Free Miss Lacey's Love Letters by Caylen McQueen

makes me feel guilty. I want your happiness more than I have ever wanted anything. You are a good man, Noah Worthington, and no one deserves happiness more than you."
    Abigail leaned closer to his ear and whispered softly.
    "I give you permission," she said. "I give you permission to move on. Release yourself from the bonds of your memory, and live your life to the fullest. I love you, Noah." A tear trickled down her cheek as her speech ended. "I love you."
    Abigail hoped it would be enough. She hoped he would find the strength to become the man he was always meant to be.

    * * *

    As she stared at her aunt's body, tears fell silently over Valeria's cheeks. She wondered if they would ever stop falling.
    "I am so sorry, Miss Woll," Noah apologized for the twentieth time. "Terribly, truly sorry."
    "Your condolences are appreciated, Mr. Worthington." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, which was a useless maneuver. More tears were bound to fall, leaving her cheeks endlessly moistened.
    "It is more than condolences. I feel that I am at fault. I should have insisted on bringing a doctor."
    "And she kept insisting against it," Valeria reminded him. "If the fault lies with anyone, it should be me. I should have known her health was worse than she claimed." Her chest was collapsed by a sigh. "It makes me wonder how much she was hiding from me. It pains me to think she could not tell me the truth. She was... she was..." Suddenly, Valeria's entire body was wracked by a terrible sob. "She was my very best friend!"
    "I know." He wanted to comfort her, to hold her in his arms, but he was not sure she would welcome it. "My heart breaks for you. Truly."
    "I should have her body moved to London, so I can bury her with the rest of our family. She would want to be beside her husband, I would think."
    "Henry?" He waited for Valeria's nod. "I would have liked to meet him."
    "He was a good man."
    "And she was a good woman."
    "Indeed." Valeria clenched her fist as she fought off another sob. "I should return home and collect my belongings. I should take her to London as soon as possible."
    "Of course. And if there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know."
    Much later, when they were standing beside Lydia's horse-drawn hearse, Noah realized what their parting meant. More than likely, it meant he would never see her again. The thought made his heart ache, almost as much as Lydia's passing. He had been reluctant to let Valeria into his life, but he was devastated to see her leave.
    "Well..." Valeria hesitated in front of the carriage.
    Noah tried to smile at her, but the gesture was impossible. "Well?"
    "I suppose this is goodbye?" She fidgeted with her lacy black gloves, which were part of the mourning clothes she had donned.
    "I suppose it is." His throat was tight, as if an invisible stone had settled in it. "If you don't mind me asking, what will you do now?"
    "I'm not sure. I will be staying with my brother in London, at least for awhile. He and his second wife have young children... perhaps they will let me look after them?"
    "That doesn't sound so bad."
    "No..." Valeria couldn't bring herself to look at him. "In time, I might find work as a governess."
    "What about the man who proposed to you?"
    "Oh... Harold?! To be honest, I hadn't given him a thought." When she finally forced herself to look at Noah, she could feel her cheeks getting inflamed. "Lydia was the reason for my hesitation. The entire reason. I suppose this changes everything."
    "I...see. Will you be accepting his proposal, then?"
    "Perhaps." She turned toward the carriage. "Then again... perhaps not."
    She looked like she was ready to leave, so he opened the door and handed her into the carriage. "I am glad you came, Miss Woll. It was really lovely meeting you." His stomach churned at the formality of his words.
    "And it was lovely meeting you," she parroted him.
    "Again, I am sorry about your aunt."
    "As am I." The tears returned to her eyes, so she