Daff was watching him carefully; there were so many possibilities of what could happen next, but she had not expected him to say something like that. It had been her to end things and she still regretted that, but he had been the one to set the boundaries of keeping it that way. Even back in January when she admitted she still loved him, nothing had come if it. Poor timing on her part certainly, but they hadn't spoken since either and owls went both ways.

Stunned into a momentary silence, Daff didn't know what to say. Of course she missed him, she still loved him, she wanted him here, part of this, part of her life, but there was still something he wasn't telling her that was holding him back. Not to mention her affection was not entirely his anymore and that complicated things further.

The truth of it was there, still staring them in the face and it wouldn't change anything, but she found herself replying in kind, "I miss you too. I hate this." She did miss him and this distance between them was miserable, but only he had the power to fix it.

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He knew, of course, that they both hated this — but it was still nice to hear her say it. Noble's expression softened. They both hated it. They both missed each other. What else was there to say, alone in this building that would eventually be her shop?

"We can't marry each other," Noble said. He would ruin her life, and that just wasn't an option — she deserved better.

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set by Bee

Here they were again, having the same conversation, the same feelings, just in a new place. "Why? We miss one another, we love one another, we hate what we've been doing. I would wait for as long as you needed me to if you would just tell me why. Just tell me whatever it is you think is big enough to ruin everything we planned." Her voice held that miserable, pleading resignation to it that she loathed to hear leave her lips. It was pitiful and she knew it, but she couldn't help it.

Daff took a couple of hesitant step toward him, trying to read his expression. The memories of that night in his workshop came flooding back; her thoughts hadn't changed on the matter, even if she wavered on her resolve sometimes. She would have waited and still would if he asked her to, but she couldn't do it blindly with no end in sight. Something had to give. Either he told her or they really couldn't see one another anymore. "Please just tell me."

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He shouldn't tell her. He couldn't tell her. It was a massive betrayal of the family's trust to tell her, and he'd given it up once before.

He was going to tell her.

"We could never get married," Noble said carefully, "Because I'll never be able to afford to be married." He stared at her, after he spoke. Hopefully this would be enough for her to grasp it: there was no money. And when Ford and Noble were eventually buried under their father's debts because everything came crashing down around them, Noble would not allow anyone else to get hurt.

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set by Bee

Daffy blinked at him. Money. This was about money. All of that pain and heartache and suffering because of money. Didn't he know her better than that? Hadn't he just heard her say she had financed this place almost completely by herself? That she would soon own it? That her family was comfortable enough to help her realize this dream? She was going to be financially independent if this went somewhere. They could be financially independent.

"Thank you," She managed, throat tight and blinking back tears. Finally, he'd told her and she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. "Money does not have to dictate a marriage, it certainly doesn't have to dictate ours, Noble." She sighed softly, taking another step closer. They were standing far closer than they had in a long, long time. "Even if you cannot afford it, I can." Her voice was hardly more than a whisper and she was still somewhat pleading, but at least she could breathe in the fact that she knew what the problem was.

"I'm not just not saying that either." She glanced around the unfinished shop. It's potential could be theirs, not just hers. "Even if I couldn't, I don't care. I would rather live trying making ends meet every week with you, than to not even try." Merlin did she ever mean that. He had to see that, right? He might be ready to throw in the towel over it, but she wasn't, especially not now knowing what the roadblock was.

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Noble shook his head at her. "It's not just about us," he said. Maybe — maybe — she would have been able to support the shop and the two of them, but — this wasn't about Daffodil and Noble. This was about the Greengrass family, and Daff would have never been able to support two struggling debutantes and Noble's mother. Noble knew the math too well, knew the debts too well — there was no world where she could have her shop and him at the same time.

"I'm not going to ruin your life," he said. Hesitantly, he reached out and put both his hands on her upper arms. "Not even if you want to let me."

He loved her too much to let her into his life like that.

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set by Bee

"Of course it isn't just about us, Noble, I know that." He was responsible for his sisters and the family estate, along with his brother. His family was nearly as large as hers, but one of his sisters had just gotten married, the other just debuted, things couldn't be that bad. "What do you want me to do, let you walk away? I tried that once, and look where we are." They were still whispering about an uncertain future, alone, almost touching, trying to avoid the inevitable without a plan. "I will sell this building right now to marry you tomorrow. Every sickle I have in my savings, every knut of my dowry, and then I will keep working to make more if that's what it takes." The Potts family was by no means upper class, but they weren't hard up either. They had a successful shop, two married sisters out on their own, her father was hired for his research and wrote books. It could be done, even if they needed help.

Daffy took another step closer, stopping just shy of connecting with him. "I want to try, you have to see that. I don't need easy, I don't need to be a housewife with a big manor full of staff or fancy dresses to host tea, look at me," She gestured to the paint on her apron, her loose hair and worn dress. "I just need you."

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The following 1 user Likes Daffodil Grimstone's post:1 user Likes Daffodil Grimstone's post
   Calla Potts

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He never should have gotten as involved with her as he did. Noble understood this now; he never should have proposed to her. It had always been unrealistic, but now it was impossible, because she would have to give up so much for him and it still wouldn't be enough. "I can't let you do that," he said, "I won't."

She was so close, and Noble edged forward, because he wanted to touch her. "We need to let this go." (This was the closest they'd been in a year. They were alone. He couldn't marry her, but —)

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set by Bee

If he wouldn't let her do it, why were they still standing so close? They were on the edge again and this time Daffy was not going to back away and run. She had learned her lesson the hard way, had tried to do it her way (which had now become his way...) and it hadn't worked, so she was going to dig her heels in and stand her ground. "No, I won't." Daff turned her chin up at him almost defiantly, her eyes intent on his, searching for something, beseeching him to change his mind.

"I will not watch you drown when there is something I can do about it. Even if all I can do is make sure you don't go through it alone." Gently she laid a hand on his arm, fingers sliding down until she found his hand. "Please."

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She was looking into his eyes and holding his hand, and Noble knew that he couldn't marry her. He squeezed her hand. "You're going to have a flower shop and marry Grimstone and you're going to be happy," he said, "No matter what happens today."

Even if he wasn't backing up; there was no forever here, and he knew it.

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set by Bee

It was as if he'd punched her right in the stomach, the wind knocked clean out of her. Elias. He'd only been a passing thought and for that she'd felt guilty. He mattered of course, mattered to her and if this conversation wasn't happening, she may have been happy to do just as he said. Noble had made it very clear in January that he would rather keep his secrets than give her a chance, but in the matter of minutes, here, alone in her shop, he had told her and she could see the light at the end of their tunnel if he would just let her back in.

Daffy clung to him, bringing her other hand to hold onto his sleeve in case he had any ideas of escaping. She had to choose her next words very carefully. Clearly he already knew she was spending time with Elias, or had been, not as of late, but that was neither here nor there. Daffy was not ashamed of it, nor was she going to deny it; in a round about way, it was what Noble had wanted her to do, find a way to be happy. However, the reality of it was, as much as she did care about Elias, and she truly did, he was absolutely lovely in every way, she loved Noble in a way that could not be measured against anything or anyone else.

"What if I don't want that?" She whispered, leaning in. "What if I would willingly give all of that up to keep you here, with me, in this shop that could be ours, upstairs in that little two-bedroom flat, and a rooftop garden, with a leaky faucet and drafty windows? Because that is what I want, and I would choose you over and over, money or no money, and every responsibility that comes with it." Daff would give up everything for him, even though he didn't want her to, even if he thought it would ruin them, she simply would not crumble.

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He was stuck here with her hand on his sleeve, and he was still sure. "I would never forgive myself," he said, "Never." It wasn't going to be as easy as she thought, and eventually she would resent him — because he would ruin her, and her finances, and her life. She deserved someone who could provide for her so she could do whatever she wanted, and that meant that she did not have to be tied to the Greengrass family.

"We're going to be alright," Noble said, "But we're not going to be together."

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set by Bee

It appeared it was going to be a battle of wills and she just could not wrap her head around why he wouldn't just bend, just a little. Her grip on him tightened as the tears in the corners of her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm not alright without you," She admitted, voice wavering as the tears threatened to spill. "I can meet new people, I can buy a building and try to make something out of it, but it is not the same without you. Can't you see that? I am barely keeping it together, they're just distractions, things I am trying to use to fill this empty void where you belong." That was it, at the base of it all. Daff needed things like the gallery opening and flower show and this shop to keep her busy. When she had too much time to think about it, she started to sink into what could have been, what could still be if he would just let it!

"I- I-" Daff was too tongue-tied to try and think about what else she could say to get him to listen to her. Everything was such a mess and she hated it had to be this way. The frustration bubbled up, but instead of coming out in words she pushed up to her tiptoes, tugging on his sleeve to pull him down, and pressed her lips to his, pouring everything she couldn't think to say into the kiss instead.

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Noble would never have anticipated doing this if someone had asked him a few hours ago, but it happened anyways — he put his hands on Daff's shoulder, leaned into the kiss, and then gently pushed her away. "Enough," he said, with emphasis. She could go have her own life and be set — if they were both unhappy now that was fine, but he wasn't going to risk them being unhappy for the rest of their lives.

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set by Bee

Daff thought for one blissful moment that he'd given in. The kiss reminded her of happier times and it gave her hope. But then she felt his hands at her shoulders and he was pushing her back.

One word cut right through her and she crumbled.

Hot tears sprang into her eyes as she curled her fingers into the fabric of his coat. "Please don't do this," She pleaded. It was an undignified sort of sob as she scrambled to find the words. "I've regretted leaving ever since I did it. Please. I can't do this without you." She could pretend all she wanted, could make it look like she was moving on, but she still struggled. Even though she'd made another connection, it wasn't the same as this. Nothing was the same. "Noble please, I can't do this anymore, don't leave me."

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His temper flared under his skin; he kept it in check, but he felt it there, something in his blood.

"I can't do this again," Noble said, stepping away; and he knew that he couldn't. Not the secret relationship, not the scandal, not marriage — he couldn't do it. He kept his hands in his pockets, but he was stepping back, trying to get her hands off his coat. "I'm not doing this again."

He loved her still, or maybe he didn't, but even if he did — it wasn't enough anymore.

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set by Bee