Sadie's sudden absence from his life had hit Jeremy keenly. He'd been anxious in the week since he'd last called on her, pacing his floor, wracking his brain for any reason she would not want to see him. He'd called on her house the night after the Coming Out Ball, having not had a chance to see her there, and planning to follow through on their understanding. The small velvet box had been nestled in his breast pocket where his heart could thump it's thunderous pulse against it. Yet she was ill. His letters had gone unanswered each day cavernous between them. It had been a relief when she had at last written, and yet it had brought with it new worries. When she had asked for some time Jeremy began to wonder if he had been too hasty, if she were too young,. He knew his heart but did she know hers?

There was nothing that would have kept him away from calling (precisely at half past ten as his letter had specified) even the address that had been listed. Of course he had sought as much information as he could when he had received it and found that the Bixby family (of the flying accident last summer) resided there.

Taking a deep breathe Jeremy steeled himself as he entered the room. But there she was, well, and looking as much herself as ever. An unbidden smile crossed his lips even as his heart raced. But her words were so formal, as if the past few months had been nothing at all - as if her mind had changed. He was sure there was a flicker of pain on his face, but he did his best to hide it. He would allow her to lead this but his heart cried out, wanting to hear her say Jeremy, to give him the smile he had always known he could evoke from her. "Miss Sinclair." He bowed his head, his smile softer. He swallowed as he crossed over to the couch, but his resolve flickered and instead he turned and stepped toward her, his hands reaching out to clasp her own, "Sadie," Her name crossed his lips in a brush of air, soft as a whisper between them, "Tell me what's wrong." He gently squeezed her hands wishing he knew what to do, how to make whatever had happened better.