No Confessions

Ch9

The room is a mess when Jonathan comes to get Mina the following morning. Mina was changed and was elsewhere in the estate. Jonathan came into the room, unannounced, and immediately started scolding Lucy for the state of the room.
"Blazes, Lucy! You best pick up what's yours when you are done with them!" Jonathan scoffed, "You are a Westenra! You are of high class, you should know things such as this!"
"Good thing I'm strong enough to carry Mina." Lucy said nonchalantly. Not only did the remark make reference to Mina being hers, but it also implied the two had had intercourse or something of the matter as 'being done with' someone means after sex in this context. Of course it was a lie, and of course it was meant to be a joke. Mina let out a chuckle and a hum of agreement from where she stood, coming in from the door.
"Pardon?" Jonathan nearly barked. "Whatever is that supposed to mean? What have you done with my fiance?"
Lucy nearly snorted at Mina's response, playing along. "Did she stutter? Must we spell it out for you?" Mina laughed at Jonathan's face of shock.
"'S' 'e' 'x'." Lucy whispered suggestively, shooting a look towards Mina, making them both burst out laughing. Unfortunately, the alcohol from their evening before still lingered in their bodies, impairing their judgment.
Jonathan made some sort of exclamation in disgust, muttering something under his breath. He left quite swiftly, seeming to forget about his and Mina's date.
"Jonathan? Jonathan!" Mina called after him, clearly still intoxicated. "Jonathan, where are you leaving for?"
Jonathan continued to soundfully walk down away from the bedchamber. "Out, Mina. I am going out." He spat.
"What about our date?" Mina called out the door. "Jonathan? Lucy, do you think he'll be back?" Mina questioned, closing the door.
"Truthfully? No, I don't think so." Lucy said solemnly. "Perhaps I went too far..."
Mina smiled slightly, proof of the alcohol still in her system. "Yes, but, you must admit, it was quite funny. His reaction." She noted. "Perhaps we should abstain from sex jokes around my fiance, hm?"
"But of course, my dear." Lucy said, extending a hand out. "Anything for you." She said with a fake bow. "I am at your service. Your wish shall be my command." The comment pulled a giggle from Mina, making Lucy's heart flutter.
"Is that you, Captain Westenra?" Mina giggled, taking Lucy's hand, curtsying. "Shall we dance?"
"We shall." Lucy smiled as she whisked Mina around her room to imaginary music.

____________________

"Mina? Mina, should I fetch Catherine? She is knowledgeable in treating hangovers." Lucy offered to her friend who had, moments earlier, thrown up in the water closet.
"No, no, it's fine. I'm alright." Mina said weakly, leaning on the door for support. Her legs seemed weak, shaky and highly unstable. Impure thoughts flooded into Lucy's mind. Shaking those thoughts off, Lucy disregarded Mina's version of 'alright'.
"I'm going to call Catherine...after I help you back to the chamber where you can rest." Lucy decided, offering a hand to Mina. With a shaky smile, Mina took Lucy's offering hand.
Shifting her weight onto her friend, Mina, with great struggle, made her way up to Lucy's chamber once again. "Thank you." she panted. Sitting down, she brought her hand to her forehead. A futile attempt to cease her dizziness.
"I won't be a moment." Lucy assured before ducking from the room.
Mina was left alone in Lucy's chamber. Not completely alone; Mina had her thoughts. Her mind was a quiet place most days. Perhaps it was the alcohol or perhaps it was curiosity, but Mina's mind kept going back to one thing: the kiss she shared with Lucy.
Lucy seemed almost scared of kissing her. Lucy was also the one who broke the kiss. 'Perhaps,' Mina thought. 'Perhaps Lucy was merely joking about the kiss and didn't truly wish for Mina to kiss her.' Mina pondered the thought, worry was wrenching her gut into ugly feelings. 'No.' She thought again. 'Lucy seemed...almost excited, at the prospect of kissing her.'
Mina's subject of thought shifted. No longer was she concerned with Lucy but herself. It had dawned on her that her, Mina Murray, an engaged woman, had kissed another. Another woman to take things a step further. It wasn't just a peck on the cheek or a kiss to bring comfort; it was a heated kiss that came from a drunken request. What could lessen it could be that both girls were absolutely scammered and neither had their heads straight. Even so, Mina doubted Jonathan would accept that answer. He had stormed out in a furious rage after one measly sex joke. How would he react to an entire kiss that was much more than what was acceptable; not only by society but also by even herself.
"Hey Mina, I've brought Catherine." Lucy's face dropped immediately when she saw her friend. Mina had brought her knees to her chest and had set her forehead down upon them. "Mina? Mina darling, what's wrong? Is it the hangover? Catherine, help her!" Lucy pleaded.
Mina looked up and smiled weakly at Lucy's worried state. "It's not the hangover, I'm pretty sure it's passed now." Mina whispered, reaching a hand out to Lucy. Lucy immediately took Mina's hand in concern. "Catherine?"
"Yes, Ms Murray?" The maid asked. She was holding a smaller sized box with a first aid symbol on it.
Mina looked at Lucy before looking back at the maid. "You are dismissed. Leave the box, please." With that, Catherine quickly left the bedchamber with a nod. "Lucy, I must have words with you."
Lucy seemed to be frightened a bit. "Yes Mina? A word about what?"
"Last night..." Mina murmured. "When I kissed you..."
Lucy's eyes went wide. "What—what about it?" She asked, trying to sound as calm as she could. She was not.
Mina shifted, letting her knees fall away from her chest. "Were you joking when you asked me? Did you truly wish for me to kiss you? Were you uncomfortable? Why did you pull away? Is it because of Jonathan? That I'm engaged? Is it because I'm a woman?" Questions flooded out of her. Mina didn't completely understand anything. She just wanted answers.
Lucy moved to sit herself in a more comfortable position. Instead of on her knees, leaning on the chair Mina sat in, Lucy positioned herself so that she sat on her feet in front of Mina and looked up at her. A sight which turned Mina a hue of rose as unprofessional thoughts occupied her mind.
"No, I was not joking when I asked you. Yes, I did truly wish for you to kiss but I apologize for being so forward. I wasn't more uncomfortable than one would naturally be if they were to kiss someone." Lucy seemed to be answering each of Mina's questions one at a time. "No, I didn't pull away because Jonathan entered my mind, not because you are engaged and not remotely because you are a woman." Lucy dropped her tone to whisper. "Tell no one, but it's precisely because you are you that I asked for the kiss."
"But then—then why pull away?" Mina asked, her mind fumbling.
"I was worried you were uncomfortable." Lucy admitted. "You and Jonathan... you seem genuinely intrigued with him. You were the one who asked him for devil's sake! You wish to marry him." Her voice became a whisper once more. This time however, it seemed she was talking to herself more than she was talking to Mina. "And you have no wish to marry me. Not even what some would call 'romantic friendships'. And those continue even if one of the two has a husband."
"Pardon? I'm sorry, I didn't hear that." Mina said softly, her hands combing their way through Lucy's hair. Her eyes scanned her features for any tells of what could be on her mind. The only thing Mina could tell was that Lucy's eyes had become moist.
"Good."