Chapter 9
First of I would like to apologize for the very long break. But I'm back now and I hope that this next chapter makes up for the whole break. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, they mean a lot to me.
Perfect does not always last forever. Mary wasn't thinking about this, she was thinking of the warm hand entwined with hers. She was thinking about the wonderful man who shared her feelings. He did, didn't he? That's why he was with her now. Dickon let out a content sigh and turned to smile at her.
His beautiful blue eyes twinkled as he flashed his crooked grin at her. She couldn't hold back the giggle as he winked at her. Then his hand slowly let go of hers and brushed back a strand of hair. His smile faded as he stared into her eyes. Dickon's hands then took both of hers and laced his fingers around Mary's fingers. She smiled lightly as Dickon slowly began to close the space between them.
"Mary?! Mary is that you?" Colin call made them both jump back with shock. Dickon hurriedly let go of her hands, took the reins of the horse and looked at his feet. Mary felt herself blush as she called back "Yes? Yes, Colin. It's me!" she could see him riding up on his horse. From where she was standing she could barely make him out.
What if he saw? That was nonsense because if he did then he would sound like he did see what had just happened. She cautiously stepped forward and met her cousin.
"There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! Listen Mary, I understand that you don't like the man but do you have to run off like that?" He shouted all the while coming closer on his horse.
Mary couldn't think of anything to say. Had he seen her and Dickon? Maybe he didn't, he wasn't saying anything about it. So he probably didn't.
"Miss Mary said tha' she just needed a wee bit o' fresh air" Dickon suddenly said coming up from behind her "Isn't tha' right, Miss Mary?" he looked at her and winked. Mary looked at Dickon dumbly, he smiled at her, and she smiled back. "Yes. That and I honestly did not want to spend another minute with Mr. Hedley"
Colin smirked and said "It's Heedley actually" Mary sighed frustrated and said "Oh, who honestly cares, Colin?" In that little break it reminded them when they were children, when Colin or Mary would annoy each other just for fun. Dickon smiled at them, remembering it, and then he started laughing. Mary and Colin looked over at him and started laughing as well. The three immortal friends laughed like they didn't have a care in the world. Which they didn't actually.
Colin came to first and said "Mary, you do know that whether or not you like him there's going to be a dinner tonight and you have to face him. And his father…." Mary blinked in surprise "His father?"
Dickon coughed awkwardly and Colin answered twisting the reins in his hands "Yes, Father is bringing him later, him and his other friends…and their sons" Mary crossed her arms " I don't want to meet with any more suitors." Colin sighed and said "They'll bring some of their daughters…Mary stop being such a baby and let's go already" He reached out his hand to pull her up on his horse. Mary turned to Dickon and saw that he had already pulled himself up on Carter. She wanted to ride with him, but Colin was there. That would be inappropriate. Dickon noticed Mary looking at him and said "Does tha need help?" he said beginning to dismount.
Mary shook her head, took Colin's hand and pulled herself on his horse. Before she could stop herself she said "Dickon, we'll race you."
Dickon smirked nodded and said "Ready…?" Colin shifted uncomfortably. Dickon noticed and said "Scared, Master Colin?" Colin smiled and said "Not at all..." Mary laughed and yelled "GO!" the two horses took off with Carter slightly in the lead. And once again they were back to being children.
Dickon won the race but Colin insisted he had lost on purpose, which caused both Mary and Dickon to tease him more. But Dickon made him feel better by saying that Code had to carry both Colin and Mary, so Carter was faster with just Dickon. Mary told Martha about the race and the walk she had with Dickon. She of course did not include the part about when they held hands. And she left out what Dickon had whispered to her on the walk back to the manor.
He told her that they really didn't have to talk about what happened on the moors. It was just the act of…thoughtless judgment he said. She wasn't as hurt as she thought she would be, probably because she didn't really want to think of it either. They'd still be friends though. Nothing would stop that. Martha adjusted a pin that made sure Mary's hair looked perfect.
"Oh, Miss Mary! Tha looks like a princess o' sowt" Mary smiled and looked at her self in the mirror. It was a silver gown with sleeves that came of her shoulder; the bottom was embroidered with fleur de lis and other desings. And around her neck she wore simple silver necklace with a blue gem hanging from the chain. "Thank you Martha, but these shoes…" The shoes were painful. Just then Miss Medlock came in and said "You don't have to dance, you can just sit and be pretty." Mary adjusted a fallen strand of hair. "You best get downstairs. Everybody is waiting to see you."
More to come. I just need time to map out the story. I'll either post later or tomorrow. Enjoy! R&R
