Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 23

I smiled as I sat at my desk drawing absentmindedly sketching sweet lines and curves as I hummed to myself, I just wanted to sleep the days away until I would see Jack again, and I missed him so badly. 

I'd have sold my soul for more kisses, for his touch, for his face to be in my view. 

I wanted to see him, but I knew if I snuck out I'd be in far too much trouble even to realize. 

I sighed happily, but I heard and felt my pencil lead snap. 

So I glanced down seeing the end of my pencil had scampered across the page, and I saw what I had been drawing, 

Seeing the intricate well shadowed sketch, of Jack. "Ohhh my-" I blushed, as I had drawn him... well... Shirtless, fixing his hair in his usual way. "I uhh uhhhh.... damn," I sighed.

Even I surprised myself with that, I had planned on drawing him with a shirt... at first, I think I did. All though I do admit he looked... so Dashingly handsome. The way his arms were so slender his muscles were clear, his smooth chest, his strong ummmm... I heard my door open so I quickly hid my drawing with over drawings on top of it and even a book as Miss Hardcastle came into my room with some tea,

"Hi!"

"Hello?" She said rather suspiciously, "Everything alright Miss Everset?"

"Yes... Everything fine." I answered,

"Good, tea." She said sitting it on the table,

"Yes, thank you." I nodded going and pouring myself a cup as she talked about some business, I wasn't paying much attention. But when I glanced away from my tea I saw her at my desk digging through my papers, "No it's-" I began bolting back but it was too late... she found it. 

She picked up the drawing and put her glasses on her nose from the chain around her neck giving the page a full investigate with her eyes leaving no inch of it unexamined, at times glancing at me which only made me feel worse. 

"Hummm..." She said, "Not sure I personally admire your new artistic direction." she said, 

"Yes, Uhh..."

"I would certainly not hang it on my wall." She glared,

"No, uhh no course not." 

"But... I can't fault your anatomy."

"yes! Anatomy, it uhh it's simply anatomy practice." 

"Ummm..." She glared, "Anatomy." She said, "Remarkable coincidence it seems to resemble Dr Dawkins."

"uuuuuuuuuuuuughhhhhh yes... funny that... what a coincidence." I blushed,

"So has everything else you've drawn in the last three days." 

"I ughhhhh what can I say? I'm inspired." 

"Should I tell your father of your inspiration regarding Dr Dawkins?"

"No!"

"I didn't think so." she said turning the page to me and confronting me with the drawing, "Is this something that has come from reality, or from fiction?"

"Uhh well..." I gulped,

"Y/n." She warned,

"Fiction," I told her, 

I wasn't lying. Jack and I had not done anything close to this far yet still sharing handholds and kisses in the few times we had seen one another at my balcony since the meeting with my father, she looked at me rather unconvinced but I couldn't blame her, I know In her place, I wouldn't believe me either. 

"If it happened in reality I need to tell your father."

"I swear. just in my mind." 

"Alright." She said setting my drawings down, "You need to... take a walk Miss everset, you've done nothing but stay cooped up in this room for says, and I think you... Hormones may be getting to you. Have your tea we will go for a walk in the gardens." She said, 

"Yes Miss Hardcastle." I nodded, 

She left so I quickly hid my drawings in my bedside drawer with the letters Jack had sent me, and I cleaned up and changed into a pretty dress. 

I met her at the kitchen doors and we went out together for a walk in the gardens, we didn't speak to each other much just passing remarks about flowers and the weather, I suppose it was nice to just get out in the sun for a little while. 

"I take it your excitement for tomorrow evening knows no bounds?"

"It doesn't."

"I'm sure the discussion will be interesting," she said, 

"I do hope so." I smiled,

"Miss Hardcastle," The maid called, so the two headed inside.

I sighed and stayed walking in the gardens for a while until I stumbled upon of course... Our bench. I smiled so widely as I went over and sat down on the stone under the orange tree. I sighed and laid myself down on the bench looking up to the sky through the tree's sweet leaves, "Ummmm My Sweet Jack, How I miss you." I cooed,