The first kiss!

Over the next days and weeks, Maxwell and Fran meet each other almost daily. Maxwell plays her tour guide and shows her London. All the famous sights and some secret places that had a special meaning for him. Fran gets overwhelmed by all the new impressions and listens with fascination to his explanations.

At school, she had never been very interested in history. But with him, it all sounds exciting and interesting. For Maxwell, it's sometimes feels like if he was about to discover his hometown city, which was so familiar to him, in a completely new way.

Many places got a whole new fascination for him because of Fran. One night, they watch the illuminated Tower Bridge being raised and a ship passing underneath. Fran starts to jump around wildly with excitement and can't control her amazement. For Maxwell, this spectacle is nothing special, but Fran's verve is contagious and so they both are fooling around like little children.

Another time, they ride the London Eye at night. They manage to get a gondola just for themselves. Closely embraced, they stand at the glass front and look down on the shining city. It was a magical moment for both of them.

For Fran, it was obvious. She had fallen madly in love with him. She enjoys every moment when they are together and when shes alone she misses him and has to think about him all the time.

Only when she was taking care of the girls, she was distracted and could concentrate on other stuff. But when she lies in bed at night, she longs for him and waits impatiently for his call.

Every morning and every evening, he calls her to say good morning or good night. Even if they had spent the whole day together. That's what she loves so much about him, all his little gestures. She appreciates his reliability and calmness. With him, she could relax and draw strength for her stressful job as Au-pair. She loves the two girls, but sometimes they are really exhausting, as children are. Then she is happy when she can snuggle up to him during a walk or when they sit together on the veranda in silence.

Maxwell was no different. Fran was the perfect adjustment to his reserve, stiff home and the hard business life. She gives him the warmth and affection he has always longed for. She likes him just the way he was and made no demands on him. He admits to himself that Fran was the woman of his life. He loves her and doesn't want to give her up again. He was also physically attracted to her. He loves everything about her, her beautiful face, the big hair in which he could bury his face so well and her soft, warm body. Most of all, he loves her eyes. They always tell him if she was happy, tired or sad. When they are together, he constantly has the urge to touch her and hug her, almost as if he has to convince himself that she was not imaginary. For hours, he could watch her lying in his arms. She radiates a strength and yet she also has something of a delicate blossom that he wants to protect.

The Kent couple knew about their friendship. Maxwell appeared one day for an official visit and introduced himself as Fran's companion. The Kents give Fran into his care with a clear conscience. They have known him since he was a small toddler and they know he was an honorable, well-mannered young gentleman with whom a young girl would be in good hands. They are reassured that Fran no longer goes out by herself, especially at night. In a big city like London, a male companion was very advisable, and he always brought her home at a reasonable time. From Fran's parents, they had learned Fran had not the best company during her high school years.

Only Mrs. Kent feels with the time a slight uneasiness. There was nothing wrong with a friendship and regular outgoings as long as Fran continues to fulfill her duties, but Mrs Kent was a woman with good female instincts. Her feminine instinct told her the friendship was not purely platonic. She noticed the adoring looks Fran gave him or how he could hardly detach himself from her. She suspects that they were on the verge of a serious love affair and that this would certainly lead to some serious problems. One day, she decides to talk to her husband about her worries. She seeks him out in his study.

"Darling, may I talk to you for a moment?"

"Of course! What is it about?"

"It's about Miss Fine. I'm worried about her and the young Sheffield. I have the impression that she has fallen hopelessly in love with him and vice versa."

"Really? I don't think so, and even if you're right, what's the matter with that?"

"Richard, you know Elizabeth and James Sheffield as well as I do. You know very well they would never allow their son to choose a girl who doesn't belong to our circles. I really appreciate Miss Fine, but she comes from a humble family. A girl with her background would never be tolerated as a daughter-in-law in the Sheffield house. I'm worried he might break her heart. I feel responsible for her, as if she were my daughter. After all, her parents entrusted her to us."

Mr. Kent rubs his forehead thoughtfully; his wife's arguments sound reasonable and she is certainly right with her assumptions.

"I can understand your concerns, Regina. But what are we supposed to do? We can't very well tell Miss Fine who she's allowed to date, and objectively there's nothing wrong with their friendship at the moment." "That's why I want your advice. I'm also unsure how we should react. We can't let her run open-eyed into her misfortune!"

"Of course not. I think the best thing would be for you to talk to her calmly. Explain to her gently the consequences of a relationship with a man in Mr. Sheffield's position. Then, on occasion, we also should talk to the young Sheffield himself and warn him not to hurt Miss Fine's feelings lightly."

Mrs. Kent agrees with her husband's suggestion.

Fran has no idea of her employers' worries. For her, the day could not get any better. Maxwell just called her and invited her to a trip to his country cottage for her day off tomorrow. She stands in front of the mirror and thinks about what to wear. She just holds out several sweaters when Meredith stands in the room with her.

"Frannie, will you tell us another haunting story, please?"

"Sure, go to bed. I'll be there any minute!"

Fran puts away the sweaters, grabs a white sheet and the flashlight. Dressed as a ghost, she scurries into the nursery and peforms a story about the tickle monster. Taking turns, Susan or Meredith are tickled through. Both girls shriek with delight.

The next morning, Fran jumps out of bed early. After two hours, she's is pleased with her appearance. She wears her new black jeans, which she decorated with nail polish, and a snow-white turtleneck and her red jacket. In addition, hiking boots. She braided her hair into two pigtails. She grabs her backpack and puts in everything she needs. Then she sneaks into the kitchen. She asked the chef yesterday to prepare a picnic for her. The basket stands there ready for her. The family is still asleep, so Fran just says goodbye to the butler and leaves the house.

Maxwell is already waiting for her. Today not in his elegant town car but in his jeep. Fran hugs him and gives him a small kiss on his cheek.

"You look pretty, Francine. Actually, much too stunning for a drive outdoor. Or are you going to perform a fashion show for the deers and rabbits?"

Fran laughs, she loves his humor. She tickles him with her nose and whispers in his ear.

"Not for them, but for you! You're my favorite audience!"

Maxwell blushes. Embarrassed, he starts the engine. When they leave the city traffic behind, Fran asks. "Where exactly are you taking me now?"

"To my cottage. It's way out of town in a very quiet area. It's beautiful there and you can take wonderful walks. We'll be completely undisturbed there."

Fran feels a little queasy. She had never been with a man all alone in such a secluded place. Sure, back home in Queens, she had dated a few guys, but they'd all just been shenanigans, nothing serious. But actually, she trusts Maxwell. He never acted pushy before.

"Is the house really yours alone?" Maxwell nods

"My grandfather left it to me. Actually, it's more of a shack but very comfortably furnished. I can't wait to see if you like it!"

After a while, Fran gets hungry and devours her granola bars. Sometimes, she breaks off a piece and shoves it in his mouth. Finally they arrive at their destination. Fran can't get out of her stupor when she sees the cottage. This was not a small cabin but a really big beautiful wooden house. She walks all the way around it and is more than impressed. It was a stunner inside too. There was a big cozy living room with a fireplace, a kitchen and a bathroom. Fran is overwhelmed. Maxwell must really come from a very rich family, if his grandfather could inherit him a cottage almost as big as the apartment of her parents. She falls around his neck.

"It's fabulous here, even more beautiful than I thought it would be."

"I'm so glad you like it! I love being here and I'd love to share it with you in the future."

Fran snuggles up to him. Later, she prepares lunch with the contents of the picnic basket. Afterward, they go outside and Maxwell shows her the surroundings. Carefree, they goof around , playing tag and have a leaf fight. Fran throws herself into his arms so that they both end up in the grass. They giggle and fish the leaves out of each other's hair. For a while, they just lie in the grass in an intimate embrace, looking up at the clouds.

Later back in the cottage , Maxwell makes a fire in the fireplace. Fran opens her braids to comb out the remaining leaves. Maxwell turns to his record player, pulls out a record, and soon jazz music was playing. They lie snuggled close together by the fireplace, looking into the flames. Maxwell plays with her hair and she nuzzles his back. They both feel their hearts begin to pound harder and harder. He touches her cheek and lifts her chin. They look deep into each other's eyes.

"Every moment with you is so beautiful! I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. I love you, Francine!"

Fran's heart stops for a moment. The moment she was waiting for, since their first eve finally was there. He confessed his love to her. Fran wraps her arms around his neck and rubs her nose against his.

"I love you too, Maax!"

Their lips meet, first in shy brushes, but then they sink into an endless kiss. Their tongues caresses each other and more and more, their lips devour the other's. They are literally melted together. Until they break free from each other to get some breath. Both breath heavily. After a brief glance, their lips are once again fused together. They kiss passionately over and over again to seal their love.