Part Two
Tommy lay in the hot tub his parents had invested in, idly flicking the water a bit as he tried to remember every detail of whatever he had experienced hours ago. He had left the little dive of a building with shivers chasing up his spine and a disappointed Merton who was sour Madam Goolee deemed herself too 'worn out' to continue with anymore work.
He shut his eyes and sunk a bit lower into the water, leaning his head back and stretching his legs out as the memories seemed to be chasing away and slipping from his mind at his tremendous attempt to recall them.
"Damn, not like it could be as easy to go back as saying, 'return me'..." he muttered when he suddenly felt as if he were being pulled from himself, and slammed back in...
"Who'd of thought that would wor--"
"Theodore?"
Tommy turned and looked at the smiling face before him . . . he had a feeling he wasn't in the same time or place.
"Do come on, they're about to start the games!"
It was Stacey before him with her red curls in a spilling upswept and a gown; silky with a tiny bow and band under her displayed cleavage. Stace . . . no . . . "Sarah?"
"Oh, come on, Silly. We don't want to be late!"
She grabbed his hand and dragged him over the hill to the group of perhaps twenty people sitting in the grass.
He faintly recalled his own life, his own high school that forced him to watch 'Weuthering Heights' reminding him of the people before him. The movie ... Merton, yes, Merton cried at . . . But when was . . .
"Theodore?" Sarah called again.
He looked up with a smile and joined the gathering. It was a wonderful day for games with the fantastic weather they had been having. Sarah moved to indicate a place for him to sit but he chose a spot further away. She'd been sending him too many signals lately and he wanted it quite clear for her -- and their families -- not to expect a marriage for them.
He smiled when *she* started to walk towards him, her blue-and-white cotton dress clinging to her in all the right places...
Beck--- nope... "Bethany..." he breathed, standing up.
"Strumpet approaching..." he heard Sarah to mutter, and shot her a dirty glare. But, it melted as soon as she approached.
"Good morning, Theodore..."
"A good morning to you. You're looking lovely today, Bethany."
"Thank you," she answered politely with a demure nod.
"Would you like to sit down?" he asked nervously. It wasn't proper for his station or age of twenty but he couldn't keep his excitable feelings at bay.
"Yes, thank you." She took his hand and he helped her lower to the grass before joining her.
"Okay all," a man with oddly spiked hair said from the middle of the group. He looked so familiar . . . Mer . . . Merritt, it was his friend and Bethany's cousin Merritt, though they acted more siblings than cousins . . .
"Would you please say it, Merritt!" Sarah laughed when he carried on with trying to get the group's full attention.
"What shall we play?" he asked.
"A guessing game!" someone shouted.
"Charades!" Bethany suggested.
"A fine idea," Tommy said beside her with a grin. She seemed like she noticed just a bit before turning back to her cousin and seeming like she had seen nothing at all, tucking the thought away.
The game commenced and Stacey was the first to pull a slip from a well-made hat. She smiled and rose to the center with a prepared air, handing the card to Merritt.
At first she stood stony, a hand over her mouth before running around the area a bit with wordless screams. She swirled around, a hand poised to her forehead in great torment before heading immediately for Tommy. Sarah fell to his lap and clung to his jacket in mock fright as titters of laughter rippled around them.
Becky seemed slightly awkward next to him and Tommy opened his mouth to throw anything out.
"You're in trouble?"
"Needs to be more specific, old boy," someone called out with a chuckle as Sarah continued her display, burrowing against him in a very unrefined but allowed fashion being a good-natured game was being played.
"No, it will do," Merritt announced as he stood. "She was a 'damsel in distress'."
Sarah turned quite upset, red staining her pale skin. "That is not fair!"
"Yes, Merritt," a smiling woman said from the back. "We all could have guessed she was troubled."
"Well, even if I did spoil the rules Sarah spoke, her turn ended then," he said cordially pleasing with an easy turn of his mouth. "From now on, though, we'll play by every rule."
She objected to his twisting of the game code with a well heard noise as she finally removed herself from Tommy's lap and returned to her spot, much closer to the object of her affection than before.
"But before we play by every rule," Merritt announced humorously, "I would like to pilfer the next turn, with Theodore's permission of course, being he guessed correctly."
Tommy nodded with a smile and Merritt pulled his card and tucked it in his jacket pocket before dropping the hat.
He seemed quite solemn, both hands resting on a hip before he seemed to grandly pull out an invisible sword and swing wildly.
"A fighter!"
"A dueler?"
Everyone tittered as Merritt put on a good show of whipping and stabbing, pausing briefly to bow before his dear cousin. After the exaggerated display he was back to weaving and dodging as he slashed through the air with a, one would assume, trusty weapon.
"A man attempting to escape a bee," Tommy quipped. His old friend stopped his wild movement to give him an annoyed expression while Bethany laughed softly and spoke up.
"I must, regretfully, correct you, Theodore. Our Merritt is a fearless knight!"
"Correct!" he said causing the gentle applause all around.
"Perhaps you should help save Sarah!" someone called.
"The perfect pair," Bethany said with a gaze to the red head suggesting she knew the implication bothered her, and that the girl wasn't good enough for her beloved cousin anyway.
After a jester, a particularly difficult Queen of England, and a pirate it was Bethany's turn.
She read her card with a little puckered frown, then shrugged and started doing regal waves and curtseys, sweeping her dress and dark hair dramatically.
"A... a dancer?" Merritt called out uncertainly.
Bethany shook her head and continued.
"A doxie?" Sarah called out.
"Sarah!" Tommy said in a harsh tone. Most of the group looked at her distastefully for being a lady and even saying such a thing in public.
Bethany gave her a look that told of a regality to match her character, obviously feeling above Sarah's comments or thoughts that made the angry enemy dislike her even more.
"Back to the game!" Merritt tried to smooth over.
Bethany smiled at him as the rest of the group nodded and urged and Tommy gave Sarah one last disappointed look before his gaze fell back to the one in the circle. An easy smile slid onto his face as she began again.
She bowed to members of the crowd receiving good-natured mocking nods and laughs. Her hand fell to hearts of people and then her own before moving grandly from one person to the next. When she bowed at Tommy she placed her hand on her heart again and when it fell upon his he moved to hold it there.
With his fingers wrapped slightly around her he spoke up and as she stared at him expectantly and slightly startled.
"I know it," he said in a final tone. "She's a Goddess."
Becky smiled, feeling her knees begin to buckle under his gaze, looking at her as if he somehow knew what was underneath her shimmy...
She pulled back timidly and moved away.
Merritt rolled his eyes at his cousin and took her card. "Yes, the Goddess Aphrodite..."
"The goddess of love..." he whispered, unable to tear his gaze away from her.
Sarah seemed morose but she didn't say a thing, not willing to mention the guess was supposed to be more exact when the opportunity for more contact between the couple was presented if he tried more accurate descriptions.
"O-kay... let's... commence to the refreshments..." Merritt said quickly, trying to steer the gossips eyes away from what might very well soon become a 'display'...
As everyone started towards the food, Tommy took Bethany's wrist gently.
"Did anyone ever tell you how... stunningly beautiful you are?"
Bethany blushed.
"You are most kind..." she murmured, looking away discreetly.
"Would you consider ... going for a walk by the garden pond?"
"Oh, I really shouldn't," she whispered. She had been warned against such things since she was a child, never go anywhere with a man unattended -- certainly not when you could feel the flush on your body at the prospect of being near him . . .
But he knew Merritt, and even stayed with him at Knockson, her cousin's manor, since he began his visit three months ago.
She looked at him, simply *knowing* he could sense her embarrassment.
"I would like to know how you figured out I was a Goddess . . ."
"Bethany, come along," Merritt called and she found herself thankful that the gathering today was all of their friends and not a sense of authority in sight. She already felt terribly guilty and she hadn't even done a thing!
"Theodore, I made you're favorite dessert!" Sarah called as she made her way, unwanted, next to Merritt.
Merritt gave Bethany her hint and then turned away, taking Sarah with him. Her dear cousin, looking out for her best interest and reputation.
"You better go," Bethany said quietly. "Sarah made your favorite dish."
"I do wonder what she thinks it is. She probably did retrieve the right recipe as she's been stalking my every action for three months."
Bethany laughed and then put a demure hand over her mouth. "You shouldn't say such things."
Tommy smiled.
"I should indeed ... the truth is welcome, is it not? Besides, anything to get to hear that beautiful laugh of yours..."
Bethany flushed and gave him a doe-eyed look; suddenly realizing he'd twined her fingers with his...
"I..."
"Come along." he winked, not having to even tug much to gently lead her off past the croquet grounds, towards the deserted pond in the lush rose garden, nearly hidden by the things growing around them. It made her a bit nervous, but, at the same time, she didn't want to be found...
She felt horrid for having such thoughts but when he looked back smiling . . .
"You may very well ruin my reputation," Bethany told him half-sighing.
"Then I suppose I'll have to marry you then."
Her eyes grew wide but she didn't believe he saw as he had already turned away. Pushing brush and lush full roses aside he brought her to stand beside the clear pond.
"You're jesting, surely---"
"Not a jest, Bethany . . . Would you consider marriage . . . to me?" he added slightly fidgety.
Bethany could only nod, and then closed her eyes as his mouth captured hers, brushing his lips gently over her. She felt... as if she were hovering, floating, as she got lain down...
He kissed her gently and it was her first. He was the only to ever touch her lips and she felt the fluttering within her move up to her chest, making her breathless.
When she opened her eyes she was laying beside the pond, feeling the cotton edge of her gown soak in some of the water. Theodore was beside her, his hand holding her cheek like she was precious.
She looked into his eyes and saw the happiness and . . . something . . . her mouth drooped a bit in realization.
What was she doing lying beside a man? So many years of training gone . . . she was performing like a doxie! She sat up, water sloshing as the now heavy fabric swept around, splashing Theodore. A mention of marriage and she was beside his warm body! Did she have no pride?
At his slightly humored look she had to think hard with that query. It made her want to fall beside him all over again. Why must he be so inviting? It was simply scandalous, the whole situation!
"Forgive me."
"Wait..." he frowned confusedly, reaching for the hem of her dress.
"No … Please..." she begged. "Don't..."
"Easy... I wouldn't hurt you... *Ever*..." he assured, pulling himself up and putting his hands on her upper arms.
"I'm behaving... in an unladylike manner!"
"No, you're not." he said, tilting her chin upwards to his mouth, to kiss her again. This time, though, they remained standing.
"Bethany!" a voice boomed out.
"Mr. Lucard..." she eeped out weakly.
Tommy felt violent shudders go through her body, and his protective instinct was up in an instant.
"Now, now, my dear child... you know you can call me Erik..."
"I think I prefer Mr. Lucard..." she said stiffly.
"I think I prefer you get the hell *out* of here." Tommy ground out, yanking Bethany behind him...
"You have no idea what you are talking about, young man, so I'll thank you to keep silent," Anders warned in a deadly manner.
He was an imposing figure. In his thirties he had lost all boyish charm, he was a hardened figure with black hair with indefinable eyes and a dark manor.
"And I'll be obliged if you would leave," Tommy said matching his tone.
"Of course, my boy," he said with a smirking overtone that told he saw the man before him as just that -- a *boy*. "I will leave you be . . . after I take the lady with me."
"You'll not take her anywhere," Tommy said.
"I must disagree. I won't leave her here to you and your ruinous behavior," Lucard boomed.
"What's going on here?"
"Merritt!" Bethany said thankfully.
Merritt eyed his friend and cousin just briefly before his eyes fell upon the man before him. He never liked the overbearing personality of Mr. Lucard since he came upon their family and with the threatening nature he seemed to be showing it made his feelings no better.
"I believe you were disturbing my friends," Merritt told him without shying away. He went to stand beside his childhood friend and stared at the practical stranger with hard eyes.
"I understand," Lucard said with a slight bow.
He was not frightened or put off by Merritt's strong stance in the least but he did not want to jeopardize his standing with the young woman hidden behind them.
"Miss Lankin," he bowed to Bethany before a curt nod to the men. He replaced his wide rimmed hat upon his head and they watched the deep maroon of his jacket disappear through the vibrant green of the rose bushes.
Merritt sighed, his easy nature returning as he turned back to his friends.
"I suggest you both accompany me back to the picnic, Sarah herself is holding back the gossip for no other reason then to protect her future betrothed," he said pointedly to Tommy with a teasing turn of his lips.
"Don't say such a thing!" he protested.
"What? She has been after you since---"
"Well, I just asked your cousin, providing your Uncle grants me permission?"
Merritt sighed.
"That's a big if, Ted... Uncle has been talking with that Lucard bas---" he flushed, quickly covering up his curse. "Ahem... person..."
"That's impossible!" Bethany insisted rather loudly. "To think I'd marry that ... that ... well, a proper lady doesn't use such terms."
"Should we ask Sarah then?" Merritt asked.
"Don't josh, Merritt," Bethany said sullenly. She felt as if she was going to cry. A moment ago she wasn't even sure Theodore meant the wonderful promises and now it was certain but her future was not.
"Don't worry, Bethie," Merritt said, "I'll make sure it works out . . . After all, I could think of no better relation than my old chum."
His smile made Tommy grin and catch his waiting hand in a shake. When he pulled away he had a rather mischievous look on his face.
"I do believe I have a picnic announcement to make," Merritt said. He broke away and started back to make his ruckus. "Come by in a bit of time to receive your flood of congrats."
He left them there on his way to help seal their union.
"Theodore?" Bethany asked shyly.
"Yes?"
But, she did not verbally respond, as she leant up and kissed his mouth gently...
Tommy suddenly felt himself being shaken and screamed *loudly* when he saw the face of his mother.
Sally Dawkins recoiled slightly.
"Thomas Phillip Dawkins, do you know how *dangerous* it is, falling asleep out here???" she lectured.
"Ummm... sorry?" he mumbled, starting to blush.
"Well... just... you should get out before you turn into a prune?" she ordered at her youngest child.
Tommy nodded and pulled himself out--- he needed help... He needed Merton...
End Part Two
Tommy lay in the hot tub his parents had invested in, idly flicking the water a bit as he tried to remember every detail of whatever he had experienced hours ago. He had left the little dive of a building with shivers chasing up his spine and a disappointed Merton who was sour Madam Goolee deemed herself too 'worn out' to continue with anymore work.
He shut his eyes and sunk a bit lower into the water, leaning his head back and stretching his legs out as the memories seemed to be chasing away and slipping from his mind at his tremendous attempt to recall them.
"Damn, not like it could be as easy to go back as saying, 'return me'..." he muttered when he suddenly felt as if he were being pulled from himself, and slammed back in...
"Who'd of thought that would wor--"
"Theodore?"
Tommy turned and looked at the smiling face before him . . . he had a feeling he wasn't in the same time or place.
"Do come on, they're about to start the games!"
It was Stacey before him with her red curls in a spilling upswept and a gown; silky with a tiny bow and band under her displayed cleavage. Stace . . . no . . . "Sarah?"
"Oh, come on, Silly. We don't want to be late!"
She grabbed his hand and dragged him over the hill to the group of perhaps twenty people sitting in the grass.
He faintly recalled his own life, his own high school that forced him to watch 'Weuthering Heights' reminding him of the people before him. The movie ... Merton, yes, Merton cried at . . . But when was . . .
"Theodore?" Sarah called again.
He looked up with a smile and joined the gathering. It was a wonderful day for games with the fantastic weather they had been having. Sarah moved to indicate a place for him to sit but he chose a spot further away. She'd been sending him too many signals lately and he wanted it quite clear for her -- and their families -- not to expect a marriage for them.
He smiled when *she* started to walk towards him, her blue-and-white cotton dress clinging to her in all the right places...
Beck--- nope... "Bethany..." he breathed, standing up.
"Strumpet approaching..." he heard Sarah to mutter, and shot her a dirty glare. But, it melted as soon as she approached.
"Good morning, Theodore..."
"A good morning to you. You're looking lovely today, Bethany."
"Thank you," she answered politely with a demure nod.
"Would you like to sit down?" he asked nervously. It wasn't proper for his station or age of twenty but he couldn't keep his excitable feelings at bay.
"Yes, thank you." She took his hand and he helped her lower to the grass before joining her.
"Okay all," a man with oddly spiked hair said from the middle of the group. He looked so familiar . . . Mer . . . Merritt, it was his friend and Bethany's cousin Merritt, though they acted more siblings than cousins . . .
"Would you please say it, Merritt!" Sarah laughed when he carried on with trying to get the group's full attention.
"What shall we play?" he asked.
"A guessing game!" someone shouted.
"Charades!" Bethany suggested.
"A fine idea," Tommy said beside her with a grin. She seemed like she noticed just a bit before turning back to her cousin and seeming like she had seen nothing at all, tucking the thought away.
The game commenced and Stacey was the first to pull a slip from a well-made hat. She smiled and rose to the center with a prepared air, handing the card to Merritt.
At first she stood stony, a hand over her mouth before running around the area a bit with wordless screams. She swirled around, a hand poised to her forehead in great torment before heading immediately for Tommy. Sarah fell to his lap and clung to his jacket in mock fright as titters of laughter rippled around them.
Becky seemed slightly awkward next to him and Tommy opened his mouth to throw anything out.
"You're in trouble?"
"Needs to be more specific, old boy," someone called out with a chuckle as Sarah continued her display, burrowing against him in a very unrefined but allowed fashion being a good-natured game was being played.
"No, it will do," Merritt announced as he stood. "She was a 'damsel in distress'."
Sarah turned quite upset, red staining her pale skin. "That is not fair!"
"Yes, Merritt," a smiling woman said from the back. "We all could have guessed she was troubled."
"Well, even if I did spoil the rules Sarah spoke, her turn ended then," he said cordially pleasing with an easy turn of his mouth. "From now on, though, we'll play by every rule."
She objected to his twisting of the game code with a well heard noise as she finally removed herself from Tommy's lap and returned to her spot, much closer to the object of her affection than before.
"But before we play by every rule," Merritt announced humorously, "I would like to pilfer the next turn, with Theodore's permission of course, being he guessed correctly."
Tommy nodded with a smile and Merritt pulled his card and tucked it in his jacket pocket before dropping the hat.
He seemed quite solemn, both hands resting on a hip before he seemed to grandly pull out an invisible sword and swing wildly.
"A fighter!"
"A dueler?"
Everyone tittered as Merritt put on a good show of whipping and stabbing, pausing briefly to bow before his dear cousin. After the exaggerated display he was back to weaving and dodging as he slashed through the air with a, one would assume, trusty weapon.
"A man attempting to escape a bee," Tommy quipped. His old friend stopped his wild movement to give him an annoyed expression while Bethany laughed softly and spoke up.
"I must, regretfully, correct you, Theodore. Our Merritt is a fearless knight!"
"Correct!" he said causing the gentle applause all around.
"Perhaps you should help save Sarah!" someone called.
"The perfect pair," Bethany said with a gaze to the red head suggesting she knew the implication bothered her, and that the girl wasn't good enough for her beloved cousin anyway.
After a jester, a particularly difficult Queen of England, and a pirate it was Bethany's turn.
She read her card with a little puckered frown, then shrugged and started doing regal waves and curtseys, sweeping her dress and dark hair dramatically.
"A... a dancer?" Merritt called out uncertainly.
Bethany shook her head and continued.
"A doxie?" Sarah called out.
"Sarah!" Tommy said in a harsh tone. Most of the group looked at her distastefully for being a lady and even saying such a thing in public.
Bethany gave her a look that told of a regality to match her character, obviously feeling above Sarah's comments or thoughts that made the angry enemy dislike her even more.
"Back to the game!" Merritt tried to smooth over.
Bethany smiled at him as the rest of the group nodded and urged and Tommy gave Sarah one last disappointed look before his gaze fell back to the one in the circle. An easy smile slid onto his face as she began again.
She bowed to members of the crowd receiving good-natured mocking nods and laughs. Her hand fell to hearts of people and then her own before moving grandly from one person to the next. When she bowed at Tommy she placed her hand on her heart again and when it fell upon his he moved to hold it there.
With his fingers wrapped slightly around her he spoke up and as she stared at him expectantly and slightly startled.
"I know it," he said in a final tone. "She's a Goddess."
Becky smiled, feeling her knees begin to buckle under his gaze, looking at her as if he somehow knew what was underneath her shimmy...
She pulled back timidly and moved away.
Merritt rolled his eyes at his cousin and took her card. "Yes, the Goddess Aphrodite..."
"The goddess of love..." he whispered, unable to tear his gaze away from her.
Sarah seemed morose but she didn't say a thing, not willing to mention the guess was supposed to be more exact when the opportunity for more contact between the couple was presented if he tried more accurate descriptions.
"O-kay... let's... commence to the refreshments..." Merritt said quickly, trying to steer the gossips eyes away from what might very well soon become a 'display'...
As everyone started towards the food, Tommy took Bethany's wrist gently.
"Did anyone ever tell you how... stunningly beautiful you are?"
Bethany blushed.
"You are most kind..." she murmured, looking away discreetly.
"Would you consider ... going for a walk by the garden pond?"
"Oh, I really shouldn't," she whispered. She had been warned against such things since she was a child, never go anywhere with a man unattended -- certainly not when you could feel the flush on your body at the prospect of being near him . . .
But he knew Merritt, and even stayed with him at Knockson, her cousin's manor, since he began his visit three months ago.
She looked at him, simply *knowing* he could sense her embarrassment.
"I would like to know how you figured out I was a Goddess . . ."
"Bethany, come along," Merritt called and she found herself thankful that the gathering today was all of their friends and not a sense of authority in sight. She already felt terribly guilty and she hadn't even done a thing!
"Theodore, I made you're favorite dessert!" Sarah called as she made her way, unwanted, next to Merritt.
Merritt gave Bethany her hint and then turned away, taking Sarah with him. Her dear cousin, looking out for her best interest and reputation.
"You better go," Bethany said quietly. "Sarah made your favorite dish."
"I do wonder what she thinks it is. She probably did retrieve the right recipe as she's been stalking my every action for three months."
Bethany laughed and then put a demure hand over her mouth. "You shouldn't say such things."
Tommy smiled.
"I should indeed ... the truth is welcome, is it not? Besides, anything to get to hear that beautiful laugh of yours..."
Bethany flushed and gave him a doe-eyed look; suddenly realizing he'd twined her fingers with his...
"I..."
"Come along." he winked, not having to even tug much to gently lead her off past the croquet grounds, towards the deserted pond in the lush rose garden, nearly hidden by the things growing around them. It made her a bit nervous, but, at the same time, she didn't want to be found...
She felt horrid for having such thoughts but when he looked back smiling . . .
"You may very well ruin my reputation," Bethany told him half-sighing.
"Then I suppose I'll have to marry you then."
Her eyes grew wide but she didn't believe he saw as he had already turned away. Pushing brush and lush full roses aside he brought her to stand beside the clear pond.
"You're jesting, surely---"
"Not a jest, Bethany . . . Would you consider marriage . . . to me?" he added slightly fidgety.
Bethany could only nod, and then closed her eyes as his mouth captured hers, brushing his lips gently over her. She felt... as if she were hovering, floating, as she got lain down...
He kissed her gently and it was her first. He was the only to ever touch her lips and she felt the fluttering within her move up to her chest, making her breathless.
When she opened her eyes she was laying beside the pond, feeling the cotton edge of her gown soak in some of the water. Theodore was beside her, his hand holding her cheek like she was precious.
She looked into his eyes and saw the happiness and . . . something . . . her mouth drooped a bit in realization.
What was she doing lying beside a man? So many years of training gone . . . she was performing like a doxie! She sat up, water sloshing as the now heavy fabric swept around, splashing Theodore. A mention of marriage and she was beside his warm body! Did she have no pride?
At his slightly humored look she had to think hard with that query. It made her want to fall beside him all over again. Why must he be so inviting? It was simply scandalous, the whole situation!
"Forgive me."
"Wait..." he frowned confusedly, reaching for the hem of her dress.
"No … Please..." she begged. "Don't..."
"Easy... I wouldn't hurt you... *Ever*..." he assured, pulling himself up and putting his hands on her upper arms.
"I'm behaving... in an unladylike manner!"
"No, you're not." he said, tilting her chin upwards to his mouth, to kiss her again. This time, though, they remained standing.
"Bethany!" a voice boomed out.
"Mr. Lucard..." she eeped out weakly.
Tommy felt violent shudders go through her body, and his protective instinct was up in an instant.
"Now, now, my dear child... you know you can call me Erik..."
"I think I prefer Mr. Lucard..." she said stiffly.
"I think I prefer you get the hell *out* of here." Tommy ground out, yanking Bethany behind him...
"You have no idea what you are talking about, young man, so I'll thank you to keep silent," Anders warned in a deadly manner.
He was an imposing figure. In his thirties he had lost all boyish charm, he was a hardened figure with black hair with indefinable eyes and a dark manor.
"And I'll be obliged if you would leave," Tommy said matching his tone.
"Of course, my boy," he said with a smirking overtone that told he saw the man before him as just that -- a *boy*. "I will leave you be . . . after I take the lady with me."
"You'll not take her anywhere," Tommy said.
"I must disagree. I won't leave her here to you and your ruinous behavior," Lucard boomed.
"What's going on here?"
"Merritt!" Bethany said thankfully.
Merritt eyed his friend and cousin just briefly before his eyes fell upon the man before him. He never liked the overbearing personality of Mr. Lucard since he came upon their family and with the threatening nature he seemed to be showing it made his feelings no better.
"I believe you were disturbing my friends," Merritt told him without shying away. He went to stand beside his childhood friend and stared at the practical stranger with hard eyes.
"I understand," Lucard said with a slight bow.
He was not frightened or put off by Merritt's strong stance in the least but he did not want to jeopardize his standing with the young woman hidden behind them.
"Miss Lankin," he bowed to Bethany before a curt nod to the men. He replaced his wide rimmed hat upon his head and they watched the deep maroon of his jacket disappear through the vibrant green of the rose bushes.
Merritt sighed, his easy nature returning as he turned back to his friends.
"I suggest you both accompany me back to the picnic, Sarah herself is holding back the gossip for no other reason then to protect her future betrothed," he said pointedly to Tommy with a teasing turn of his lips.
"Don't say such a thing!" he protested.
"What? She has been after you since---"
"Well, I just asked your cousin, providing your Uncle grants me permission?"
Merritt sighed.
"That's a big if, Ted... Uncle has been talking with that Lucard bas---" he flushed, quickly covering up his curse. "Ahem... person..."
"That's impossible!" Bethany insisted rather loudly. "To think I'd marry that ... that ... well, a proper lady doesn't use such terms."
"Should we ask Sarah then?" Merritt asked.
"Don't josh, Merritt," Bethany said sullenly. She felt as if she was going to cry. A moment ago she wasn't even sure Theodore meant the wonderful promises and now it was certain but her future was not.
"Don't worry, Bethie," Merritt said, "I'll make sure it works out . . . After all, I could think of no better relation than my old chum."
His smile made Tommy grin and catch his waiting hand in a shake. When he pulled away he had a rather mischievous look on his face.
"I do believe I have a picnic announcement to make," Merritt said. He broke away and started back to make his ruckus. "Come by in a bit of time to receive your flood of congrats."
He left them there on his way to help seal their union.
"Theodore?" Bethany asked shyly.
"Yes?"
But, she did not verbally respond, as she leant up and kissed his mouth gently...
Tommy suddenly felt himself being shaken and screamed *loudly* when he saw the face of his mother.
Sally Dawkins recoiled slightly.
"Thomas Phillip Dawkins, do you know how *dangerous* it is, falling asleep out here???" she lectured.
"Ummm... sorry?" he mumbled, starting to blush.
"Well... just... you should get out before you turn into a prune?" she ordered at her youngest child.
Tommy nodded and pulled himself out--- he needed help... He needed Merton...
End Part Two