Move with the Times
By Catherine

Disclaimer: I own nothing and am making no money out of writing this fan fiction.

Rating: M just to be on the safe side, could probably get away with a T.

Beta: Betaed by the wonderful CeeChelle Lisa Gisborne-Hardy from . Any remaining errors are entirely my own.

Set in: Modern day Britain.

Chapter Three: Part Two

"Marian", Guy started, a little taken a back to see her there, but not displeased. He had felt bad about the way in which things had been left that morning and the injuries which he had suffered then, now were not as raw. After all, he reasoned, it was natural for a young lady as well-bred as she to be a little shocked to see someone at her door who had not been invited and he supposed, that her father's loss of position must have been hard on her. Besides, he could not be too severe upon her now that he remembered what they had once been to each other. He was even starting to think that maybe the fact that she had not recognised him had been a compliment; he did not want to look like the scrawny boy he had been when he had left, and she had spoken very highly of him in the past.

She had definitely changed: Marian was now even more beautiful than she had been that morning and certainly looked every inch the society lady even in her light sundress. However, he still thought that even had he not known who she was, he would have recognised her. He certainly recognised the scowl that passed over her brow once the surprise had passed.

"Oh no", Marian groaned inside, had he heard the cake comment? She hoped not, she would die of mortification if he had! It was bad enough that he and Vaisey had even become involved in what she still continued to think of as her father's business. She did not want to keep appearing at a disadvantage in front of him, and the fact that she could hear her friends giggling about him really did not help matters.

Maybe, Marian pondered, if she just turned back around and ignored him ... no such luck. At that moment, she heard Alice ask, "So how do you two know each other?"

"No, no, no", Marian wanted to scream, "for the love of God, do not involve him in a conversation. Just let him walk on by". Any hope that this might happen, was dashed however, a baritone voice replied, "We work together".

Marian focused her attention on his face, surprised not only that he had not chosen to humiliate her in front of everyone by explaining her father's loss of station, but also by the tone of his voice. How was it possible that she had not noticed this morning that he did not talk like a normal man? His voice, she now heard, was low and soothing ... and although she could not quite explain it, it reminded her of Bourneville chocolate - deep, rich and strangely familiar.

As she took in the planes of his face she realised that he looked kind but tired. Then, just for a second, she felt a wave of sympathy wash over her and had to catch herself before she offered him a place at their table. Marian had to force herself to remember his conduct that morning and for whom he worked, but found herself doubting. This could not be same man, the brute who had entered her house without so much as a 'by your leave' and this gentleman could not be one and the same. They just couldn't!

Just as Marian was attempting to overcome the renewed desire to make him take a seat, one of her friends took it upon herself to do so.

Guy did not acquiesce immediately, keeping his eyes fix on Marian's lovely face, he asked, "With your permission", in such a polite way that she was left no alternative.

"Of course", Marian tried not to sound flustered, as she moved sideways slightly, uncomfortably aware of his long limbs and the scent of his aftershave as he took his place next to her.

Guy could feel her eyes on him, even while his attention was ostensibly taken up by his sandwich. The other girls at the table seemed intent upon asking him every question that popped into their heads, most of which concerned coffee considering their location, while Marian remained mute. He could understand her being reserved around him considering how he had reintroduced himself to her, but now her behaviour really was bordering on rudeness. The other girls were clearly trying to ignore the fact that Marian had not introduced them all formally, being too well bred to ask him for his name themselves. Introducing themselves was not how proper young ladies made the acquaintance of a gentleman.

As he informed them that the best coffee he had ever had had been in a small cafe – which he proceeded to describe - in Siena, Marian finally spoke. "You have been to Siena". It was not really a surprise, most people of her acquaintance had been there but there was something in his voice when he had spoken about it. He had not mentioned the Piazza del Campo or any of the usual sights, he spoke as one who had actually gone beyond that.

"Yes", Guy said, a slight bite to his tone, "what of it?" He knew that he was not as rich as she was ... yet, but he could afford a trip abroad - although in fact the trip had been a business one and paid for by his boss in America.

"I studied there. You are talking about Bar Nannini*, are you not?" Marian stated, a little taken-a-back by his tone, but then again she supposed that she had not been exactly hospitable so far.

That was all it took. For the rest of the hour not even boy mad Alice could get a word in edgeways. Marian and Guy talked about everything and everyone in Siena, Guy lamenting that he had only been there for a month and did not speak the language; unlike Marian who had studied Spanish and Italian and had subsequently spent her Erasmus year at l'Università degli Studi di Siena.

By the end of their conversation Marian was ready to forgive him for most things, including his working for Vaisey and his earlier comportment. She reasoned that he might not know what kind of man Vaisey was and that she might have blown certain events out of proportion, just a teensy weensy bit.

As they were all getting up to leave, Marian said laughing, "I hope to see you at the benefit tonight" and just as he opened the door for her and her friends to go through, Alice nudged her and mouthed, "name".

"Oh my goodness, I don't know how it came about but we have not been formally introduced", Marian blushed a little, it really was too bad of her to forget all of her breeding in one day; "I do not even know your name".

Guy was in such a good mood as he stared down at her smiling countenance that it did not occur to him that any displeasure could be caused by his revelation, and so, he extended his hand with mock formality, "How rude of me Miss Marian Fitzwalter, my name, to be precise, is Guy Crispin Gisborne".

Marian's jaw dropped.

*This is actually the third preferred Erasmus destination of 2009/10 but the Dublin Post (Irish Pub) or the Tea Rooms did not work in the story. :)

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