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It was almost midnight as the young woman left the huge, dark building behind her to start her usual nightly walk home. Heavy rain poured down from the dark skies above and instantly caught all of her clothes. A strong wind blew across the dark water of the river Thames and made the woman shiver. She slowly walked along the river; the rain had made little pools of water in the uneven ground. She wrapped the shawl around her shoulders, not that it helped her from getting wet but she was fond of her shawl and didn't want it to be dragged through the mud. It had been almost a week since she met the man and she had had the same uncomfortable feeling someone was watching her from the shadows ever since, but she hadn't seen a single soul. Not even the cat had been out hunting these parts of the river walk ever since she had met that strange man. Her steps splashed through all the small pools of water. The splashing sound of the woman's feet echoed between the bars on each side of the Thames. She soon arrived to the place where the rat had scared her and... Was it possible?"I'm just tired", she thought to herself. She had stopped the moment she thought of what had happened a week before and a shiver ran up her spine. "This is ridiculous, I really need some rest." She said wrapping her shawl tighter around her tiny shoulders. She started to walk scared to find out that she really wasn't there alone

She hurried through the pools and her quick splashing steps could be heard across the river. But there where something else that could be heard, steps of someone walking slowly and determined. The sound came from behind and even though these steps didn't walk as fast as hers she could hear how the steps came closer and closer to her. Frightened she turned around to see who it was that where almost side by side with her. Her heart stopped when she saw him.

"Good evening Miss. Are you often out walking at this late hour?" He bowed in front of her.

"S-sir you scared me. Yes I am." She worriedly looked behind the man who was blocking the way for her. He seemed to notice what troubled her mind and smiled politely.

"I am really sorry if I did scare you Miss. May I ask why you are out at this ghastly hour, or are you just fond of strolling along Thames at night."

"Well Sir... I'm working late nightshift, ending at half past eleven." She blushed at her own words and adjusted her skirts a bit.

"I see Miss, Miss?"

"Jane"

"Ah. Miss Jane." He smiled friendly at her and his dark eyes had a glow of delight in them that made them sparkle. "What a pretty name for a pretty girl."

Jane blushed and a sudden baldness filled her. "And what about you Sir, do you work late or are you just a stroller?"

"I'm a little bit of both I suppose." He grinned at her. "Miss Jane looks cold, may I offer you my cloak?"

"But Sir, you need it yourself a horrible night like this. No I can't possible take it." The man had already placed his damp cloak over her shoulders.

"Do you mind if I keep you company for a little while?"

"No... Not at all, that is very kind of you." She smiled at him placing her arm around the man's that he offered her. It surprised her that he didn't show the slightest bit that he was cold. He was very cold but seemed so relaxed and comfortable as if it had been a warm summer day. They passed the harbour, The Sailor, was overloaded by costumers. Five men occupied the table right in front of the glass door, each man having a simple woman in his lap. They where playing poker, one of the men seemed to have won a huge pot because he bent his woman over and kissed her intense on her lips in celebration. A few of the other women laughed at the man's action.

They reached the stony stairs when they stopped.

"I really have to go now Sir. Here." She took off his cloak and handed it back to him.

"No keep it over your shoulders, you are cold." He looked deep into Jane's eyes. She looked back into his dark eyes, for a moment she felt erased and confused. She was so calm and happy when she looked in to the dark pools sparkling like stars in the sky. "Yes, yes I am cold." The man placed the cloak on her shoulders once more.

"I'll lead you to your door and then I'll take my cloak back."

"Yes." Jane felt a wave of warm sensation rushing through her body and mind.

They walked the stony stairs and three blocks away from the river lay the house where she lived.

"Thanks for every thing Sir." Jane smiled at him. She handed him the cloak.

"It was my pleasure." He grabbed Jane's right hand, bent over it and placed a soft and passionate kiss on her small hand all along looking deep into her eyes. Jane was so confused, she didn't know the man who was kissing her hand and looking at her like he knew how she looked like without any cloths on. Blushing she was standing and just looking into these eyes. He straightened his back and stepped so close to her that there where no room left between them. Jane had a sudden desire to feel those lips that had placed that soft and affectionate kiss, on her own lips. She stretched her neck and placed a kiss on his lower lip. He responded immediately to this action and kissed her back with more intense than before. He stroked her hair and then Jane looked in to the man's eyes.

"Do you want to come in?" she was whispering as if she didn't want herself to hear her terrible suggestion.

"Yes." He looked pleased with this question.

She unlooked the door. "You really have to be quiet. If my hostess knows that I am companied by a man she will throw me out immediately." The man just nodded at the instructions.

They tip toed up to the third floor, the woman unlooked another door and only thing that could be seen was the foot of a stair.

"Do you live in the attic?"

"Yes I do. I'm so lucky that I wasn't placed in the seller." She smiled shyly at the man. "Come." She entered the dark space between the door and the first step of the stair, waving her hand at the man wanting him to enter it as well. They closed the door and then started to climb the stairs. "Be careful the stair is very steep and I have been hurting myself really bad a couple of time in it." Somewhere along the stair climbing Jane grew insecure about the fact that she had a man with her up to her room.

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