Third
. o O o .
Archie knew he should be offended that his soon-to-be bride refused to meet him before the wedding day, but all he could feel was an overwhelming sense of relief. Rationally he knew that he was just pushing his problems ahead of him, but frankly he couldn't find it in himself to care. He and Miss Lucas were to be married, neither of them had any say in the matter, and if they both indulged in childish avoidance for as long as they could - well, it just showed that they were similar in at least one aspect. They would meet and start their new life on the day they were to be married, and that was that. Until then it seemed they both wanted to make the most of their remaining freedom.
He had felt decidedly lighter at heart ever since the letter arrived nearly two months ago, written in an unfamiliar feminine hand - his very first encounter with the woman he would be bound to for the rest of his life. If nothing else it was heartening that their first more or less direct communication would be so satisfactory on both sides.
Since Storybrooke county seemed to be going through an exceptionally healthy time of year Archie's workload was lightened considerably and let him enjoy his freedom to the fullest by spending more time with his ward, something they both found immense pleasure in. In fact Archie could not remember ever feeling happier as when he carried August back to the house in the evening after a long day of happy activity, the little boy asleep with his head on Archie's shoulder and arms around his neck, Pongo shuffling tiredly after them with August's wooden sword in his mouth. And no wonder the boy was tired; it was after all exhausting work exploring the depths of darkest Africa - even if it was in the little copse behind the stables.
The lull did not last, of course, but the time spent in play with August was enough to reinvigorate his spirits and when duty again drove Archie out of bed in the middle of the night and out of the house in the pouring rain, he set out with renewed vigour.
Even social responsibilities, such as Lady Bleu's annual midsummer ball, he had accepted without his usual hesitation!
He regretted that now, however.
He had been called away to tend to a broken leg and by the time he arrived back at the Enchanted Forest the dancing was already in full swing, so he had quietly made his way to the kitchen to see if the cook would let him have a little dinner before joining the festivities. That's where August had found him, positively vibrating with childish enthusiasm, so very proud and happy to be attending his first ball (there were certain advantages to being the sole heir of such a large estate as the Enchanted Forest). The boy had happily declared that his future mother was there with her grandmother and sisters and that he had seen her from a distance and she was quite handsome and he really wanted Archie to come and meet her because he was a little afraid to talk to her on his own please please please? Trying to hide his annoyance at Lady Bleu's obvious machinations – she had conveniently neglected to tell him that Miss Lucas would be in attendance - Archie had sent August back into the fray with the vague promise of joining him at some later point, only to hurriedly finish his meal and retreat to the patio with the intention of respecting his future wife's wishes not to see him before the wedding.
The fact that it gave him an excuse to avoid the dancing was admittedly a plus, he thought to himself with a chuckle as he munched on the grapes the cook had sent with him for dessert. (She had wanted him to take the sugar plums, too, and some of the apricot marmalade, but Archie had assured her that grapes were more than enough. For some reason all the cooks he encountered, be it at home, here at the Enchanted Forest, or at a patient's house, seemed determined to fatten him up. Not that he minded, since regular meals were not something a country doctor could depend on.)
It was a beautiful night, he reflected contently as he finished his dessert; the waxing moon barely visible, making the stars shine all the brighter, a faint breeze bringing with it the sweet smells of night blooming flowers and the sounds of cricket song. He would much rather have spent it elsewhere, but there were worse situations to be caught in, he supposed. Maybe he would take a walk in the garden.
"Oh, I do beg your pardon, I didn't know anyone was – oh, it's you!"
Turning at the unexpected sound he saw a splash of colour and his heart fluttered with surprised joy. Clad in a deep scarlet gown that shimmered in the light from the open door behind her, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling from the exercise of dancing she looked absolutely radiant. Archie felt almost as breathless at the sight of her as he had been on their very first meeting.
Shaking himself out of his daze he hastened to greet her, unable to keep the pleased smile off his face as he bowed. She curtsied in reply and he was momentarily distracted by the way her gown flowed and shimmered with the motion.
"What are you doing out here when there is dancing and good company inside?"
She sounded a little breathless herself and Archie felt a pinch of regret at not having seen her on the dance floor. He was no great dancer himself and would have done his best to avoid it even if Miss Lucas had not been present, but he would have liked to see his friend dance; he was certain she was the most handsome of all the ladies present. Maybe he would even have dared asked her for a dance himself. Well, at least he would have wanted to.
"The company I would not mind, but as for the dancing my avoidance is a life-saving measure, I assure you, miss," he chuckled bashfully. "With two left feet I am a menace to any dance partner. I thought it best to save us all the grief and injury."
She laughed; a bright, genuine sound, and any lingering annoyance he felt towards Lady Bleu and his situation vanished completely as the sweet laugh washed over him. In this moment there was nowhere else he'd rather be.
"Oh, I'm not sure it's as bad as all that, sir!"
"I would not want to contradict a lady, so I shall remain quiet on the subject."
She hit his arm playfully with her fan and sniggered – a very unladylike sound, some might claim, but to Archie it was refreshing and genuine and it made him happy to hear.
"Well, you know what they say, all you need is the right partner..."
Though he was surprised at her playful tone and suggestive words what surprised him even more was the reply immediately after escaping from his own mouth: "Is that an offer?"
A stunned silence fell between them. Archie felt his cheeks flaming but before he had the chance to think of something to say to apologise for his forwardness – she had obviously not meant it like that and he was acting like a cad by insinuation she had! - his companion sniggered again. Then the snigger turned into a full-blown laugh and despite his embarrassment, surprise and confusion he could not help but join in. She stepped closer and hooked her arm in his with a wicked smile that made his heart beat with wild abandon.
"I told you we were well-matched, sir!" Her tone was even more playful now.
Emboldened – or maybe just dazed and moonstruck from her company – he stepped a little closer and felt a little dizzy as her wicked smile shone impossibly brighter.
"You make me wish I could dance," he blurted out before he could stop himself. Oh no, he hadn't meant to say that!
But her smile softened and she gave his arm a squeeze. "It could be an offer, you know. If you want it to be."
He shook his head and stuttered: "I-I didn't really exaggerate my lack of skills..."
"I'm not adverse to a little danger."
His strained chuckle was part surprise and part relief, but when she stepped close and lifted his arms his breath caught in his throat.
"What-"
"I shall teach you to waltz," she said matter-of-factly as if she was unaware of the furious blush in his cheeks. "It is not nearly as complicated as the cotillion and I am confident you will be an apt pupil. After all, there is no such thing as a bad student." She nodded as if satisfied with his position before looking him in the eye with a warm smile. "And I happen to be an excellent teacher."
Not trusting his tongue he just nodded and swallowed nervously.
"Here, like this: One, two, three, one, two, three, follow my lead, one, two, three..."
Terrified of stepping on her toes Archie tried to keep his eyes on her feet, but her gown made it very hard. He heard her chuckle and dared a quick look up at her face.
"Do not fret so, my friend! Even if you were to step on my toes it would hardly cripple me! In fact, I cannot tell you how many times my brother stepped upon my toes when we learned this dance."
There was a wistful kind of sadness in her voice that made him look up at her again.
"My grandmother taught me and my siblings to dance in the family sitting room when we were little. We would push all the furniture out of the way and line up, and under Granny's watchful eye and strict instructions my two sisters, my brother, and I learned to dance." She chuckled at the fond memory and surreptitiously wiped her eye. "I learned to waltz during a visit to London a few seasons ago and I taught both my sisters and my brother on the sly when I returned home. It had to be in secret, you see, since my grandmother would be shocked and furious to know her grandchildren danced this scandalous dance!" Her smile was mischievous and he marvelled at her strong spirit. "How about you? Who taught you to dance?"
"Who failed to teach me how to dance, you mean," he answered dryly. She laughed and he felt a wonderful rush of pride that he had driven the sadness, at least momentarily, from her eyes. For a beat he considered telling her about his childhood, but his household had never been filled with love and laughter like hers had been, and he was loathe to say anything that might bring sadness back into those green eyes. "Nobody taught me," he said instead, keeping his tone light. "The little I know I've learned by watching. Which is no doubt why I am so abysmally bad at it."
"Oh, I don't know... I think you are quite a proficient dancer."
And he realised that he had not looked down at their feet since she started talking about her family. He gave her a surprised smile and her look of satisfaction, bordering on smug, told him she had knowingly distracted him.
"I told you I was a terrific teacher!"
He chuckled and nodded in agreement, willing to concede her well-earned victory. He was after all dancing! Something he had been avoiding all his life - and he was actually enjoying himself! And though it was hardly flawless he had not stepped on her toes nor had he irrevocably embarrassed either of them... At least not yet.
The faint music from inside came to an end and Archie thought he sensed the same reluctance in her as he himself felt as they stepped apart, but he was no doubt only imagining things.
"Thank you," he said warmly, pushing aside the thoughts of her in his arms and praying he wasn't blushing again. "For the lesson." He wanted to add that he had never before enjoyed dancing as much, that he would not mind dancing the night away if only he could waltz with her, but managed to hold his tongue. The words would hold more meaning than he should voice, even in her company. Though most of the social niceties had been disregarded between them by mutual agreement that did not mean he should act like a brute!
The blush gracing her features was no doubt a trick of the light.
He wished he could ask her to walk with him in the garden, but even disregarding the impropriety of such a stroll she was in all likelihood not interested. His assumption seemed to be confirmed when she looked over her shoulder towards the open door. Archie supposed she recognised the voices coming closer and was about to excuse himself so she would be free to rejoin the festivities inside when she suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him after her down the stone steps into the garden. She was walking faster than he would have imagined her capable of in the lavish dress and he had to speed up to keep up with her. They reached the hedge of the labyrinth and she darted around the corner, yanking him with her, just before a stern voice called out. Archie didn't register the name called because his companion was suddenly pressed flush against him as she leaned over to cautiously peer around the corner of the hedge and his mind went completely blank. He could smell rosewater and never before had the scent smelled quite as heavenly.
The stern matronly voice faded away again and his companion let out a deep breath of relief.
"Are you hiding as well?"
He marvelled at how steady his voice was. She looked at him as if she had momentarily forgotten about his presence and then jumped more than stepped back as a very becoming blush rose from her slender neck.
"I apologise for abducting you in such a manner," she said, fussing with her dress and not quite meeting his eyes.
"No need to apologise, my friend," he said and reached out to still her hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go and stepping back. Not as far back as he should, but he was only human after all.
"I don't normally do things like this."
"Oh, I know! I-I mean, I'm sure this -" he motioned a little helplessly between them and felt his own blush rise in his cheeks. "- i-is not the norm. For, um, either of us."
Her smile was tinted with both fondness and sadness. "Remember the responsibilities I ran from when we first met?"
Confused at the change in topic he nodded.
"I'm still running, but the moment of truth is approaching." She frowned as her gaze took on a faraway look. "Hunting me down..." She looked so miserable his hand moved of its own volition to claim hers again.
He should take her back to the patio; he should insist she return to the festivities before someone happened upon them; not only was he jeopardising his own reputation but worse than that he was jeopardising hers...
But she was clutching his hand almost desperately, as if it was the only thing that kept her anchored, and his heart ached for both her and himself.
"I was actually thinking," he said softly. "Only moments ago, that I would very much like to take a stroll in the garden. Would you honour me with your company?"
She grinned that not-so-ladylike-but-oh-so-dazzling way of hers that made his head swim, and Archie pushed away the worried little voice in the back of his head reminding him of the impropriety of it all. He would also all too soon be hunted down by his own responsibilities and then all he would have were memories, and damn it all! he wanted this; a stroll in the garden, just the two of them, under the twinkling stars, serenaded by crickets, the night flowers in bloom - yes, he wanted this memory. It was selfish, but if it was all he would have then by jiminy he would have it!
With an exaggeratedly careful peek around the corner - which made her giggle just like he had hoped it would - he tugged at her hand and led her down the shielded path.
. o O o .
To be continued...