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Chapter 48 - Confessions

Something was different about him...it was very easy to tell. His eyes weren't shielded, his smile wasn't guarded and the way he spoke was so resolute, so confident. He wanted to talk, finally talk. I felt my mouth grow dry and shivered a little in the cold. Only now did I despair of not heeding Coppersmith's many warnings of being properly dressed for cold weather. I was turning into an icicle quite quickly.

He watched me and started taking off his jacket. "My manners seem to have fled out the window, my apologies." he spoke then as he draped the jacket over my shoulders. He pulled the lapels together as I looked up at him with a nervous smile. "Better?" his breath came out visibly and I nodded.

"Quite, but I don't want you to freeze."

"Don't worry about me." He let go of the fabric and took my hand. "The cold doesn't appear to affect me as much as others."

We quietly rounded the hedge, and I wondered if I should start. "So er, L...I-"

"No no." He stopped me as we edged around the side of the past the bright windows looking into the lively festivities. "Let's get where we're going first."

"All right then." I answered and wrapped the jacket closer to my body with my other hand. The hem of my gown dragged across the dying grass, but I could neither help it nor find reason to care.

I was surprised when we didn't turn off to reenter the house and instead continued toward the front drive.

I couldn't be silent much longer. "Are we leaving?" I remarked as he directed me toward the parked cars.

"Just for a little while." He smiled shyly and pulled a set of keys out of his back pocket. "Perhaps I shall escort you for once."

I bit back a grin at his spontaneity. "But where exactly? It's getting on a bit in the evening you know."

"That's not a problem, some places never close."

"So full of surprises tonight." I commented as I waited for him to unlock the passenger door. "Shall I sit up front with you?"

"Have you ever ridden up front with Peter?" he inquired as he opened the door. "I thought you wanted to be chauffeured."

I settled into the passenger seat, arranging my skirts as I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Not enough to sit in the back all alone. I've ridden up front with Peter several times. Lastly when I went to the Savoy to find you. We were good company for each other then."

L closed the door, and then passed in front of the car to reach the driver's side. As I watched him round to the driver's side, I had to remember to remain somewhat calm. He slipped inside and fastened his seat belt. "Well then, you're very welcome. I didn't care to ride up here alone either."

"Then we're both happy." I decided, snapping my own belt as he turned the key in the ignition to bring the behemoth of a car to life.

Sure as anything, loud music poured from the speakers abruptly. The pair of us nearly jumped out of our seats.

"Children behave

That's what they say when we're together

And watch how you play

If they ever knew, and now we're

Runnin just as fast as we can, holdin on to one another's hand.

Tryin' to get away to the night, and then you put your arms around me as we tumble to the ground and then you say—"