Chapter 3 - Hearts
WADE
Wade began chewing at the rim of his thumb, a bad habit he had broken years ago. But right now he was more nervous than he'd been in a very long time. He had never seen his father in such a rage. And rightly so. Mike and Di had brought him into this unbelievable situation. What was he supposed to do now? Defend the two? Help his father to nip this love or whatever it was in the bud?
Wade wished he had let Diana run to their father, telling him about his plans to be the next Guardian. He could have figured something out with his father. But this! God, he hadn't thought of such an outcome of the little festival they had joined. It had been about having fun, not changing his entire life.
He had always been a good son. He didn't want to disappoint his father. He was proud to be a Wilmington and yet, Mike was like his brother. If he was happy, Wade was too and if he suffered he did too. Wade knew Mike would suffer should he lose this fight. Why on earth didn't he see this coming?
Now everything made perfect sense: The awkward demeanor Mike had shown at the dinner when they got home; The brooding all week; The fact that Campbell didn't want to party with them to find some girls to have fun with, and even the fact that Mike didn't even flinch when Wade had ordered him to look after his little sister. He was such an idiot! Di was no longer a kid. If he had taken the time to speak to her during that week, he would have seen this coming. She was a beautiful woman now. Mike on the other hand had spoken often with her that week.
Wade took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. Looking up to the ceiling he heard loud arguing from Di's room above. His sister was so stubborn, she never gave up on what she wanted. Until now his father had always lost these fights. But Wade was sure that Henry Wilmington wouldn't budge today.
He had to decide on whose side he was before his father came into the office to speak to him.
He heard the slamming of the door above.
Steps.
Diana started crying heartbreakingly.
Then the doors were pushed open by his father. The man shot him an enraged glare but didn't say a word to him but went over to the sideboard, filling one of the crystal glasses with Gin. Gulping it down, his father brushed his mouth and turned to him.
"What has gotten into you, Wade? Why did you allow Diana to stay with you when you found out she had followed? I thought I had raised you better, boy! I can close my eyes to the fact that my 22-year-old son is chasing the girls, joining a festival of these heathens. We're men, we need to sow our wild oats, but taking your sister with you - Son! How could you?!" His father's hand was shaking from anger, his face had already become an unhealthy red color. The doctor had said the last time Henry had looked like that he suffered from heart weakness and was not supposed to be pushed into a rage. Wade watched him filling another glass full with concern. His father wanted an answer. He had come up with something which would not fuel his anger.
Wade swallowed hard. This conversation already went worse than he had pictured it. He had no idea what to say to excuse his decision. "I'm sorry, father. I made a mistake."
"Indeed you have and you will pay too," his father spat at him, pointing his index finger at him while spilling a bit of the Gin from his glass by the gesture.
Wade felt like eight again, when he had broken the big mirror in the hallway. He had to work in the stables until his debt for the mirror had been paid. But how he should repay this was a mystery to him. He could hardly restore Diana's virginity. He waited ruefully for what his father would suggest.
***EST***
What Henry demanded of Wade was nothing dramatic. He should go with Di to the dances and find her a suitable man. Wade had entered Diana's room yesterday evening only to find her completely devastated. He had to calm her like she was a small child. This was all wrong. Mike was a good match - one who would give his last drop of blood to save the ones he loved. Wasn't a marriage out of love the better way? He wished the two could be together. Mike would be a real part of his family. But deep in his heart, he knew his father would only allow such a liaison over his dead body.
God, what was he thinking? He had thought to be a good son and now had just wished his father to be dead. So be it! He would not disobey his father. He would go to these damn dances with Diana but he would not force her into a marriage she didn't want. And Mike? If he found out his father tried to marry his daughter off, he would do something stupid for sure. He had to keep this from Mike. Maybe Diana would find another man she could love. Maybe what the two thought to be undying love was just a short-lived infatuation and all would be over soon.
*** EST ***
MIKE
In the late evening, Wade knocked at Mike's door. Mike was about to pick up his jacket from the hook when his friend entered. "Hey, Mike," Wade said with a crestfallen look.
Mike stopped mid-movement. He had no idea what to say to his friend. He was sure he had had a bad fight with his father about that evening.
"Hey. You alright?" Mike simply asked.
Wade nodded. "Are you about to go out?"
"Aye, do you wanna come along, mate?" Mike asked.
Wade nodded again. "I could use a drink. I'm gonna pay."
The two left the wine trading station, heading for the next pub. They walked for a while in silence. Then Wade finally broke the awkward silence, "How is your nose?"
Mike snorted, "I had worse. I don't worry too much about my nose."
"Why didn't you say something? Don't you think I needed to know about you being in love with my sister when I trusted her in your care?"
Mike stopped walking, looking hurt at his friend. "Look, I understand that you side with your family but don't you see that we love each other?"
"Don't talk bullshit. I'm not siding but I can not split into parts. You are my Brother, nothing will change that."
"Aye, but it's still not enough I think. Henry doesn't really want me in his family, you heard him, and I'm sure he has even told you the one or two other things that he thinks about this poor catholic Scot," Mike pointed at himself.
Wade took him by the arm. "Drop the whole we-will-marry-issue for a few weeks. Maybe you'll see it all in another light then."
Mike raised a brow. "Do you think the same as Bastian? Do you think this is only an infatuation? You know what? I wanna drink alone!" Mike spat at him.
Mike headed on, leaving his friend in the alley behind. Maybe he was mean to him but at the moment he couldn't deal with others. He had to see Diana. Mike prayed that her father hadn't beaten her again. Though Henry Wilmington was no man who spanked his children, Mike had also thought he was welcomed at the Wilmingtons. Now Henry Wilmington had shown his true feelings. "Poor Scot!" Mike repeated what the man had thrown at him. He would show him that he was perfectly able to care for Diana. He just needed a bit of time and the right man in his corner for this. And to his luck he knew exactly the right one. He had to convince Rutherford to help him. He was the only man who came to mind with enough influence. That was his plan so far. Of course not the best he admitted but it had to work. And if he had Rutherford on his side, Mike's chances were high enough that Mr. Wilmington would see his true worth.
*** EST ***
MIKE
After midnight, he had sneaked onto the Wilmington farm and stood now at the flower ladder beneath her window. He tested the stability of the wooden construction and decided it would carry him. He took a deep breath, talking to himself for a moment, "God Campbell, climbing up a flower ladder onto her porch in the evening. This is so Romeo and Juliet."
He made it up to the balcony. Straightening himself, he rearranged his clothes before he knocked at her balcony door as quietly as possible. Should Mr. Wilmington find him here, he was sure he would be a dead man. He saw Di's adorable shape approaching the glass door.
She fumbled with the lock. With a suppressed whisper and a too-concerned impression on her lips, she opened. "Oh God, Mike. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Are you alright?" She touched his still-hurting cheek softly, which let run painful shivers of comfort through his body in an instant.
Mike stepped inside. He couldn't hold back pulling her to him, silencing her with a kiss. "Shh," he whispered. "It's not your fault. I shouldn't have waited so long. If I had asked your father officially for your hand, he would not have been forced into such a reaction."
"I'm not sure, you haven't heard him bad-mouthing you and…," Diana began sobbing.
Mike got concerned. He would kill every man who'd dare to lay a hand on his beloved. "Did he lay a hand on you again? I swear I will…"
She stopped him with a finger to his lips. "Don't… he didn't slap me again. Don't worry. But what are we supposed to do now?"
"I'll find a way. I will not give up on us, my Heart. I meant every word I said at the feast. There has to be a way to show your father that I'm worthy of you."
"Can you stay the night?", Diana asked, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
Mike placed a kiss on her soft hair, inhaling her sweet scent. "I'll stay as long as possible."
Kissing and touching they stumbled over to Diana's bed. She felt perfect under his touch. Mike had never felt anything like that. They fell to the mattress lost in each other, forgetting the world and worries around.
*** EST ***
DIANA
She listened to Mike's steady heartbeat, resting her head on his chest. None of the two was able to sleep. Diana wanted not to waste a second with Mike with sleep. They talked about everything. Their favorite things to do, how a normal day looked like for each of them, and where they would live when her father finally would agree to their bond.
But one question was still on her mind. She barely had the grit to ask. But she had to know, "Mike?"
"Hmh?" he turned his head to her, her hand still in his, pulling her posessively a bit tighter to him.
"Tell me what you have in mind to do to show my father your worth?" she met his wonderful blue eyes, seeing him flinching slightly.
He sat up, not letting go of her hand. The blanket slid down to his hips. God, he looked gorgeous without a shirt. Diana almost forgot that she had asked a question.
"I'm going to ask Rutherford for his help. He knows men in high ranks. He is a captain himself. I will join the army. Your father is one who can be impressed with such things. I know how his heart burns for this war."
"What? You'll join the war? But …", Diana now sat too. He could not be serious! What if anything happened to him? "I don't want this. There has to be another way."
"Di, please. It's the easiest way. I will not die in battle. I have the perfect reason to live. I love you."
She felt her chin trembling, barely able to hold back the tears. "Why can we not just run away? You and me and a new life, somewhere far away?"
Mike smiled mildly at her, shaking his head, "That would have been my second thought. But I want them to accept our love. I know how close you are with your family. I can not rip you out of your whole world. I want to offer you a good life."
"I will be worried sick. You will write to me every day, even if you are not able to send your letters every day. Promise!"
Mike brought her hand to his lips, whispering, "I promise," and by kissing her hand in his he sealed the vow.
They heard a rumbling somewhere in the other rooms. It would be the break of day soon. Mike had to go, now! "Hurry, the house will be awake soon and you better be on your way back home."
Mike got up, searching for his clothes spread all over the way from the balcony door to the bed. Diana had to grin, while slipping into her nightshirt. She followed him to the window, helping him into his vest.
Another noise in the hallway.
Footsteps.
Mike pulled her into a passionate embrace, kissing her. "I love you, Diana. I will come back to you. I swear!"
The footsteps came closer. Someone tiredly climbed up the stairs.
Diana opened the door to her small balcony, pushing Mike outside. One last embrace and kiss. "I love you, Mike. I'll wait for you. Please be careful."
Mike gave her a last kiss, "I promise." With this he climbed over the handrail and down the flower ladder into the first grey light of the morning.
The door was pushed open by a sleepy Annabeth. The woman had a candle in a candle holder in her hand. "Miss Diana?"
Diana whirled around hurrying inside the room. She was glad and sad all together that the fresh morning air flooded the room, blending with m the wonderful smell of Mike and making love.
Her heartbeat went up to her throat. Steadying herself, she tried not to show how caught in the act she felt. "Annabeth, why are you up already?"
Annabeth yawned. "I heard a noise and wanted to make sure everything was alright. Why are you up, Miss Diana?"
"I couldn't sleep. I thought a bit of fresh air might help so I opened the balcony door for a while." Diana stepped back closer to her bed, spotting Mike's scarf next to her chaise lounge. Stepping along she kicked it under the furniture, in hope Annabeth hadn't seen the movement.
"That explains the noise. I thought I heard the balcony door. Go back to bed, Miss Diana. It's still a few hours til morning. You need your rest."
Annabeth folded back the blanket and fluffed the pillow for Diana. "Good night, Miss Diana." Annabeth waited patiently until Diana was back into bed again before she walked out, closing the door gently.
Diana let out a breath. "That was close," she whispered. She waited until Annabeth's steps silenced and even then counted to 50 before she dared to sneak up again, fetching the scarf from under her chaise lounge. She pushed the fabric to her chest, slipping back into bed. Inhaling his wonderful scent, she fell asleep with lots of questions, worries, and hopes on her mind.
TBC