After speaking to Simon, Dan waited until Nolwazi was done with her meetings. When they met up, she listened to his story attentively, and only spoke when he was done. “So, that’s why your shirt today is yellow?” she asked.

“Bright yellow,” Dan responded with a sigh. “Apparently this is my life from now on.”

“Nonsense, just buy some new white shirts,” Nolwazi said.

“My old shirts were fine. If Jefferson …” Dan said.

“There’s nothing I can do about Jefferson,” Nolwazi said. “Nor is there anything you can do. It’s best you accept what he’s done and move on within his bounds.”

“Within his bounds?” Dan asked.

“Well …” Nolwazi responded.

“Within his bounds? I’ve been following his rules to the letter!” Dan said. “I haven’t said a word of love or attraction since I received his letter. I haven’t even winked at Celeste, and she’s been winking at me constantly ever since she got here.”

“And you wanted to be flirting with everyone?” Nolwazi asked, raising her voice. “You wanted to start cavorting with …”

“I wanted to … I was in love with you, Nolwazi!” Dan said.

Nolwazi stopped mid-sentence. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.

Dan flushed. It occurred to him that it was very probable that Jefferson was listening in on their conversation (not certain, but probable). It also occurred to him that it was the first time he had ever used the word “love” with Nolwazi. When they were young, he had often thought about it, but he had been too shy to use it. And when they reunited, he had barely spoken to her more than once or twice before receiving the letter from Jefferson. He had not had the time.

But he thought she must have known. Everyone at the hotel gossiped about how gone he was over her. But it had remained unspoken between them until that moment. It had been a polite little secret, but she must have known.

Nolwazi finally spoke. “You … were? In love with me?” she asked.

“Yes, very much so. If that blasted …” Dan said.

“Were,” Nolwazi interrupted. “Then, you’re not in love with me anymore?”

“I, that is, what, I …” Dan said. “What sort of a question is that to be asking me when I’m supposed to be deep in celibacy?”

“Do you love me now or not?” Nolwazi asked.

“Of course I do,” Dan responded.

“Then … but then why haven’t you said anything?” Nolwazi asked. She was looking at Dan with a frown and wide eyes, half scolding and half confused. Dan was unsure how to respond, so he shrugged in response. “I thought you were done with me. Why didn’t you say anything?” Nolwazi asked.

Dan finally found his voice after a while. “The letter,” he said. “You told me to do as Jefferson said.”

“Of course I did! I was the one who told him to put that clause in,” Nolwazi said.

Instead of saying anything, Dan blinked in response, and Nolwazi crossed her arms.

“I …What?” Dan stammered, taken aback.

“I told him I thought you might fall for someone else, and I told him I didn’t want that to happen,” Nolwazi said. “I told him I could not stand the thought of you with someone else, and that it would break my heart if that happened. I told him that I was worried that, even if you wanted me, you would only use me for … like your brother uses Celeste. He asked what he was supposed to do about it, so I told him to send you that note. When I had spoken to you about him, you had taken my words seriously. I thought you would take his directions to you equally so.”

“But surely you knew it would prevent me from courting you,” Dan said.

“Your taking me seriously was hardly likely,” Nolwazi responded.

Dan shook his head before responding. “You lied to me,” he said.

“No, I only told Jefferson what I wanted him to write,” Nolwazi said. “I’m sure his threats were genuine, he’s very protective of me, after all. Besides, he likes what he’s seen of you. He wouldn’t want you to lower yourself.”

“Lower myself?” Dan asked.

“He wouldn’t want me sleeping with a colleague,” Nolwazi responded. “He doesn’t want you sleeping with the entire village.”

“Because you said so?” Dan asked.

“Well, he’s possessive once he gets attached. He gets an idea into his mind and … well, it was mine initially but … In any case,” Nolwazi said. “If you tried to woo another woman, I’m sure things would go badly.” She then stepped closer to Dan. “But Daniel. He was always open to the idea of you and me. You are in love with me … I can talk to him …”

Dan shivered. “You lied to me,” he said, then he turned away. “You manipulated me. You are not the woman I thought you were.”

Nolwazi did not say anything as he walked out the door.

***

Tell us: Do you think Dan will ever forgive Nolwazi for lying to him?