A/N I may have watched Bridgerton one too many times. Please forgive me, though I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
Dreams
"Rebecca, would you please hurry," James called upstairs, adjusting his cufflinks. "We're already running late." The driver was waiting outside, the horses neighing. It was the first ball of the season and James couldn't care less as far as he was concerned. He had never been very interested in that part of social life. But since his sister had come of age, it was his job as the head of family to escort her and take care that no one made any unseemly moves towards her. Thank the heavens Steve and his wife would also be there to keep an eye on her.
His mother exited the salon and stepped towards him to adjust the collar of his shirt. "She's nervous, that's all. Don't be too harsh on her or possible suitors tonight, yes?"
James raised an eyebrow. "I just don't want her to be married of to a sloth. Rebecca deserves a good man."
"And she will find one. With Steve and Margaret there, maybe you will find the time looking for a bride, too. You are twenty-seven, after all."
"Mother." It was a sigh. "I have no desire to marry so soon. I want to travel, see the world."
She smiled sadly at him. "I know. And I would wish you could do just that. But with your father… gone, we need you to step up to your duties. I'm sorry, my dear."
"No, I'm sorry for whining." James sighed again and managed a small smile. "No promises on the bride, though."
His mother shook her head with a half-hidden smile. "Whatever am I going to do with you?"
James returned the smile bashfully. "Be patient? I know you've been patient with me a long time already, but I'm trying to be the son you need me to be."
"James, my dear, you are the son I need you to be. Don't worry, my dear." She kissed his cheek, then smiled as she watched Rebecca descend the stairs. "Be sure to have fun, despite everything. And give my regards to Steve and Margaret. We haven't had them for dinner in a while, make sure to invite them."
"I will, mother." James then turned to his sister, a proud smile on his face. "By God, Becca… when have you grown up so much?"
"Oh, be still." Rebecca blushed but it only complimented her light blue dress more.
James refrained from making another comment and instead offered her his arm. "Ready, sister?"
"Not really," Rebecca answered and accepted James' arm. "But we should be going either way."
James helped her into the carriage before entering it on the other side. "Don't worry. You can dance with whoever you want tonight. And if you don't want to dance with a stranger, both I and Steve are happy to step in."
"What if no one wants to dance with me?" Rebecca's voice was very small.
"Becca." James waited until his sister looked at him, then he took her hand. "You are a Barnes. More importantly, you are a beautiful, funny, intelligent young woman. Whoever doesn't see you and swoons is an idiot. Do you believe me?"
Rebecca smiled softly. "Not really. But thank you anyway."
"You'll see, by tomorrow the salon will be brimming with suitors for you. And I'll scare off every single one of them."
"James!"
"I'm joking! Mother would have my head if I was disrupting your chances. But I want you to know that you can always come to me. If some dirtbag makes any unseeming advances tonight, I want you to tell me. Do you understand?"
"And what? You'll fight him between champagne and caviar?"
James scoffed. "Please. I'll challenge him to a duel."
"James!"
"Joking, Rebecca. Don't worry about me. I'm rather worried how Steve will react, to be honest. Sometimes I feel like he acts more your big brother than I do." James frowned.
Now it was Rebecca who took his hand and squeezed it gently. "You're doing a good job. I'm glad you're here with me."
"Thank you."
The carriage stopped in front of the mansion. Laughter and light streamed outside and the air was heavy with perfume and delicacies. James was at least as nervous as Rebecca was, but he fixed a calm mask on his face as he helped her out of the carriage. "Ready?" he asked softly and waited for her nod before he led Rebecca inside. The warmth and sounds inside were almost overwhelming, but James acted as if everything was in order. And it was for everyone else, probably. They made their rounds together, James greeting some friends and whispering to Rebecca of the different benefits and disadvantages of the single men they passed. Finally, they reached the ballroom were Steve and Margaret were waiting near the door.
"Rebecca! You look lovely, my dear." Margaret smiled at her like the big sister she was in all but blood and name. "I hope you're not too nervous?"
"Only a little," Rebecca answered with a brave face.
"No need to, darling." Margaret then turned to James and raised a brow. "I hope you haven't scared her, James."
"Me? No!" James grinned at her. "Good to see you, Pegs. Hope this idiot isn't doing any stupid things."
"Only minor stupid things. Nothing I couldn't deal with."
"I am right here," Steve threw in, his voice only playfully annoyed. "Honestly, you two getting along is the worst thing that has happened to me."
"Don't be too dramatic, darling," Margaret scolded with a grin.
Steve sighed, then turned to Rebecca, bowing like the gentleman he had been raised to be. "Would you care for a dance, Rebecca? I think your brother and my wife have some catching up to do."
Rebecca glanced to James, who nodded. "Go on, I'm right here. Steve'll take care of you. If you want to dance with someone else afterwards, come to me first, just so that I know who to watch. Alright?"
"Of course." Rebecca smiled, then took Steve's arm to be led away to the dancefloor.
"Steve's dancing without being threatened? What's going on?"
Margaret smiled at the pair on the dancefloor. "He loves Rebecca like a brother. That seems to overrule his aversion to dancing. Though he has been getting better lately."
"Everything okay with you?" James asked without taking his eyes away from his sister. "Mother asked to invite you both for dinner tomorrow."
"Yes, everything good. And we'd love to come. What about you, James? Getting used to being head of family?"
James sighed. "Slowly, yes. I mean, it's not since his death that I'm the heir, but I had been fooling around a lot. I know that. It's… scary that both Mother and Rebecca rely on me being responsible."
Margaret gently touched his arm. "You're doing good, James. I'm sure you're making your father proud."
"I hope so." While his gaze followed Rebecca, it stopped at the sight of a beautiful redhead. "Pegs? Do you know her?"
Margaret subtly looked in the same direction, then, not so subtly, rolled her eyes at him. "Really, James, if you'd show a bit more interest in social life."
"Are you going to tell me or just lecture me?"
Margaret shot him a scathing look but sighed soundlessly. "Her name's Natasha Romanoff. General Fury took her in as a child; her father saved his life, as far as rumours go. She'd been promised to a young soldier but he died before their marriage. Fury now brought her into the city to find a husband for her."
"What's Barton got to do with her? Isn't he already married?"
"They are friends since childhood, not unlike you and Steve. It's said between him and Fury they scared off every suitor." Margaret threw him an amused glance. "They were at ours for lunch a few days ago. Shall I ask Steve to introduce you later?"
James's throat was parched and he couldn't find words. Instead, he nodded.
"Oh dear." Margaret sounded both amused and surprised as she took in James's gaze that hadn't wandered from Miss Romanoff. "You are practically spellbound."
"What? No." James shook himself awake but he swore he could see the smirk on Miss Romanoff's face. "No, I'm not."
Rebecca and Steve chose that moment to return from the dancefloor and James turned his attention back to his sister. "Did you have fun?"
"Yes. Mr. Maximoff might wants to talk to you later. He asked me to dance." Rebecca's cheeks were pink and her eyes shone.
James couldn't help but feel happy for her. "Then I'll wait for him. Would you want to dance with him now?"
"If I may?"
"I can watch her," Margaret offered with an easy smile. "Steve, why don't you introduce James to General Fury and Miss Romanoff? I'm sure he would love to make their acquaintance."
Steve frowned. He knew that James had no interest whatsoever in military. Still, he trusted his wife and since James didn't tell him off, he did as he was told. "General Fury," he greeted the one-eyed man. "Miss Romanoff. Having you for lunch was an absolute delight. May I introduce my dear friend, Mr James Barnes?"
"The pleasure is all mine," James said with his boyish smile and bowed to Miss Romanoff. "I hope you like it in the city so far."
"I cannot complain," she answered with the same smirk she had gifted him earlier.
"Barnes." Fury nodded at him with a grim look. "My condolences. I knew your father well."
"Thank you, General." Still, he hadn't come over to talk about his father. "Miss Romanoff, may I ask you for this dance."
"You surely may, Mr Barnes." She took his offered hand with a smile and waited until they were moving to the music before she spoke up again. "I guess you will now tell me how beautiful I am and that I can be lucky enough that you will ask for my hand?"
James supressed a laugh and shook his head. "I would tell you, but I guess every man here has already told you. So I'd rather compliment you on your wit; a characteristic that is much more important in a woman, I think."
"You do." She raised an eyebrow at him.
James nodded. "Of course. If I'm to choose a bride I'd rather she's bright enough to talk to. Beauty is a bonus, I think."
"You don't seem to be like the other men, Mr Barnes."
"I do hope so." James grinned at her and twirled her to the music. "Would you mind me as your suitor?"
Miss Romanoff stopped dead, not caring for the other couples who had to dance around them. "What?"
James cleared his throat and felt the heat creep up his neck. "Well, I… I would like to get to know you. But I would not pursue your affection if you were not interested." He shrugged self-consciously. "I'm not the only single man, you know? Not even the only head of a house. And I'm sure there are men here today with greater wealth to their name. Stark, for example."
"I met Stark," Miss Romanoff said with a tone that James couldn't really decipher.
James cleared his throat and continued their dance. "I guess, what I'm saying is that you could do better than me."
"Yes."
"Yes?" James repeated, barely trusting his ears. He couldn't help the disappointment showing on his face.
"Yes, I would like you to visit tomorrow." Miss Romanoff let go of him as the song ended and curtsied, a smirk playing on her lips. "I'm certainly looking forward to it, Mr Barnes."
"As do I," James answered with a happy grin. "As do I."
