By Indyana
Thanks to October_9_1890 for being my Beta.
It was two nights before my wedding, it should have been the happiest time of my life, but I was far too nervous to be happy. I wasn’t nervous about the marriage per say, or the wedding night; in fact, that would be the easiest part for me.I was dreading the reception, a time for toasts, celebrations and dancing. Dancing, I am afraid is not my strong suit;
in fact I have never learned to dance. Some might find this trivial, hence the reason I have not told Holmes, despite the fact he has deduced there is something wrong.
Mary has said many times how she can not wait to dance with her new husband, she says to show me off,
this will be one of many disappointments for her I am sure. I have never been graceful; I am completely clumsy
when it comes to dancing. I remember the first time I attempted it, I was all of 15,
the poor unfortunate girl ended up with bruised feet, and I a bruised ego.
I vowed then to never attempt such a foolish endeavor again.
Smoking cigarette after cigarette, I paced the room. My restlessness did not go unnoticed,
and there is a soft knock on my bedroom door, “Watson?” I hear Holmes question before entering.
I smile as I look at him, I try to reassure him that nothing is wrong, and to be fair nothing truly is wrong,
it is just the insecurity and certainty of knowing I shall make a fool of myself on my wedding day,
part of me feels that Holmes will be happy at this, though I don’t know why I should feel that way.
“Is everything alright?” Holmes asks as he scrutinizes me, “You seem distressed”.
I laugh, and shake my head, I will not tell him what troubles me, for worse than making a fool of myself on my wedding day
I fear making a fool of myself in front of Holmes. “Pre wedding jitters I suppose” I mumble as flop haplessly on my bed.
I hear the quiet “Hmmmmm” escape his lips as he sits bedside me. “I do not suppose I can be of assistance in some way”
He places his hand on my arm and squeezes. Whenever he touches me I always feel that same surge of warmth
and emotion riding through me, I sigh. “Not this time. It’s just nerves” I close my eyes.
I feel Holmes shift position, he is now laying on the bed his face just above mine, I feel him study me,
his fingers running up and down my arm in a seductive way. I dare not open my eyes.
I know I shall see his lips parted and grey eyes staring longingly at me.
He hmmms again, “You know Watson, there is a solution for this” He sighs then caresses my leg,
resting his hand dangerously close to my inner thigh.
I give in, if only momentarily, to temptation and open my eyes, “And what pray tell would that be”
I say half annoyed and half aroused.
“Isn’t obvious?” he chuckles before kissing me, “Don’t marry her”.
I shut my eyes in frustration.“ Holmes I can not call the wedding off simply because I can’t…” I stop before finishing and cringe.
I had nearly given myself away. Holmes would not let this near slip pass of course,
“You have me intrigued now Watson, what is it you can not do? Is it something you can’t do with Miss Morstan but can with someone else?”
His tone, near gleeful, he gloats, and I know where this is going.
Holmes has tried to get me back in bed since I had told him of my marriage plans nearly 8 months ago,
each time he tries I resist, just barely. I fear my reply is curt, “That, Holmes, is none of your business” I push his hand from my thigh.
“Well then just what is this thing you can not do?” his reply mirrors my own abruptness; his fingers now begin to drum on my bed.
It is no use he will hound me until I tell him, “Very well, the matter might seem trivial, however to me it is of the utmost importance”
We both sat up and faced one another.
“I’m listening.”
I looked at him suddenly aware that I was blushing, I was more embarrassed than I had been in years,
I turned my head and mumbled, and “I can’t dance”.
“I beg your pardon”?
I turned to face him, his look was one of amusement, and as usual it was at my expense.
“I said, I can not dance! I never learned, I tried once years ago it was a fiasco.
Mary is looking forward to the bride and groom’s dance”
Holmes begins to laugh, “This is what has you so vexed?” His laughter continues, but he rises from the bed, “Dress quickly”,
he says as he departs the room, he returns less than fifteen minutes later with my coat grabs my hand and pulls me out the door.
“Come Watson!”
Outside he hails a cab, our destination is a mystery, to me any way.
Holmes is smiling like a Cheshire cat, evading all my questions as only Holmes can.
When the cab stops, we are at the Royal Albert Hall, as we enter from the rear, Holmes grabs my hand and leads me to a room
adjacent to the rehearsal room.
“Holmes, what on earth are we doing here?”
He smiles, “The orchestra is having a late night rehearsal session, one of Mycroft’s operatives also is a musician, is this not the perfect place?
I can see by the expression on your face you haven’t the slightest clue.
Watson, my wedding gift to you, I intend to teach you to dance!” He flashed a brilliant smile and before I could protest took me in his arms.
“Now pay attention, I shall lead and you follow”
“As always Holmes.” I smiled back despite my feelings of trepidation.
Holmes the elegant gentleman held me tight as we went through the motions. I was caught up in the moment, gazing in his eyes,
blushing like a schoolgirl, I felt his arm around my waist, and I wanted to feel it lower.
His eyes were bright and he looked handsome by the candlelight, he twirled me around, and I was becoming dizzy,
he pulled me close, leaned forward and brushed my lips with the gentlest of kisses.
He cleared his throat “Your turn to lead I think”
I stood there unsure of what to do; Holmes had moved with the ease and grace of a swan, I was more a bull moose.
I did not want the moment spoiled. Holmes held out his hand expectantly.
I bowed, and offered him my own, I placed my arm around his waist as he had done with me.
We began to waltz and I attempted to lead. Occasionally Holmes would correct my movements,
“That’s good, but remember it’s a little slower, hold your partner a little closer to you,” I pulled him closer, we were chest to chest,
his arm now was around my neck, “Good Watson, very good” His scent was intoxicating I was entranced, I trembled,
but not from fear or cold. I could feel the heat rising in me.
Holmes was talking but I was not hearing him. The music in the background, his touch, the way he looked, of all the
times in these past 8 months he had tried to seduce me, to coax me back to our physical relationship,
then and there the dam had finally broken.
I do not know what possessed me but I pulled him to me and began to kiss him passionately,
my hands moving wildly over every inch of him, to my great disappointment Holmes broke the kiss,
“Dancing now Watson, wedding night rehearsals later.”