A Chance at Greatness

The Meeting

"Aunt Ethel" I call passing her rooms.

"Yes dear" her frail voice replied.

"I'm off out now Auntie, I'm meeting Miss Rollins, I shall be back in time for dinner though" I informed my aunt, she just nodded her head and continued on with her knitting. Sighing I turn and leave, I doubt she knows when I am at home anyways.

Outside I take a deep breath of fresh autumn air to clear my head of all the worries my family cause me, then set off toward the park to meet Darcy. As I go through the wrought Iron gates of High Park the clouds overhead break, I am bathed in warm sunlight,closing my eyes for a moment I soak it all in. Until I hear a melodious laugh and look around to see Darcy heading my way, her golden waves caught up in the slight breeze, she is a true brightness to a day that forecasted dreariness. 

"Bethany" she calls out to me louder than she should have, for a few passer-by's heads turned in our direction including that of the stone faced Mrs Coombe the chaperone that Darcy's antiquated Grandfather insists she have.

Darcy collides with me her arms flung around my neck in greeting, smiling widely.

"Darcy" I reply and can't help but smile at her.

"Oh Bethany, isn't it just the most glorious of days, I could stay out here all day if I were permitted." She gives a sideways glance at Mrs Coombe; I glance over as well to see her to see her staring at us in her disapproving manner. "Alas we shall have to cut our outing short today." Her smile fading a bit, only to reappear when she says "Unless you would like to come with me, Oh please say you will, in fact I shall insist upon it."

I laugh "Well then if you are to be insistent then I have no choice in the matter I must join you, a question first, pray tell where are we going?"

Darcy's starts to redden then she laughs too "Oh how silly of me did I no say?"

"No, you got rather caught up in insisting I come too"

"My brother Henry is arriving today on the eleven o'clock train. He's been away at Fort George in Scotland he joined the military two years ago and grandfather has been thoroughly vexed with him ever since and has not allowed him to come home until now. I have missed him very much." Darcy says happily, everything Darcy says or does is imbued with so much optimism, at time I find it hard to keep up with her level of goodness.

Just before eleven we leave the park and hail a taxi to take us to the station. Upon arrival Darcy and I head toward platform three; Mrs Coombe most generously decided to hold the taxi for us. Darcy is scanning the crowded platform when she suddenly squealed and ran toward a man I'm hoping is her brother. I can only see the back of him from where I'm standing he is a man of medium height with sandy blonde hair that sat in waves upon his head, not unlike his sister but lacking Darcy's golden hues, then he turned and they started to walk toward me that I noticed his eyes, the blueish grey of the sea after a storm hypnotic whirlpools drawing me in deeper and deeper, until I noticed they'd reached me and I was just standing there staring at this complete stranger. feeling quite ridiculous I quickly try to compose myself.

"Bethany, it is my pleasure to introduce to you my brother Lance Corporal Henry Rollins." The pride emanating from her is unmistakable.

I hear Darcy introduce her brother to me; does she not feel the awkwardness in the air? Or am I overreacting? Yes I'll go with that. I look up and those enchanting eyes are fixed on me.

"Lance Corporal Rollins it is truly a pleasure to meet you, Darcy always speaks very highly of you." I manage to say with a gentle incline of my head.

"Henry, I would like to introduce to you my dearest friend, Miss Bethany Sommerville."

"Miss Sommerville, the pleasure I assure you is all mine." He takes my hand and places a kiss on the back. He then looks up at me through his incredible long eyelashes and smiles, I think I might swoon.

"And please call me Henry"

"Bethany." I say quietly unable to say anything else but I can see that he understands. I look into his eyes and smile softly at him and that makes his smile beautifully blinding. I happily lose myself in it.