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Chapter 10
Love can be great. But love can be scary. Love can hurt. But love can feel good. There are few to none that measure up to love. There is not a single fruit that tastes as sweet as the kiss of those we desire. There are no other bugs that can dance as graceful as the butterflies in our chests.
Matilda let her eyes run over the words with joy. She had never gone that long without reading a poem. Taking in the words felt like she had been drinking water after walking through a vast desert.
Love is to be fought for. It is the only war worth attending. For love will produce many battle scars and lessons. But in the end, the victor is everyone involved, for love takes no lives; it only gives.
That sentence confused Matilda in the best way. She loved having to look up from her pages to analyze the meaning, to think hard over what impact a line can have. What did it mean that love takes no lives, but it only gives? Perhaps, when someone finds love, they find their purpose. They embark on a journey that, in a way, fulfils their life. It made her think so much that she decided to ask Ann, not wanting to put Aaron on the spot and make him uncomfortable in front of her maid.
“Ann, may I ask you a question?”
Ann never looked away from her gaze out into the garden. “You never need to ask permission to ask me a question.” She said.
“Fair enough. The line in my book, ‘Love is to be fought for. It is the only war worth attending. For love will produce many battle scars and lessons. But in the end, the victor is everyone involved for love takes no lives, it only gives.’ What do you think it means?”
Ann gave Matilda a quick glance and scrunched her lips in thought. “Perhaps it means that you do not live until you have experienced love.” She quickly glanced at Aaron and then back to Matilda. “But that does not mean that there is any rush. Just because a book says something profound, that does not mean it is a requirement.”
Matilda made sure to let Ann see her roll her eyes.
Eventually, Aaron paused the phaeton so they could all lounge in the shade.
“If you don’t mind,” Ann gave Matilda a certain look that translated that she needed to relieve herself. “I will take a few moments for myself. That does not mean that the subject of love needs to fill the phaeton in my absence.”
Matilda wanted to roll her eyes once more but chose against it. “Very well. We will both be here when you return.”
Ann pursed her lips at Matilda and took her leave. Matilda instantly felt a surge of excitement fill her. It was rare that she and Aaron got a moment alone.
“We are alone, Aaron. Who would have thought after all that has happened?”
Aaron turned his body to face her but kept it turned enough to where it would not bring too much attention to them. Being caught alone together would not do them any favours by any means.
“Seeing you bashful around me makes me feel things,” Matilda said with a slight smirk as she watched Aaron’s face go red.
But Aaron straightened his face with a half-smile. No matter what he was going to say, Matilda knew that he enjoyed the forbidden banter just as much as she did. “We mustn’t speak to loudly of feelings, for they could travel to unwanted ears.”
“Fair enough, one other thing I enjoy,” Matilda continued. “Is the way you behave around Ann. Despite her being my maid, one who sometimes acts as the hand of my mother, she is also my friend. So, I appreciate just how respectful you are towards her.”
Aaron shrugged and made a face as if it was no big task. “I do the right thing. Someone who looks after you and seeks to protect you, even if they are a conflict against my wishes, is acting in your best interest. Therefore, I owe them the utmost respect.”
Matilda would swim in Aaron’s perspective on things if she physically could. The way he spoke on his beliefs always had such an easy-going passion that it made her want to be closer to him, like a cold body needing the sun.
“How did you develop the ability to be so sure of yourself?” Matilda asked. “There is never a moment where I sense doubt in your heart. You always seem to know the answer to everything.”
Aaron laughed while looking off in the garden. Despite the garden being acres of grass that could fit a small manor on the grounds, it could not contain the charisma that came from Aaron. His laugh alone was like a song to Matilda. And making him sing was an accomplishment.
“That is how you see things. And I am glad that you view me so. But I have my doubts all the time. I just squish them away until I don’t hear them any longer. There’s one story that I love about doubt.”
“Please tell it.”
There are two men walking in the desert. One walks behind the other. The one behind him continues to say that they will not find water. He tells the man ahead of him that he is foolish for walking and trying. This continues for miles until the man lagging behind gives up. The remaining man no longer hears the other doubting everything, so he is able to walk faster. And by the end of his journey, he finds a waterfall. Maybe if the other man had saved his energy for walking, he would have found the water too. That is why I don’t focus on my doubts. It is a waste of time.”
Matilda smiled and nodded. She loved the story and not only for the lesson but because it reminded her of Aaron. It encompassed everything that made him different from most; the sense of adventure, the willingness to persevere, the ability to not listen to others. She would never forget it.
“That story suites you.” She said. “But it would suit you even more if there was a kiss in it somewhere.”
The hue of red returned to Aaron’s face. “That is something that falls into the category of feelings, I would say, especially with Ann returning any moment.”
Matilda rolled her eyes. “Do you realize that we have not had a moment alone together since that kiss?”
