Chapter three

Weeks had passed since the Peytons' visit, and the pressure on Cassie continued to mount. Her wedding to Edward Peyton was rapidly approaching, and the weight of tradition bore down on her shoulders. She longed for the stolen moments with Alfred and the letters that had become her lifeline.

One evening, Cassie decided to sneak away from the cottage, her heart aching for a moment of solace. She knew it was risky, but she couldn't bear the thought of marrying Edward. The village square, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight, called to her.

As she walked past the old oak tree, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. It was Alfred, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and frustration.

"Cassie," he whispered, taking her hand gently. "We can't go on like this. I can't stand the thought of you with another man."

Tears welled up in Cassie's eyes as she looked into Alfred's earnest gaze. She felt the same torment, the same frustration that gnawed at their hearts. In that moment, she decided to take a risk, to follow her heart, no matter the consequences.

With a surge of determination, Cassie leaned in, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips to Alfred's. It was a stolen kiss, a moment of passion and desperation. Their lips met in a fiery embrace, and for a brief, fleeting moment, the world faded away.

Alfred, his pent-up frustration finally released, kissed her back with a fervor that matched her own. Their hearts beat in unison, a testament to the love they refused to surrender.

As they pulled away, their breaths ragged and their foreheads pressed together, Cassie whispered, "I love you, Alfred, and I'll find a way to be with you. I can't marry Edward."

Alfred nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "We'll find a way, Cassie. I promise."

In that stolen kiss, amidst the darkness and the weight of tradition, Cassie and Alfred found a glimmer of hope, a spark of love that refused to be extinguished. Their forbidden love had ignited a fire within them, a fire that would guide them on a path toward a future where their hearts could finally be free.

The stolen kiss had left Cassie and Alfred with renewed determination, but their path was fraught with challenges. They knew they needed a plan, a way to escape the clutches of tradition and be together.

Late one night, hidden in the shadows of the village square, Cassie and Alfred met to discuss their future. The moonlight provided a dim, yet comforting, illumination as they huddled close, their hearts racing.

"We can't let your wedding to Edward happen," Alfred whispered, his voice filled with urgency. "We need to find a way out of this."

Cassie nodded, her eyes reflecting the same determination. "I can't imagine a life with anyone else but you, Alfred. We must be together."

They began to hatch a daring plan, one that would require courage, resourcefulness, and a touch of cunning. The first step was to gather enough money to start a new life together. Alfred had been saving a portion of his earnings as a shepherd, and Cassie decided to sell some of her family's valuable heirlooms, without her father's knowledge, to add to their fund.

Next, they needed a place to go where they could be free from the constraints of Willowbrook. Alfred had heard of a distant village where tradition held less sway, and they decided to head there, far away from prying eyes.

The night before the wedding to Edward Peyton, Cassie and Alfred executed their daring escape plan. They met at the oak tree one last time, as Cassie clutched a small bag filled with their savings and a few cherished possessions.

Alfred held her close, his eyes filled with love and determination. "Cassie, I'll protect you with everything I have. Our love will overcome any obstacle."

Tears welled up in Cassie's eyes as she kissed him one final time in their secret meeting spot. "I trust you, Alfred. Let's go and start our new life together."

With that, they vanished into the night, leaving behind a village steeped in tradition and a world that had tried to keep them apart. Their love was a force stronger than any tradition, and they were determined to defy the odds and build a future where their hearts could finally be free.