26: Soulmates Part 6

Haru never took particular pride in her methods of deduction. But seeing Baron for the first time made information start crashing down on her head as supporting evidence rattled through her brain like flipping pages of a book.

He hadn't given her a last name, even once.

Haru had never asked to exchange photos, and neither had he.

He had been deliberately vague on what kind of work he did.

Haru had guessed that Baron ranked high enough where he worked so that phone calls with her were never a problem with his usual job.

Haru had always enjoyed his polished manner.

He had very classical taste in literature.

He had enough money to casually buy a plane ticket for a girl on the other side of the world's largest continent, just for the chance to see her in person.

"… Not a nickname," Haru managed to breathe more than say as her inner mind started screaming in terror.

Baron looked both relieved and worried as he walked around the car and opened a grey umbrella over his own head without looking at it. "Your mother figured it out almost as quickly. I hope you will forgive me for not fully briefing you before your arrival."

'Because you knew I wouldn't have come if I had known. Why didn't you warn me, Mom?'

Though this did explain why her mom had suddenly become so enthusiastic about her spending the summer break in England.

"… You knew exactly what you were getting into with me," she realized, looking down at his shoes as her cheeks seem to flame in the afternoon drizzle. "It would have been irresponsible not to run a check on me."

This was why Baron had no worries about meeting her. Her phone number had probably been all he needed to find out everything about her.

She felt his warm hand gently cup her shoulder and saw his chest draw close until a kiss was pressed against her forehead.

"Thank you for understanding my reasons. Also, thank you for practicing such discretion online."

"I embarrass myself enough in public," she mumbled under her breath, though she couldn't deny that his gentle kiss had thrilled her. 'All I had to do was ask if he had Skype, and I could have gotten some warning!'

"We all do that from time to time," he assured her before smiling at Renaldo and gently nudging his own umbrella over Haru until Renaldo had his own again. "If you would mind taking her things to the manor? We will follow."

"Whatever you say, my lord," he enthusiastically smirked, giving Haru a friendly nod before heading back to his truck.

Haru opened her mouth to ask, 'what about all the chaperones Mom was promised?', but Baron was already opening the passenger door of his own car for her. 'On a side thought, the plural 'chaperones' should have also been a good hint.'

"I imagine you would still like to scold me for keeping secrets," he predicted with a guilty smile. "Would you be kind enough to do that in private?"

Haru nodded dumbly and turned a bit to slip into the offered seat.

But for some unfathomable reason, her shoulder felt very cold and empty when he took his hand off it.

She wheeled a little sharper and gave him a fierce hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered into his chest. "It's… it's not that I want to freak out over this…"

Baron did not waste the opportunity to tightly wrap her in his strong arms, though still being careful about keeping the umbrella over her head. He even rubbed his face against one of her side braids. "It's still me, Haru," he was nearly begging. "I know I left some things out, but I'm still the same man."

Haru couldn't resist choking back a laugh. "If that were the question, I wouldn't be able to do this with you." 'This has to be what heaven feels like.' Forcing herself to take a deep breath of courage, she looked straight up into his amazing green eyes. "I do want to stay friends," she informed him firmly. "Whatever happens from here. You're too fun to talk to for me to just walk away."

He might as well have melted at her declaration. His grip on her tightened as his entire body began to shake with the urge to cry.

That strangely made Haru feel better. As cool as Baron was, he had been worried about their relationship turning sour at this meeting, too.

Baron then gave a firm look towards the truck, which rapidly growled to life and sped down the road.

Haru giggled at the obvious implication. "That's going to happen a lot, isn't it?"

"Unfortunately, most likely," her dear friend sighed, forcing himself to release her so that she could get into his vehicle.

Haru buckled in as he quickly walked around the car. She took in a deep cleansing breath as Baron started the car after stowing his umbrella in the back seat. "All right. You're an actual baron."

"Correct," he affirmed while more carefully driving out of the little parking lot.

Haru rolled up one sleeve enough to look at the handwriting on her skin. "Due to our strange connection, everybody that knows about this thinks that…"

She couldn't make herself say it! She could feel her face turn hot and uncomfortable at bringing this up so soon! 'Be rational, Haru! Even Baron appreciates that you're not jumping the gun.'

"Also correct, though I am planning on a long courtship," Baron affirmed again while giving her an adoring smile. "Circumstances being what they are and all."

'All suspicions confirmed!' "Which is why your grandmother fought so hard to take me under her wing. Has she been eating better?" Haru suddenly remembered to ask with concern.

"Much better, though she's still lethargic."

Seeing that fond smile on his lips was all Haru needed to know about how much he revered her.

'I guess it could be worse. I still remember some of the things Grandpa used to say about Mom. Everything's pointing to his grandmother at least giving me a chance. I hope I don't mess this up.'

Still. Being courted by a real baron? She knew full well how different that was from dating!

"Did you get the chance to finish The Canterville Ghost?" Baron asked as he drove down a side street.

Haru nodded as her face kept flaming. "I was saving that discussion for here," she admitted, remembering what had fascinated her the most about that story. "It turns out I'd seen a cartoon of it years ago, though I didn't remember the name at first. I was surprised at how much of the cartoon physics were right there in the book."

Baron nodded with a rueful smile. "I was very disappointed the first time I read that book as a child. I received a rather large lump on my head from trying to use a moonbeam as a hammock."

Haru couldn't hold back her laughter. "You too?"

"It sounded so light and comfortable," Baron defended himself, though he was definitely pleased about not being the only one foolish enough to try it.

"Sometimes late at night, when the rest of the world is quiet, and the only thing you can see is a moonbeam falling across the floor, it can feel like the only solid thing there," Haru agreed with a dreamy smile.

He gave her another sidelong look that made her start blushing all over again. "That was rather poetic."

She started staring at her lap again. "Thanks," she mumbled, since she hadn't been trying to impress him. Her hands seemed to move of their own free will as she flexed her fingers and played with the slightly damp fabric of her long blue coat.

"I was rather fond of the twins' antics against Sir Simon," Baron continued with a soft smile when he thought the silence dragged on too long. "I knew for a fact my parents or grandmother would have flogged me if I did anything like that to the servants, and rightfully so. That book was almost a place to vent my more mischievous impulses without hurting anyone."

"Until you got a fine edge on your wit, anyway," Haru couldn't resist muttering, thinking about the prank with Hiromi.

She had to give him credit, though. Even if other guys had been interested in her before, Hiromi's gossiping habit made absolutely sure everyone would at least guess that Haru was spoken for.

He had been planning on being with her almost from the beginning. Why? She couldn't think of a single instance in their discussions that might hit him hard enough to reach a decision this big.

Baron laughed with delight as he turned down a different road. "And I greatly enjoy matching it against yours, Haru. I really do appreciate that you're still giving me a chance after my little surprise."

She managed to glance up with a wan smile before studying her lap again. 'Well. Now is as good as ever.' "Something else I was planning on discussing was the relationship between the duke and Virginia."

"Oh?" he asked with severe interest, making her blush even harder.

She resumed studying her lap like she was going to write a research paper on it. 'I can't look at him while saying this.' "It sounded unrealistic the first time I read the book. Though it was nice that he liked her for her personality."

"Looks fade," Baron stated in a soft tone, as if he had thought about this very thing for a long time. "Character doesn't. Really, marrying outside nobility isn't as uncommon as you think. The royal family should be testament enough to that."

"I did research that later, just out of curiosity," Haru admitted, feeling her heart pound like a drum. "I also looked up what a duke does. It's a pretty long list."

"Longer than a baron's, but I assure you I have enough to keep me occupied," he assured her, though he sounded like he wanted her to keep talking.

Haru couldn't resist the urge to rock a little in the passenger seat. "Looking over that list helped explain all those books and movies that go on about why people in high positions need a certain amount of… good manners? Decorum?" She kept trying to think of a better word.

"Propriety," Baron offered in a gentle tone.

"That's the word," Haru agreed, even though she was starting to feel the full gravity of what he was obviously hoping to talk her into. "Lead by example, and it's hard to lead if no one respects you."

"Precisely."

Haru tried to get herself to stop rocking in her seat, but she was having a tough time of it as the road changed enough to make her think that they were getting close to his home. "Even if Virginia's family was well-off enough to afford living in that castle, I bet it was still a bit of a culture shock when she became a duchess."

"Perhaps not," Baron disagreed, reaching over with one hand to hold hers while the other one continued to take the relatively easy road. "It seems to me that if the duke had made up his mind about Virginia so early in life, he would have taken the necessary steps to prepare her for a future together. Especially if she was willing to learn and had some years to gain the knowledge and experience that such a position would require."

"It's still a lot of responsibility," she couldn't resist adding, though she still squeezed his fingers for comfort. "Are you really sure you-"

"Yes," he interrupted firmly, giving her hand a firmer squeeze before forcing himself to let go to safely take a turn in the road. "Grandmother made me promise to let her be the one to tell you why. She really is looking forward to meeting you."

Was it possible to blush purple? Haru didn't think her face could turn any more shades of red at this point. "Is she anything like you?"

Baron laughed lightly while smiling like the sun. "It will be the greatest compliment of my life if you see a resemblance between her and myself."

Haru moaned and buried her face in her hands. "She's going to own me, isn't she?"

"You won't mind," he assured her with a laugh in his tone. "I've never minded."

Haru took in some deep breaths and forced her hands down and her body to be still. "I don't know why I'm taking this so hard. It's not like any of this changes my plans for spending summer break here."

Baron gave her a quick glance before turning his attention back to the road. "Oh? What were your plans?"

She offered him a tiny smile that she wasn't certain he could see from the corner of his eye. "Relax. Enjoy my time with you and your grandmother. See what happens from here."

He gave her a look full of adoration, and actually turned off the road so that he could safely steal a hug from her. "That's all I ask."