Carol Singers [Scrooge x Marley]

Stave II - The Offer

For a brief moment there was a hush, with just the fire crackling and casting a flickering light on the faces of the three seated around it.

Mr Moore spoke again:

"My friend here, Mr Marley, has recently found himself in a similar situation. You are both skilled, and have found yourselves in these situations due to no fault of your own, and I believe that together the two of you could perhaps start a rather successful business. Following the recent... economic difficulties, shall we say, I'd say lending money will become a lucrative business to go into, and I would be happy to make a significant investment in your business.

"Now it seems to me, that you don't have very many options, and as such I believe that my suggestion is your best, if not only, choice. So. Jacob? Ebenezer? What do you say."

Again, the room was silent. Mr Moore sat, looking between Jacob and Ebenezer with a content look on his face. Ebenezer noticed that Jacob did not seem particularly contemplative, and was instead just staring at him, with that impossible smile on his lips. Ebenezer looked down at his lap briefly, worried that he would be blushing, before turning to Moore and speaking.

"If Mr Marley is happy with this arrangement, I would be willing to attempt it."

"Splendid," said Mr Moore, "Jacob?"

"I am more than happy to try it, and I am sure I will enjoy working with Mr Scrooge here," said Jacob, eyes sparkling.

"Well that is settled then. I took the liberty of arranging a... starting fund... for just this situation," said Mr Moore, pulling a brown envelope from his pocket and handing it to Jacob. "I suggest you inquire about properties to rent. Once the festive season is over, of course."

At this, Mr Moore stood up, nodded to Ebenezer, and walked over to the coat stand. He picked up his coat and quickly put it on.

"I will leave you two to organise yourselves. Oh, and I almost forgot," said Mr Moore, proffering a small piece of paper from his pocket. "My business card. There is an address on there for when you need to contact me. Please do let me know when you have a property sorted out.

"Now, I must be heading off. Farewell."

At this, he turned and walked out of the door. A couple moments later, the main door of the house could be heard opening and closing. Ebenezer and Jacob were both still for a moment, Ebenezer by the door where he had taken the business card, and Jacob in the armchair by the fire. Ebenezer turned to Jacob awkwardly, walking over to the fire, and standing for a moment as if he wanted to say something, before sitting down in the second armchair.

He did not remain there for long, however, as he quickly jumped up, blushing and exclaiming:

"Where are my manners; Would you like a cup of tea?"

Jacob turned to Ebenezer and smiled, pausing before saying, "Yes, please, Ebenezer."

Ebenezer rushed into the kitchen, all too aware that he was blushing, and busied himself brewing the tea. Having made the tea, and taken a moment to collect himself, he walked back into the living room and poured tea for both of them.

"So, Mr Marley," said Ebenezer after a moment, "Or Jacob- If I may call you that?"

"Well, I have been calling you Ebenezer; I think it is only fair if you call me Jacob in return."

"Very well. So, Jacob, perhaps if we meet at the square next to the church on the morning of Boxing Day to start looking for a shop to rent? If that is alright with you?"

"That eager to get started?" said Jacob teasingly, prompting a blush from Ebenezer. Ebenezer buried his face in a deep sip from his cup of tea.

"Boxing Day it is then," said Jacob, grinning. "9 o'clock?"

Ebenezer nodded through his teacup, before finally lowering it. He opened his mouth, before closing it again, fighting to keep his blushing under control. Again, there was silence. Ebenezer sat, looking into Jacob's eyes, sparkling enchantingly in the firelight. Jacob smiled, looking back, and Ebenezer felt himself blushing anew. Keeping eye contact, Jacob lifted his cup of tea and slowly drank from it. He put down his teacup and stood up.

"I'm afraid I must be going now, if I wish to be home at any reasonable time of night," said Jacob.

Ebenezer also stood up, and rushed over to the door, taking Jacob's coat and hat from the coat stand and handing them to Jacob as he walked over. Jacob stood for a moment after putting them on.

"Merry Christmas," said Jacob softly, before turning away. Ebenezer opened the door, and then hurried past Jacob to the main door of the house to open it for him. Jacob tipped his hat as he passed, and walked out into the street. The snow had abated, and it was dark, the icy ground lit by the glow of the streetlamps. Jacob walked off down the road, his black frock coat slowly melting into the shadows as Ebenezer watched. Ebenezer shivered, and closed the door, before wandering back to his rooms, adding coal to the fire, and dropping down into an armchair. As Ebenezer sat, he thought back on the events of that evening; the snowstorm, the confident Mr Moore, and most of all, Jacob Marley, with his enigmatic smile and teasing remarks, and sparkling blue eyes. Had Ebenezer been speaking his thoughts aloud, they may have sounded something like the following:

"He will never like me in that way... and even if he did, it is simply not allowed... I must get used to that if I am to work with him. It is no use wishing for something I cannot have.

"Oh but surely he must know. And he said nothing about it. Maybe he didn't even consider that I could feel this way.

"These feelings are forbidden! I shouldn't even be considering it. I will think nothing more of this matter tonight!"

Despite how confidently Ebenezer made this resolution, he would inevitably fail, many times.

✻✻✻

Jacob walked home through the cold, but he didn't mind it much. His mind was filled with thoughts of Ebenezer, his blushes, his little apologies, and his shy smile. These thoughts and memories kept him warm better than the best coat, and he smiled to himself as he walked. He remembered every word of his and Ebenezer's conversation, every little tease, or sentence, every blush and flustered response that Ebenezer had made. He remembered the cosy little rooms where Ebenezer lived, all kept neatly and in order, and many times tidier than his own rooms. Almost no-one was still out - the cold had driven everyone home, and the shops had all closed, and so he walked in the quiet night. The snow had cleared, and slowly, a couple stars peeked from behind the clouds, twinkling hopefully.

"Merry Christmas," whispered Jacob, mostly to himself.

The wind picked up a little, and Jacob quickened his pace. It was only a couple minutes before he arrived at the house, at the back of a yard deep into the twists of the city. It was well kept on the outside, and the lights in the windows that belonged to the other tenants were on, casting a warm light onto the stones of the yard, and warding off the dark silence of the surrounding buildings. Before entering, he hesitated for a moment, looking back in the direction he had come. At last he turned and entered the building, thoughts already turned to Boxing Day morning.