Battle of Fear and Trust

An Invitation She Could Not Refuse part1

I am typing a letter for Lord Chesterfield before it is time for me to leave, not that I want to go back to my family's home. Of course, I haven't really talked to any of them all that much since my argument with Edmund about five months ago. Which I'm glad about; the last thing I need is to have them nagging me about every little thing. And so, I'm taking my time with this letter.

I watch from the corner of my eye as Mr. Chesterfield walks into my office, causing me to smile. My family isn't the only reason I'm taking my time. True nothing has happened between us but every time he walks toward his office. He looks at me as though he has just found the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and all he wants to do is pull me into his arms and kiss me.

"Oh, Susan, I thought you'd left." I get up from my seat as I take the letter out of the typewriter.

"I thought I'd go ahead and type that letter you needed," I tell him as he walks closer. "And I told your supervisors you wouldn't be able to meet with them until the 28th," I smile at him. We move closer together.

"What would I ever do without you?" he asks softly.

"You'd be utterly lost in your paperwork; you wouldn't know what to do with it all," I reply, causing him to smile at me. I could feel my lips moving closer to the point I could feel his breath on my cheek, as he cups his hand on my chin. Finally, I knew it was only a matter of time before he gave in. Just one more inch and he's mine.

I hear the doorknob turn and the lord quickly moves away from me. So much for that, I roll my eyes as the butler opens the door. "Sir, Lady Chesterfield is waiting for you downstairs."

"Thank you, Harrington, tell her I'll be down in a minute." The butler nods and leaves. "Well, I should go. I told my wife I would see her before she leaves with our son to see her family for the holidays."

"Are you not going with them?"

"No, I'm afraid I'll be stuck here doing paperwork for the holidays." Perfect, I tell myself, staring into his blue eyes. "Anyway, it's almost 5, you can take the rest of the day off."

Then I say my goodbyes and go home.

Unfortunately, the cab ride seemed shorter than usual and it was one of the rare nights I didn't have anything planned. So, I'll endure my family and the childish holiday they'll try to get me to celebrate with them. Not that I really want to think about that, they're just people who I happen to live with until January, when I move into my own flat. All I need to do is ignore them and keep myself busy with regaining the life of a queen; already I can feel myself getting closer to my goal. I open the door to my family home to the smell of something baking in the oven while voices fill the family room. I sigh at the very thought of being here.

"...Then Puddleglum stamped out the fire with his bare foot and that freed us from the lady of the Green Kirtle enchantment," I hear a female voice which I recognize as my cousin's friend. I quietly close the door and enter the room to see Eustace, his friend, Nancy, and Lucy sitting smiling while there making a string of cranberry and popcorn.

"What happened next?" I hear Nancy ask.

"Well, he gave her this whole speech about how he would live like a Narnian even if there was no Narnia, because it was better than the world she was talking about..." Eustace continued the story.

What are they doing here?

"There's only one reason the lion's pawns would be here and I'm sure they'll never stop trying to bring you back into their game" Jadis says as I walk closer.

"I must say, it's wonderful you remember those funny games we played as children," I say in a mocking tone, watching their facial expressions. That should show them that they're not going to win me back.