Assorted Imagines

Charles and Isabel

Scene: Nighttime at a large English manor in the 1930s. Dinner party...

Context: Isabel and Charles haven't seen each other for six months. Charles left London on an expedition to Africa, leaving his close schoolfriend behind. The day he left, however, right before he had gotten on the train, Charles had kissed Isabel. He had been afraid of leaving without kissing her once. Since his departure, Isabel and Charles had exchanged countless letters and telegrams to one another, each one more romantic than the one before. Charles explained to Isabel in his letters that he loved her more than she knew, more than he ought to love her. Isabel replied in kind saying that she had always loved him.

Six months passed, and the last month and a half yielded no letters or telegrams from Charles. He had warned Isabel that he would not be able to send any letters to her while on his final expedition or on the boat back to Britain, but still, Isabel wished she could hear just one word from him. The anticipation of seeing him again was much too great.

She hadn't told a soul about her and Charles's affections for one another, and neither had he. While Isabel was much beloved among people of higher rank than her, Charles was considered completely out of her league due to the hefty status and fortune that was attached to his family name. His parents would not rest until he married someone of equal status, if not higher. And both Isabel and Charles knew that the last thing they wanted was for him to fall in love with a middle-class art student.

Isabel, despite her middle-class status, was somewhat popular among the higher class because of her talents, charms, and quick wit. It was for this reason that she was invited on June 14th to Lady Ryder's dinner party. Isabel put on her flowy green dress, checked her mail one more time for a letter from Charles, then left for Ryder Manor.

"Isabel, did you hear?" Mrs. Thompson was hissing to her over her glass while the dinner party group spread throughout the large room, chatting to each other.

"Hear what, Mrs. Thompson?" Isabel asked, taking a deep sip of her champagne. Mrs. Thompson was always asking everyone if they'd heard something. Most of the time, the news she had to offer was either old or dreadfully boring, but Isabel was faithful to her manners and always humored the older woman.

Mrs. Thompson leaned closer to her, but her eyes roved expectantly around the room.

"That young man of the Hastings family, Charles Hastings, is said to come tonight," Mrs. Thompson whispered.

Isabel's heart stopped. For once, Mrs. Thompson's news was not only interesting and unique, but completely earth-shattering for Isabel. Charles...here.... Isabel became acutely aware of the fact that he could be anywhere; that soon, he would be here. He would see her. And it could happen at any moment.

"Are you alright dear? You look quite pale," Mrs. Thompson said, furrowing her brows at Isabel. Isabel blinked and regained her composure.

"Ah-- um, yes. Thanks. I think I just need to have some..." Isabel trailed off as she left, too distracted to finish her full sentence. She needed to get out. Or prepare. Or find him? She had no idea what she was going to do. She ducked out of the room, through the empty parlor, and, unlatching the door carefully, crept out onto the terrace.

She walked to the balcony railing and, gripping it, took deep breaths of the warm summer air. Charles. If she had known she would see him today, she would have worn something different. Not that she had much else to wear, but she would have at least considered something different before settling on her pretty green dress. She would have worn more lipstick, she would have done her hair differently...

She did want to see him, of course. She only wished she had known; she could have better prepared. The thought of seeing him after six months made her stomach twist into knots. Would he still love her? Did he think she was beautiful? He had said so in one of his letters... But what if I've become ugly since then? I have gotten a bit fatter... Oh, damn it all! I just want to see him. Charles...