Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

James didn't expect Finnegan's honesty, which made him go from looking calm to upset and a bit annoyed. "This isn't something you can joke about, Mister Finnegan." Finnegan wasn't scared, though. "If you think it's a joke, why are you so worried?"

Esther saw that the mood was turning bad, so she tried to calm things down. "Okay, okay. It's just a joke. Let's not fight over it, okay?"

James was mad at Finnegan and wanted to get back at him, but he decided to let it go because there were other people around. "Fine," he said, trying to hide his anger. Pearl nudged Esther. "You've been taking care of Finnegan for a while. James has spent a lot of time searching for you. Do you want to go home with him and rest?" Finnegan's fingers tensed up when he heard the word 'rest'.

"Sure." Esther quickly understood and left with James.

After they left, the mood lightened. Richard started a conversation with his old friend Finnegan.

"How did you end up being a secretary at the village?"

Richard remembered they had grown up together. Finnegan went abroad to study, worked at a publishing house when he got back, and then, for some reason, became a village secretary.

Finagle smiled. "Our publishing

house had a series of novels neede

a backdrop, so laske andet

dad to help me get the secretary

job."

Richard was amused. "So your dad just sent you over?"

"No, he didn't want to at first. But I convinced him. He said I have to come back after two years."

Richard looked worried about Finnegan's injuries. "Won't your dad be upset if you came back wounded?"

"I can't tell him I'm injured, or I might

lose my chance to work at the publishing house." Finnegan knew his father was tough but cared a lot. If he found out he was hurt, he'd want to avenge him and might even make him quit and close down the publishing house.

"I'll keep your secret. Just say you didn't like it there and you're traveling instead."

Finnegan trusted Richard to keep his word and playfully punched him. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. What's next for you? Will you go back to the publishing house?"

Finnegan nodded. "I will, but I've promised my dad I'd get engaged to whoever they choose after two years."

"Engaged?" Richard was surprised. "You've always loved your freedom. Why agree to marry someone you don't know?"

Finnegan had always had the most

freedom, and Richard envied I that

We couldn't believe he'd a let

to an

arranged marriage.

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