It was many weeks before Mary could see Colin again. This time, when she walked into his room it was clean. The blood stained curtains and rugs were taken out, and replaced. Mary smiled warmly at Colin, he was much too pale. He looked weak, but he managed to smile back.
Mary sat on a chair next to his bed, and took his hand. "Colin, how are you feeling?"
Colin took a few breaths before he answered, "Like I lost a lot of blood."
Mary laughed and patted his hand. "Don't worry. You'll get better."
"I think you're the one who's worried." Colin smiled.
There was a knock at the door, and Mary turned in the chair to see Dicken. He went to stand beside the bed, and he smiled at Mary and Colin. "How are you, Colin?"
Colin raised an eyebrow, "Why would I not be?"
Dicken smiled and said, "Good, because I am very sorry to say, but I must steal dear Mary away from you."
Mary patted Colin's hand again, and left the room with Dicken. He took her hand and said, "We need to talk."
Mary wrapped her arm around Dicken's and sighed, "What ever is it?"
Dicken laughed as they walked down the hall. "You make it sound torturous to talk to me."
"I must admit, I am still not over the whole Evangeline problem." Mary murmured.
"Ah, that." Dicken sighed and led Mary out the front doors into the courtyard. "Mary, how do you feel about Jasper?"
Mary smiled, "I like him a lot. He's such a dear cousin, now that I have gotten to know him better. His manners seem to have changed from before."
Dicken shook his head, "I beg to differ."
Mary stopped walking and faced Dicken, "How so?"
"Please," Dicken motioned to keep walking. Mary sighed and continued.
Dicken took a deep breath before continuing, "Remember how Jasper told us all how he loathed Colin." Mary nodded. "Yes, well I have reason to believe it was Jasper's doing."
"What?" Mary gasped, "His doing what?"
"The reason why Colin is in the state he is in." Dicken explained. "I was recently talking with Jasper, and he told me of certain affections he held for a certain someone." He eyed Mary out of the corner of his eye, she didn't notice. "Earlier that day, Colin had told me he had been talking with Jasper and they both held affections for the same lady."
Mary gasped, "A love triangle? I've only ever read about them!"
"Yes, but it's not all that happy, Mary." Dicken cleared his throat. "I believe that Jasper, in a jealous rage attacked Colin, and reduced him to the current state he is in."
Mary stopped walking again and glared at Dicken, "How dare you accuse Jasper of doing such a horrendous thing!"
Dicken tried to calm her, "I'm sorry, it was only my imagination running away with me."
Mary eyed him, "Perhaps it was you who did it. Now, you're attempting to place the blame on poor Jasper, who isn't even here to defend himself. Actually, where is he? I haven't seen him at all today." Mary added thoughtfully.
Dicken shook his head, "I haven't seen him either."
Mary looked around the grounds, she saw the greenery and the birds in the sky, but not a trace of Jasper. She heard Dicken clear his throat, and she looked at him.
"Please, allow me to redeem myself." Dicken held out his hand again.
"Only if you talk like you have before." Mary said.
"Like what?" Dicken asked.
Mary scoffed, "With tha Yorkshire accent!" She attempted one and failed.
Dicken laughed, "Can'at tha do it?"
Mary giggled, "No, I can't."
"All right, then Miss Mary. Let's go to tha garden. We could help it ta be more wick." Dicken offered.
"I'll race you to the garden." Mary squealed, and she took of running.
Dicken laughed and chased her, "I'm gonna git ya, Miss Mary!"
Mary squealed as she saw Dicken gaining on her, she ran faster and reached the garden. She pushed open the gate door and ran in, she rolled on the familiar grassy earth beneath her and sighed. Dicken came in a few seconds after her, and fell on the grass beside her.
"Tha's a good racer, Miss Mary." Dicken gasped for air.
Mary laughed, she too was breathless. "You need a punishment. Every loser needs a punishment."
"An' you need a reward." Dicken added.
Mary clapped her hands, "I like that, I'll think of a punishment for you, and you think of a reward." She thought about it for a second and said, "Dicken, for your punishment you must kiss my shoes."
Dicken groaned and sat up, he grabbed one of Mary's dirty shoes and grimaced. "This is a dirty punishment." He kissed her boot and spat out a clump of dirt. "Now, for your reward."
"Yorkshire." Mary said.
Dicken sighed, "Now, it's time fer yer reward, Miss Mary. A kiss from me."
Before Mary could protest, Dicken had kissed her gently on the lips. She did not respond while he kissed her, but he was very enthused. His hands traced her face, and held the nape of her neck. When he stopped kissing her, Mary stared at him.
"Dicken." She whispered.
He smiled, and thought it was an invitation to kiss her again, but when he lowered his face again Mary held up her hands and pushed him off.
"No." Mary said firmly. She stood up and walked out of the garden. Leaving Dicken in the garden, alone.
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Sorry I haven't updated this story in a long time...Heh, the internet at my house is being weird. Well, enjoy it for what it is and review please!
