No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 17- The Night We Met

"Hosea" Arthur greets the man sitting by himself outside the manor.
"Hey Arthur.." Hosea replies, as Dutch storms out of the manor laughing.
"Come on, if we are going to make it to this party. We sure, better clean up a little" Dutch yells walking over to the pair.
"So we are doing this?" Arthur questions.
"Oh yeah, Old friend Dutch Van Der Linde. Has finally shown his true colours, social climbing" Hosea says a small grin appears on his face.
"Old Signor Bronte, that horrendous snake has invited us to the ball, Cinderella. So my suggestion is we go and get you a gown" Dutch smiles raising his hand in the air.
"You son of a bitch" Arthur mumbles, he never likes social events especially when you had to be social.
"Oh, go and get Claudia, I have spoken to her this morning she is tagging along with us" Hosea yells from across camp to Arthur with a wild smile. Arthur gives him daggers as he doesn't want Dutch to know. Arthur finally makes his move towards the manor after thinking what to say to her, repeating it in his head. He knocks on the door to his room, where she was sleeping while she recover. Last night he took Javier's bedroll as he was on guard duty while she slept comfortably in his bed.
"Come in" Claudia answers, Arthur swings open the door to see her sitting on his bed using his mirror so she could apply lipstick on. "Arthur".
Claudia sits there in her pale blue dress, bringing out her eyes. Her hair pinned up into a bun.
"Dutch wanted me to tell you that we are leaving soon to go to that ball uh.. event, thing, whatever it's called" He stutters not knowing what to call it. She giggles putting the mirror down.
"Oh, Arthur whatever shall I do with you" She laughs getting up slowly wincing in pain. He quickly reaches his hand out to her for support, which she accepts. "Such a gentleman."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Arthur asks with concern in his eyes.
"I'll be fine hopefully there will be drinks there and no fighting" She smiles letting go his hand as she walks out of the room.

The sound of all of them laughing as they travel in the carriage to go to the garden party. Arthur and Claudia sat on one side as Hosea and Dutch on the other.
"We are ridiculous" Dutch says.
"Utterly" Hosea adds coughing through his laughs.
"I ain't never been to a ball in my life" Arthur says leaning down as he laughs. Dutch brings out a bottle of champagne and pops it for everyone.
"Nor have I, if I am being honest" Dutch agrees pouring the champagne into different glasses.
"I used to quite often, there could be fine pickings" Hosea mentions.
Dutch stops what he's doing and looks up to all of us "Oh no, no, no, no, no pickpocketing. We are here to make real contract."
"What kind of contracts?" Claudia asks waving her fan at her face back and forth.
"Well I don't know, we'll find what we can.." Dutch replies answering Claudia's question "All I know for sure is we are going to a party at the mayor's house and the guest of honour is the worst crook in town. I'm sure we will find something."
They all burst out laughing again, Claudia hiding her laughs behind her fan. The carriage pulls to a stop as they reach the mayors house. The 3 men walk out, Arthur waiting holding his hand out again to help her down. She smiles accepting for the 2nd time today.
"Gentleman and ma'am" The man standing by the entrance holding the sheet of invitations in his hand. Dutch gives him the invitation as he checks the list, "I'm afraid the mayor does not allow guns at official functions, after last year's incident."
The boys unload their guns from their holsters and give them in. Claudia didn't have any on her except from the knife tucked in the back of her dress, hidden away.
"Luca here will take you to mister Bronte, I believe he is expecting you" The man says taking the guns and placing them into a box.
"Follow me gentleman and ma'am" Luca says as the boy tap the other man on the shoulder. Claudia just nods her head at him as Arthur does the same behind her.
"This way please, gentleman. Signor Bronte will be so pleased that you made it."
"We are honoured to be here" Dutch says trying to look the part.
"That's wonderful, wonderful. Come, come, this way.." Luca responds leading them through the doors of the manor, "what a beautiful evening it shall be, Mr Bronte is very good friends with the mayor."
Arthur and Claudia trail behind them not bothering what the man is babbling on about.
"Hosea, Claudia you join the party, we will meet you out back after we pay our respects to Signor Bronte" Dutch says following Luca up the stairs to Bronte. Claudia nods leaving with Hosea, "Miss Jenkins" Hosea says holding his arm out for her.
"Why, thank you Mr Matthews" She smiles interlocking her arm into his.
"Don't get into trouble here, just keep calm. I'll stay up here, why don't you mingle and find some leads" Hosea says as they walk outside to find a gathering of rich people talking, drinking, laughing.
"Don't you worry about me Hosea" She assures him leaving him. She walks down the steps towards the garden.
"Ma'am would you like a glass" A man dressed in all white offers her a glass of champagne.
"Well, thank you" She politely thanks taking a glass off his tray. She scans the garden seeing people in groups talking, music being played by a band, people dancing in the middle. She walks across the tiled floor seeing a bench next to tall plants. She sits down sipping on her drink, she never liked social gatherings. Too many people.
"Ma'am may I?" A young man, maybe in his late twenties or early thirties points to sit next to her on the bench. His blonde curly hair, bright blue eyes catches her attention.
"Of course, don't mind me" She moves her dress in as it was covering half of the bench.
"I'm Jesse Cooper, are you enjoying the party?" He introduces himself smiling at Claudia.
"Well Mr Cooper, this party is quite something, you could say" Claudia replies back placing her hands in her lap.
"I never liked these things, would rather be at home with a book in my hand" He laughs as he puts one leg over another.
"Same, they are the most boring things ever" Her face beams knowing someone agrees with her. They both laugh at their agreement. The band at the back of the garden start to play a slow songs as couples start to go and dance.
"Miss... I'm sorry I didn't get your name" Jesse gets up from the bench and holds his hand out for her, just like Arthur did before.
"Elenor Jenkins.." She stands up using her mother's name once again. She takes his hand as they walk to the dance floor, "I'm hardly a dancer, Mr Cooper."
"Call me Jesse please, I can't dance neither. So you won't look like the only idiot" He smiles as he places his hand on her waist. She laughs not very lady like, making him laugh. She puts her hand on his shoulder and moves her feet with the rhythm.
"See not to bad.." Jesse says, his eyes staring at Claudia's beauty. Her eyes matching the colour of her dress, "might I say, that dress brings out your eyes."
Claudia blushes hearing the compliment, she smiles.
"Well thank you, such a kind gentleman" She says calling him the same thing she called Arthur.
"So where are you from?" He asks holding her hand as he twirls her around. Her chest touching his chest.
"Well I'm originally from a town just near New Austin but I've been travelling from there to there" She looks up at him, his body hovering over her.
"Well, would you like to come to a poker tournament on the Grand Korrigan riverboat at the docks in this city?" Jesse offers as they both follow each other footsteps to not mess up.
Claudia smiles at the invitation and the thought of telling Dutch about a new lead, "Well I would love to, is it okay if I could bring some friends. They love Poker."
"Yes, I will meet you by the Docks to get you in. My father is friendly with many rich idiots around here" Jesse says as the music dies down. They both walk off to the side, Jesse takes two glasses off a servent's tray and passes one to her.
"Thank you" She takes the glass of him, a grin creeping on her face.
"Claudia" A man behind them says, with a familiar voice. She turns around to see Dutch.
"Oh Jesse, this is my Father" She introduces Dutch to the Jesse.
"Aiden O'Malley" Dutch lies reaching his hand out.
"Pleasure to meet you, Jesse Cooper Sir.." He shakes Dutch's hand firmly, Dutch smiles nodding his head "you have a very beautiful daughter Sir." Claudia's cheeks blush as Jesse compliments her once again.
"Well thank you, Son. You could say the good looks come from her Mother" Dutch smiles looking at Claudia. She smiles back at him knowing that he still thinks about her.
"I was just telling Miss Jenkins here about a Poker Tournament. I have invited your daughter and you can join if you would like?" Jesse asks taking a sip from his glass of champagne.
"Well I would have to check my calendar boy but I will accept your invitation. Thank you.." Dutch accepts, seeing Arthur standing by himself as the fireworks go off, "Well I better leave you two to it, It was a pleasure meeting you Mr Cooper."
Everyone looks at the fireworks in awe as they brighten the sky with different colours.
"Would you like to go somewhere quiet, maybe more private?" Jesse whispers into Claudia's ear.
"Take the lead Sir" She whispers back to him, she looks around seeing Arthur following a man in white. Dutch must of made him do some work. Jesse grabs her hand tight not thinking of letting it go as they manoeuvre through the crowd. Claudia doesn't stop laughing as they run up the stairs into the house, her heals clicking on the floor. They sneak up the grand stairs at the front of the manor trying not to get caught. 
"Hold on, let me.." Claudia whispers slipping off her heals so they don't make any more sound. As she finished they walk up to a guest bedroom, he pokes his head in checking nobodies inside.
"Go in quick" He hurries her inside closing the door behind him locking it so they won't be caught. Usually Claudia would never do this with a man she just met but Jesse felt different to the ones before. She smiles at him as she sits on the bed, knowing she finally met someone like her.
"So we can finally talk in peace" He laughs  throwing himself on the bed, sitting next to her.
"Did you really want to talk Mister Cooper? Or do you want a bit of fun" She snarls taking the clip out of her hair, her long dark hair drops behind her. Jesse smiles knowing what will come next.
"Well we could do both" He suggests with a wicked grin twitching on his face.  Claudia's leans forward to him moving his curls out of the way. He presses his lips up against her cheek, she slightly moves her face to him as their lips connect. The taste of cigarettes and champagne combine as they kiss, he places his hand on her thigh reaching her undergarments. They both freeze hearing the sound of a door opening nearby.
"You sure about this?" Jesse asks keeping his body close to hers.
"Yes of course" She says as she unties his dicky bow and his shirt. He pull her dress up and pulls down her briefs, he smiles still keeping his lips warm against hers. Claudia never felt anything like it, she has done this before but with old men in the saloon for money. She finally felt loved.

Arthur and Dutch finish meeting Bronte up on the Balcony and see Hosea leaning up against railing outside. "Gentlemen... let's go ingratiate ourselves" Dutch says peering over the railing above the party.
"Okay" Arthur responds nodding his head, searching the garden for Claudia.
"Go and find the mayor if you can, and stay outta trouble. And steal nothing, unless it's information" Dutch orders, Arthur walks down the stairs.
"Oh and where's Claudia?" Arthur turns and shout up to them above.
"She's having fun dancing" Hosea answer back with a grin on his face. He knows that this will make Arthur angry, not just angry but annoyed.
Arthur scans the garden and see her with a smile on her face dancing with a man. He huffs taking champagne off the servent's tray, downing it all at once. He searches the party looking for the mayor while keeping his eye on Claudia as she talks to that man and Dutch. A man dressed in all white ushers over to the mayor.
"Messieurs, please.." He drags the mayor over in a hushed voice, "Mr. Cornwall was quite insistent, I'm afraid. He shouted down the telephone for several minutes."
"Mr Cornwall is a horse's ass and a bad horse" The mayor hisses. The two of them keep their voices quiet but loud enough for Arthur to hear. Dutch strolls over to Arthur after hearing the name 'Cornwall'.
"Did he just say something about Cornwall?" Dutch queries leaning his head into Arthur's from behind.
"Yes" Arthur replies looking at the servent who just talked to the mayor rush off.
"Find out what" Dutch orders walking away to watch the fire works.
"Sure" Arthur huffs walking in the servent's footsteps keeping quiet.

He reaches the stop of the stairs as the man all in white rummages through a desk in the office. Arthur creeps in after he leaves searching the draws, he uses a screw driver to unlock it.
"Mr. Leviticus Cornwall" He mumbles to himself.
"Top secret.."He says but stops as he hears giggles from the room next door. Giggles that he knew, Claudia's giggles. Arthur smile fades knowing what's happening.  He storms back outside seeing Dutch standing by the railing with a cigar in his hand.
"Find anything?" Dutch asks placing the cigar in between his lips.
"I think so" Arthur sternly hisses tapping his waistcoat pocket. Hosea walks up to them.
"Gentleman, I think we're done here" Hosea says rubbing his hand together.
"Where's Claudia?" Dutch asks looking around, Arthur keeps quiet not knowing what to say. Then he hears those giggles again, right in front of him. Claudia enters the garden standing by the man she was with.
"I'll see you soon, Mister Cooper" She smiles nodding her head at him.
"Of Course, Miss Jenkins" He takes her hand and plants a kiss on it. Arthur turns his head away as the sight making him feel sick. Claudia says goodbye and strolls over to the three men.
"Are we ready boys?" She asks, wiping the smudge of lipstick on her cheek. They all nod trailing behind Claudia. The men get their guns back as Lenny drives the coach up to them. Claudia gets on first lifting her dress up not for it to get dirty.
"Here's them papers I took" Arthur takes out the papers from his pocket and passes them to Dutch. Claudia wonders why Arthur didn't sit himself next to her.
"Anybody see you take this?" Claudia warns him smiling.
"I don't think so" Arthur snaps back, Hosea raises his head noticing the tension. Claudia furrows her eyebrows as he snaps back at her, "What did you find then, a new husband."
Claudia shakes her head, "No I didn't, I found us a poker tournament that we could rob."
"What was his name?" Arthur smirks taking out a cigarette lighting it. Hosea and Dutch just sit there listening.
"His name was Jesse Cooper" She answer back not looking at Arthur.
"The one that was making you giggle upstairs.." Arthur yells, Claudia turns her head at him.
"What is your problem Arthur? What is your problem?.." She huffs, "You don't have to know everything and yes he was the one making me laugh in that room because we were fucking. Is that the answer you want!".
"Alright, calm down. Arthur shut up you've been drinking" Hosea calmly says giving daggers at the both of them.
"You're telling me to calm down, she was the one falling in love while we were supposed to be working" Arthur points his hand to her, making Claudia more annoyed at him.
"Lenny stop this bloody coach" Claudia yells, Lenny stops it listening to the angry women. She opens the door storming out.
"Claudia love, where are you going?" Hosea calls out as he pokes his head out.
"Somewhere away from that bastard, I can't stand sitting there listening to him" She yells back holding her dress up from the mud by the swamps.
"It's dark and not safe out here" Hosea says trying to persuade her to get back in. Claudia ignores him walking along the path, after a while Lenny goes past her with the coach. Tears fall down her cheek staining her dress. She regrets doing it knowing how far camp actually is when you don't have a horse. She turns around and starts heading back into the city of Saint Denis, hoping to see a nearby saloon away from Arthur.

A/n
This is actually the longest chapter I have ever did it's like 3000 words long so I hope you like it.