Diana and Matthew meet at Oxford as Diana returns to teach history and research manuscripts at the Bodleian for a new book. Jealousy and mystery hinder their romance but their desire is made real. (All Human) NO VAMPIRES/NO WITCHES/NO DAEMONS. First story in a few years. Keeping it simpler by not adding the supernatural aspect.
Desire Made Real
By Goode Girl
DISCLAIMER: All rights to Deborah Harkness. Just borrowing the characters.
Chapter ONE
The fresh air washed over my face and hair as I ran alongside the river. My evening exercise took me to the boathouse where I would finish my run by rowing along said river. It was a crisp September evening and air felt nice on my hot skin. I'd been back in England, Oxford to be exact, for precisely one week. I was at the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Teaching. I'd earned my graduate degree back home in Madison, New York, but continued my education at Yale University where I have a Ph D in History. I'd been at Oxford previously when I earned my DPhil in the History of Science and for research for my first book on alchemy. It was nice to be back and see old friends. It just so happens that Oxford was impressed with my work and offered me a teaching position.
The days seemed long with the end of summer weather lingering, but I don't expect it to last. I hoisted the boat off the rack, thankful it was on the lowest rungs. The attendant knew I would be by to borrow one.
As I set off in the water, the first signs of the night sky made themselves known as a few stars peaked out over head. I pushed away from the dock and started on my way. The sluicing of the paddle through the water with each stroke helped me to expel the stresses of the day and likely what was to come. I wouldn't have access to the boats much longer as the students were returning for classes beginning tomorrow, and the Rowing Club would have need of them full time.
When I returned to my rooms, a hot shower was the first thing on my mind. Followed by thoughts of what the week would bring. Even though I would be teaching, Wednesday to Friday from 1:00PM until 3:00PM, I was still going to be researching old Alchemical manuscripts at the Bodleian Library for a new novel on Alchemy in the 16th century. So, my days would likely start at 8:00AM, allowing me to research manuscripts at the Bodleian until 12:00PM, followed by lunch before afternoon classes. I headed to bed with a little trepidation, hoping that the students would respect me, despite how young I may look. Sleep didn't come easily but finally I drifted off. It was a fitful night's sleep.
The next morning, I was happy to still see it was sunny and rode my bike to the Bodleian to begin my research. I had two Ashmole manuscripts I wanted to begin with and put my call slips in with the attendant.
"Good morning Diana!" The attendant, Sean greeted. I've known him since my previous stay at Oxford, when I was completing my DPhil on history. "Good morning Sean. Glad to see it's not too busy yet." I noticed while handing over my call slips. "Well, it's only Monday, give it time." He smiled. "These should be up in about ten minutes Diana, so get yourself settled and I'll bring them out." He added with a smile. I nodded, acknowledging I'd heard him and headed to a table at the front of the room, close to the call desk. I liked sitting close as I tended to call up more books during my research and thought it would save me the trip if I stayed nearby.
I began pulling out my laptop when I noticed footsteps. They could be heard echoing across the room as a figure entered the same aisle in which I was sat. He was tall, and was wearing a suit. I tried not to stare. He seemed to notice me sitting alone and smiled politely. His eyes were hard to ignore, they were incredibly bright and green. His smile infectious. "Hello" he intoned simply, nodding his head at me as he passed. "Hello," I replied meekly, forcing myself to not turn and stare after him as he approached the call desk. I heard him ring the bell for service, and turned my head to see Sean step out, my manuscripts in his arms. "I'll be with you in just a moment Professor Clairmont, I just have to deliver these to Dr. Bishop." He explained, rushing past him. "Of course, take your time." Professor Clairmont responded. I saw him look to me, his gaze meeting mine briefly before I looked to Sean. "Thank you, Sean." I remarked as he placed them on the desk beside me. "You're welcome, let me know if you need any others." He called, rushing back to the call desk. I watched him go for a moment, if only to catch another glimpse of Clairmont.
Their voices were quiet in the background as I set the first manuscript in the provided cradle, so as not to damage the spine. After loading a new text document, I opened the cover ready to take the first notes. I had just typed the title of the manuscript, 'Ashmole 437', when a voice called beside me. "Do you mind if I join you?". I looked up to see Professor Clairmont, a small smile on his face. "Of course, please do." I replied. It was hard not to smile back. He was so incredibly handsome up close. "You're Dr. Diana Bishop yes?" He inquired. "I am. And you are?" I questioned, even though I heard Sean refer to him as Professor Clairmont, I didn't know his first name. "I'm Matthew Clairmont, or Professor, as Sean likes to remind me." He smiled before adding. "I read your book Dr. Bishop; it was brilliant. You have a wonderful way of evoking the past for the reader." He complimented. "Thank you. I haven't actually met a lot of other people who have read it." Matthew looked at me before removing his suit jacket and taking his seat. "I don't want to interrupt your work." He stated. "You're not." I assured. "Do you mind if I ask what you're working on?" I smiled at his question. "I'm doing research for a second book, a follow-up to the first." I confirmed. "Ah, so you're going from 14th century alchemy to 16th?" He smiled once again. "I am indeed." I confirmed. Trying not to smile, when he looked at me like he was, was difficult. "Well I look forward to reading it." He stated when a door slammed abruptly behind us. Sean stepped out with a stack of books in his arms. "Sorry about the door, it got away from me." Sean explained as he approached, placing four manuscripts in front of Matthew. "That's quite alright Sean, thank you." Matthew stated. "I'll leave you to it then." Sean replied, heading back to his station.
We worked in relative silence, the clicking of my keyboard and the soft brush of paper as a page was turned or Matthew's pen scribbling notes, were the only sounds. A few others have trailed into the Bodleian since we'd been there. A glance at the clock on my laptop told me it was almost noon, and my stomach was telling me it was time for lunch. "I heard that you know." Matthew intoned, a cheeky smile on his face. "Heard what?" I questioned, saving my work and closing my laptop. "The bears in your stomach." He teased, before adding. "Would you like to join me for lunch? I usually head to Brown's Café." He invited. "I'd love to, thank you. I only have about forty-five minutes though, today is the first day I teach!" I explained. "So, you're a Historian, Author and now a Teacher? Well done, Diana." I blushed at his statement. "What is it you do Professor?" I questioned, being sure to keep my voice near a whisper as to not disturb the other patrons. "I'm a geneticist actually and oversee a lab here at Oxford." He explained, leaning over as well, to speak softly. After gathering our belongings, I headed to the call desk, Matthew not far behind, to return the manuscripts. "Done for the day then?" Sean stated, rather than asked. "Yes, I will still need this second manuscript for tomorrow morning please." I added before moving aside. "I will keep it in the lock room for you then Dr. Bishop. And Professor, finished with those?" Matthew looked to Sean handing over the stack and providing a new call slip for a manuscript he will require after lunch. "I will have this waiting for you then Professor Clairmont." Sean replied. "You can call me Matthew, Sean. No need to be so formal." Matthew tried to reason. "It's required of me to address you as such…Professor." Sean replied with a teasing smile. "See you tomorrow Sean." I waved as Matthew followed me down the aisle.
"Have you been to Brown's before?" Matthew questioned, putting his suit jacket back on as we finally exited the Bodleian. "I have, mostly when I was here previously. But not since I've been back." Matthew led me along the sidewalk and across the cobblestoned street before holding the door of Brown's Café open for me to enter. "Well then, I'm glad to be able to bring you back." He smiled as a server approached. "Take a seat anywhere you like, and I'll be right with you." The young man stated. "Thank you." Matthew replied, his hand at the small of my back as I moved to a table along the back wall.
After placing our order, our conversation moved from work to a more personal nature. Matthew was incredibly flirtatious in an understated way. I felt he was making it known he was attracted to me, but there wasn't any pressure. "So, you're in Oxford permanently?" He queried. "I am, but I will go home during Christmas to visit my Aunts." I smiled. "What about your parents?" This was a topic I didn't discuss much, and if I did not in detail. But I felt I could be honest with him. "I lost my parents when I was a child." I stated plainly. "Diana, I'm sorry." He was very earnest in his intonation as he reached across the table to hold my hand in a gesture of comfort. "It's okay, it was a long time ago." He tilted his head slightly to urge me on. "Was it a car accident or something?" He pressed, his thumb rubbing along the top of my hand. "Umm…no. They. They were murdered." His gasp of shock was louder than I thought as I raised my eyes to meet his. "Their killer was never caught, and it's still an open case." I finished. He signaled to the server for our check and paid it before I could blink. He helped me from the table and we left Brown's.
"I'm sorry for making you relive something so terrible, moments before you have to teach." He stated as he pulled me to the side of the building, looking in my eyes, begging me to see he didn't mean to bring up anything painful. "It's okay, really. I just feel. I feel like I can be honest with you. I don't even really know you but…" I trailed off, not knowing how to explain what I was feeling. Despite the sad tale of my parents, I felt incredibly safe with him. "Would you let me drive you to your lecture hall?" He offered. "I actually rode my bike," I explained, pointing to the fence where it was locked. "and it's not far." I nodded. "Diana. Despite what feels like a sour note in which this lunch date ended…" He began, "I'd like to see you again, outside of work, if that's something you'd be amenable to?" I smiled at him, his eyes shining bright green into my bright blue. "I'd really like that." His smile was so wide at my confession, I thought his face would split. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and procured a business card and a pen. He handed it to me after writing something on the back. "This is my personal number. Call or text me and we can meet up." He offered. "Can I have another one of those cards? I'll give you my number as well in case I lose this one." I explained, pocketing the card he gave me. I wrote my number on the card before turning to retrieve my bike, he grabbed my hand gently to get my attention once more. "Thank you for having lunch with me today." He stated, squeezing my hand affectionately. "Thank you for buying lunch today." I laughed. "I'll call you later, unless you call me first." I flirted, moving to my locked-up bike against the fence. I headed to my lecture hall for my first class, a smile plastered on my face and morbid talk of my parents' deaths behind me.
As I set up the classroom for my first real lecture on 12th century history, students started to trickle in. A bell sounded, signaling the start of class, and I passed out the sign in sheet as I began.
"My name is Dr. Diana Bishop, and we will begin with the 12th Century and the Age of the Cistercians."
As my first class was nearing its end, my first assignment was about to be announced, when I noticed a figure stepped into the class from the door at the back of the room. "We will be studying at length the foundation, and influence of the Order of Cistercians. Your assignment for this quarter is to write a 10,000-word essay on their influence of either Architecture, Theology or the Legacy left. Any questions?" I finished. When no hands were raised, I dismissed the class and gathered my notes as the figure from the back of the room approached.
"Diana! What a brilliant start!" The small woman explained. "Gillian Chamberlain! I haven't seen you in what four years?" I replied in astonishment. I hadn't recognized her when she entered. "More like six." She replied, as we embraced. "What are you doing here?" I questioned as we exited the classroom. "I wanted to wish you luck, but missed the start of the class, and I have a teaching position, finally, for Classic History. I teach on Mondays and Tuesdays." She replied excitedly. Gillian's expertise in Classical History is centered in the Greco-Roman world. "I'm happy for you, I know you'd had a hard time finding placement." I comforted. "I did have trouble for a bit, and it's not as popular as your area of history but a position is a position." She regaled with excited hand gestures. "So, do we share the same classroom then?" I queried, as we headed down the path from the building to the fence, where I'd once again locked up my bike. "Yes, I believe we do. Would you like to go for a coffee?" I smiled and pointed to my bike. "I just need to get my bike first, but we can walk up to Brown's Café, if you like?" I offered. "Sounds perfect." She smiled.
We arrived at Brown's and once again I secured my bike against the fence before we traipsed inside. It was busier than it was during lunch today and we took a seat in the window. I ordered a cup of tea, my preference, and Gillian an espresso. "Diana, Gillian, hello!" I heard called from behind me. Sean had joined us in the seat opposite myself, and small talk ensued. I had picked up my cup of tea to take a sip when I glanced out the window in front of me to see Matthew approaching the door to Brown's. He stopped abruptly when he saw me and smiled, and I waved him in. "Excuse me for a moment." I stated to Gillian and Sean, before moving to the door as Matthew entered. "Hello Ms. Bishop, how was your first class?" He stated, his hand at my shoulder before trailing down my arm to grasp my hand. "Really well thank you, how was the rest of your afternoon at the Bodleian?" I flirted, moving a little closer to him. He smelled of cloves and cinnamon, and I wanted more. "Well," He teased as he looked up behind me. When he did, I felt him tense up. "What's wrong?" I questioned; the concern evident on my face. "You were with Sean and Gillian?" He whispered, his gaze falling back to mine. "Yes, why?" I was worried now. "Matthew, what's wrong?" I added. "I've had problems with her." He was vague in his response and I wanted to know what was going on. I went to lead him outside so we could talk more privately when I heard my name, "Diana!". I turned to see Gillian looking at me, a face full of vehemence, directed at me. "I'll be back in a moment." I called, as we headed out front to the opposite side of the window in which we were sitting.
"Talk to me please, what is going on with you and Gillian?" He looked at me with worry. "There is nothing between us, contrary to what she wants." I was still confused. "What do you mean?" I urged, gripping his right forearm as his hand rested gently on my hip. "There is a reason it's taken her so long to garner a teaching position, and it's not for lack of interest in a course led by a Classical Historian." He began, his eyes looking fierce into mine. "Go on." I pushed as he moved closer to me so our words were not overheard by others passing by. "I had to report her to the Dean for inappropriate behavior bordering on sexual harassment. She made it known she was interested in me. I first met her in the Bodleian last year and she seemed nice enough, and I was polite. She took that politeness for…" He trailed off. "She thought you were being flirtatious?" I confirmed. "Yes, and I had to have a talk with her that it was inappropriate and I didn't share her feelings." He continued. "I thought things were settled. But last September, she showed up at my rooms, uninvited, propositioning me." Matthew finished. I held his hand in mine loosely. I didn't know what to think. Matthew had no reason to lie to me, but Gillian was telling half-truths about why she couldn't be placed before now. "And now she's angry with me for being out here with you." I stated, his eyes not leaving mine. "She's likely making up new lies to put me in some bad light, like I led her on or something. But, one of my lab assistants, and a very good friend, was her target before me. So, after talking to her, if you want the truth. Call me and I will get Marcus to talk to you as well." He pleaded. "Matthew, I believe you, it's just…" I didn't know how to handle Gillian now, she's a friend. "You've known her for quite some time I realize, but her trick is that she uses people for her personal gain. I don't know that you've seen the real Gillian." He stated sadly. Matthew raised his hands cupping my face, urging me to look at him. "I like you Diana, and I think we could have something really good starting here. But if you want some space to figure out things with Gillian, I will understand. I'm a phone call or a text away, okay?" I nodded numbly. I felt like crying at this point, like I didn't know the real Gillian, like Matthew said. "I don't want space from you," I affirmed. Resting my forehead on his chest. I felt his arms hold me lightly. "I just want answers from her, the truth." I stated plainly, looking up at him. "I don't know that you'll get the truth from her." He comforted. "Thank you. For telling me." I replied. "You have any questions, call me okay?". I nodded in reply before he hugged me to him. I breathed in the cloves and cinnamon scent as my arms wrapped around his mid-section. We said goodbye before I headed back inside. Fearful of Gillian's response to my obvious friendship with Professor Matthew Clairmont.