I do not even know what to say.' Neil rolled his eyes up. 'I wish you happiness, love, children...'
'Stop! You know everything yourself. She loves you,' Terry said, and turned away. 'The scene you have seen is just a mistake, it's my fault.'
'She did not resist.'
'Forgive her or not is your decision, but if you'd only saw how she suffered because of you, you would not say that.' Granchester paused. 'She's here.'
'She is here?!' There was such excitement on Neil's face that he could not hide it. 'Suffered?'
'She was crying all the way and told how wonderful you are.'
Legan moved Terry aside from the aisle and ran to the stairs.
...Candy walked uneasily around the room and clasped her hands. 'Please, please, if he would only look at me! Just one glance!', she prayed.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, the girl turned and...
'Neil!' She rushed to meet him, and, caught his hands, was already hugging him.
'Neil, I, I...' Candy whispered, touching his cheeks gently.
'Do not say anything, nothing,' Daniel said quietly and kissed her.
Lovers stood in the hall and kissed, without noticing anyone around. Losing and regaining each other, they seemed to be in their own small world, where grand events were going on.
They whispered to each other something personal, laughed and kissed each other's faces again and again - lips, eyes, cheeks, that seemed to have already been lost forever.
Terry walked down the stairs softly and went out into the street.
For some reason, despite the fact that today he said goodbye to Candy forever, the young man smiled.
They were so happy to see each other and ran to each other... Looking at loving people is fine. And his Miss Freckle is happy, which means that he is happy too.
What will happen next, and how life will develop further, who will tell, who knows?
And he will pray that Candice White, future Legan, will be happy.
Granchester was already walking to the car, when a young voice stopped him.
'Terrus Granchester! Terrus Granchester!'
He turned around, - a young maid, breathless, handed him a pen with ink drops on the end and a sheet of paper.
'I recognized you, recognized!' The girl's eyes glowed with admiration. 'I collect newspaper clippings about you and I dream to visit your performance! You are so handsome and noble! Please, can I get your autograph?'
Terry smiled a little.
'Will this make you happy?' He asked quietly.
'Yes, of course!'
He signed the piece of paper with a sweeping gesture and, looking at the girl's clear eyes, thought that making people happy means to be happy himself...