Ok, so I've taken embarrassingly long to update; it's been a big week.
They went straight into the good brandy. Tonight was not a night for half-measures of any description. The door closed tightly behind them, they were alone together for the first time in what felt like an age. Somehow the merry background chatter had grown just a little tiring. The public exuberance had definitely worn them down.
They sank into the chairs at either side of his desk, they sank into their glasses of the good brandy. They were tired but they were somehow both still smiling, smiling more than before, even, now that they were alone. It was quiet enough for them to be happy, together.
For a while, they talked quietly about what a blessed relief it was that it was all over. After a while, they fell silent, still smiling softly, on their second, third, glasses.
"I'll miss you, Roland, when we've gone home."
When he was silent in reply- for a moment he could think of nothing to say- she pressed on.
"I mean, I'm glad it's all over, of course I am. But-… nothing will be the same when we go back. It can't be. Things will be different."
"You're right," he agreed, "Things will be different. And I will miss you too, Grace. Very much indeed."
She looked up from her glass at his face. Their eyes met for a moment, and she spoke before she could fully process what it was she was saying.
"I've grown to love you, you," she told him gently.
He blinked hard for a moment, his lips parted involuntarily in surprise. Faced with his silence again, she simply continued.
"Maybe I always did love you and I've only grown into the realisation. I don't know. I don't know why I'm saying this-… You're about to go home to your wife, my saying this isn't making anything easier-…"
"No, Grace," he stopped her, "You don't know what things are like between Hetty and I."
There was a moment's pause. When he did not elaborate, she replied;
"I know I shouldn't be saying this no matter of how things are between you and Hetty," she reminded him.
"Shouldn't you?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
There was a silence.
"Nevertheless," he told her gently, leaning forwards towards the desk, extending his hands towards her, "I can't forget what you just said to me. I can't. I don't want to."
Her glass placed tentatively on the table, the tips of her fingers touched against his.
Please review if you have the time.
