Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 28

I giggled like a school girl getting into my sweet floral dress for today's courting date, of course, Jack had to agree on it all with my father when he came, he couldn't just turn up at my window and ask me out for the afternoon even if we both wished it could be so simple, but he came and asked my father for permission which he granted so I washed up and got into my dress scampering down the stairs to meet him at the door.

"Good Afternoon Doctor Dawkins,"

"Good Afternoon Miss Everset." 

We both smiled like children excited for what was in all fairness, especially an adult playdate, Given Miss Hardcastle had to chaperone is as my father was busy with work.  She wasn't thrilled, we weren't thrilled but such are the rules. 

"Shall we go then?"

"Yes of course," I smiled as I let him take my arm but immediately before our hands even touched through my cotton gloves Miss Hardcastle slapped the back of my hand as a stern reminder so I didn't take his hand even if I wanted to. 

But he led me out to the gardens and we took a leisurely stroll in the sunshine using my parasol to protect him too from the intense sun, as we chatted doing our best not to talk about anything too secret as Miss Hardcastle followed along behind us listening and watching us like a hawk. 

"Miss Hardcastle you're welcome to go in and return to your book I assure you all will be proper and above board," I told her trying to convince her to go away and leave Jack and me alone for a while, 

"Ummm I'm sure you'd like that wouldn't you." She playfully glared, "If your father found out I left a courting couple alone there would be anarchy. Sorry though it may be for all of us, it must be done."

"You're really going to follow us around for six months?"

"It appears I am," 

"Please, get ten minutes," I begged, 

She rolled her eyes, "Ten minutes not a second more I will meet you both at the kitchen door." 

"Thank you!" I smiled Jack happily grabbed my hand and yanked me off with him into the gardens finding our bench and sitting down using my parasol as a cover to sit and chat, even exchanging a few sweet kisses, we talked about his work, my little hobbies here, about books and business as courting couples, do now with the threat of discovery gone our hands intertwined our lips often shared kisses, and our words could be more of what we wished them to be "Ohh Jack I wish this is how our courtship could be."

"I do too, I suppose we just have to savour the sweet moments we are alone together,"

"I shall, I will hold these moments so tightly Jack," I cooed, "come on if we don't go she'll come looking for us."

"Of course," he nodded giving my lips a sweet kiss, but eventually we pulled back and started on our walk back to the kitchen door to meet Miss Hardcastle, 

"Do you think once we're engaged they'll let up a bit?"

"I hope so, but that's six months away Jack,"

"Ummm don't remind me,"

"Oh?"

"Six months is a long time, being chaperoned and watched," He said putting his hands on my waist and turning me to him as we stood beside the pound, "without being able to kiss you, and hold your hand, and hold you close to me, without being able to... touch you."

"There is always the window,"

"True, but how many times a week can I come sneaking in your window before someone notices, and we have to be quiet in case someone hears us," he explained, "and I'll be honest darling... that's a tall tree I wish I had the strength to climb it every day but let's face it a long day at the hospital and as much as I want to see you my arms aren't going to be able to climb that tree."

"I know... Perhaps I can sneak out some nights,"

"You can't darling, your father or Miss Hardcastle comes to check on us I can hide If I'm there, if you are missing we'll surely be discovered. As much as I would adore to have my darling cuddled up to warm my bed waiting for me to get back from work, we cannot take the risk."

I sighed, "Well as you said we shall just have to savour our time alone together."

"We do, all although I wish these six months could pass in an instant so we could kiss and cuddle without the rules."

"I'm sure when we look back at this time after our engagement we will wonder how we ever waited."

"I know we will." He cooed, "That doesn't stop me from wishing it was now,"

"It doesn't, I wish it was too."

"One final kiss for today before we have to go back to being... propper.?"

"Well, how can I say no?" I smiled giving his lips a soft sweet kiss which he happily returned, we held this kiss for as long as we could never wanting this moment to end, I held his shirt softly and he pulled my waist closer as our kisses got deeper and deeper I began to feel weightless and we both wanted to get closer and closer until suddenly we fell into the pound,

I squealed feeling the ice-cold water, moss and lilypads all over me.

"Ohh fuck sorry y/n!" Jack quickly said as he tried helping me up from the water given my dress immediately became heavy with the water's weight seeing he too was covered in water, moss across his clothes and hair, 

"It's alright not your fault Jack," I said quickly getting to my feet with his help but as I saw him I couldn't help but laugh at him, "You look ridiculous!"

"I have to say you don't look much better," He laughed, "Ohh lily pad in your hair," he chuckled picking it out for me,

"Thank you" I smiled giving him a sweet kiss but I picked up a pile of slimy moss as we kissed and threw it at his face,

"Ahh! Ohh you're gonna get it now darling!" He smirked grabbing some mud from the bottom of the pound,

"Jack...Jack don't-" I pleaded but he threw it onto my chest making me scream "JACK!"

"yes! Right on target!"

"Ughh you can't throw mud at a lady!" I yelled grabbing some allege and slapping him across the face with it 

"You started it!" He laughed, grabbing water in his hands and pouring it down my dress

"Ahhhh Jack!" I whined, 

as this soon turned into an all-out mud, moss, and water fight anything we could get our hands on we laughed and threw at one,

"Okay. Okay. I subseed. I surrender my darling. you win." he said putting his hands up to surrender,

"Alright, you promise no more."

"I promise no more."

"I don't know if i trust you."

"I'm gonna be your husband and you can't trust I'm not going to throw a Lilly pad at you?" 

"No,"

"I promise,"

"Good I promise too,"

"Perfect," he smiled giving my lips a sweet kiss, "Now come on let's head back or we will be in trouble." he chuckled and climbed out before he helped me out too and we strolled through the garden dropping water and mud as we went before arriving back to the kitchen door where Miss hardcastle stood waiting angrily given we were very very late and of course, she looked at our states both soaked in water, mud and god knows what from the pound.

"I swear... there is a good explanation for this." I told her,