The Private Diary of Elizabeth Quatermain, vol. IV: Only in America
by Lady Norbert
A/N: This final chapter dedication goes out to "the League" - you know who you are - with thanks and affection from your own Nemo.
5 June 1900
It's very early, a little way past one in the morning. The world has turned completely upside down.
Yesterday was another day of the same awkwardness between myself and Rodney. I've grown quite used to walking around with a dull ache in my heart, and I was beginning to accept that things would never be the same between us again. Our friendship was intact, but it was not nearly as warm or comfortable as it has always been, and I missed the closeness terribly.
Then, last evening, I was sitting here in my quarters, reading. It was fairly early, around eight I believe; dinner was over and I was just relaxing, trying not to think. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and I glanced up; I almost dropped my book in surprise when Rodney entered. His hands were in his pockets and he looked somewhat uneasy. "'Lo, Bess."
"Hello." I felt thoroughly mystified. "What, er, what brings you here this evening?"
"I...I need to talk to you." He was pacing a bit, not looking at me.
"What's the matter?"
"I...oi, where do I begin? I need to talk to you about Everett."
I groaned slightly, and put down my book. "Must we discuss him? I'd like to forget he even exists."
"Not a bad idea," he said, sounding a bit more like himself. "But you remember my telling you I confronted him the day of the engagement dinner?"
"And that's when his men threw you in the mine. Yes, I remember."
"Right. Well, see...I knew something was wrong. You just weren't the same bonny Bessie you were before the engagement. So I wanted to know what was really happening, and why he was really marrying you when you obviously didn't want to marry him."
"I see. What did he say?"
"I won't repeat it. Not very nice stuff; almost broke his nose, to be honest. I knew he didn't love you, and he proved it."
"I'm aware he didn't love me. What of it?"
"Well, I just...I need to know, for sure...did you love him?"
My eyebrows nearly flew off my face, they rose so quickly. "Did I...Rodney, are you mad? Of course I didn't love him!"
"You were going to marry him." He leaned against the wall near the herbarium, arms folded.
"I told you why I was going to marry him! I didn't want to, believe me - I just thought it was the only way."
"I just needed to be sure, that's all. Couldn't have you pining for that bastard, now, could I?" He gave me, for the first time in a long time, the old grin. Then it faded, and he said, "But you liked him."
"Liked him, yes. For a time." I rose and crossed to the herbarium, straightening rows of pots. "He was...charming. He flattered me. I'm not used to receiving so much attention, it was nice."
"What are you on about, not used to getting attention?" He sounded nettled.
"I'm sorry, that didn't sound right. I'm just not accustomed to men falling all over themselves because of me. Mina might be used to that sort of thing, but I'm certainly not." I chuckled. "I've always been a sparrow in a world full of peacocks."
"I like sparrows."
He said it so softly. I turned to look at him, and that bright blue gaze cut straight to the heart of me.
"How did you know, anyway?" I asked. "He had that entire town fooled. How in the world did you know he didn't love me?"
"That was easy."
"But you were the only one who knew!"
"So?" Our voices were starting to rise.
"So tell me how."
"You mean you don't know?"
"Obviously, or I wouldn't be asking!"
"I never thought for a second that he loved you."
"Why?" We were nearly shouting now.
"It was obvious!"
"Only to you! How did you know what no one else knew?"
"Because I love you! You think I can't tell the difference?"
We both froze.
"What did you say?" I asked him.
"Did I say that out loud?" He looked thunderstruck.
"You did. But - but I don't believe you." I turned away from him. "I'm not falling for this again."
"Again?"
"Every time we have this conversation, it always turns out that I'm dreaming. I can't go through it another time."
"Wait...you've dreamed about this?" I could hear him smiling.
"My heart breaks every morning when I wake up. No, no more."
He chuckled and put his hand on my arm, gently turning me to face him. "You know," he said, "Everett said something else to me that I never forgot. He said, 'This isn't a fairy tale, Mr. Skinner. The princess isn't going to kiss you and turn you into a prince.' Well, I figure, if you're dreaming, that's exactly what should happen."
With these words, he caught me about the waist and kissed me.
I was so shocked that, for a second or two, I couldn't even respond. Then, almost of their own accord, my hands stole up to twine themselves in his hair. Something hot was rushing through my veins, and seemed to pass from me into Rodney and back again, until I no longer knew for certain where he ended and I began.
I'm not sure how long we stood there - a brief eternity - before he finally pulled away a bit. We were both a little short of breath, and his eyes were shining. "I don't feel any different," he said teasingly.
"You don't look any different, either."
"I think, my Bess, that you really are awake."
"Oh, thank God." I very much wanted to cry, but at the same time I felt as I had after the ball - utterly luminous with joy. He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest.
"I couldn't have put it better myself," he muttered.
Here ends this stage of Miss Elizabeth Quatermain's adventures with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Look for still more chaos and catastrophe in Volume V, "Tartan Holiday," coming soon.