It took Simon a few moments to absorb what had just happened. He knelt there in the near darkness, blinking silently in disbelief as his world collapsed around him. Without a good reference his future prospects looked grim, and his love was leaving without even a word of protest against her mother. All was lost. He stood up slowly with an expression of disbelief.<br/><br/>Still struggling to make sense of his situation, Simon extended one hand towards Katherine as she retreated. When she looked back she saw Simon reaching out to her with pleading eyes. Apparently unmoved, she turned away from him for what would prove to be the final time. It was then that Simon knew that he was finished.<br/><br/>At one point she may have actually loved him, but still she was incapable of standing up to her mother. Simon understood then that he had been so incredibly stupid. An icy sensation washed over him as he realized that their affair was all a game for Katherine – a game that had consumed his livelihood. Checkmate.<br/><br/>Once Kathleen was out of sight Simon had a faint flicker of hope return to him. Maybe she would meet him later and agree to elope? Even if there was only the faintest of chances he decided he needed to take it. A confrontation with Victoria, he reasoned, was then his last best hope to prove to Katherine how he felt. Simon cleared his throat and prepared to assail the Dragon Lady with reason. When he finally spoke up Simon talked loudly enough for Katherine to hear him – shouting with the desperation of someone with nothing to lose and the surety that comes from the arrogance of youth.<br/><br/>“You can dismiss me, you can forbid me to see Katherine – but you cannot stop what is right, what is fair or love itself. Yes I am from a poor family but I was raised to be a man of character. I love your daughter, and I would treat her like a princess, even if we lived as paupers. Furthermore, she would rather be my husband and have nothing, than be sold off to some prince like chattel for the sake of your family reputation. You –<span style="font-style: italic">your grace</span>…” he added with disdain, “who values nothing except wealth and power. What about Katherine’s feelings? She is your own flesh and blood – does what she want count for naught? How can you be so cruel?!?”<br/><br/>As soon as he finished his speech Simon fell completely silent. Fire raged in his eyes, but fear had taken hold of his heart. Perhaps he had gone too far.