Faint Heart/Fair Maids
A William Fiction
By Jody E.
These characters don't belong to me...well, actually most of them DO! But William and Cecily are borrowed from Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I merely toy with them for my own amusement.
I have also shamelessly stolen a scene or two from Fool for Love…you will know it when you see it.
Chapter 1
A London Suburb 1879
"William," the weary voice stopped him at the doorway, "Could you please fetch me my shawl? I feel a slight chill."
"Certainly, Mother." William, his escape thwarted, brought the soft blue shawl over to his mother who sat in her rocking chair, staring listlessly out the window.
He looked out the window at the gray sky, "Do you think it might snow again, Mother? The weather has been quite cold these past few days."
His mother sighed, as though trying to work up the strength to reply. "I believe it may, indeed, William. Perhaps you should stay indoors this afternoon."
'Nonsense, Mother," William replied heartily, "The fresh air is quite bracing and good for the constitution. You should try it. Doctor Savage said that it would do no harm. We could go out for a walk."
She smiled sadly, "No, I don't think so, dear. Not today. But you go. I will be fine here. Perhaps, Betsy could bring me a cup of tea?" William went over to the bell pull, and rang for the maid. He waited for her to come in to the parlor, ordered the tea and a plate of cakes.
"You should be all set now, Mother."
"Thank you William. You are too good to me."
'Nonsense, Mother." He leaned down and kissed her pale cheek. She was not really ill, except for a slight aenemia, but when Williams' father died, it was as if her very essence had been drained away, leaving a fragile shell of a woman who could barely go through the motions of living. It was a tragedy, thought William, especially since his father had died nine years ago, when William was fifteen, and Mother had shone no real improvement in all this time. William didn't mind for his own sake for he had his memories of the vivid laughing woman who had made his childhood such a joy. But he minded for the sake of his fourteen-year-old sister, Amanda, who had largely missed the mother William had known and instead had grown up with the distant ghost in the rocking chair.
His reverie was broken by a loud clattering in the hallway. Too loud to be Betsy with the tea, it could only be one person. Sure enough, a moment later Amanda burst into the room, her new ice-skates dangling from her hand.
"William! Just the person I've been looking for! Good afternoon, Mother." Amanda bent over and dutifully kissed her mother's cheek. Her mother murmured a greeting.
William laughed, "Amanda, how noisy you are! And why are you bandying those skates about? Don't tell me that Miller's Pond has finally frozen over."
"It has indeed. Constance told me this morning. And you promised to teach me to skate! It is a perfect day for it."
"Now Sprite, that was rather presumptuous of you. Perhaps I have other plans." William tried to look severe, but as usual with Amanda, it was a total failure.
'Nonsense! You never have other plans. Except to sit by the fire with some moldy old book! Or take one of those dreary walks of yours. "
William suppressed a sigh. She knew him all too well, alas. His social life had been pitifully lacking since he had left University and come home to work in his Uncle's bookshop. Perhaps living with mother was draining his energy as well. He really did need to make more of an effort to see some people his own age. Amanda, as much as he loved her, did not quite fill the bill. Perhaps skating was just the sort of outing he needed. It was all the fashion these days amongst people of his class, and Miller's pond was quite the meeting place. Still, it would never do to give in so easily.
"Perhaps, Sprite, if you were a bit better acquainted with those moldy old books, your school work wouldn't be in such dire straits."
"William! You promised me that we needn't talk about school until after the New Year! This is my holiday!"
"Fair enough. I promise. No serious discussion until January First."
"The second! The First is New Year's Day! The house will be full of callers."
William shook his head and smiled. Amanda would never be a scholar. She was quite intelligent, but couldn't seem to sit still long enough to complete her work to her teacher's satisfaction. She would much rather be out of doors, trying to play cricket with the boys or climbing trees and ripping her stockings. Mother had lost control of her long ago, not having the energy to keep up. William had been both father and mother to her for so long that, even now, they spoke as though their mother were not even present, and had no say in the matter.
"Well, I suppose we had better skate, then." William announced.
Amanda ran up and gave him a big hug, and he affectionately pulled her long chestnut braid.
Mother finally stirred herself and spoke up. "William, are you sure it's safe?"
She had not been sure that skates were a good idea, and had held off long after most of Amanda's chums had received them. Finally, this Christmas, William had managed to convince her that even the most elegant ladies were skating now, and that it was perfectly safe.
"As safe as houses, Mother. Besides, I will be there to look after her."
Mother sighed. "Amanda dear, please try not to rip your clothing. Betsy has her hands full with your mending, as it is. I cannot believe you came home from school without a single whole stocking."
At that moment Betsey came in with the tea things. William and Amanda kissed their mother, and each snatching a fairy cake from the plate, hastily made their exit.
Bundled in greatcoats and mufflers, William and Amanda raced to the pond. Despite her skirts, Amanda beat him as she always did. William was no athlete. Organized sports had been the bane of his existence at school. As a young boy, his left-handedness, slight build and myopia had not helped make him a popular choice on the playing field. But as he had gotten older, he had improved himself with a course of physical fitness he had read about in a book. The strict regimen, which involved cold baths, running miles each day and lifting dumbbells had taken care of the slight build, though he would never be particularly tall. There was no help for the spectacles, however, and he would always look like the shy bookworm he was. He had no idea that he had a certain grace and that his regular features made him rather attractive. All he saw when he looked in the glass was a light brown mop of untamable curls and the ever-present spectacles. When he took the spectacles off, all he saw was a big blur.
One thing which William could do well, was skate. He had surprised himself by picking it up so handily. It was like dancing, only there was no female partner to embarrass you and cause your palms to sweat, and make you forget your steps, and tread on her toes. No…skating was just pure movement, like poetry on ice.
He and Amanda sat on a bench while they fastened their skates. It was a perfect day, cold and crisp with a smell of snow in the air. The ice was crowded on this Saturday afternoon. Most shops and businesses were closed for the Holidays, including his Uncle's bookshop, so entire families were there on the ice, with Mothers and Fathers pulling little ones on sleds.
The young fashionable set was also there in full force, William realized. He recognized a few of the men from his school days, and a couple from University. He had been to the best schools as they had been, up until his father had lost most of his fortune, and then his life. Fortunately, his mother had been an only child and had inherited a little money of her own, She had managed to send him to King's College for three years, so they weren't exactly poor, but he was no longer a part of their set, if indeed he ever had been. William watched them skating together, the ladies in velvet cloaks, trimmed with fur, the gentlemen in handsome greatcoats and beaver hats. William looked down at his own coat and that of his sister. They were good quality, sturdy and well made, but they lacked….style. Well, William thought fiercely, he was making a decent salary now. No reason why they couldn't dress with a little more panache.
"William…have you fallen asleep?" Amanda poked him in the side. "I'm ready to skate."
"At your service, my lady." William arose, and with a bow and a flourish took Amanda's hand and led her onto the ice, the others forgotten.
Amanda was a natural athlete and within the hour was skating as though she had been practicing all her life. William let her join Constance, and her school chums who were giggling together in a clump. It was a shame, William thought, watching her youthful exuberance. Soon, she would have to give up her girlish frocks for ridiculous gowns with corsets and bustles and would have to tease and torture her beautiful hair into puffs and curls. All for the sake of fashion.
Still, the results could be rather pleasing, William thought as a couple of fashionable young ladies skated past him, their cheeks glowing in the frosty air. They smiled at him as he slowly twirled in front of them, and inspired by their interest, he began to skate backwards, a little trick he had taught himself last winter. The ladies were looking at him with great interest. One was even calling out to him, but William couldn't make out what she was saying. By the time he realized that she was warning him to watch out, it was too late: he had crashed right into Vicar Harrington and his wife, who were enjoying a bit of post-prandial exercise. The three of them fell together into a heap. Poor William scrambled to his feet, mortally embarrassed, and tried to assist Mrs. Harrington in getting back on her feet. This was quite difficult, as she was rather stout, and her skates were quite wobbly. With the vicar's assistance, they finally managed, but the effort caused William's suddenly recalcitrant skates to fly out from under him again and before he knew it what happened, he was sitting on the ice looking up into the laughing faces of the very ladies he had been trying to impress. He blushed scarlet, as one of the ladies reached out her hand to help him up. She had light brown hair and a michevious look in her blue eyes. As he got to his feet with her kind assistance, William happened to glance at her companion. She was almost as tall as he was, with dark brown curls and somber dark eyes. William thought that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld.
He looked around for the vicar and his wife, to offer further apologies but they were already skating away, Mr. Harrington helping his wife toward the benches. He would send Mrs. Harrington flowers on the morrow, William decided. And perhaps these young ladies as well, for trying to warn him and coming to his aid.
The light haired lady laughed, "My goodness. That was rather amazing! Are you in one piece?"
"Y-yes, thank you. Though I'm afraid I may have injured poor Mrs. Harrington."
"Oh, I'm sure she hasn't been too badly damaged. Lots of padding, you know." This was from the dark haired beauty.
Her friend laughed, "Oh Cecily...you are heartless!"
Cecily. What a poetic name. Cecily of the raven hair and ebony eyes. William was entranced. He bowed to the ladies. "I apologize for my clumsiness. William Atherton at your service."
The light haired one laughed again. "Oh you are awfully formal for a man who has just been in such a fearful collision. I am Elizabeth Waverly and this is my dear friend Cecily Addams. "
Cecily smiled at William politely, but then turned to Elizabeth and said, "Honestly Beth. Must we stand here all day? Your brother is waiting for us with hot cocoa, and I could use some." She smiled coolly at William. "It was a pleasure. Only next time when somebody yells 'watch out,' I suggest you…watch out. Come, Beth." She turned and started to skate away. But Elizabeth was staring at William curiously.
"Excuse me, but weren't you at school with my brother John?"
"John Waverly? Captain of the cricket team?"
Beth laughed. "That's the one, and still mad for the game, though he's supposed to be in business, you know. Stocks and all that. With father."
"I know Waverly. Nice chap." If one didn't accidentally hit him in the head with a cricket ball, that is.
"Well, come join us then. I'm sure John would be delighted to see you."
William very much doubted that John would be delighted to see him. But the girl of his dreams was skating away from him, and this might be his only opportunity to see her again. "Faint heart never won fair maid," he lectured himself.
"I'd be delighted to join you, " He said, and they skated off together towards the benches.
TBC