Gay In The 1800s - Steddie

Chapter 8

Edwina, Edward, Lady Danbury, and Lady Mary were all at their home.

"They were called zebras I believe" Edwina said smiling. "So it was a pleasant visit then? I'm quite sorry I was unable to attend" Lady Mary said. "Oh I am certain it is not the last time we will be invited to the Palace. Her Majesty seemed quite taken by Edwina, was she not, Lady Danbury?" Edward asked.

"I was thinking.. a soiree this evening, so that Miss Edwina may get to know her many suitors rather better" Lady Danbury said, Edward heard a horse outside and got up walking over to the nearest window, he saw Steven satdning outside their home with a horse, he immediately got a feeling that he thought was annoyance seeing him.

"I shall see to everything" Lady Danbury said. "Sounds delightful" Edwina said. "So long as we are judicious with our guest list. Pardon me" Edward said sternly has he walked out of the room, going outside.

"Good boy" Steven said petting the horse as Edward stormed up to him. "How much clearer must I be?" He said raising his voice. "I brought a gift for Miss Edwina" Steven said. "Take your Trojan horse elsewhere" Edward replied.

"I assure you, Mister Sharma, this is a very real horse. I'd not recommend trying climb inside" Steven said with a smug smile attached to his face, Edward scoffed.
"Truly, this is all a game to you" Edward stated.

"I'm not here to play games" Steven said. "Then what was Miss Dorset, if not some deceitful prank? Edward said. "The business with Miss Dorsett was not so great a deceit as you imply" Steven said annoyed "And now you question my judgment?" Edward asked.

"Only because you questioned mine" Steve stated with a fake smile on his face. "I have never met a man as brazenley presumptuous-" Steven interupted him. "You do not even know me" Steven said ticked off.

"I know you are polished. I know you are careful. I know you make promises without so much as uttering a word, there is not much more I need to know" Edward said getting closer to Steven.

Steven scoffed and handed the horses leash to a nearby guard, he put his hands behind his back as he walked closer to Edward. "Is this about what you heard on the terrace again?" Steven asked. "You act as if I'm some kind of villain, when every other woman in London aspires for the kind of marriage I'm offering. You must know that" he said as Edward scoffed.

"You have been exceptionally clear.." he said staring to raise his voice. "About what it is that you do and do not wish for, but has it ever occurred to you that this might, in fact, be about what your sister wishes for instead?" Steven said looking into Edward's eyes as he made a puzzled face at Steven.

Their moment of silence was interupted by Edwina walking outside cheerfully to greet Steven, Steven somehow found himself annoyed when she walked out.

"Lord Harrington" she said bowing. "Miss Edwina" he said nodding to her. "I have brought you a small token" he said signaling for the guard to bring bring horse over which he did.

"To remember our fine time at the races yesterday" he said petting the horse. "Oh, the horse is for me?" She asked. "I thought you loved animals"he said. "I do.. but usually the kind that curly up on my lap" she said smiling as Edward suddenly had a smug grin on his face.

He chuckled awkwardly. "My apologies" Steven said. "You said something about Nectar reminding you of a beloved horse you had back at-" Edward interrupted Steven. "That horse is a character from a novel, a novel of love in fact" Edward said smiling widely at Steven.

Steven looked at Edward annoyed. "I adore it, my lord" Edwina said. "The horse is a generous gesture, indeed" she said smiling at him as he nodded, Steven and Edward made eye contact for about 5 seconds before Edward looked away. "Come Edwina, we must return inside" Edward said, Edwina bowed to Steven before walking back in as Edward stood there for a moment looking at Steven before joining her inside.