A Fool's Errand

Warren

There is something particularly satisfying about rendering Heron Ellis speechless. She gawks at me and I must say the ring looks rather pretty on her dainty hand, despite working the calloused skin from years of work, there is still a smoothness to her skin, soft to the touch if you hold her entire hand.

And for a moment she lets me do that, her mouth slightly open, lips perched into a look of abject confusion.

She reaches to pull the ring off, but I steady her hand, the pad of my thumb running across the cut diamond and I grin.

"I don't know what has possessed you, Mr. Astor," she bit out, all the grace and elegance of a dutiful patron being left with the breath she had been holding, "To think any of this was the least bit acceptable. But I am not marrying you."

"Nothing possessed me, it's a mutually assured protection."

She raised a brow, "You mean mutually assured destruction?"

"I mean what I said Heron, I need to get married and you need this shop of yours, consider it a wedding gift, for when you agree."

She scowled, wrenching her hand free, There was no laughter in her eyes, but there was definitely humour in mine, "Rather bold of you to think I will agree. And where has all of this come from. You're my landlord, not my friend. Not even remotely close to me. I can't just-" she huffed, a flash in her eyes, "I can't just marry a stranger."

I should not have felt a twist in my gut at that, should not have felt anything but what was usual for a pretty face.

There’s a reason you're asking her.

I shove the thought away.

“Stranger is a bit harsh isn’t it Heron?” I answer smoothly a glint in my eyes, “Strangers don’t do you favours unless you’re in the wrong part of town.”

Her face scrunched at that, “This has to be a joke. You’re not seriously asking me, are you? You’re just making fun of me because I haven’t paid you. You’re making me a fool-“

She turned away, a sheen of moisture in her eyes, as she tugged the ring off, settling it carefully on the counter.

“I will have the money, Mr Astor. I promise, and this will be the last time you’ll have to ask for it. I’ll have it on time every month this client-“ her smile returned for a moment. It was a shy thing that was perfectly in place, “They really believe in me. They’re ordering my entire range. That will sustain me for a while. So you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to humiliate me with this stupid-“

I ate the distance between us, two long strides and I was before her, “I’m not making fun of you Heron.”

“Yes you, are. You’re Warren Astor. You don’t need to come to me to get married you could ask anyone if you really need to, as you say. It’s not nice to “ she shook her head, “To just walk in here and demand something like that when you could have gone to anyone.”

She seemed sad, a broken sort of emotion overcoming her features.

I felt a trickle of shame run down my neck, as I stared at the dejection in her eyes. She pulled her hair up, thread tangled between her fingers, which she quickly twisted off, carefully tucking them away into a patchwork bag, with other scraps of fabric.

“Heron. I can’t just go to anyone. I need it to be believable for my father. All of the women I know would take the opportunity and run with it, but they could never convince my father. They’re not-“

“I’m not that fond of your opinion on other women. It’s hard you know-“

I quickly retracted my statement, “That’s not what I meant. Sure they’d be down to marry me. They might even enjoy it but that’s not what my dad wants. He wants someone…someone like you.”

She tilted her head slightly, assessing me, “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

“I need someone he will believe fell in love with me, for me, not my money.”

“And you think a struggling seamstress is the answer,” she laughed, a light airy sound that shot right through me.

This was far more difficult than I had intended it to be.

“The first thing they will call me is gold-digger.”

“I won’t allow it.” The answer was firmer than I intended it. It would be a ruse like any other, but Father would believe it.

“And besides, my Father thinks you’re the only decent person I lease to.”

She paused a second, lips pursed, “Your father knows who I am?”

“He’s odd like that, Walter Astor, he’s rather overbearing when it comes to my achievements.”

“And I’m that, an achievement,” her voice was less soft than it had been.

“Now you're just putting words in my mouth,” I grinned trying to win back the conversation which was failing miserably.

“Like you putting a ring on my finger.”

“Exactly,” I reached over to the winking diamond and carefully rested it back on her finger, “We could be great don’t you think, Heron?”

“And for how long, what if I don’t want to? What if I’m already in love,”

I knew it to be a lie, I wasn’t so reckless to not look into the woman I was potentially marrying.

“Now, I know that’s a lie. You’re married to your work.”

She nodded, a loose laugh I knew she never meant to let slip, leaving her lips.

Drawing a small grin from me.

“So you’re happy to be the third person in this marriage.”

“Absolutely,” I leaned forward, “Especially if it means, I can have you.”