“I do not like to be compared to a rodent, Walter. Something small and insignificant.”
“Oh… is that what you thought? But I did not mean it that way at all. Eustace and I were up a tree one day, when you came rushing past below us. We were not supposed to be there, so we kept quiet and just watched you as you went by, scurrying along, head down, off on some important business or other. You must have been… about twelve or so, for your hair was still down, and you wore a drab gown and that dreadful old cloak… all brown, from head to toe, but your hair was so shiny… glossy… I cannot describe it, but from where we sat, you looked just like a mouse following a trail, knowing exactly where you were going. You always knew where you were going, Winnie, and you have no idea how I envied you that certainty… of having a direction… you always seemed so sure of what you were doing. You were in control of your life, whereas I… I just drifted, allowing other people to direct my actions. Even my betrothal… I let Bea Franklyn push me around. The first time in my life I ever acted from my own wishes was when I tried to deter Lomax from marrying you, and even though I told myself I was acting in your best interests, it was really because I wanted you for myself. I just had not quite realised it then.”
“A mouse who knows where she is going… that is not so bad,” Winnie said.
“I always thought of it as an endearment… a term of affection,” he said.
A knock on the door made them jump apart as Percival’s head appeared.
“Is there anything else you require just now, madam? Sir?”
“No, no. We have everything we need,” Walter said.
“Then I’ll be off,” he said.
The door closed behind him, and instantly Walter pulled her back into his embrace. “Ah, Mouse! This is where you belong.”
She stretched up to kiss him, but he pulled back a little.
“Not yet. There is something I must say to you, something important that I want to get right.”
“Could it wait until we will not be interrupted?” she said. “At bedtime, perhaps?”
“But I am liable to be distracted, then.”
“I had noticed. In fact, I get distracted myself.”
He chuckled. “I had noticed that. We are both easily distracted. So let me say this now, once and for all. Darling Winnie, I love you so much I can barely breathe when you are with me. I think, if I am being totally honest, that I have always loved you… at least, ever since I saw my lovely Mouse scurry past me for the first time, but I was too stupid to recognise it. Can you ever forgive me for making you wait and for making yousufferwhile I was betrothed to Bea? I cannot imagine what you must have thought of me. And now that I have you, I am terrified — absolutely terrified — of making a mess of things. The worst moment of my life was when I made you cry. I could not bear it if that ever happens again, and I am stupid enough that it might happen. Please, my dearest darling, please will you tell me if I do the least thing to make you unhappy? Or if you think I might? Help me, Winnie, because I want our marriage to be perfect.”
“Oh, Walter, nothing is ever perfect. Every one of us is human and fallible and liable to make mistakes. You will and sowill I, but we will get past that. So long as we talk to each other… as long as we arehonestwith each other, everything else will fall into place. Stop worrying! We are together, we have a roof over our heads and food to eat and enough money to live on without too many economies, and most of all, we have each other, and our love. I love you, Walter Atherton, imperfect as you are, and I always will. Now, may I kiss you? Because I cannot stay on tiptoe forever, and I should like some reward for the discomfort involved.”
“I have a better idea,” he said, scooping her off her feet and into his arms so suddenly that she gave a little squeal of surprise.
“Oh yes, much better,” she murmured, realising her face was now most conveniently placed next to his. His lips hovered over hers—
The door burst open, and a footman appeared. “You called, madam?”
Winnie blushed scarlet to be caught in such a position, but Walter did not flinch.
“No one called. Your services are not required.”
“Very good, sir,” he said imperturbably, bowed and withdrew in good order.
Winnie buried her scarlet face in Walter’s shoulder, but he said calmly, “That will teach the fellow to walk in on two people only recently married. Now where were we? Ah, yes, I recall.”
A silence fell in the room. After several minutes, finding the activity excessively pleasant, they retreated to a comfortable chair beside the fire, of a size suitable to accommodate a large gentleman with a lady draped across his lap, and there they stayed in perfect contentment until the dressing bell sounded.
THE END
