Steam

Chapter 16

Pip sat up in his bed wearily and stretched as the morning sunlight tore through the limp curtains. He yawned widely and rubbed his face and head with his hands. Swinging his legs to the side of the bed, he stood and did one final stretch, groaning as he did so. He walked over to the window as his eyes adjusted to the light and looked out. The lawn glittered with the dew left over from the previous night's rain; the sunlight bounced off it making it sparkle like the diamond chandelier in the grand hall. It really was beautiful.

He turned and strode over to the large bowl of water on the chest of drawers on the other side of the room. He looked down in to it to see his sleepy, distorted reflection staring right back up at him. Cupping his hands, he scooped up a handful of water and splashed his face. The cold water seemed to slap him in the face and he was instantly much more alert. He felt blindly for his faithful old towel that was always to the left of the bowl. Once again, it didn't fail him. The familiar soft fibres on his face felt good as he patted his face dry.

Last night he had slung his clothes carelessly over his chair, and he picks them up, silently cursing himself for not folding them nicely. He pulls on his trousers over his lean legs and buttons them up, then his white shirt over his healthy torso. His socks and boots soon followed.

He left his room for the kitchens, though he was not planning on breakfast. He felt like getting straight to work today. As he walked he assumed he'd find Jess, Amy and Rebecca up already. The three always worked together, morning, noon and night. His instinct hadn't failed him. They were stood together by the stove, having a cup of tea before getting to work. They were chatting quietly, but they seemed to hush and look over as Pip entered.

He shrugged it off, assuming it was gossip he wasn't invited to hear.  

"Morning Pip" Jess smiled at him 

"Morning" he yawned in reply 

"Fancy a cuppa?" Amy asked, gesturing towards the still steaming kettle

Pip looked up and politely declined, insisting that he wanted to get straight to work. They eyed him suspiciously, but were soon back to chatting amongst themselves.

He shook his head and grinned, wondering what it was really like to be a girl, and just listen to mindless gossip and giggle all day.

He strode over to the back door and stepped outside, heading for the rose gardens. It was November 4th, and the trees had long lost their amber leaves. The cold air hit Pip, and he breathed in deeply. It was crisp and fresh outsider and his breath was visible before him as he walked. Though the morning sun shone brightly, the air was chilly and Pip began to regret not putting on a jumper.

As he walked, he automatically looked up to Victoria's balcony; as always, it was shut tight. But that didn't surprise him. He knew that November was Victoria's favourite month, and every morning of that month she would take a walk through the rose gardens. By some coincidence, as Pip called it, it was his favourite month too, insisting that it was, simply, coincidence.

He longed to get to work behind the rose bushes so he could just hear her voice again. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had the pleasure to catch her singing and he'd missed it.

Pip subconsciously picked up pace, anxious to hear her again.

He sat himself down on the dry patch behind the biggest rose bush in the whole garden, and waited. The concrete slab was icy beneath him , and his thighs and bum ached with the cold, but he sat patiently nonetheless.

Then he heard the click of her boots on the pavement, followed by the crunch of the gravel, indicating she was near. His stomach tightened with anticipation as he waited for what felt like a lifetime.

*******

Victoria lifted her skirts gently as she stepped carefully down the step to the gravel in the rose gardens. Her cheeks were rosy and bright with the brisk November air and her eyes sparkled with delight. She simply loved November; the scattered golden leaves, the smell of log fires, waiting for the first snow to fall. She rubbed her hands together and continued on. This morning she felt like singing. She loved to sing in the rose gardens as she knew she would never be disturbed. Although a beautiful place, the gardens were often rather lonely. Well, except for Pip. She smiled as she thought about how hard he worked for them. He was adorable and very loyal, as a man should be. She grinned as she knew he was out here this morning, probably waiting for her. For a brief moment, she considered teasing him, not singing for a little while longer. She wasn't that mean, and she was in one of those singing moods.

Breathing in, she began to sing, softly at first. Gradually gaining volume, her voice ringing out through the gardens, filling the air with her beautiful, sweet sound..

*******

He let out a deep sigh as soon as he heard the first heart-melting note she sang. Pip leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, letting her music overpower him. The notes filled his ears and his heart as he sat in pure bliss.

It was short lived however as she stopped abruptly. Pip's eyes sprang open in surprise. She never usually stops so suddenly, he thought, usually there's a beautiful final note.. Suddenly alarmed, he carefully peeped around the bush to see what had caused her to stop. She had turned to face a rather flushed looking Thomas. What was he doing out here?  

Pip shifted himself to a comfortable, yet concealed area where he could easily see and hear what exactly was going on.

"Thomas, what are you doing out here?!"  

"My d-dearest Vict-toria... I.." He stammered, struggling to get his words out 

"Darling, just take a breath. Take it slow there's no point in rushing whatever it is you want to tell me!"

Thomas took off his hat and dabbed at his forehead with his handkerchief, despite the chilly weather. He looked rather worked up, and definitely exhausted, as though he had not slept a wink all night. He took a deep breath and began again.

"My dearest Victoria... I have been up all night, thinking. Thinking about something very, very important..."

Pausing to see her reaction so far, he was momentarily distracted by her beautiful, earnest eyes staring back, urging him to continue.

"I have finally come to a point where my feelings may no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you the extents that I am prepared to go to, to win your heart. I can not bare to imagine a life without you; the thought of losing you destroys my very soul. I admire you in such a way that, in spite of all my endeavours, I have found it impossible to conquer. I now simply ask that, I would be rewarded with what I regard the greatest gift anyone could bestow upon me. Victoria Crowley, would you be so gracious as to accept my hand in marriage?"

Her hand in his was trembling and for a moment he felt as though she was about to collapse. Looking up he saw tear brimmed eyes, an open mouth and a deep breathing chest.

Panicked, he pulled from his waistcoat a large brown envelope and thrust it in to her hands and hurried away, petrified he had blown it.

Victoria looked down at the now slightly crumpled envelope in her arms. She hoped with all her heart that he was not withdrawing his request of her hand. She clutched the envelope to her chest, sighing deeply as a huge smile formed on her lips.

He loved her. He really, truly loved her!

Behind the rose bush, Pip sat back up. Thomas had asked for her hand. Realisation bit down hard on his heart. He knew it was coming, sooner or later, he had just always hoped somehow that she'd never marry him, not because he didn't think he deserved her, or because he wasn't right for her, or because he didn't respect him. But because he loved her. He knew it was coming, he just didn't think it would hurt as much as this.

He once more slumped his back against the icy wall. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, as silent tears rolled down his cheeks.