If I was Going to Regret It Anyway

Nearly a year had passed since Eleanor returned to Wembury.

 

[Please come visit again. Next time, don’t just send someone else in your place or watch from afar. Come to our house for a meal, take a walk on the beach…and walk with me on my favorite walking course.]

 

Initially hesitant, Daryl was now making frequent visits to Wembury. Almost like a regular schedule, he made sure to visit at least once or twice a month.

 

No matter how busy the season, he would somehow manage to take four days off to have just one meal with Eleanor and then return.

 

[If it continues like this, it will be too hard on the Duke. It would be better if you only come when you can take at least a week off…]

 

Despite her concerns, each time she mentioned this, Daryl would look pitifully disheartened.

 

[If it makes you uncomfortable, I will try to restrain myself as much as possible…]

 

She couldn’t bring herself to agree with his dejected voice.

 

Once, when she had some free time, she suggested going up to the capital herself. But Daryl firmly shook his head.

 

[That doesn’t seem like a good idea. Perhaps the reporters might bother you again… It might be better to refrain from coming to the capital until people’s interest has died down a bit.]

 

Eleanor furrowed her brow slightly. Daryl bowed his head as if embarrassed.

 

[I’m sorry for putting you through this…]

 

[……]

 

Eleanor almost reflexively swallowed the words ‘it’s okay’.

 

To be honest, she wasn’t particularly bothered by attracting people’s attention or being unable to go to the capital because of it. However, saying it was okay here felt like forgiving the previous Duke for what he had done to her mother.

 

Even now, after realizing her love for Daryl and deciding to accept him, her thoughts remained unchanged. She could not forgive Frederick Lloyd. She would not forgive him.

 

Never.

 

Yet, she was happy that Daryl came to visit Wembury like this. The sound of horse hooves clattering and stopping outside the door, followed by him rushing into the mansion and finding Eleanor with an overjoyed smile, was too precious.

 

A letter that had arrived recently mentioned that Daryl would be visiting soon. This time, he would be able to stay for about three days, and his excitement was evident from his handwriting.

 

That day was today.

 

Eleanor gently smiled as she folded the letter back into the envelope. It was a letter she had read countless times over the past few days.

 

A few hours later, she finally heard the sound of a carriage arriving outside.

 

“They’ve arrived Miss.”

 

Peggy said with an excited expression.

 

“Okay. I’ll go down.”

 

As she went downstairs, she saw Daryl standing in the entrance hall, hat in hand.

 

He looked up at Eleanor. The corners of his mouth naturally curled up, and his eyes sparkled with joy and affection.

 

“Eleanor.”

 

Ah, yes. This moment.

 

“You’ve arrived, Daryl.”

 

Eleanor approached Daryl with a smile blooming like a flower.

 

“You must be tired from the journey. You must be hungry. I’ve prepared a meal.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Daryl hesitated for a moment, then alternately kissed Eleanor’s cheeks. It was something that had never happened before.

 

It was a light kiss, just a brush, but as his lips touched her, she felt heat rise to her face.

 

She couldn’t help but recall the day they had kissed. Just for one day, just that one kiss.

 

Eleanor involuntarily bowed her head, feeling both embarrassed and absurd for being conscious of such a meaningless peck on the cheek.

 

“…Shall we go?”

 

Eleanor quickly turned around and said. Daryl nodded and followed her.

 

****

 

After a slightly late lunch, Eleanor suggested that Daryl should rest because he must be tired. However, he shook his head.

 

“I want to see the sea.”

 

Daryl loved the sea view of Wembury the most. He said that looking at the endless horizon and listening to the sound of the waves crashing calms his mind.

 

Eleanor knew well that Daryl’s heart had been through many ups and downs for a long time. Although some were due to his own faults, Eleanor now wished for him to find inner peace.

 

Eleanor walked along the beach with Daryl. Emily, who usually followed Eleanor wherever she went, tactfully made herself scarce when Daryl was visiting.

 

“How is Miss Layla doing?”

 

“It seems so. We don’t communicate often, but no news is good news, they say.”

 

Since then, Eleanor had started exchanging letters with Layla again. Daryl had suggested a few times that Layla should come to visit Wembury with him, but she said it would be difficult due to circumstances. It seemed that being married, it wasn’t easy for her to travel far without her husband.

 

According to what Daryl had heard, Layla also had significant conflicts with her in-laws due to an article in the Daily Post. Fortunately, her husband Joshua was entirely on her side, but it seemed she was still facing quite a bit of scrutiny. Eleanor sincerely hoped for Layla’s happiness when she attended their wedding, so she honestly felt uneasy about it.

 

In fact, Layla had nothing to do with that incident. The same was true for Daryl. That was why Eleanor couldn’t completely hate and resent the people of the Duke’s family.

 

“Is there any news of an heir yet?”

 

“Not that I know of. If she were pregnant with the heir to the earldom, she would be treated differently.”

 

In truth, Eleanor had asked with the same thought in mind. The two walked along the beach in silence for a while.

 

Daryl was still unmarried. It seemed he was serious about not planning to marry in the future and that he intended to pass on the title of Duke Griffith to Layla’s child.

 

Likewise, there had been no significant progress in Eleanor’s relationship with Daryl. In fact, Eleanor knew that Daryl was being very cautious in that regard. He faithfully kept his promise to visit Wembury whenever he had time, but without Eleanor’s permission or signal, he seemed determined not to cross the line beyond ‘friendship’.

 

Eleanor fully understood why Daryl thought and acted that way. However, it wasn’t easy for her to make any moves first, as her guilt over her mother had not completely disappeared.

 

If only Daryl would passionately pursue her, covering everything, she would have no choice but to accept him.

 

‘…Wait, what am I thinking…’

 

Feeling her face warm up slightly, Eleanor unconsciously brought her hand to her cheek.

 

“The sky looks ominous.”

 

Suddenly, Daryl muttered. Looking up, the sky had become overcast with clouds that had gathered unnoticed. It had been clear when she left the mansion with Daryl.

 

“It looks like a shower might be coming. We should start heading back.”

 

“Oh, okay.”

 

They turned around and began to retrace their steps. But before they could even leave the beach, raindrops began to fall.

 

They hurried their pace, but the rain quickly grew heavier.

 

Daryl took off his jacket to cover Eleanor’s head, but it was far from enough to prevent her from getting wet.

 

“Miss Townsend, this way.”

 

Daryl led Eleanor to a small gazebo near the beach cliff.

 

“Are you alright? Did you get very wet?”

 

“Yes, I’m fine thanks to you covering me. But you, Duke…”

 

Daryl waved it off as if it were nothing and brushed back a few strands of hair that had become wet and fallen. His casual gesture somehow made her heart flutter.

 

The rain was pouring down. It seemed like a lie that there had been no sign of it just a moment ago.

 

“The rain came suddenly, so it won’t last long. Just bear with it a little longer. Are you cold? Any other discomfort?”

 

“I’m not uncomfortable at all. Don’t worry.”

 

Daryl took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Eleanor’s slightly wet forehead and cheeks. It was a very tender gesture.