Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 19

I brushed my hair and put on a dress, I felt nervous and afraid but I had hope even if it may have only been a fool's hope. I wanted so badly to believe him, I wanted to trust Jack, I wanted to see him even to just hear him explain himself. I snuck out the kitchen door and headed out of the garden I made sure not to be seen as I headed out and through the grass. I found the little bench and took myself a seat taking an orange in hand to toss it back and forth between my hands. I sat and counted the stars doing my best not to cry, to think I was here again waiting.

"Where are you, Jack?" I whispered my fear overflowing.

After a while, I took the orange set it on the grass gave it a gentle push to let it roll away through the garden grass.

"I don't know why I trusted you..." I sighed,

But I felt something hit my ankle, I looked down and saw the orange had rolled back to me hitting my ankle, for a moment I was confused but I looked in the direction I had rolled it.

And there he was.

Dressed the same as he was when I gave him my invitation, his brown trousers, white shirt, blue waistcoat, his purple coat and hat in hand.

"You came?" He smiled,

"So did you," I nodded,

"You look beautiful,"

"Thank you,"

"I uhh I wanna come closer I'm a little afraid you're mad at me." He chuckled tentatively taking a step or two closer, "Will you let me explain myself?"

"You May Dr Dawkins." I nodded,

He seemed upset but did his best to smile, "I am sorry, that's all I can say I'm sorry. I wanted to be here, more than anything. I'd been thinking about you all night, all day, you have no idea how much I was looking forward to seeing you." He said, "I went up to get changed and ready to come to see you then some guy comes in with a bloody hernia, Sneed was off god knows where and Prof was two bottles of whiskey deep into a desk nap. I didn't much have a choice, ended up being more complicated and by the time I got him sewn up... it was too late." He explained, "I did come, on a fool's hope you might still have been waiting for me, but you weren't. I don't blame you for giving up on me. I'd have done the same. I wanted to come to your window and apologise but - I don't know which is yours."

I chuckled a little,

"yeah, and I didn't exactly wanna guess wrong and get your Governess,"

"She's have pointed you in the right direction."

"So she is?"

"She seems to be," I nodded, "For now anyway."

"Great, I uhh I didn't wanna guess and get your father either I uhh I feel like that'd be a bit hard to explain."

Such an image tickled me of the thought of Jack climbing the windows to come to see me and finding himself at my father's window, I could Imagine my father's face, and Jack's.

"Ohh yes, Hello sir, what am I doing art your window? well uhhh no reason just on a stroll, you wouldn't happen to be able to direct me to your daughter would you?"

I couldn't hold back my laughter but neither could he, "I don't know, you're a doctor just say you're on your rounds."

"Ohh god no, some of these ladies in town here Doctors are making late-night bedroom window visits I'll never get any sleep." He laughed, "Do you think you can forgive me?"

"... I do."

He smiled and closed the gap between us taking my hands, "I was so afraid you'd never wanna speak to me again,"