Five Minutes Alone With You

ch 5 : in daphne's childhood bedroom

Daphne could not leave her husband's side.

Part of it was because she could not stop looking at him. He was so beautiful, his shoulders so relaxed, no longer tense. He was conversing easily with everyone around them, laughing with her family, with his friends. Everyone that approached, he offered a nod and a hand shake. He looked so peaceful, so joyous. Every time his eyes looked towards her, they shined even brighter, as though he was re-energized by her mere presence.

It took her breath away, to see him like this, She did not want to think it was entirely her influence, but since he had proposed, since he had released himself from his vow and moved forward from whatever damage his father had caused, the Simon beside her was a man that was truly happy. She loved it, loved seeing him like this. She wanted to place that smile on his face every day.

The other part was because, simply, she refused to let go. Whether she was holding his hand, or holding onto his arm, or even just touching his shoulder, they had not yet separated. His hand was constantly brushing over her back, her forearm, her hand, touching and keeping her near.

She could not be parted from him, refused to ever be parted again, for fear that this was all a dream, and she would wake up and he would be far far away from her.

Everyone seemed to be interested in offering their congratulations, with a great many mentioning the quickness of their wedding, but there was no lie when they looked to one another, sharing a smile.

"It was love," she would say each time.

"I finally convinced her to wed me," he would say as well. "And I did not intend on giving her a chance to change her mind."

They would then share another look, a great big smile, and Daphne would melt a little bit more.

In fact, Daphne did not think she could love her husband any more, until he turned to her, and asked her to dance.

"Dance, your Grace?" she asked, teasing him with the title. "But, this is not a ball, and there is no dance floor."

"What of it?" he asked, glancing around the room. "You and I are the highest ranking members of society, save for the Queen, who is currently talking to your sister."

Daphne turned, looking to see Eloise was in fact talking to the Queen, which was beyond shocking.

"Well, what will people say?" Daphne asked, reaching out to take his offered hand.

"Does it matter?" he retorted.

And with that, she had joined him in a dance.

No one else mattered as they danced and danced. They danced one song and then another, laughing and smiling with each turn. They spun, and spun, and eventually, things were pulled aside so others might join in, couples, parents with children, a loud and boisterous affair. It was far more relaxed than a ball, and even Lady Danbury was caught tapping her cane.

When Daphne could no longer catch her breath, she finally begged off, asking her husband for a break. He grinned, pulling her from the dance floor they had created, and allowed her to lead him away from the rest of the group, towards the bottom of the steps.

"I do believe, my beautiful wife, that it is nearly time for us to leave," he said, his free hand going up to brush a few loose curls from her face.

"Then I should go and change for the journey," she said softly, her eyes flicking up the stairs towards her bedroom door.

Simon was silent for a moment, then bent over, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it as he bowed. "I shall miss you, every second you are away."