a london visit, and the guests arrive
Jan. 16th, 2011 05:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tom_lefroy"My nephew has devised a plan of metropolitan amusement."
A cheerful laugh.
"Pleasure is, as you would say - madame - his forte."
Jane's cousin, Madame la Comtesse, joins in obligingly.
Behind them, Tom finds Jane's fingers.
The touch is light, like butterflies wings.
*
It had been far too long since Tom last saw her face.
The instant the door opened and Miss Austen and her company had arrived, Tom remembered that night beneath the stars, hidden in the shadows of trees.
Letters hadn't been near enough to bridge the gap between them.
And now ... how foolish he feels, how stupid those words seem - useless to convey just how much he missed being in her presence.
Once they are directed towards their rooms, Tom's uncle, the Judge, leaves them to the afternoon, promising a most satisfying dinner in his company, but he had a couple of pressing engagements he simply couldn't ignore.
"You must forgive me, Madame," he says.
"Of course, sir. I would not dream of inconveniencing you."
Henry Austen makes excuses to help the Comtesse with her luggage, leaving Tom quite alone with Miss Austen in the hallway by the stairs.
Suddenly he feels like a school-boy, almost shy and most certainly tongue-tied.
"Ah - Miss Austen," he says, "shall I help you with your things?"
A cheerful laugh.
"Pleasure is, as you would say - madame - his forte."
Jane's cousin, Madame la Comtesse, joins in obligingly.
Behind them, Tom finds Jane's fingers.
The touch is light, like butterflies wings.
*
It had been far too long since Tom last saw her face.
The instant the door opened and Miss Austen and her company had arrived, Tom remembered that night beneath the stars, hidden in the shadows of trees.
Letters hadn't been near enough to bridge the gap between them.
And now ... how foolish he feels, how stupid those words seem - useless to convey just how much he missed being in her presence.
Once they are directed towards their rooms, Tom's uncle, the Judge, leaves them to the afternoon, promising a most satisfying dinner in his company, but he had a couple of pressing engagements he simply couldn't ignore.
"You must forgive me, Madame," he says.
"Of course, sir. I would not dream of inconveniencing you."
Henry Austen makes excuses to help the Comtesse with her luggage, leaving Tom quite alone with Miss Austen in the hallway by the stairs.
Suddenly he feels like a school-boy, almost shy and most certainly tongue-tied.
"Ah - Miss Austen," he says, "shall I help you with your things?"
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Date: 2011-01-16 10:51 pm (UTC)To tell the truth, she doesn't mind and when Tom provides them with a moment alone, she says and yearns to reach for his hand, for him again,
"Yes, I would appreciate that.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:09 pm (UTC)It's lucky for them that she hadn't brought terribly much with her.
"I hope your journey to London found you well," he says conversationally.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:10 pm (UTC)She takes her time taking off her gloves and reaches for her smaller case where her paper for writing is stored.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:15 pm (UTC)He sets her case of garments down by the dresser and straightens, clearing his throat.
"It seems my uncle has grown quite fond of your cousin in so short a time."
The time being ... less than five minutes.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:18 pm (UTC)Far too much of the trip was full of the Comtesse's advice and slight disapproval for Jane's plans as Henry was unhelpful. She sets her writing case down and comes closer to him,
"I hope he will find me worthy of you."
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:23 pm (UTC)But the door is open.
Anyone can walk in.
And it would be improper, considering what Miss Austen means to him.
"He will," Tom assures her. "I cannot think of any reason why he wouldn't."
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:25 pm (UTC)"I hope so. I met a lady at an inn we both know who said that I should pretend to be charming and that will be enough. I fear I have never be that gifted at being what I am not."
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:39 pm (UTC)"Miss Austen, my uncle may be bizarre and not entirely ... sane," he says, fighting the urge to laugh at the insult, "but even he would see through something like that.
"And the way I feel ... it's because of who you are that I feel it. It would be wrong to pretend to be someone else."
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:41 pm (UTC)She has missed this far too much, he truly does understand. The room is larger than hers at home but still she contrives to be close enough to touch but not.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:54 pm (UTC)- and doesn't.
He shuts his eyes, inhales the light floral scent of lilac from her hair.
"No, it isn't the right choice," he agrees.
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Date: 2011-01-16 11:56 pm (UTC)She almost whispers as she can feel his warmth but still not close enough. Soon, soon she will share his name and can kiss him whenever she wishes.
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:05 am (UTC)Yes.
Soon.
He never would have pegged himself for the sort, but if he could have just one woman for the rest of his life, it would be the one before him right now.
He opens his eyes, reminding himself that his uncle is only one floor below them.
"Perhaps, Miss Austen, you can tell me of your family?"
He steps away at just the right, respectable distance without straying too far. "How are they?"
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:08 am (UTC)Jane cannot help but be conscious of that space between them,
"Henry and the Comtesse continue to enjoy each other's company."
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:14 am (UTC)What would you even call it?
It was certainly more than mere flirtation.
(Tom would know.)
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:16 am (UTC)Though Jane does worry, the Comtesse places value on things that Jane does not and she worries for Henry.
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:21 am (UTC)"They can take care of themselves, and if they so choose - each other," he says.
That, if anything, he's sure of.
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:23 am (UTC)She allows herself a smirk as a maid stands at the door ready to help Jane unpack.
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:26 am (UTC)Ah.
Blast.
Casually (and a little disappointed, to be honest) he starts off towards the door, allowing the maid permission to enter.
"Well, Miss Austen. I look forward to seeing you at dinner with my uncle, then," he says.
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:28 am (UTC)"I look forward to seeing London with you, Mister Lefroy."
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Date: 2011-01-17 12:31 am (UTC)Then, with a bow and a polite, "Miss Austen", he exits.