Chapter Three: Lucy's Intentions
Lucy took me back to her house and I slept peacefully, thinking of Mr. Greyson as I drifted off. I dreamt of him too. Only we were in a different time; he was resting his head on my stomach as we laid in bed together. I ran my fingers through his hair and told him how much I loved him. He told me that there was no one in the world that could compare to me and as he shifted to hover above me, he reached out and stroked a finger down my cheek.
My eyelids fluttered and as I opened them slowly, I expected to see him looming above me, instead I found Lucy pulling her hand back and smiling as she sat up next to me.
I frowned, still not properly awake.
"Lucy?"
"You were dreaming, Mina. I wanted to wake you...you sounded distressed."
"I didn't feel distressed." I mumbled causing her to frown down at me.
She shifted uncomfortably and then clasped her hands over her stomach.
"Mina, do you ever wonder what things would be like had certain events not taken place?" She asked carefully.
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
She took a breath and licked her lips.
"I mean...if you had never met Johnathan."
My frown deepened.
"I never think about things like that." I admitted.
She sighed and then smiled tightly.
"No. Of course you don't."
She threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side.
I sat up more and grabbed her arm.
"Lucy. What's wrong? Talk to me."
I hated to see my friend with concerns and if she wanted to talk about them, she could, surely she knew that by now.
She glanced back at me over her shoulder and smiled.
"Nothing, just wishing things would be a little different. That's all."
I gave her a warm smile back and let her go off to get dressed.
I was supposed to meet Johnathan just before noon for lunch and I smiled as I saw him standing on the street corner.
He smiled up as I approached him and he gave me a quick kiss.
"I thought Miss Westenra would be in tow."
"She does not go everywhere with me, Johnathan."
He raised an eyebrow as though he didn't believe me.
We took lunch in the garden behind this lovely little restaurant and talked about Alexander Greyson. It was true that I felt guilty for the dream I had had but then I was not about to apologize for my subconscious. I did not control it after all.
Still, it bothered me that he was in my dreams whereas Johnathan had failed to appear in just one of them. But I loved Johnathan did I not? I wanted to marry the man for God's sake! Why had he not yet proposed? Maybe Lucy was right. It had been an awfully long time that we had been together. Maybe he thought it wasn't what I wanted. Maybe I would have to take matters into my own hands soon. Oh, why wait!
"Johnathan, I have an important question to ask you and I hope you'll give me the answer I wish."
He frowned but nodded anyway.
I licked my lips nervously.
"Do you want to marry me?"
He faltered and I saw the frightened look in his brown eyes.
He was not sure. I knew it.
"Maybe one day, Mina but right now... you have your studies and Lucy and-"
"Lucy and my studies are still going to be with me whether you marry me or not." I interrupted.
His jaw clenched and he let out a breath. Then he rested a hand over mine.
"Someday, Mina. But not now. Please, just be patient." He said gently.
I nodded and then we continued our lunch.
I still didn't have my answer.
I went back to Lucy's after that and spoke to her or I would have done had she been where she normally was.
"Lucy?" I called up the stairs.
One of the maids appeared and told me she was in the bath. So I waited for her in her bedroom.
It took a while but eventually she appeared, dressed in her cotton night gown. It was early for her to go to bed. She was usually at some event or at a glamorous party.
This was not the Lucy I knew.
"Mina!" She looked startled.
I gave her a hurt smile and she knew that I was upset.
She came over to me and held me for a while.
"What is it?" She whispered.
"It's Johnathan... I asked him if he wanted to marry me."
I heard the frown in Lucy's voice.
"And what did he say?"
I burst into tears and wept openly as Lucy tightened her hold on me.
"He was never good enough for you, Mina. No one will be." She said fiercely.
"No one could ever understand you, not the way that I do. Johnathan, he-he couldn't put up with your dreams of becoming a doctor, he did not understand your drive or ambition... but I do." She assured me.
I smiled then and sat up.
She wiped the tears away and held my hand as it rested in my lap.
"You've always been such a good friend to me, Lucy." I said, my voice still shaky.
"I just want you to be happy, Mina. That's all I've ever wanted..."
I then rested my head in her lap as she sat there.
"Do you ever think of marrying someone, Lucy?" I asked innocently.
She paused before answering.
"Yes."
"What's it like?" I wanted to know.
I wanted to know if Lucy's vision of marriage was any different to mine.
She took a breath and started combing my hair with her fingers. There were a few tangles in it made by the afternoon breeze.
"There are flowers, a beautiful church and no people. Just us- me and my betrothed- we are looking into each others eyes and saying our vows, knowing that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together and it's...a wonderful feeling." She explained dreamily.
I smiled. "That's how I imagine it."
"Really?"
I nodded.
"I imagine myself walking down the aisle, Johnathan smiling at me-"
I felt Lucy move me and I sat up.
"Mina, after that conversation with Johnathan, do you still believe you have a future with him?"
I paused and then nodded.
"He is the one, Lucy. I cannot just let him go like that. Even if this is taking longer than I thought."
Lucy stood and turned on me with exasperation in her eyes.
"Oh, Mina, why can't you see? If he wanted to marry you, he would have by now!"
"He-he said he needs time."
"They all say that! Nothing ever comes of it! Please Mina, I beg you, open your eyes and see what is right in front of you!"
I stared at her.
"I know he loves me."
She let out a breath and then went over to her window, looking out on the street below.
"There is one thing though, Lucy..." I began to tell her.
She did not turn to look at me this time.
"I had a dream last night. About another person I should not be thinking about."
"Mr. Greyson." She said coldly.
I frowned.
"How did you know?"
"You spoke his name when I tried to wake you."
I blinked.
"Is that wrong of me?"
She shook her head but still did not look at me.
"No. I have dreams of things I know I should not."
I grinned.
"Like what?"
She shook her head and this time, turned back to me.
"It doesn't matter, and you should really get some sleep before your classes tomorrow."
I frowned.
"If you say so... Lucy?"
She looked up as she pulled back the covers.
"Can I sleep here again tonight? I don't want to go home."
She smiled that warm, caring smile of hers' and nodded.
"Of course."
As I changed and then climbed into bed next to Lucy, I smiled gratefully at her.
All these years she had been like a sister to me and I knew that she only got angry because she cared.
My eyes closed and the dream started.
A/N- Hope you're all enjoying this so far.
