Author's note: Inspired by a prompt for Red Cricket Week.

Summary: Red Cricket Regency Era AU. An arranged marriage between two reluctant parties and a chance meeting between two strangers.

. o O o .

First

. o O o .

Archibald Hopper was not running, he told himself, not really. He was merely out for some fresh air after having made a decision that would forever and irrevocably change his whole life.

The faint light-headedness was due to him missing tea, that was all. Not nerves, oh no! And not ice cold uncertainty, either, thank you very much. Certainly not!

Or so he tried to tell himself.

He was to be married, and barely six months hence. The Right Honourable Lady Bleu had given him an ultimatum; either find a bride to be her nephew's mother by Michaelmas or his charge would go without his inheritance. Archie wanted nothing more than to tell the old matriarch no, and to hell with her money! But of course he couldn't. The inheritance was rightfully August's and Archie couldn't in good conscience rob the lad of the monetary security that followed being the sole heir to the estate fondly referred to by the locals as The Enchanted Forest.

For Lady Bleu, older sister of Archie's late friend Marco Booth, was used to getting her way in all matters and was not above using her power and position to manipulate the pawns into place.

Archie scolded himself for the petty and unkind description, apt though it was. The woman had not only lost her younger brother, but had also been denied guardianship of her young nephew – undoubtedly a harsh blow both emotionally and socially. Instead he, Archie Hopper, nothing more than a humble surgeon and apothecary, had been tasked with taking care of little master August Booth. Though it was a task which honoured and frightened him in equal measure, there had never been any doubt in Archie's mind that he would accept it. Marco had been his good friend since childhood and it was only thanks to Marco's father that Archie was given an education - as a peasant's son Archie would never have been able to get one on his own. Old Man Booth had made sure that the young man was apprenticed to the best surgeon in the area, and had insisted that the boy was also given the dual qualification of apothecary. Yes, Archie owed the Booth family more than he could ever repay.

Archie had planned to bring young August to his home after the funeral, but the powerful aunt had protested, and since he had no close friends or family relations to speak of Archie had agreed to settle in the county of Storybrooke like Lady Bleu requested. Though August had travelled with his father for much of his life his summers had been spent at his Aunt's vast estate, and Archie felt that growing up in familiar surroundings with his only living kin close would be good for the lad.

So after the funeral Archie had let a charming little cottage just a four or five miles from the Enchanted Forest; not large by any means but big enough for him and August, a tutor for the boy, a manservant, a maid, and a cook who doubled as housekeeper. There were children around August's age close by, sons and daughters of the Enchanted Forest tenants, and Archie had been happy and relieved to see that August was instantly and eagerly accepted into the fold. He had feared that the other children would shun August due to his higher social status, but thankfully, it seemed his fears had been for naught. Archie had been unable to resist when August begged and pleaded for a dog, so just a few weeks into their new life a little black and white pup - promptly christened Pongo by a proud and happy August - joined their little family.

They had lived happily in Storybrooke for less than a month before Lady Bleu issued the ultimatum.

And now Archie was trapped.

The powdery snow billowed out behind them as Archie spurred his horse on, finding himself unable to care as the icy cold wind pierced through his clothing, chilling him to the core.

Archie had never given much thought to marriage, but had always nursed the faint hope that if he ever did decide to marry it would be for love. The fates, apparently, would have it differently. He hadn't even met the young woman who was to become his wife. It had all been arranged by Lady Bleu and the young woman's grandmother, all Archie had done had been to send the letter with the formal proposal – and even that had been dictated to him by Lady Bleu. Word had reached him just before noon, the letter with the acceptance of his proposal delivered as if it was any other correspondence and not a seal on his fate. Archie had excused himself, left August to play with Pongo under the watchful eye of the cook, saddled his horse and ran.

Because he was running, he knew that. Archibald Hopper was an honest man to a fault, and wasn't able to lie even to himself.

. o O o .

Miss Ruby Lucas trotted through the ankle-deep snow, tears streaming down her cheeks, her feelings a sea of confusion, anger and despair. As soon as their manservant had left with the letter to Mr. Hopper Ruby had fled, her grandmother's sympathetic but unyielding gaze following her as she ran. She had taken her cloak on her way out but in her rush to escape she had left her bonnet behind, and now the cold wind was tugging at her hair, teasing strand after strand out of the chignon, but Ruby was too distressed to pay it any heed.

She was to be married to a man she had never met, she was to be the new mother of a little boy, and she had absolutely no say in the matter.

Her grandmother had told her in no uncertain terms that she was to accept the marriage proposal, because it was as good a match as they could hope for. Ruby had no dowry to speak of, after all, and what little there was had to be divided between Ruby herself, Mary Margaret and Belle. Finding a man who was willing to marry one of them for the scant dowry of mere 50 pounds a year was a heaven-sent! They couldn't be choosy, after all.

Though never the richest of families the Lucases had been a feature in the county for many, many years and held a respect and affection among their peers that remained though their fortunes had faded. Still, they had been able to live relatively comfortably with just a few moderations once Mr. Lucas had died and the extravagant spending ended. (Maurice, bless his soul, was a jovial kind of man but stubborn to a fault. Though confident in his own skills, it had been clear to everyone but himself that he had no head for business.) After his death Graham gained control over the by then dramatically dwindling family income, and fortunately he was not only more fit for such matters than his late father had been, but also humble enough to accept help from his grandmother - who it turned out had impeccable business sense. Together Graham and Granny Lucas had found ways to stabilize and even increase the family income, and for a while they had all been optimistic and happy.

But then Graham had died, quite suddenly and without apparent cause.

And since Graham was the only son in the family the remaining Lucases were in the midst of their grief also faced with the loss of their home which reverted to the closest living male relative. The only reason they had not been turned out already was that said relative, a distant cousin by the name of Mr. Gold, had graciously allowed them to stay. For now. There would undoubtedly be a price to pay for his generosity.

Their only hope was the three Misses Lucas marrying well, and this was Ruby's chance. True, Mr. Archibald Hopper was but a surgeon and an apothecary, but at least he wasn't in trade! And a skilled craftsman should be commended and appreciated, especially one who had gained such a good reputation as Hopper had in the short time he had lived in the county.

Lady Bleu, old and faithful friend of Ruby's grandmother, had arranged the whole deal - and a deal it was. Ruby bitterly resented the notion of being bartered like so many heads of cattle, but there was no way around it. Lady Bleu, no doubt knowing that the Widow Lucas would feel very uncomfortable accepting charity outright, had decided to match the oldest Lucas daughter and the man in charge of her own nephew, thus making it acceptable for her to provide the two remaining Lucas daughters with dowries as well as situating the family in one of the Enchanted Forrest's cottages when the time came that Mr. Gold evicted them. Though not completely happy about the arrangement Granny had accepted; unlike her late son she was not so proud as to doom her whole family to poverty.

The fact that Ruby had never met the man Lady Bleu had chosen mattered little - if at all.

There was also the matter of her condition which made having a doctor husband very beneficial indeed.

Ruby clutched her cloak tighter around her, not bothering to wipe the angry tears away. Damn her condition! Though fiercely healthy in all other matters she nevertheless came down with terrible woman's pains every month, keeping her abed for days at a time and giving her the hushed reputation of being a frail and sickly girl – which might have been one of the reasons her many beaus had done no more than flirt at the balls and assemblies. (Her Granny might also have pointed out that Ruby's wilfulness probably had something to do with it as well, had it not been for the fact that in that regard granddaughter and grandmother were exceptionally alike.) Men wanted a strong and healthy woman to bear them heirs, and due to her condition Ruby was apparently not perceived healthy enough for the task.

Ruby felt resentment bubble and boil in her. She was so much more than just a child bearing creature! Though perhaps not as clever as her sister Belle, nor as fair in countenance and temper as her sister Mary Margaret, Ruby knew that she was more than what people saw. Only Peter had ever seen it, but Peter was gone, and her dream of marrying for love had been lost with him. And the damned Mr. Hopper would probably not care to look close enough to see her for who she really was!

Stopping she clenched her fists against her eyes and let out a howl of despair, hearing it echo tauntingly back to her from all sides. But to her shock and consternation she also heard the sound of a frightened horse and a startled cry, before a brown mare suddenly came careening around the corner riderless.

. o O o .

"Sir? Sir, are you all right? Please sir, speak to me!"

The wind had been knocked out of him and for a long terrible moment Archie's world had gone completely black, but as breath slowly and painfully returned to him the darkness receded and the many blurred shapes hovering above him solidified into one; a young woman, her bright red cloak stark against the dull grey canvas of the sky behind her; lightly curled dark brown hair cascaded over her shoulders like a ferocious waterfall, and though rimmed with red the deep green of her eyes seemed to bore straight into his soul. She looked like a wild forest creature; terrible and beautiful. Even if he had had breath to spare he would have been struck speechless by the vision of her.

"Sir! Sir, please, are you all right?"

Lungs still burning painfully he didn't waste breath speaking but instead just nodded in confirmation, and accepting her hand he let her help him to his feet. He swayed a little, but she grabbed hold of his arm with surprising strength and held him up until he found his equilibrium.

"Thank you, miss," he wheezed when he finally found his breath and his voice. "I merely got the wind knocked out of me. The snow cushioned the fall."

"Oh, thank goodness for that! Had the ground been bare you might have been killed! A fall like that, you could have broken your neck!"

He smiled distractedly and gave her hand, still on his arm, a squeeze. "I'll be fine. Didn't even hit my head, landed flat on my back. Something spooked my horse but I must admit I was partially to blame; I fear my mind was on other matters." He bent down to retrieve his hat and did not see the flash of emotion on the young woman's face.

"Oh?"

"On matters of duty and sacrifice," he said with a humourless chuckle as he brushed the snow off his hat. "I'm ashamed to say I was trying to run from my responsibilities."

Suddenly realising just how forward he was being he felt his cheeks heat in shame. He must have hit his head after all, for there was no excuse for such rude manners! He opened his mouth to beg her forgiveness but she spoke before he had the chance.

"It seems we are well matched, sir, for I was thinking along the same lines myself."

Derailed by her words, apology momentarily forgotten, he frowned in sympathy. Though the cold wind had dried most of her tears he could tell she had been crying. As it was she still looked decidedly agitated.

Then again, he mused, he no doubt looked just as agitated. Well matched indeed.

"I suppose I must keep in mind that though not necessarily what I had envisioned for myself I am doing what I must," he said softly after a moment of silence. "And do my best not to regret a sacrifice made for love."

For he did love the boy, more than anything in the world. Though he would never presume to be able to replace August's real father in the boy's heart, Archie hoped and prayed that he would be up to the task of raising young master Booth into a fine young man. A sharp realisation pierced his heart and it was as if a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders: he would do anything for August. Anything to make sure he was safe and happy.

By marrying Archie would placate Lady Bleu and thus ensure that August got his rightful inheritance, as well as a life more secure than he could have provided the boy with on a country doctor's pay. Not to mention August would get a mother, one who would hopefully grow to care for the child even with the lack of blood relations. It would be a load off Archie's shoulders to know that there would be someone there for August when he himself could not – as a doctor her was called away at all hours of the day and night.

A loveless marriage seemed a small price to pay, now, for August's happiness.

. o O o .

Unaware of her companion's silent musings Ruby turned his words around in her head. He was right. She had no choice but to marry Mr. Hopper; the matter was settled and the marriage would stand half a year hence. But remembering that her marriage would secure the future of her family might make it easier to bear. The surgeon and apothecary was under the patronage of Lady Bleu, who had expressed her intentions of taking care of Ruby's grandmother and provide her sisters with dowries.

The alternative was destitution and disgrace.

Steeling herself Ruby vowed that she would follow this stranger's advice; she would do what she had to do, and she would not let herself regret what she did out of love for her family.

"I will take heed of your wise words, sir," she said, voice strong now that she had found her resolve. "I will do what I must." An idea struck her and she smiled the smile her grandmother had labelled decidedly wicked. Leaning closer as if indulging a well-kept secret she added in a playful tone: "But though I will honour my responsibilities I intend to fight them off for as long as I am able!"

To her pleasant surprise he laughed at her half-jesting declaration. "I have no doubt that a fiery spirit such as yourself would be able to do so, and I wish you the best of luck!"

His words made her blush faintly in pleasure, feeling strangely liberated in his presence: it was as if formality didn't matter as much, as if they had been acquaintances for years and the rigid propriety of society was excused in favour of pleasant familiarity and comfort. He might have thought along the same lines as he cleared his throat with a faint blush to match her own.

"I do beg your forgiveness, miss. I have shown a deplorable lack of manners from the moment we met. We have not even been properly introduced and I am being unforgivingly forward -"

She grabbed his arm with sudden intensity, strangely distressed by the thought of him apologising and retreating to the usual aloof distance good society demanded of strangers.

"Don't," she forbade in a strangled whisper. "Damned be propriety, in this moment let there be none! We are merely two souls finding solace and support in the middle of a wintery forest. Let us just greet each other with a fond hello as friends in similar straits."

For a tense moment she was sure she had gone too far, and her shame burned in her chest. He must think her a savage! He had every right to be horribly offended at her behaviour, but after a moment he smiled a little uncertainly and nodded with a bow.

"As you wish, my friend." His eyes sparkled with mirth and fondness when he straightened. "Hello."

She smiled brightly at him, more a hearty grin than the demure sweet smile her sisters seemed so good at, and took delight in the blush that crept up in his freckled cheeks. Oh, her grandmother was right indeed when she called her wicked! She gave him a curtsy and nodded. "Hello, good friend."

The sound of a horse's whinny sounded from behind them, interrupting any further greetings.

"Oh, there you are, girl." The man held out his hand towards the mare who shuffled closer, looking almost ashamed that she had thrown her rider.

Ruby didn't even try to hide her amused smile as he took the reins and the horse nudged him in apology. "It seems your horse is properly repentant, good sir," she said with mock severity, feeling light and silly for the first time in what felt like ages. "As she should be!"

He laughed again, and the sound made her happy. "As her master should be repentant for selfishly forcing her out of her warm and cosy stables on a day like today!"

They both chuckled at that and Ruby pulled her cloak closer in agreement.

"I suppose I should get back," he said, sounding more than a little wistful. "In lack of a fiery nature I shall have to face my responsibilities as best I can."

She reached out and gave his arm a squeeze, figuring that since all social rules had been disregarded he wouldn't mind. Her heart fluttered happily as he put his hand on top of hers with a thankful smile.

"I shall return home as well," she said. "'Tis getting dark and neither of us should remain outdoors for much longer lest we catch our deaths of colds! Draw strength from my fiery nature if you can, and I will find courage in your wisdom."

He nodded but seemed to hesitate. She was about to ask for his thoughts when he seemed to reach a decision - or found the courage; carefully taking her hand from his arm he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles before bowing respectfully and mounting his horse. With a smile and a tip of his hat he turned the horse around and rode away. Ruby remained rooted to the spot, watching him with a strange warm feeling in her chest until he was out of sight, before she tugged her cloak closer and turned towards home.

. o O o .