The air in the greenhouse had finally begun to settle after Robert and Cecilia had confessed their feelings. The two still stood facing each other, calmer now, though the faint echoes of emotion lingered in the warm, fragrant space.
After a long pause, Robert finally straightened. He wiped the last traces of tears from his face and offered Cecilia a small, tentative smile.
"Fiona took quite a while just to fetch your cloak, didn't she?" he said lightly.
Cecilia returned a soft smile.
"Don't be too hard on her, Robert. You know she only left so we could have some time alone."
Robert nodded. Cecilia could now see what had been invisible before: the gentle softness in his eyes whenever he spoke of Fiona.
"You're right. She didn't even know the etiquette of the palace once. Yet now… she can even care for others."
"Yes. She's endured a lot to reach this point," Cecilia replied.
