Caleb lifted his brow. “Why wouldn’t it be me?” he asked. “I am not going to give up being a spy just because I developed pesky feelings for Simone.”
“Those pesky feelings will have a way of revealing themselves, one way or another,” Fredrick advised. “You shouldn’t discount them so easily.”
“Regardless, Simone and I will wed, and we will go on as we have always been.”
Fredrick considered him for a moment before saying, “Marriage between you will change everything.”
“It will change nothing.”
“So say you,” Fredrick started, “but how can it not? You will be responsible for Miss Delacourt, and you will have to play the part of devoted newlyweds.”
Caleb shrugged. “That shouldn’t be a problem. I have pretended to be someone that I am not for many years now.”
“This is different. You will have to look upon Miss Delacourt as if you two are desperately in love,” Fredrick counseled. “After all, you wouldn’t want to give thetonanything to gossip about.”
“I can do that.”
Fredrick’s eyes grew reflective as he shared, “I used to think as you did- King and Country were the only things thatmattered. But it all changed when I killed a child on the battlefield.”
“I’m sorry,” Caleb said, unsure of what else to say.
“I didn’t think I was worthy of anything, especially love,” Fredrick stated. “I was determined to be alone, miserable, and make it on my own. I thought it was my penance for what I had done.”
Fredrick continued. “Fortunately, Emilia helped me see past all of that and gave me something back that I had thought I had lost years ago.”
“What was that?”
“Hope,” Fredrick replied. “Life without hope is not a life worth living.”
Caleb shook his head. “What do I need hope for?”
“A hope for a brighter future,” Fredrick replied. “Isn’t that what everyone wants? A future that doesn’t look as bleak.”
“I have a good life,” Caleb said. It was a true statement, but even he knew that something was missing from it. Was it hope?
Fredrick nodded in agreement. “You do, but you deserve to be happy, as well. You just need to believe that.”
“I don’t have time to worry about whether or not I am happy.”
“But what of Miss Delacourt’s happiness?” Fredrick asked. “Do you have time to ensure that she is happy?”
Caleb shifted his focus to the flickering flames of the fire. Fredrick’s words resonated with him. He might be indifferent to his own happiness, but Simone’s well-being mattered deeply. He would do whatever it took for her to be happy.
Rising, Fredrick said, “I have done enough preaching for one evening. I will leave you to it, whatever it is that you are doing.”
“I do appreciate what you are trying to do, but I know what I am getting myself into.”
Fredrick looked amused. “You are marrying MissDelacourt, a young woman who has managed to fool thetoninto believing she is something she is not.”
“Haven’t we all done that?”
“Yes, but Miss Delacourt can throw daggers,” Fredrick joked. “I would not want to get on her bad side.”
“I can handle Simone.”
Fredrick grinned. “I wish you luck with that.” He walked over to the door and stopped. “Having the courage to reveal one’s heart is one of the most daunting and rewarding experiences in life.”
After his friend departed, Caleb leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling. He knew his friend meant well, but his situation was different. He was marrying Simone, knowing it was not a love match.
