Chapter 8: Reading Between the Lines

Part II: Springtime

"Sweet spring is our time; for springtime is lovetime and viva sweet love!"

~ E.E. Cummin

March

It was early March now, and Sarah couldn't help but find various excuses to hover near James. They made idle chatter, occasionally more substantial talk about his work with their horses. She didn't do this every day; she couldn't be too obvious or seem desperate. She had to choose wisely to make further observations about herself and James.

"James," she brightly chirped as she walked up to their stable one afternoon. "How are you

"Fine Miss, thank you," he replied, carefully coaxing one of their horses into its stall. He was a young brown colt with a shiny black mane and tail.

"You know, you don't have to call me 'Miss'." she suggested, petting the horse between them. "You can just call me 'Sarah'."

"Can't, Miss." he objected dutifully, now brushing the horse's mane. "It's my place

"Yes." she replied. "But why must one have a 'place' at all? I'm a person, you're a person. Is there any real...difference between us?" she wondered aloud, staring at the colt's face

"I don't know how to explain it." he shrugged, now carefully combing out a few stubborn snarls at the ends of the dark shiny hai

"Maybe a compromise then?" she suggested, now petting the snout of the beautiful creature. "How about 'Miss Sarah'

"Well, only around you." he looked up and smiled, walking closer to her, staring at her sparkling eyes and full lips. "Miss...Sarah

"Guess it'll just be our little secret then. You and me." she flashed a radiant smile at him and bounded off, positively gidd

James watched her walk away, her words echoing in his min

You and m

He'd tried to seem nonchalant about Sarah, but with a girl that attractive, it was very hard to not notice when she was nearby. She was always in a new gorgeous dress, usually one she'd designed. She was also very smart, and friendly to him. He knew he wanted to be closer to he

But it wasn't going to happen. It wasn't allowed to happe

Because while she may not agree with having a 'place' he needed his, especially if he was to learn more about animals to hone his skill and hopefully have a career one day. Sarah was simply off-limit

He sighed as he watched her go back inside. Her wavy hair gently flowed past her shoulders, glistening in the early spring sunlight

Just before she entered the house she turned back, and smiled at hi

You and me.

~

That evening, Augustus was in bed, and lay awake for most of the night. He couldn't help feeling a little jealous: Will had someone to focus on romantically, a brand-new relationship. Ever since he mentioned Claire to him, he'd been thinking about her again. He might have even started to miss her. His mind snapped back to when he'd started their relationshi

He was out taking a walk, chatting with one of his friends when he heard a loud thump behind him and turned around

And there, in the afternoon sunlight of early September, a girl was kneeling down in a light blue dress with a white apron collecting her vegetables. When he bent down to hand her a turnip, she touched it at the same time and their hands me

"Excuse me." he automatically replied, picking it up. As they stood together, he was unprepared for what he saw--bright blue eyes and long reddish-brown hair. She was beautifu

"...Excuse me." he repeated, shocked by her beauty. She had a fair, delicate complexion. It was a lovely contrast to her bright eyes and hai

"Here." he sputtered, offering her the purplish bulb after brushing off any remaining dir

"Oh, thank you." she replied with a bright smile and Scottish accent

"I'm Augustus." he continued, holding out his hand for a polite introduction

"Claire." she chirped, shaking it. "What an interesting name." she observed, her bright blue eyes scanning him. He raked a hand through his hai

"Thank you." he nodded, unsure of what else to sa

"You're welcome." she replied, staring into his pretty green eye

"I haven't seen you here before." he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Have you come by just now

"Moved here a few weeks ago." she replied, pushing her hair back with her free hand. "My parents said they'd find more work here in the city. 'Better opportunities', they say

"Did they find anything yet

"Pa's finally found a blacksmith shop that'll pay good. Right now Ma's home with the new baby. I've been out a few times, seein' what London has different from home

"Been here my whole life. I could show you around sometime." he asked, hoping to appear confiden

"S'pose we could." she tilted her head and smiled, intrigued. "I haven't met a lot of people yet." she shifted her weight, carefully holding her large basket. "Well, I'd best be off. Told Ma I'd be back before too late

"Of course." he agreed with a slight no

"Well, thank you." she smiled one last time, and turned to leav

"Claire?" he asked just as she was about to walk of

"Yes?" she turned and her focus made him nervous all over agai

"Meet me here again. Tomorrow. Same time. I could show you around." he said with confidence. "Please?" he asked hopefull

"All right." she fluttered her eyes at him just before she turned awa

Augustus rejoined his friend who had frozen in place, staring in amazemen

"She's a beauty!" his friend marveled once she was out of earshot

"I know! I was so nervous." he humbly admitted

"And with that hair, she looks like Nell

"The--actress?" Augustus squinted, trying to remember what he'd heard about he

"Yea, Nell Gwyn." he replied with a nod as they walked together through the bustling market. "I hear she's amazing." he said, giddy. "Plays all the theaters in town

"Really?" Augustus tilted his head, intrigue

"Yea. And everyone knows she's havin' it off with the King." he gossiped as they walked on. "I seen her once, right by the theater. She's our age." he gushed. "Proper fit, too." he said, grinnin

"So she's...ya know..." Augustus asked, leaning into him curiously

His friend chuckled. "I can't get her outta my head! If I was King, I could afford the theater. And she could en'ertain me all night." he murmured

Augustus snickered. "Well...one could only imagine." he replied softly

"My thoughts exactly." His friend agreed

He paused to drink a swig of water and chuckled again. "You surprise me every now and again, ya know?" he said, handing Augustus his costre

"How'd ya mean?" he asked, before taking a sip from the thin leather pouch. He leaned against a nearby pos

"You wasn't shy around her or nothin'. Just...confident. People really like that." he assured with a no

"I was nervous but I knew I'd regret not trying so I just..did it

The week between their meeting and official courting passed quickly. It was a beautiful, bright Autumn day when they were officially, albeit casually, togethe

He noticed that day she's curled her hair, trying out the new fashions she'd noticed in London. After their usual walk, she was just about to leave, when he leaned in to kiss her

Her lips were warm and as they pulled back he remembered it so well: her face was relaxed, her eyes closed, a small sigh escaping her lips. He re-pictured that dozens of times, the exact moment he felt something strong for her, and he could see she felt it back

She was not afraid to show affection. Some days they'd only kiss as they parted, other days they'd sneak near an alley and just kiss the whole time. She was flirty, and slightly aggressive at times. It was fun, and easy

They shared deeper moments as well: she saw his growing concern on the spread of Plague, his anger at the poverty around him. Her personality was actually quite similar to Will's: she was thoughtful and smart. One of those infectiously optimistic people. He always felt better when he was with her and their relationship was happy, albeit short

Because after a few months, they both eventually realised it just wasn't a fit long-term, and chose to remain friend

He vaguely recalled wondering after they ended things: who was the next girl he'd cour

~

It had only been a few days ago Augustus was so sure that he missed Claire, but after thinking it over, he realised that he wasn't jealous because Will had a relationship: he was jealous because someone else had Will all to themselve

But did he truly feel something for Will, or did he just want to be in a relationship again

He decided to hang back for a moment in the Solarium doorway, staring at Will. His blonde hair was pulled back, his slim body sprawled along the chaise lounge on his stomach. His legs were lolling behind him as he read

Would he let me kiss him? he thought. As he silently imagined this, he felt a warm, tight throb of enticement take form in the pit of his stomach

What would it be like? How would it feel to kiss his neck, clutch his waist, make him blush by being all flirty and suggestive, like he had with Claire? It's not like anyone else would ever know.

He'd never been interested in boys before, but for some reason, Will seemed so different from any other boys he knew. Somehow, he felt open to being romantic with him

Will, of course, was supposed to be wooing Sarah, but luckily for Augustus, he didn't seem interested so fa

But was it Sarah herself Will lacked interest in, or girls in general

And how was he possibly going to determine tha

~

"Spring cleaning!" Margaret brightly announced the next morning, rising from her place at the table

Augustus looked up from his porridge. Breakfast was nearly over and Margaret had finished off her tea. She clapped her hands twice and her nearest servants lined up from the kitchen to receive their order

"Missy, take the laundry. Agnes, beat all the rugs outside and Marcus, while the rugs are out, polish the entrance hall and the dining room. Everyone come back to me when you're done. After I check your work, I'll give you your next task

"Oh good." Will said with a hint of dry sarcasm, murmuring to Augustus as he leaned over at the table, the group dispersing to begin her initiative. "Mother's annual declaration: four full days of everyone else doing the work for her. It's officially springtime." the boys shared a smil

The home was now abuzz with action as the servants went on with their yearly task

The family was actually doing some work, though it was largely tending to personal items

Upstairs, Will was helping Augustus go through some of his things when he found something very shocking and unexpected

They were halfway through a stack of papers in his trunk when Will slowly withdrew a paper that was folded up, crinkled from being stuffed under his things for month

Upon opening it he was so shocked he almost let it slip to the floor. It was a leaflet and the cover displayed a drawing of a woman lounging by the threshold of a front door in a low-cut dress. The title read Madam Cresswells' Ladies

"Wha--is this one of those pamphlets?!" Will hissed, springing to his feet. How had Augustus come to acquire this? He didn't seem to have a particular interest in something so lew

"Oh, sorry, I forgot; a friend of mine gave it to me." Augustus explained as he stood from his side of the room, next to a spare wardrobe he was currently filling to organise his clothes. He was now intently watching Wil

"Oh..." Will paused and curiously opened the first page. His eyes widened when they fell upon the rather obscene drawing

The same girl was leaning back on a couch now, wearing her same dress but with one side falling off her left shoulder; showing off her bare chest and small waist. Will snapped the page shu

"Do...women in the city really do that?" he looked up, eyes wide with shoc

"Ones that get paid enough do." Augustus replied with a shrug as Will approached hi

"Do..." he looked at Augustus, still shocked. "Do you...like this

"Well, it's been right next to me and I haven't touched it in three months

"Right, of course." Will nodded, quickly looking away, the heat of a blush overtaking him as he thought about what Augustus had and had not been touchin

"I mean, I only used it once or twice." Augustus added without thinking, now sorting his clothe

But they were just pictures of girls. "How would you use it?" Will asked, squintin

"Nothing!" Augustus exclaimed, dropping a pile of folded breeche

"I--I--" he sputtered as he picked his pants back up. "I mean...um..

He inched closer to Will, trying to rack up his nerves. This was his one chance. He had to be sure

"Do you like it?" he queried, watching him intently, curiosity blazing through him

"No..." Will quietly replied as he let his arm fall to his side, disinterested at the paper in his hand

"It's...

He knew he only wanted Augustus

"...boring

"Do you...want to keep it?" Will continued, fumbling with the page. There he was, holding an obscene publication from the country's most well-connected brothel owne

"Not really." Augustus replied, shaking his head

So you don't care if we get rid of it, do you?" Will waved the paper towards his fireplace. "I think my parents would kill me in my sleep if they knew I had something like this

"We don't have to keep it." Augustus agreed. Hopefully he wouldn't be needing it anytime soon

Will nodded, and tossed the Cresswells' pamphlet into his fireplac

He returned to his task, but Augustus watched as it curled into the flame, fading away, never to exist again. In that brief moment he decided that he was done with elusive fantasies, done with recalling the past. He wanted something real, something new. Something totally different from what he'd had befor

He wanted to be with Will and damnit, he was ready to tr

rd

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He wanted to be with Will and damnit, he was ready to try.