Chapter Five
The days passed languidly with Dickon tending the gardens with Ben, Colin
acting his usual cocky self, and Mary desperate to stay out of Colin’s ever
reaching grasp. Whenever she had a moment of time, he seemed to be there,
tugging at her sleeve like a little child, asking her to look at something he’d
written or found. As a youngster, Mary had no qualms about putting her foot
down and shouting at the insolent and selfish boy. The years at school gave her
copious amounts of self control, but Colin tested her patience and will. She
thought the war might have sobered him but soon found that even serving his
country did not add a month of maturity to his life.
As for Dickon, he never volunteered information about the war, nor did Mary
want to pry. It was over now, and the country was in the process of rebuilding.
Dickon didn’t seem changed, though Mary suspected he just didn’t want to burden
anyone else with such a difficult and sorrowful topic. It had always been his way
to spare his loved ones, and Mary felt warm inside knowing that he counted her
among them.
On a morning cooler than most, Mary lay in her bed surrounded by down pillows
and a plush duvet, staring up the white ceiling. A gray specter of a cobweb
wafted gently in the breeze just above the window and Mary made a mental note
to mention it to Martha. She sat up in bed and stretched, then, throwing her
legs over the side of the bed, climbed down and let thell oll of the floor seep
between her toes. Shivering slightly, Mary pulled a robe around her and walked
swiftly to the window to stand in a pool of sunlight. The rays were warm and
delicious, weaving through the golden strands of her hair which was now loose
and flowing halfway down her back in soft waves.
A horse whinnied out on the moor and Mary opened the window and leaned out to
catch sight of Dickon arriving at the house. He looked up, right at her window
without even having to search for it and Mary instinctively hid behind a
protective drapery, peeking out from behind its brocade. Dickon stood still for
a split second, a look of – was it shock? – on his face before a smile washed
it away. Mary stepped away from the window and into the room, her face flushed
with excitement. Hurriedly she dressed and ran downstairs to see Martha.
“Martha?” she called into the kitchen.
“She’s gone out to fetch some herbs, Miss Mary,” said Cook. “What can I get for
yeh?”
“Oh, I’m not hungry just yet. I’ll have a bite when I get back.” Mary left the
room before Cook could ask her any questions. She ran down the hallway and
straight into a person. A boy. Colin. For a moment Mary almost lost her
balance, but Colin grabbed her and kept her upright. In her panic Mary had
clutched his arm and now loosened her grip and pushed him away.
”What’re you doing running around like that?” he asked, obviously amused that s
bee been forced to be in such close proximity to him.
“I was in a hurry, if you must know. What were YOU doing?”
He chuckled. “Just walkio tho the kitchen. I’m starving! Have you eaten
breakfast yet?”
“No; I was about to step outside for a moment. You go on and ask Cook to set
something for me and I will be back in just a minute.”
“Where are you going? I can—“
“No, no,” Mary waved her hand at him dismissively. “You’ve got to have my place
set. I won’t be long.”
Colin looked at her with a strange expression. “Are you going to see Dickon?”
he asked.
Mary felt a panic rise inside her at the mentio Dic Dickon’s name. It’s not as
if she should be ashamed to go see her friend, but Colin made it seem that
there was something unsavory in her motives. Quickly, she truthfully informed
him of whom she was going to meet.
“Ah, Martha. She’s with Dickon in the garden, I think.” He paused. “Come to
breakfast, Mary.”
“I’ll be back in just a moment, Colin.”
“Would you like me to walk with you?”
“I think I know the way to our garden,” she said with a smile. “It hasn’t been
that long.”
“Right.” Colin turned and brusquely walked away towards the dining area.
Once outside, Mary turned into the wind and headed for the garden, suddenly
unsure of why she wanted to speak with Martha in the first place. Having Martha
around would make being near Dickon easier – she could tell he suspected
something by the way he’d looked at her last. She’d tried to broach the subject
of going into the city, but as usual Colin made his entrance. At first Mary
thought it might be best to talk to Dickon in the garden, surrounded by the
magic; maybe he’d understand her feelings toward him. She didn’t want to end up
intimidating him or making him think she expected his affection in return, but
she hoped that the looks he gave her were a clue to what lay behind his eyes.
She felt as if something were about to give, something that had been building
and building for years.
The door of the garden opened and Martha stepped out with Dickon in tow. Both
were laughing, their cheeks glowing. Drops of rain began to fall and the wind
picked up as Martha grabbed her skirts about her and trudged toward the manor.
“Martha!” Mary called, and the girl turned to her.
“Mary! What is tha’ doing out in this? Come on now, the storm’s a comin’,
lass.”
Martha took Mary’s arm and led her back toward the house. Mary looked over her
shoulder to see Dickon behind them, about to walk down the hill.
“Dickon!” she shouted. “Come with us!”
Mary felt Martha squeeze her arm momentarily and when she looked over at her,
Dickon’s sister gave her a wink.
“I’ll be in the kitchen,” she said, rushing up to the house and leaving Mary a
few feet from the door.
Mary waited for Dickon to reach the house, then led him inside. “You weren’t
going to run away that easily, Dickon Sowerby!” she said with faux haughtiness.
“You’ve been avoiding me since I arrived.”
“Avoiding thee?” asked Dickon incredulously. “Nowt o’th soart!”
Giving him a smirk, Mary turned and walked down the hallway toward the dining
area.
“Have you eaten yet?” she asked.
“Aye, early this morn, at dawn before I went out to tend my animals.”
“You can have something here if you like. Colin’s waiting for me to dine with
him but you know how he can be. I’d rather like the company.” Mary left this
statement open ended, giving Dickon a hint or two. She knew he was sharp and
would pick up on the message, but she also knew he was intensely private and
wouldn’t say anything about it outright. She liked playing her little game with
him.
Mrs. Medlock appeared, rushing into the hallway and beckoning Mary and Dickon
inside with a swift wave of her hand. “Mary, do come along, girl. Your Uncle is
coming home and I want you to meet Mr. Markham from
Mary and Dickon seated themselves at the long mahogany table where Colin sat
lazily playing with his food. He looked up momentarily when they came into the
room but acted as if his eggs were far more interesting than anything that had
been said by Medlock on the way into the room.
“Colin,” Dickon said, greeting his friend.
Mary noted how Colin stiffened. He didn’t seem himself. “What’s the matter,
Colin?” she asked plainly.
“Not a thing, Mary Lennox. I’ll have you know I am quite fine, thank you. I’ve
just been waiting here for ages all alone, my food has gone cold and only now
you show up with –“
he stopped.
“With?...” Mary urged. “With what?”
“Not with what,” Colin snapped. “With whom.”
Shooting a confused look to Dickon, Mary stammered, “I—I don’t know what you
mean, Colin. Aren’t you glad to see Dickon? I’ve invited him to eat with us. I
didn’t think I needed to ask permission as we’re all good friends…”
Colin chewed on his lip as his cheeks visibly colored yet he said nothing and
would not raise his eyes to deign to look at Mary nor Dickon. Mary watched him,
afraid he might launch into a tantrum just like the ones he’d had as a child.
Won’t he ever grow up? Mary thought.
“Colin,” she began slowly. “You’re not behaving like a gentleman.”
“’Tis all right, Miss Mary, I’ll go if Colin wants me to.” Dickon rose from his
seat just as Cook came out with a tray of food.
Mary bid him to sit down and glared at Colin. “Colin Craven you look at me when
I speak to you!”
Colin appeared startled at Mary’s tone and looked up at her. Mary held his gaze
steadily. “We’re all of us friends and I won’t have you two carrying on this
like. Whatever it is – I don’t want to know about it but you had best resolve
it. Your father is coming home and I am sure he won’t want to see you acting
this way to your friends. If you insult Dickon, you insult me.” She took a deep
breath and waited for his response.
Colin huffed slightly and looked heavenward for a brief moment, clearly
exasperated. “I’ve no quarrel with you, Dickon.” His voice rang flat in the
vast room.
“Nor I with you,” said Dickon.
Mary took pity on her cousin and softened a bit. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting,
Colin. I thought I would make it back sooner.” She did not mention that she’d
been gone only a couple of minutes and clearly Colin was exaggerating in a
desperate ploy for attention. Silently she resolved never to agree to meet with
Colin anywhere again, just to avoid such a conflict in future. She did not wish
to be treated as a tennis ball in an ego match between the boys. Mary was not a
prize to be won; her choice had been made long ago and it was only a matter of
figuring out whether or not Dickon shared her feelings and how to go about it.
And how to deal with Colin when he found out. Surely she would not be able to
hide her affection and preference for Dickon; Colin already suspected, it was
clear through his attitude.
Mary and Dickon ate in silence, punctuated now and then only with the clink of
a spoon on china. Colin stood abruptly and left the room without a word.
“I’m so sorry,” Mary said.
“It isn’t your fault, Mary. Tha mustn’t think it. He’s just – he’s what me
mother calls ‘ornery’ right now. He’ll be all right.”
“I can’t say I agree, Dickon. He was terribly vexed, didn’t you see? When his
face gets all red like that I’m sure he’s going to simply pop right open. It’s
frightening. He’s ever so much more than ten – I don’t think I could scream
back at him if he took to it.”
“Tha’s changed; Colin – he’s still the same.”
Mary looked into Dickon’s eyes as he said this and found herself caught up. She
felt as if there were something pulling her to him, something invisible and
strong. She held his gaze just a moment too long so that the simple glance took
on a new meaning. He didn’t look away but held her there as if he, too,
recognized this new connection.
Mrs. Medlock again seemingly apparated into the room, excitedly trying in vain
to enunciate. She pat herself on the sternum rapidly in a gesture of needing to
catch her breath, and Mary broke eye contact with Dickon to stare at this new
spectacle before her.
“What is it?” asked Mary, concerned for the woman’s health. “Are you all right,
Mrs. Medlock? Do you need a doctor?”
“Lord Craven –“ was all Medlock could choke out.
“Is he here?” Mary coaxed, putting her linen napkin on the table next to her
plate and stepping around from the table. She tried to interpret the older
woman’s frantic gestures as Martha ran into the room.
“Lord Craven is outside!” she exclaimed happily, leading the group down the
hall and out the front door to greet the master of the house.
Mary stood back on the step as Mrs. Medlock and Martha approached Lord Craven’s
carriage. Colin had already attacked the cab and babbled nonstop to his father
about his horses and the new topiaries being installed. Dickon came up behind
Mary, partially hidden from the group in the courtyard. The scent of earth
permeated Mary’s senses and she instinctively leaned back comfortably into
Dickon’s arms. “It is such a beautiful day,” she said with a sigh.
“Aye,” Dickon whispered, his mouth ever so close to Mary’s ear.
A shiver ran through her body from head to foot and the tickle of Dickon’s warm
breath on her skin gave birth to new sensations and ideas. Mary closed her eyes
for a delicious second and when she opened them she was met with the stony gaze
of one young Colin Craven. Mary hastily stepped forward, bringing distance
between herself and Dickon in an effort to camouflage an already lost
situation.
“Welcome home, Uncle Archie!” she said, smiling cheerfully.
“Mary Lennox!” cried Lord Craven, taking her in a warm embrace. “Dear child, it
has been so long. It’s so good to see you again. I do hope they are treating
you well at school,” he said.
“Yes, Sir,” said Mary, following the entourage into the house again. Her
thoughts played back to a moment ago when Dickon had all but kissed her and a
blush rose in her cheeks.
“You’ve gone all red, Mary,” stated Colin with a nasty curl to his voice.
“You’d best be careful out in the gardens. Don’t spend too much time outside
and wear yourself down.”
Mary refused to look at him; his message was quite clear – and she had no
intention of heeding his warning.
A/N:
Wow, I can't believe how many of you have gievn me such wonderful reviews.
Thank you SO much! Thank you Kristine, Wish-I-Was-Mary (you will be wishing
even harder as the story progresses, I'm sure ;P), Aggie. gauntlet_challenge.
Inzilbeth Andunie (this chapter is 2400 words -- it was the best I could do for
now:), Andrea (I'm not sure it will be a hard NC-17 -- it may just be a hard R
if I can figure out how to present sexual scenes with gentility laced with
fire. Is it possible? We shall see! I like your idea of the rose petals!
Oooh!), Shaylin (an email is on its way; If you do write your story, let me
know. I don't know anything about Sailor Moon but if you've got Dickon in there,
I'll check it out), BrownEyedGirl (the ass is in gear, vrooom vroom!), Ginger
(your review was short and to the point. I tried to get working on this chapter
when I saw BrownEyedGirl's review but your little note really helped. I don't
want to kill anyone! I hope this is a good enough offering this time around.
I'd better start on Chapter Six right away, though! I don't want to lose any
readers :P)
This chap is as I said, about 2400 words. I'd like to make these chapters at
least 3000, but I just couldn't make it this time around. I will try again with
Chapter 6. I worked only 3 hours today which helped a lot but for the rest of
the week it's back to the 8 hours plus other things I need to get done and I'm
off on Sunday. If all goes well i may write more before that or on Sunday. We
shall see. I do hope to get this written a bit more quickly.
If you see any typos or continuity problems, let me know. I worried that I had
everyone in and out of that house too much so I think the next chapter should
have them leave the grounds of the Manor for a bit.
What do you think of Colin? Isn't he tely nly naughty? :)
Finally, I don't have a beta for this so if anyone is interested, please send
me an email at [email protected]. Many thanks!