The setting sun bleached my room in amber light. My shoes had been kicked off and I lay sprawled across the bed in the most unladylike display it surprised myself. Charlie lay beside me, his head resting on my mid back as I sketched. Occasionally he would prod me teasingly in the ribs or tickle me. I learnt that day that if I and Charlie were to have a future together it would be very difficult to get any drawing done around him. When I finally finished the drawing, a simple sketch of a bird, I turned around and showed him.
"It's good" he said smiling "Natural artist"
"It's messy and rushed, would have looked a lot better if you had had patience" I teasingly shoved him in the shoulder, earning me a devilish smile. Like a love struck school girl I stared into his eyes, eyes so blue a girl could easily drown in them.
"So…can I see this magic or-"he was interrupted by a light knocking at my door. He looked at me like a panicked rabbit, caught at the end of a hunter's rifle. I nodded my head over to the wardrobe and he moved quickly and silently. I neatened the fold of my dress and answered the door.
I could feel the guilt staining my face. Luckily my mother avoided eye contact and marched straight into my room. She wore a deep emerald green and a large black hat that submerged most of her face in shadow.
"Mother?" I tried to sound polite when really I want to throw her from my room and return to my more pleasant distractions "To what do I owe the visit?"
"I'm here to tell you to stop sulking" she payed more attention to fixing her lace gloves than she did to me "We are having supper with the Evermonde's this evening. You shall put something nice on and eat with your fiance. We have enough time before we arrive at America to sort this whole affair out so please do something with your hair"
She began to leave but stopped still when she heard me say "I'm not going"
"Excuse me?" she turned slowly to face me. I will never forget the look of increduality on her features. I tried my best not to smirk. "For a moment I thought you said you weren't going to attend? Am I not mistaken?"
"No mother, you're quite right. I will spending the evening doing as I please with whomever it pleases me to be with. I will not be changing my clothing or doing my hair, in fact I'm considering completely undoing my hair. Maybe I will read a book or take a stroll around the lower decks but it will not be in the company of either you or Victor" My mothers mouth hung open in a state of shock. Perhaps a little too smugly I leaned over and closed it for her. "And you can tell Victor that I decline his offer of engagement, thank you"
I began to gently navigate my mother out of my bed chambers whilst her face flushed a furious shade of purple. When finally she was out, she lingered outside of my door frame, practically shaking with anger.
"You will regret this Adeline" her words were quiet but deadly and for a brief glimmer of a second I actually regretted my long overdue defiance "I promise you"
She stormed down the hall and as I closed the door, I took out my wand. My mother was not the kind of person to give up easily. She may very well send my father down for 'a word' in the hopes that he may talk some sense into me. When in reality I felt like this was the first time I had spoke sense in god only knows how long.
"Colloportus Maxima" I heard the bolts click and slide, locking the door. A simple Alohormora charm shouldn't even be able to open the door now, not unless cast by the original caster of the locking charm. So unless my parents want to break White Star Line property, they would have to just leave me be.
I sloushed against the wood of the door and watched as a nervous Charlie came out of the closet. The light of the sunset that danced across the walls was almost the same shade of organge as his hair. He looked so beautiful in this light, I couldn't imagine a time when I didn't think he was anything less than stunning. Yet I recall finding his face oddly ordinary. It's strange how faces change and evolve to match our oppinion of the face owners.
"Right, the sketch?" I moved back to the bed and watched as he flopped onto the covers with about as much elegance as a baby deer taking its first steps. I picked up the sketchbook and, tapping the paper gently with my wand, and uttered the corect enchantments. The little bird came to life, fluffing it's feathers and moving its head from side to side.
"That's amazing" his voice came out in a whisper as he watched the bird hop around. I drew his body too big and it's weight anchored him to the ground. It flapped it's wings but never raised an inch from the ground, Charlie watched it carefully and occaisionally chuckling.
"It's ameature" I lay back on the bed staring into the ceiling "I suppose when my family inevitable disowns me I will have plenty of time to improve it though. I'll never be perfect, but with time perhaps I will get close"
"Your already the closest thing to perfection I know" he climbed over the bed and cupped my cheek. His hands were surprisingly cold to touch. For a moment he did nothing but stare into me, and I had that desire to drown in him again. After what feels like an eternity the distance between us closed and his lips, soft like velvet were against mine. The heat that flushed through me felt intense, like a volcano waking from a lifetime of dormancy in my chest.
My nerves all seemed finely aware of each of his touches. His hand rested at my hip whilst the other arm strained to keep him from falling onto me. The distance between our bodies felt like near nothing whilst simultaneously feeling like too much.
Our kiss intensified, growing more desperate. I felt lost in an ocean of him, engulfed with his scent and taste and touch. He pulled his lips from mine and I felt the heat of his mouth against my neck. I closed my eyes as a raspy breath hitched from my throat. My hands, as if acting on their own accord, began to tug at his shirt.
His lips trailed to my collar bone and he moved the sleeve of my dress over my shoulder. Everything he did was pure bliss and I never wanted him to stop. I was drunk on his love. Consumed in his passion.
He suddenly rose, sitting up high above me and pulling off his shirt in one swift motion. I followed, my movements slow and trancelike. I traced my fingers over his chest. He had very little definition and a bit of a tummy but I couldn't care less. His chest was warm and beneath his skin I could feel the rapid beat of his heart.
I felt his fingers on my thighs, pushing up the silk of my dress, pulling it over my head and letting it fall to the floor beside the bed like it meant nothing. I sat on the bed wearing just my corset, stocking and long frilly knickers. It didn't take Charlie long to remove these either. I had bore all to a man I barely knew, who was certainly not my husband. This was completely scandalous…but I was enjoying it too much to really care.
We made love that night. When the act was done, I lay beneath my sheets breathless and sweaty with his harms holding me in his embrace. The sun had set and the room had been submerged into darkness. The lull of sleep was too strong and, still wrapped in the Charlie's embrace, I fell into a peaceful sleep.
Until the glowing light of the patronus at the foot of my bed woke me from my sleep.