When Noah was on his way here, it would be a lie if he said that the thought hadn't crossed his mind that there was a possibility of another man in Anaya's life. Nonetheless, it wasn't any less disappointing, especially the sight of the man kissing her hand.
On the other hand, instead of paying attention to Mr. Grimes, Anaya's eyes were fixed on Noah as she tried to wrap her head around the truth that he was alive and not dead anymore.
Mr. Grimes turned to look at Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, "Please let me know if you need a carriage to go to the church tomorrow. I would be more than happy to arrange another carriage of mine. What do you think, Lady Anaya?"
Anaya tore her gaze away from Noah and shook her head to gather her scattered thoughts. She replied, "That is very kind of you, Colt. But I think my parents will ride in our family carriage."
Noah noted how Anaya addressed the man by his first name, and he could piece it together that he had perhaps missed his chance? The man smiled to show his perfectly aligned teeth, and from where Noah stood, he could tell that the man was a gentleman. Sensing his gaze, Mr. Grimes asked Mr. and Mrs. Chambers,
"Forgive me, who is this?"
Mr. Chambers turned to look at Noah and introduced them, "Mr. Grimes, this is Duke Noah Sullivan."
"I think I must have heard about you though it's not ringing well exactly where and when," Mr. Grimes smiled at Noah before stepping closer and offering his hand to the Duke. He introduced himself, "I am Colt Grimes." As if in realisation, he turned to look at Anaya and said, "I don't have any wedding cards back in the carriage, but if you don't mind--"
"I am not sure if the Duke has the time to attend the wedding," Mrs. Chambers said to Mr. Grimes, who raised his eyebrows.
"Please, you must come, Duke Noah," Mr. Grimes insisted, and he said, "The guests of the Chambers family are my family. What do you say?" He asked Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, who nodded, before turning to look at the person in question.
Noah wasn't sure how he felt attending Anaya's wedding to this man. He had given his first love away, having Eve walk down the aisle. He didn't want to attend the second wedding of the woman whom he had considered marrying.
"I would like you to attend the wedding, Duke Noah." This time it was Anaya who invited him to the wedding. She said, "It is just a matter of a day. Unless you have something important to do."
"You can stay here with us in our mansion, Duke Noah," Mr. Chambers insisted.
Noah noticed Anaya stare at him, and he finally agreed to it.
"Wonderful!" Mr. Grimes exclaimed, clapping his hands and then leaned forward and kissed Anaya's cheek and said, "I have a lot of things to do. Later then." Mr. and Mrs. Chambers walked Mr. Grimes out of the door, while Anaya and Noah stood there looking at each other.
Anaya said, "Your tea must be getting cold. Would you like some refills?"
"I think I am better suited for cold tea than the hot ones," Noah responded before the two of them took their seats opposite each other.
"How strange," Anaya remarked and said, "I was sure you liked it steaming hot. It made me wonder if it didn't burn your tongue."
"I didn't know you took note of such things. After a while you don't feel the heat as it is never enough," Noah politely replied to her words, and the smile that Anaya's lips held slowly disappeared.
During her stay in Woodlock at Sullivan's mansion, Anaya had learned quite some things about Noah and his family. His words brought sadness, and she asked him,
"What are you doing here, Duke Noah? I don't remember when was the last time you had your work in the West."
"Sometimes you have to make time for certain kinds of works," Noah replied.
"Did your work go well?" Anaya asked him, staring into his eyes.
"Unfortunately, no. I don't think so," Noah watched her pour herself tea from the kettle into the teacup. He asked her, "Mr. Grimes seems to be a decent man."
"He is," Anaya nodded in agreement. "He is a good man, a little friendly. We met at a soiree that my parents had taken me to after returning from Woodlock."
"Hm," Noah hummed without touching his teacup.
Unable to keep her questions, Anaya asked him, "How are you alive, Duke Noah? Were my eyes deceived?"
"It is a little complicated," Noah replied, turning to look at the door.
Anaya turned to look at the door, where her eyes fell on the shadows on the floor.
Outside the room, Mr. Chambers and Mrs. Chambers stood next to the wall to listen to their conversation as they were curious as to what was going on. But it seemed evident that the Duke had come to visit their daughter today, and they decided to give them some space in the room, while they took the space outside to eavesdrop on them.
"Father, mother. I hope you don't mind having a private conversation with Duke Noah, do you?" Anaya asked her parents, who whispered to each other about something before they stepped in front of the room.
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Chambers agreed. "We will be in the dining room. Oh, also, Duke Noah, would you want us to send our coachman to gather your luggage, from where you are staying?"
"My coachman will get it. Thank you for accommodating me here," Noah offered a bow from where he sat.
Mrs. Chambers replied, "Let us get to it right away. Mr. Chambers," she pulled her husband's hand, dragging him through the hallways.
Mr. Chambers questioned, "I thought you didn't like him after he broke our daughter's heart. You even went as far as to confuse him."
"I wouldn't go that far. I thought he only deserved to hear that our daughter is a desirable, smart and a good woman. He should know that many men seek out her hand. After all, he did break our darling girl's heart. If he's willing to change his mind, then it should be fine, no?" Mrs. Chambers seemed to have changed her tune, as this was regarding her daughter's life, and she laughed at the end.
"You forget that we are dealing with a ghost," Mr. Chambers reminded his wife, and the smile on her face.
"You are right..."
Back in the parlour room, once her parents left, Anaya said to Noah, "You must already know that I am very understanding when it comes to complicated things."
A small smile cracked on Noah's lips, and he replied, "That is true." He took a deep breath and then said, "To be short, the man whom I thought was my uncle turned out to be my father, the woman who was my mother didn't care enough when I died and it ended with her being executed. About why I am alive, it is because of Eve. She was the one to bring me back to life."
Anaya's eyebrows rose. After a minute's silence, she then said, "If you are okay with it, I would like to hear the long version of it."
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