Author's Note: Just call me ridiculously overeager. But I couldn't help posting the next short installment of this story before bed. The chapters will eventually get longer, I promise, though for now they'll be short and I'll just try to post more often than I normally would. This chapter is still slash-free unless you're wearing your goggles, so enjoy and let me know what you think : )
When Will came back down later in the afternoon, it was to find that Jessamine had gone. Charlotte was sitting in her armchair, a cup of tea balanced neatly on her knees. Across from her sat the boy with the pretty eyes, his own tea untouched on the table before him, posture perfect and still looking desperately uncomfortable.
Charlotte looked distinctly relieved to find Will in the hallway. "Will!" she called hurriedly, "Why don't you join us?"
Will raised an eyebrow, "And intrude upon your riveting conversation? I couldn't possibly."
Charlotte pursed her lips and said, "Sit," perhaps more sharply than she'd meant to.
Will huffed, but he grudgingly took the seat beside the Chinese boy.
Charlotte bit her lip anxiously. "I really don't know what's taking them so long. They should have been back hours ago." She smiled politely at her guest and gestured to the clock on the wall: "Soon," she said, slowly and clearly.
The boy looked to the clock and then back at Charlotte, but his expression never changed from the look of wary uncertainty.
"You're right," Will said, "something terrible might have happened. I should probably go and-"
"No," Charlotte said, "you will stay exactly where you are. I have already been abandoned by Jessamine…" This last she hissed under her breath, though they both knew they couldn't possibly have offended their guest with any words spoken in English.
Just then the carriage was heard on the gravel of the drive. Everyone in the room leaned forward an inch or two, towards the door, and Charlotte said: "Oh, thank God!" in an undertone.
Will saw Jem climb down from the carriage; from the corner of his eye he noticed the stranger whom he had previously assumed to be in possession of only a single facial expression break out into a wide grin. The smile brought his face to life in much the same way Jem's smiles made his entire countenance brighten and expand. Will was about to make a snide remark when the door opened and Jem hurried in to the sitting room. Charlotte and the strange boy stood to greet his parabatai, but Will was a few beats late.
Jem smiled and Will smiled back. He opened his mouth to say something clever about-
"Nan," Jem said, and the boy in Will's periphery said, "Jian," and the words sounded as soft and sweet as prayers.
Will watched in astonishment as Jem crossed the room in three quick strides, let his cane fall from his fingers, and took the stranger in his arms. The embrace was tender, with both boys closing their eyes and whispering soft and excitedly in a language that was all but gibberish to Will.
When they separated, Jem faced the rest of the room and had the decency to look slightly abashed. "Charlotte," he said first, "my apologies for our tardiness. There was a rally – the streets were a mess… There are no excuses, but I am here now." He smiled wide, beaming once at his friend before turning back to the rest of the room. "Charlotte, Will, may I present my oldest friend – Nan, of the Shanghai Institute."
Nan turned back to Will and Charlotte with a slight incline of his head that was ancient and regal and made Will roll his eyes.
Jem turned back to Nan and made Charlotte and Will's introductions in rapid Chinese.
Charlotte smiled pleasantly, too obviously relieved to have Jem back as translator. "Please tell Nan that we are thrilled to make his acquaintance. He is very welcome here."
Jem relayed the message then turned back to Charlotte, "Thank you, Charlotte. May I show Nan where he will he staying? I had Sophie prepare the room across from mine; Thomas will be bringing up a few of the items we brought this afternoon."
"Certainly," Charlotte smiled, "Supper will be at eight."
Jem nodded once and was gone before Will could say a word, his … oldest friend trailing behind him like a puppy.
"How lovely it is to see Jem so happy," Charlotte said when they had gone.
"That's not the word I'd have chosen," Will said harshly, and stomped from the sitting room alone.