The candles were a nice touch, he silently congratulated himself. The light of the tiny flames cast the entire room into a warm, inviting space that looked perfectly appropriate for a romantic evening; the first of many. Hopefully.
He checks and rechecks everything at least twice – the plates and silverware are all perfectly aligned, the candles are all equal in height according to candlestick, the wine is set at the most precise temperature he could figure, the highly expensive (if a bit inelegant) roast beef was cooling as fast as possible in the kitchen – everything seemed at its best, but he needed something to do with his hands, or else he'd end up biting his nails, which was a most unbecoming action for a gentleman.
He took to pacing back and forth through the house, straightening the occasional picture frame and ensuring no visible surface had gained any dust after his earlier cleaning over four hours ago. Cleaning or any other dull activity usually allowed his mind to settle, but tonight seemed to be the exception – what if she had the address? what if she had decided not to come? what if she didn't like roast beef?! – and he was about five seconds away from having a mental breakdown and calling the whole thing off entirely when-
there was a quiet tap-tap-tap on the door.
He spun toward it immediately only to pause, physically relaxing his body and schooling his features into the definition of calm (which he most certainly was not) before walking (not slowly, but not fast enough to seem in a hurry) to the door and pulling it open.
There stands Abigail – hair a bit tussled from the wind, still no make-up, and wearing a modest knee-length green dress – and he thinks she could never look lovelier as she looks up at him tentatively.
"Hello," she says, voice uncharacteristically quiet and more than a bit uncertain.
"Hi," he returns, because of course his brain decides to forget any other, more elegant form of greeting he's heard before.
She smiles, and he most certainly is not blushing, thank you very much.
He steps aside, holding the door open and gesturing to the inside of his home with one arm.
"Welcome to my humble abode."
She giggles at the corny line, which he catalogs as a victory.
A/N: I really love these two; don't you? XD
~Persephone