Elizabeth raced up the stairs strait to Victor's office, determined to find the missing flute. But as her fingertips touched the doorknob when she heard a sleepy voice call her from down the hallway,
"Do you really think I would be in my office this early in the morning?"
Elizabeth turned seeing her husband, dressed with uncombed hair- which looked very cute- walking towards her.
"You always were a tad overenthusiastic about your work. I never know what to expect," she said calmly, her excuse being made on her way here.
A smile graced his features, and a lovely smile it was seeing the rarity of it now-a-days.
When he finally reached her he kissed her gently and said "Good Morning, Love" with an almost teasing tone.
"Good morning to you too, then." She replied between another kiss.
What dreams had she provoked?
He let her go but grasped her hand gently, being absolutely sweet, like when they were younger, and he started walking down the stairs, Elizabeth following a true smile showing.
How long had it been since he been this happy? It seemed like forever.
"Where shall we go today, love?" she asked sweetly.
"I think I might want to wander. The country is just endless here and so beautiful. As beautiful as you," he said pulling her close to him.
"And when we find a nice meadow we shall have a picnic," he continued his eyes dreamy.
Memories of happier times infiltrated Elizabeth now and took over her as well. She remembered the love, and as she entwined her hand even more with her husband's she knew she wasn't pretending her love. She felt like she really loved him again, before everything went wrong, and though it might only be for the moment she was glad for it.
"Sounds like a dream," she said kissing his cheek, tugging his hand gently so they might actually reach the dining room for breakfast. They did, though slowly, and in the peaceful silence of the early morning household, not speaking again for fear of ruining such a precious moment.
Once they reached the informal dining room, Jessica and Marie greeted them with the usual curtsy, saying their polite good mornings.' The couple said good morning back and sat down to eat. The silence seemed to empty so the woman spoke of what happened earlier.
"Victor, a strange thing happened this morning. I woke up on the couch with a blanket on that wasn't there the night before. I originally thought the culprit might have been you, but you went to bed right away, right?"
He nodded taking a bight out of his toast.
She heard Jessica giggle slightly.
"I am the culprit you are looking for. I very well couldn't leave you to the cold night chill," she said dutifully.
"Thank you Jessica," said Elizabeth flashing a bright smile at the servant. Now Marie giggled and everyone in the room smiled a bit more.
After breakfast was eaten, the couple made their way to the waiting carriage and set off into the warm summer day.
---
The country was indeed beautiful with all the late summer blossoms and lush foliage everywhere. Victor led the horses and the woman say back taking in all the wondrous surroundings and the gently rocking of the carriage.
After a while she looked back to victor seeing a more faded smile. And he was aiming strait at her.
"What are you thinking?" she asked trying to stay cheerful.
"Many things, my love. I have news to tell you, though."
Elizabeth sat up immediately, ready to listen.
"What would that be?" she asked seeing an excited gleam in his eyes.
Victor paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts and then spoke,
"I've been thinking; I do not wish to be forever dependent on Father's work and fortune. I want to support us one day, by my own means."
"Of course."
"So I have applied to be a professor at the nearby college of science in a town not far from here."
Elizabeth's expression turned grim though she tried so hard to resist it. She had to be happy about this, but she was selfish.
"Will you be leaving me for months at a time again; leaving me to worry when you won't send letters?"
Victor took her hand in his.
"Never. Do not worry dear Elizabeth. I shall be home every night, Home to have dinner with my beautiful wife and home to sleep in our marriage bed."
A sigh felt lightly from the woman's lips before she pulled him into an even lighter kiss.
"Thank you."
"And I had begun to think you hated me," muttered the man as they pulled away.
"No, only frustrated with you. Your actions of late have just seemed insidious with their intent and it isn't like you. You are a good man and I had hoped you would prove yourself to be one more often."
"Of course…let's not speak of this anymore for now and simply enjoy this place. Look! I see a clearing up ahead," said the man pointing up the road.
Elizabeth happily dropped the subject for the moment, not wanting there to be any tense moments now. She simply wanted to enjoy being out of the house and able to see all this wonder with a contented Victor.
But her thoughts turned to Peter. Looking around she was sure he would love this. Even to set his feet in the bare earth like she did now as she stepped out of the carriage. The dark tossed soil felt wonderfully cool between her toes and as she walked then onto the recently dried grass she felt guilty. She couldn't imagine having to set her bare feet onto the cold, hardened stone, imprisoned in such stone.
She looked to Victor; his eyes closed as he turned his face to the sun, soaking in its golden rays. Did he not feel guilty that his creation could not?
She sighed not daring to take away her husband's moment of happiness. She could not, no matter what he did, or might do. She could not dare take away his smile, or make him shed tears. God help her if she did so. She had to happily force a grin, a laugh, a smile in his presence, knowing that she alone pulled him from the dreary night.
She was his sunshine, his only sunshine and only she with her golden rays of love could set not only him, but peter as well, free.
She would happily imprison herself in the darkness to save him…them.
Another sigh and the moment of sadness passes. Once again she is able to enjoy the beauty around her and think better thoughts.
Her husband set up the blanket on the ground and she laid out the assortment of foods for lunch. They spoke of small things, nibbling on this and that. Things like how happy Victor was to have a home now, and a wonderful wife to share it, or how casually Elizabeth spoke to the servants.
"I think we might already have a family here. Just like when we were young. Remember?" he asked, slightly tipsy from the wine.
"How could I forget?" said the woman gently.
He was off dreaming again.
---