Chapter 60: Listen first, promise later.
"Agatha how can... goodness I had faith in you, you never disappointed me like this before?!
We cannot let Safa Marry James! From what I gathered He isn't going to make a good husband for her! Even if he's her friend!" Charlotte was beyond angry, shortly after what happened at the Vega manor, Lady Danbury found herself headed to see the queen.
At the moment, It has been sometime since her arrival and she took the time to explain everything that happened, finally revealing the identity of the mysterious man that she was supposedly helping.
As she sat calmly with one hand resting on her cane, "I am well aware that the new Lord Teaton is a poor match for Safa, but to be fair Your majesty he is a very smart man, and their union appears to be beneficial for both James and Safa...i must also admit that the man although questionable, has a cunning head between his shoulder.
if it wasn't for his intuition, we wouldn't have stumbled in our plan like this, he uncovered everything on a hunch.
But I do agree with you, if you really wish for Safa to have a good match, I believe Fabian would be much more suitable...
As for my role in this disaster, I believe that I did whatever I can at the moment, I have tried to the best of my ability and yes I have caused a mess, huge infact, but it wasn't my intention your majesty.
Whatever happens next, we can only hope that Fabian will be able to fulfill his promise and find a way to convince Safa to marry him.
I sincerely believe he's a better match for many reasons, even James himself believes he stands a chance." Agatha replied.
"I know I keep saying that love can come later on in marriage, I even fed Safa the same speech but when you said there is a man who seems to have fallen madly for her and that she seemed interested in him, I genuinely thought this would turn into a love story...that maybe this would make her happy...
Not war waging mad?!" Charlotte replied.
"I suppose had Fabian not come to my house, I would have found a way to convince James that Fabian was completely innocent... although I do believe he is." Agatha stated.
"That Fabian, he isn't bright isn't he...he either has serious bad luck or he's the biggest fool in this story!
'I choose you to be my wife' what kind of man says such thing in such situation?! Was he out of his mind?! Did he think it was romantic?
Safa is not the sort of person who is going to forgive such humiliation easily?!" Charlotte said fuming.
"Fabian was just emotional like most men in love are, he will come to his senses when he calms down, and hopefully he will also apologize for his rash behavior...I wish I can advise him to do so myself but just like Safa, he tends to hold grudges and currently holds one against me.
Which in hindsight, makes me wonder...will Colin be alright now that Fabian knows the truth?" Agatha wondered.
Grunting, "Ugh Great, if he also holds a grudge against his only friend in this entire nation, Fabian will be completely out of our control... maybe we should abandon that idiot and find another man, this time we need one that can keep his emotions in check." Charlotte said.
"Or perhaps not yet...I believe Fabian can achieve something and there might be a way for us to at least keep an eye on him, and if we are lucky enough we may be able to influence him as well.
In fact not just him, we may be able to get to Safa too." Agatha replied.
"And what is it this way?"
"The help, Miss Gertrude and that Boy Wolfgang, they both obviously want what's best for Safa especially Wolfgang.
The boy seemed rather in too much disbelief when Safa said she'd marry James, he was sure she would grant Fabian a chance and it would appear that he thought highly of both me and Fabian before today's incident.
Turned out Wolfgang and Fabian share some similar life milestones, so he was rooting for our emotionally damaged man.
I think Wolfgang may be wishing for Safa to be in a love marriage." Agatha explain.
"That's quite interesting, And what about the maid, Gertrude?" Charlotte asked.
"She is the closest female figure in Fabian's life, she also knew Safa from years ago and it was thanks to her that Fabian and Safa met in the first place.
She was a key factor onto how I came with the bet idea, she was heavily against using James's sister to get to Safa, I believe Gertrude can make sure that Fabian treats Safa with more delicacy and honesty since she also seems to dislike men mistreatment towards women." Agatha explain further.
Nodding, "I see...so in your opinion, shall we reach out to them and ask for their assistance now or wait a little bit?" Charlotte asked.
"Let's leave things to calm down a little, If you wish so your majesty, I shall do it myself in few days... although I have somewhat betrayed the reputable image Wolfgang have of me, but I shall try to patch things and enlist his and Gertrude's help." Agatha replied earning another nod.
"Well then you have my blessings, let's hope thesw two can make this spring less...cold." Charlotte said, but she soon farrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"Is something wrong your majesty?"
"I... keep thinking about her, the girl? James's sister?...I don't think I ever heard of her?...the Teatons were a very reserved family for sure, and I had met the couple I assume to be James's parents many years ago.
But by then, it would have been a known fact that they had a daughter, yet they never mentioned any other children besides that troublemaker James."
Surprised by the queen's words, yet remembering how Clara looked at her earlier, "Pay that girl no mind your majesty, at the moment all we need to focus on Safa." Lady Danbury said in an attempt to change the subject, and she was successful.
Charlotte didn't really care to know what's Clara's deal, "Yes...well, you shall do what we agreed upon, ask the servants for help when time comes and it is for the best that you keep your distance from Safa from now on, I know you may feel inclined to apologize again to her but I don't want her to be back in the wheelchair again.
It's a miracle she didn't collapse when you were there." She replied.
With a polite smile, "Very well then your majesty." Agatha said.
...Meanwhile...
Since his return home, Fabian has locked himself in his workshop.
Gertrude whom he didn't even acknowledge when she welcomed him back, was worried sick, she knew something wrong must've happened but she can't find out why when there's a closed door keeping her and Fabian apart from each other.
But she began to experience relief when she heard the familiar cheerful voice of one Colin Bridgerton coming towards her.
"I assume that I'll find Fabian inside, working on a new project?" He asked.
"You are back! Good! Maybe you can solve this mystery!" Gertrude replied.
Taken back, "What mystery? Did something happen with Fabian?" Colin asked.
"I suppose so but he's not saying what! When he came back he completely ignored me...I think he was crying, I'm not sure I barely caught a glimpse of his face before he ran to the carpentery room." Gertrude explained.
Worried, "Thank you for letting me know...Do you mind giving us privacy?" He asked.
"Well good luck with that, I'm sure he locked the door... classic young master." Gertrude replied before she walked away.
Once gone, Colin began knocking at the door, "Fai? It's me, Col? I came to check on you, I know Safa refused to see you today." He said hoping for a response.
But there was none.
Colin could hear someone banging on some wood inside, it seemed like Fabian was either ignoring him or maybe couldn't hear through the noise, so he tried again.
Again, no response.
When he decided to try his luck one last time, "Fabian, did something happen? Why are you not responding, i can hear you work in there!"
Suddenly the noise inside stopped, and in few seconds, a click sound happened before the door swung open violently.
"Fabian!" Colin said worried, he wasn't sure why he felt nervous all of the sudden, maybe it was because Fabian in a dirty apron and a hammer in hand, was glaring him down.
In an emotionless voice, "What do you want." Fabian said coldly.
"Fai... what's wrong?"
"I am angry, I think my face makes it obvious."
Shocked, "What happened?" Colin asked.
"Well...you happened I suppose? I know That you and lady Danbury planned to use me together." Fabian replied crossing his arms together.
Colin looked at him in confusion at first before he realized what Fabian was referring to, "Alright I'm sorry I admit I did trick you into using lady Danbury's help, but unlike her, I really wanted you to find love and marry someone!" He replied.
"I know..."
"Then...will you forgive me?"
"Colin I am angry, humiliated and what you and lady Danbury have done resulted in a mess that I have to clean on my own." Fabian replied.
"Wait what mess?" Colin asked.
"Safa found out about everything...she says she will still allow me to court her but at the same time announced her engagement to James, denying me any hope..." Fabian explain while still glaring.
Colin's eyes went wide Open, "That must be a joke?! You did nothing wrong to deserve this punishment?!"
"I know."
"I'm...so sorry I had no idea things would turn out this way...is there anything I can do to fix the situation?!"
Fabian glanced at him knowingly, "I will forgive you, If you promise to help me with something, it needs to be done as soon as possible."
"Of course anything! I promise you, we'll fix this together." Colin immediately replied.
"Remember... you just promised." Fabian said his stare has started to slowly worry Colin that he might be planning something he'll regret promising to.
...some time later...
"Wolf..."
"..."
"Wolf I know you feel awful but I don't think you should be hard on yourself like this!" James said, he was fed up with his lover silently managing his anger in the form a deep frown while he cooked them dinner.
As he paced angrily from a corner to another in the kitchen, Wolfgang did his best to ignore James who was worried about him, but it wasn't possible anymore.
"James please....I need a moment with myself, you don't have to worry about me, just go."
"I can't do that wolf."
Dropping what he was doing angrily, "Just go already! I don't want to hurt you, I already done enough!" Wolfgang replied.
"No! I won't allow you to carry the blame All alone, you only had good intentions, you had no idea things would turn ugly, and if anything I should've never brought those two with me but I had promised Safa to be honest no matter what.
What happened wasn't your fault and when you think about it, this is how things should've been from the start.
My marriage to Safa will be the best thing to happen to all of us, I can move here permanently me and Clara, we can live together and be happy together.
This is what I want, what Safa and Clara want and I know, this is your desire too." James said smiling lovingly at Wolfgang.
Sighing, "I suppose you're right...still, I can't help but feel uneasy about something..." Wolfgang replied.