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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jun 28, 2009 11:56:24 GMT -5
I had been spending much of my time in Mont Nuit as of late, my plans to finish my gaming establishment was going through and I was often here to ensure the work was being done properly.
Occassionally I would arrive to find everything in order and my presence of no need, it was on those days that I would often wander. Sometimes I would find a place to play cards or any sort of gambling. The alley ways often held dicing games and there were often Tsingsano half breeds willing to take a suckers coin.
Occassionally I would wander into the market place and through the stalls. Summer peaches, strawberries, I would toss coin here and there for a light snack and a chance to pick up some lovely young play thing... or things.
One this particular day I had spotted one, dark haired and ruby lips, her eyes a austere brown. She smiled and flushed and I smiled back, keeping my distance as I reached out to a near by vendor and plucked up a ripe apple. I flipped a silver centime in his direction and rubbed the red skin against my shirt before taking a bite.
My eyes fixed on the young vixen as she watched me, her cheeks as red as her lips and her chest rising and falling at just the right speed to enjoy a show. The skin of the apple gave way beneath my bite and the juices filled my mouth as I kept my gaze focused on the girl. I made an appreciative sound, a moan as I smiled charmingly at her, the sort of smile that told her I was already thinking about settling between her silken thighs. And she looked away, her mouth opening just a little as if trying to catch her breath. It made me grin even more. Naive little girl. I thought to myself, she would be so easy to pluck. I took another bite of my apple and decided that I would indeed pluck her... up against a wall in a quiet alley. Oh yes, I had my eye on the prize for this one.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jun 28, 2009 16:15:01 GMT -5
Things had slowly returned to normal. I was still slimmer than I should have been from the plague, but I was back to my normal routine. Only the scars on my heart showed the story of Gratien and Reese, and only I could feel those.
It was the beginning of autumn as I walked the market in Mont Nuit, shopping once more for dinner. It was an excuse to get out of the house and visit old friends. I chatted with Marcel as I picked out vegetables. He was a big man, almost fat, and always prone to laughter. He had a son a couple of years older than I, and he was always teasing that he would set us up one day. It always made me laugh and shake my head with a blush. Done with my purchases, I said goodbye and he waved me off with a grin, knowing he would see me in another week or two. I turned away and begun down the aisle, basket in hand, when I stopped dead.
I was seeing a ghost. That was the only explanation. But my body didn't believe my shocked mind, and my heart leapt into my throat. For there was Reese, making eyes at a girl, that careless grin on his face. That look that said he was going to be an absolute cad and enjoy every moment of it.
I should have turned on my heel and left. At the very least, I should have pinched myself. But I just stood there like a fool, not knowing what expression was on my face.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jun 29, 2009 0:18:51 GMT -5
I made a semi lewd gesture to the girl and an older woman, her mother probably, waved a hand dismissively at me and then hurried her daughter off. I chuckled to myself as I watched the young girl blush and shake her head embarassedly as her mother spoke to her in angry tones as they went. Once they were out of sight I chuckled against and took a bite of my apple before I turned on my heal back down the aisle. I grinned as I chewed and then swallowed down the bite as I looked here and then as I took slow, easy, sauntering steps.
A man selling figs caught my eye for a moment and I looked to him as I took another bite of apple. I decided that I would return to him later and turned my gaze forward only to be confronted with the face of Juliette. I dropped the apple, my body becoming numb in an instant as I stared out her, my face showing the obvious surprise of her standing there.... and gods I hoped not... that familiar longing that after months of repression came back in an instant as I looked into her eyes, the look on her down face.
"Mouse." I whispered the word softly and put out my hand palm up in a moment, to make peacable gesuter. I swallowed the barely chewed piece of apple in my mouth, taking a deep breath in order to speak, to explain everything, to tell her I was a fool, to beg for her forgiveness... But as I went to speak I choked, the apple lodging firmly in my throat.
I coughed, bending over in an instant as I sputtered and pounded my fist on my chest for a moment. I was lucky enough that it came out and I spit out onto the ground before standing slowly. I tried not to make eye contact with her, feeling true embarassment for the moment and I rested each hand on a hip before finially letting my gaze hold hers. "Well, this is awkward." I said softly and reached up with one hand, cupping the back of my neck and rubbing it over my skin as I looked at her, my brows knit a little, my face soft.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 2, 2009 22:09:22 GMT -5
I stood there as if transfixed, watching his every movement while an older woman hurried her charge away from his leering smile, while he took a bite of his apple like he had not a single heavy thought on his heart, while he sauntered down the aisle getting closer to me. While his gaze met mine and his eyes widened, and those sweet lips whispered that word which made my heart clench in my chest.
I moved forward without even realizing what I was doing, my hand reaching out for him as he struggled to breath. But he got control of himself before I could touch him, and my hand stayed frozen in the air for a moment before falling back to my side. I wanted to go to him, to cup his face in my hands, to assure myself that he was there in the flesh. But I didn't. I couldn't.
"Are you all right?" I asked. I had so many things trembling on my lips, wanting to spill out. So many questions, so many things I wanted to tell him. And the best I could do was ask him if he was unhurt by a chunk of apple. But once those words were spoken, I couldn't keep the rest in. "I tried to write you, after I got better from the plague, but you had moved out of Gratien's. I couldn't find you." I made myself stop talking, stop babbling, biting my lower lip to keep the flow of words in. I clutched the wicker basket that held my vegetables to the front of me, needing to hold onto something. I was scared. Scared that he didn't want me, scared that he thought that I didn't want him. Scared that he was just a figment of my imagination and would simply disappear again.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 2, 2009 22:22:48 GMT -5
I was afraid of so many things that would come out of her mouth, vile hatred, angry and discourse, I imagined it over and over many times before. Juliette and I didn't end on the best of terms before my departure, the truth is I left because of her, because I couldn't be worthy of her. I wasn't worthy of any one let alone my Mouse.
I was so sure that she was slap me, scream at me, that when she stood there, scared, hurt, and... Gods! Looking as beautiful as ever... My heart first beat like a wild animal caught in the chance, then fell with the certainty that it was me that had made her so upset.
Gods, she was still brillant, shinning like a star well all the fools around her looked like dirt in comparision, especially me. Her words cut through my thoughts and I immediately wanted to go to her, to put my arms around her and soothe her, tell her that I loved her. Still? Yes, still, even after my folly excuse of a life in Aragonia. I didn't want to admit I had been lieing to myself the whole time.
"I..." I started to say and then looked down as I kicked the dirt for a moment before looking back at her, my hands resting on my hips. "The Queen and I had a very... interesting... conversation." I settled on the partial truth and left out the bit about getting blind stinking drunk for a week straight all because of Juliette. Only to be tossed in the dungeon one too many times and then convince the Queen I needed to leave the country. "I've been in Amilicar, at the palace of his Highness the King." I said softly, my brows furrowing almost sadly as I looked at her, my entire being aching to be next to her. "I didn't think you would care." I finally added.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 3, 2009 0:16:24 GMT -5
I didn't think you would care. Something inside me broke at those words. It was far to close to the nightmare that had been haunting me since our fight at Beltane. You’ve made up your mind about me, you made it up years ago. I closed my eyes, trying to control the pain, and a tear escaped my lashes. I hadn't even realized that my eyes were wet, but it must have been from relief. The relief of finding out he was alive. I wanted nothing more than to cross the distance between us, throw myself in his arms and let him slip the gloves off. But still I didn't, couldn't.
"When did you get back?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as my eyes opened.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 3, 2009 0:22:42 GMT -5
Mouse, Mouse.... Mouse. Was that a tear that fell? Gods, I hated myself, she didn't hate me but I hated myself. I wanted to crawl at her feet and beg her to pity me enough to have me in her life.
Gods, it hurt, more then I thought it ever could and I wondered if I was going soft. Ahh, for Juliette, it may be worth it. "A few weeks ago, no more." I replied softly as I looked at, a strange feeling over taking me as I narrowed my gaze at her. "Do you care?" I asked, my tone some how finding a harshness in it.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 3, 2009 1:50:44 GMT -5
His words forced me back a step, the harshness in them abrading. His arrow found its mark deep in my chest, and the pain of his earlier words spread inside me. "How can you ask me that?" I asked, aghast and aching. "I wrote to you when I could. Doesn't that mean anything?"
He had left no forwarding address, no way of contacting him. And now he thought that I didn't care? He was being completely unfair, probably deliberately so. I'd made him suffer, was he doing this to get back at me? That was the only explanation I could find for his cruelty. Another tear threatened to slip down my cheek, but it was not caused by relief. I held it in, trying to keep control of myself as I tried to wrap my mind around this... this shock. The shock of seeing him alive.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 3, 2009 10:54:03 GMT -5
There was a part of me that was growing mad, mad at her for not hating me, and mad at myself for being a complete ass, not just this time but all times. I felt this aching in my chest and divined that it would only go away if I was pressed to her... But I couldn't be pressed to her.
"Why would you write me Juliette? What would we have to say to each other?" The words hurt even as I spoke them; I was trying to pretend to be the Reese from Aragonia, the part that forgot about her. "How's my brother by the way?" I chewed on the words as I spoke them, ire rising in me as I recanted all the things that had happened prior to me leaving. Right keep reminding yourself Reese, may be if you hate her enough she'll go away and this feeling will go with it. "Has he begged for your forgiveness? Crawled on his hands and knees to get you back?" I barked a short laugh at the thought, though it wasn't funny so much as brutally painful. "I'm sure much has changed since I've been gone."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 3, 2009 14:14:45 GMT -5
I’m not a patient man Mouse. I won’t wait forever.
His words forced me back one more step before my anger kicked in to match his. Despair threatened to fill my heart, and the only defense I could reach for from the cold was the heat of indignation. I made myself retake the steps that I lost and kept going until I was closer, much closer to him. Close enough that I could reach out and touch him without a single thought. I looked up at him, my jaw setting in a stubborn line.
"Gratien made the decision that we weren't right for one another, and I've made sure he's stuck to that," I replied, my voice low and biting. "I had thought to let you court me. Properly, without a third wheel. I was going to give you a real chance. But you disappeared. Vanished into thin air. I had to convince myself that you hadn't died in the plague, for there would have been a funeral then. But you left without leaving a way for me to contact you. Was this all just a game to you? Convince poor, shy little Mouse to ignore the rumours and care for Reese, the infamous ladiesman and cheat? Well?"
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 3, 2009 14:51:33 GMT -5
There was that fire that drew me to her, the part that made me love her... Gods I did didn't I?! I was a fool, falling in love, I had promised myself never to do it, not after that bitch! But here I was, a fool for Juliette. And here she was, that burning behind her eyes and that spark of life that drew me like a moth to a flame.
She was so close, so close I could smell her, feel her and her words only rang in my head. I had been an ass; well what else was new. I had just assumed, had just given up hope, I had convinced myself that I wasn't good enough for her. Gods, I wasn't good enough for her, and here she was saying what she was saying, making my head spin as if I hadn't just spent months in a foreign land trying to forget her, convincing myself I had forgotten her.
"Never mouse, no games, not with you." I whispered softly, my tone giving way to the heart break I was feeling. "I may be an ass, but I'd never hurt you on purpose." I leaned in, letting myself sway to the comfort she provided. I wanted to touch her, and absently my hand rose to cup her face, the whole world drifting away as if she and I were the only people left.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 5, 2009 0:05:00 GMT -5
"Then what is it Reese? Some sort of punishment? How am I supposed to deal with all these months of not knowing?" I demanded. I could feel a fine tremble go through my body and I wasn't sure if it was due to my anger, despair, or his proximity. Maybe all three. I was always so conflicted around him, why should now be any different? Even as he inched closer I didn't know whether to slap him, kiss him, or run away as fast as I could.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 6, 2009 11:22:30 GMT -5
Gods... Such sweet words. Never in my life had I felt so stired by another in the way that I did Juliette, not even.... I stepped even closer still, unable to stop myself, unable to care about what the simpering peers of this realm would gossip about. I'd crow it from the roof top of the palace if Juliette wanted it of me.
When I was standing close enough to her, my hand reached up and cupped her beautiful face in my hand and held it gently. "Did you miss about me Mouse?" I asked gently, the smallest smile creeping across my lips. "Did you worry?"
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 6, 2009 13:49:11 GMT -5
"Of course I did you blundering ass," I retorted, but my heart wasn't truly in the insults. How could it be, when he was touching me again, his fingers like ice and fire all at once? Ice to soothe my anger, and fire to set my skin ablaze with other passions. He smiled at me, but I couldn't smile back yet. I couldn't let myself fall into his embrace, for I didn't know if he would catch me. Not after all these months of not even knowing he was alive. "I worried, and I railed against the plague for keeping me abed and unable to write for so long, and I wondered if I would ever see you again before Kushiel released me to Terre d'Ange that lies beyond." Oh gods how I wanted to wrap my arms around him, cry into his shoulder.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 6, 2009 14:12:53 GMT -5
"Oh sweet mouse, how do you unravel me so." I whispered, almost as if she wasn't standing right before me. I was mindful of the basket she held as I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her snuggly against my form. Gods I wanted her, like I wanted no other, she was... divine... A Goddess for putting up with the likes of me. "How can you feel anything for me when I've been so horrible to you?" I asked in a soft whisper, my hand still cupping her face. "How could I be such a fool."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 0:18:50 GMT -5
"We both know how hard I tried to feel nothing for you," I whispered. And then I couldn't stop them, the tears streamed down my cheeks. With a sob, I buried my face into his neck and one hand clung to the front of his shirt as I cried, the other hand still holding onto the basket of vegetables. I sobbed against him, finally able to let go.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 7, 2009 0:24:53 GMT -5
I wrapped my arms tight around her and held her tight to me, her head pressed to my cheek as I broke my own heart in that moment. "Mouse." I whispered softly, defeatedly as I held her to me as much as I could, loving the way she felt against me.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 0:59:23 GMT -5
He held me tight and it was exactly what I needed. Even if it was just a lie, and he would leave me again, right then I needed that lie more than anything else. I cried tears of relief, of pain, of happiness. Everything was all mixed up, finally expressed after months of repression. I cried myself out, cradled in his arms, the smell of him surrounding me. It was something I knew no perfumer could ever duplicate.
Finally I stopped sobbing in his arms, and then I got my breathing under control. Finally I was able to ask, "Are you going to leave again?"
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 7, 2009 1:07:52 GMT -5
"Never my sweet Mouse." I whispered, though there was part of me that hated myself for saying it. I wasn't good enough for Mouse, I was going to break her heart, I knew it deep down and I hated myself for lying and saying I wouldn't.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 1:37:14 GMT -5
I think my knees might have buckled if he hadn't been holding onto me so tight. Yet another wave of relief washed over, followed by another, much warmer sensation. "I thought I'd never hear you call me that ever again. It wasn't until you were gone that I realized I would miss it," I whispered, my grip on his shirt easing as I realized that I didn't have to hold on for dear life. He wasn't going anywhere, he promised.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 7, 2009 1:43:15 GMT -5
I smiled gently. "I thought you hated it when I called you that." I whispered as I held her still tight to me still, not wanting to reliquish the hold I had of her. Though I was loath to admit it, I didn't want to let go of her, I didn't want to admit that I had fallen so terribly, again, the way I said I never would. But my Mouse, Blessed Elua, I wanted Juliette.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 2:00:30 GMT -5
"I did," I whispered with a smile.
As much as the rest of the world had faded away into nothingness the moment I had seen him, I was gradually becoming aware that we were still standing in the middle of the aisle at the market. "Will... will you... will you come back to the house with me? I want to sit in front of the fire in the library, and have you tell me about Aragonia," I said, barely breathing now as a blush burned across my cheeks.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 7, 2009 2:05:23 GMT -5
Oh Gods! This was so different, such a different place for me, I was used to the strife between us, I was used to the anger. But this! How was I even to know what to do with this?! Juliette, Juliette...Juliette! Her name filled my mind and I wondered how things had changed, how they had gotten to here. She had changed... had I? Was what I did in Aragonia really a game or was there a part of me that was trying to live the straight life. Could I be a one woman man? I simply nodded as I pulled back and looked at her, my hand cupped her blushing cheeks, and Gods help me, I hoped that being at her town home would include stripping her naked and worshiping her body. "Yes." I murmured softly. "Yes, I'll come with you. I'll tell you everything you want to hear."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 14:34:47 GMT -5
I looked up into those blue eyes, the eyes I had fallen in love with first with Gratien, and then with Reese. And it was like the rest of the world had disappeared again. I could stare into his eyes forever, now that I was in his arms, now that I knew he was alive, solid, not a ghost. Kiss me, kiss me, my mind begged, but it was like someone had laid a spell on me, and I was fixated, fascinated by him, unable to speak because I was so caught.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 7, 2009 16:14:24 GMT -5
She just stared at me, fixated on me, her eyes devouring mine and making me feel light headed all at once. The silence spread before us as I looked back into her stare, urging myself to find strength and just kiss her, just lean in and press my lips to hers.
But it scared me, it really did. I had come to realize it now, that I was why I kept making everything hard between Gratien and Juliette. Why I was still an ass to her after that, hot and cold, push and pull. I was afraid to get what I wanted, because I was afraid to loose myself again. And not only loose myself, but loose myself to Juliette. Of all people, if things went badly, I wouldn't be able to live with the consequences... On either end. The Gods know what happened when my ass of a brother meddled with her emotions. If I screwed things up... Juliette would be a goner for sure. I couldn't bare to live with that. Not my Mouse.
The back of my fingers brushed over her cheek as I smiled gently, covering the horrific thoughts that made that voice in my head scream. But I couldn't move, I couldn't kiss her... not yet.
"Did you bring a carriage?" I asked in a whisper.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 7, 2009 20:36:41 GMT -5
His knuckles brushed over my cheek, and it was the most comforting sensation I had ever experienced. I might have closed my eyes, but I was too caught in his gaze. I did lean into the touch, wanting more of it, wanting to feel his lips on mine. It wasn't until he spoke that I came out of my near trance.
"Yes. It's... it's waiting down a block," I whispered, blinking and trying to focus my mind on something other than him. I made myself take a step back, and then another. My hand reached for his, and I twined our fingers together. "This way," I said, beginning to lead him to where my carriage rested.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 8, 2009 14:17:54 GMT -5
And just like that she took my hand, her fingers lacing with mine as if... as if nothing, as if we were meant to be, courting, married, together...
I had been called many things in my day. Leacher, drunk, womanizer and ass, but never in my life had I been called lover, partner.... husband.... father.... Gods! Why was I even thinking about this?! Surely it was only because I knew that Juliette thought about it. Surely it was something that she wondered about, settling down and producing heirs. Thats why she wanted my bastard of a brother; some sort of future to hold on to.
Could I do it? Could I be what my Mouse wanted me to be? I wasn't sure I could be. I could love her, in my own way, I could bed her for sure, I'd show up my smarmy brother in that area (the thought of which almost made me giddy). But could I be anything else? Anything more? Had Aragonia actually changed me without me even realizing. I had pretended to be the proper courtier, and I dare say there were even parts of it I enjoyed. But had it had that much of an affect on me that... that... that I could be those things for her?
Husband... Father.
Those thoughts gave me a strange feeling inthe pit of my stomach. One feeling I knew right away as fear, but Gods help me the other one felt like excitment.
So I followed her, holding her hand so simply, so easily, so... perfectly.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 8, 2009 23:41:44 GMT -5
I hadn't even questioned my hand in his until we were half way to the carriage. And then I realized exactly what it was that I was doing. I was taking Reese home. Reese. Not a nice man like Landis, who had been such a gentleman. But the bane of my childhood, who had caused such misery in my life, before, during, and after Gratien.
Was this the right thing to do? More importantly, could I live with myself if I didn't drop his hand right now? Or would it be worse if I did? Think Julie, think. I knew that I couldn't let him go without a better explanation than what he had given me. There were a lot of other places, closer to home, where he could have gone to hide and lick his wounds. I needed to hear his reasoning. And I knew no matter what either of us did, our conversation had to be held in private if we didn't want half the City to know our business. Hence going back to my house.
But it's more than just that, isn't it Julie?
I could admit, in the solitude of my mind, that I wanted him. But I was afraid. When I had written him my letter of apology, I knew then that I was going to let him in, past my shields. For better or worse. And now... now I was peering over the edge of the cliff, praying that when I jumped, he would catch me. But I was deathly afraid of what he had proposed at the hunt fete. That we would sleep together a couple of times and he would get me out of his system and then he would move on.
It wasn't until we arrived at the carriage that I realized that neither of us had spoken on the walk.
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Post by Prince Reese de Somerville on Jul 9, 2009 0:10:36 GMT -5
At once we were all of a sudden in front of her carriage and I swallowed as it looked huge. Suddenly all my thoughts of husbands and children came crashing down, and in a moment I panicked. I was about to run, to bolt and never look back. But then I looked at her, holding my hand, quiet as a mouse, and I smiled, taking a deep breath as I did.
"After you my lady." I said softly and reached for the door knob. I turned the handle and opened it, holding my hand out to help her up should she desire it.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jul 9, 2009 0:48:19 GMT -5
He suddenly held my hand tighter, much tighter, and I looked him, afraid that the other shoe was going to drop. But a moment later he was relaxed again, like a cat that had been about to pounce but decided to wash his ear instead. "Thank you," I murmured, not sure what to say, or even if I should say anything at all. Instead I stepped up into the carriage and hoped that he followed.
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