The next day after school Wendy met up with John and Michael to walk home.
Starting out for their residence, she flashed back to earlier that day when
some of her friends from school had told her about a social dance that was
swiftly approaching, one which would highly profit a girl who wished to
procure a successful marriage.
In the past year her father had left his position as a clerk and begun a business in jewelry, starting off with only the treasures that the boys had brought back from Neverland. He had amassed a great deal of wealth, thus elevating his family on the ladder of society. But the Darlings were still considered 'new money' and impressions were important at this point, especially since they had adopted such an incorrigible brood of children.
Though she knew it was impractical, Wendy couldn't help but wish that she could marry for love, not position. Peter's form entered her mind, but she mentally shoved him out. He had left her, after all. She didn't owe him anything, and besides, marriage was too grown-up for him.
As she had been thinking about these matters, she had become lost in a crowd of people. Realizing that she could not see her brothers, she began to panic, her chest constricting painfully as though clutched physically by her sudden anxiety.
"John?" Wendy managed to force out through her collapsing airways. "Michael?"
Wendy twisted from side to side to try and catch a glimpse of either brother and soon became dizzy with the effort. The people, scenery and colors began to blur into a solitary swirl of colors and the tug of a faint drew at her strength. Suddenly she felt a light touch at her elbow. Settling down enough to focus on the sensation, she turned to see a young man standing there with a look of concern.
"Are you all right, miss?" he asked.
"I'm sorry?" Wendy asked, quite captivated by his glitteringly hazel eyes. Snapping out of the trance, she replied, "Oh, yes. Thank you, sir."
"A lady such as yourself should not be about unescorted," he gently reprimanded, a small smile taking away the severity of such a scold.
"I was with my brothers, but I seem to have lost them," Wendy replied, scanning the crowd for either brother.
"Well, then, I see I shall have to help you. My name is James," he offered his jacketed arm. Wendy accepted gratefully as she was still feeling a bit faint and walked with him at an easy pace.
"And mine is Wendy," she replied.
Stealing a glance she saw his lightly freckled skin under a mop of curly black hair. As she became mesmerized in the pattern of speckles, she realized that his eyes were looking at her in the same accessing manner. Blushing modestly she looked down, he had caught her staring.
"So, where were you and your brothers headed?" James asked.
"We were on our way home from school, but I lost them in the crowd," she responded.
"Perhaps they continued on?" James suggested, slightly elevating one eyebrow.
Wendy nodded, "That may be so."
"Would you like me to escort you?" James persisted.
Wendy smiled gratefully, "If you wouldn't mind."
"Mind? Why on earth would I mind escorting such a lovely lady as yourself?" James grinned lightheartedly, a lock of his hair drifting to mask his eyes.
Wendy blushed and smiled softly, reflecting on Peter's resistance to even visit her.
In the past year her father had left his position as a clerk and begun a business in jewelry, starting off with only the treasures that the boys had brought back from Neverland. He had amassed a great deal of wealth, thus elevating his family on the ladder of society. But the Darlings were still considered 'new money' and impressions were important at this point, especially since they had adopted such an incorrigible brood of children.
Though she knew it was impractical, Wendy couldn't help but wish that she could marry for love, not position. Peter's form entered her mind, but she mentally shoved him out. He had left her, after all. She didn't owe him anything, and besides, marriage was too grown-up for him.
As she had been thinking about these matters, she had become lost in a crowd of people. Realizing that she could not see her brothers, she began to panic, her chest constricting painfully as though clutched physically by her sudden anxiety.
"John?" Wendy managed to force out through her collapsing airways. "Michael?"
Wendy twisted from side to side to try and catch a glimpse of either brother and soon became dizzy with the effort. The people, scenery and colors began to blur into a solitary swirl of colors and the tug of a faint drew at her strength. Suddenly she felt a light touch at her elbow. Settling down enough to focus on the sensation, she turned to see a young man standing there with a look of concern.
"Are you all right, miss?" he asked.
"I'm sorry?" Wendy asked, quite captivated by his glitteringly hazel eyes. Snapping out of the trance, she replied, "Oh, yes. Thank you, sir."
"A lady such as yourself should not be about unescorted," he gently reprimanded, a small smile taking away the severity of such a scold.
"I was with my brothers, but I seem to have lost them," Wendy replied, scanning the crowd for either brother.
"Well, then, I see I shall have to help you. My name is James," he offered his jacketed arm. Wendy accepted gratefully as she was still feeling a bit faint and walked with him at an easy pace.
"And mine is Wendy," she replied.
Stealing a glance she saw his lightly freckled skin under a mop of curly black hair. As she became mesmerized in the pattern of speckles, she realized that his eyes were looking at her in the same accessing manner. Blushing modestly she looked down, he had caught her staring.
"So, where were you and your brothers headed?" James asked.
"We were on our way home from school, but I lost them in the crowd," she responded.
"Perhaps they continued on?" James suggested, slightly elevating one eyebrow.
Wendy nodded, "That may be so."
"Would you like me to escort you?" James persisted.
Wendy smiled gratefully, "If you wouldn't mind."
"Mind? Why on earth would I mind escorting such a lovely lady as yourself?" James grinned lightheartedly, a lock of his hair drifting to mask his eyes.
Wendy blushed and smiled softly, reflecting on Peter's resistance to even visit her.