How Things Began (19/23)
Title: How Things Began (19/23)
Rating: M
Author: jlrpuck
Pairing: Ruby Quarles, Elias McCoy
Disclaimer: The characters contained in this story are the products of my imagination; as such, I retain all right to and ownership of them.
Summary: Welcome to the story of how Elias McCoy and Ruby Quarles met, and grew to became the characters we know.
Notes: I’m back home, and will be posting at the usual time for the remainder of the story. Welllll, barring any further snowstorms-leading-to-work-being-closed issues.
Thank you to
ginamak for acting as a sympathetic listener and excellent sounding board as I frantically penned this tale (and for enabling my Elias McCoy love), and for providing the first crack at beta of it when it was done. Huge thanks, as well, to
earlgreytea68 and
chicklet73 for their beta work, especially given how utterly insane their lives have been these past months.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19
Elias and Ruby had dinner in their room that evening, a simple meal presented on a rolling cart covered by a brilliant white tablecloth, served on shining china with glittering silver. The dichotomy of the lavish place setting with the humble fare made both of them giggle for much of the meal, and the plentiful wine they drank as they ate only added to the giddiness.
The remainder of the evening was spent cuddled together before the fireplace, their gentle laughter turning instead to caresses and whispered words, both of them content to simply relax together before the flickering light of the flames. At some point Ruby dozed off, wrapped in Elias’s embrace; he roused her, guiding her to their bed, helping her to undress before she slid between the sheets. He joined her a few moments later, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her against him, his hand stroking her arm in the soothing motion she most loved to fall asleep to.
Ruby was first awake the next morning, the weak light trying-and somewhat failing-to penetrate the cavernous room. Elias had left the curtains open, and she was able to see that it was still snowing outside, the world painted in shades of white and grey and purple. Elias remained asleep, his jaw slack, his arm tucked under his pillow as he lay on his side. His expression lacked its usual mischief when he was asleep, oddly making him appear somewhat older-an effect only enhanced by the dark stubble lining his cheeks and jaw. He’d be asleep for a long while yet, she was sure.
She placed a soft kiss on his cheek then slid out of bed, making sure not to disturb his cocoon of duvet. He remained blissfully unaware of what was going on around him, and Ruby laughed gently before looking around for something warm to pull on. The room was chilly, in spite of the radiators under the windows; she’d have to get the fire back up, she suspected, in order to make the room truly cosy once more. A bathrobe was hanging in the closet, and she pulled it on before making her way to the fireplace, her feet sinking into the plush carpet covering the wood floor.
Elias had banked the fire down before going to bed, laying the poker and shovel neatly before the screen in his precise way. She smiled, shaking her head, before using the poker to stab at the cinders. A few coals glowed red, springing to life with the fresh air; she selected a few of the small strips of log in the pile near the hearth, and gently placed them atop the embers. With luck, they’d catch soon enough, and the room would warm up to a more reasonable temperature.
She had time for a shower, to get dressed, and to have tea and porridge delivered to the room before Elias finally began to stir, rolling onto his back in the ridiculously large bed. He let out a soft sigh, a sign he was coming awake; she took it as her cue to prepare a cup of tea for him, quietly carrying it over to his side of the bed and setting it on the nightstand. He, hearing movement, opened his eyes, blinking a few times before looking over to where she stood.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Mmph.” He reached for her, his eyes closing as he found her hand and tugged her toward the bed.
“I have tea for you,” she sing-songed, giving in enough to sit on the edge of the mattress.
Elias cracked one eye, then the other, his gaze focusing on her as he weighed whether he wanted his tea or her in bed with him more. She chuckled, leaning down to kiss him before reaching for the cuppa.
“How long have ye been awake?” he asked as he pushed himself to sit up, his voice gravelly.
“A while. There’s porridge over there, too, if you’d like.”
He took the tea, taking a tentative sniff of the cup before downing a long swig of the hot beverage. His eyes immediately brightened, and he took another sip.
“Or I could bring the teapot over,” she added with a smile.
“Both?” he asked hopefully.
“You’ll get spoiled.”
“Please?” He gave her a plaintive look, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
She shook her head, once again laughing, and stood. “Right. Don’t expect this all of the time.”
“I know better than to think you’d be up before me on a normal day,” he replied impishly.
“Smart man.” She lifted the lid off the pot of porridge, sending steam coiling lazily up into the room. She spooned some into a bowl for Elias, adding a dash of honey to it for him, then reached for the teapot. “Alright, here you are.” She carried the dishes back to the nightstand, setting them delicately on the small bit of open surface before moving away.
“You’re not joining me?”
“I should be asking you that.”
“I’m the one naked in bed.”
“But it’s easier to eat together over here.” She reached for her own bowl, ladling a generous bit of porridge into it. She frowned as she realised she’d have to go back for the teapot; if she went to the bed Elias would be sure to drag her into it, winning their battle. She wouldn’t mind, but it was the principle of the thing.
She’d do without tea for a bit, to lure him out of bed.
The fire was back to dancing in the grate and she took the time to add another log to it before moving to the couch, pulling her porridge to her. She pretended to ignore Elias as she took her first taste, taking care to lick the spoon clean before letting out a little sigh of appreciation. And she fought to keep from grinning in triumph as she heard movement behind her, the sound of Elias tossing the covers back then sliding out of bed, the clink of silver against china as he picked up his own breakfast and moved to join her.
He was still stark naked as he joined her on the sofa, giving her a small smirk as he noted her eyes roving across his body before he sat. He settled the teacup on the small table, then turned his attention to his own breakfast. They teased each other as they ate, each of them being thorough in cleaning their spoons with each bite, sneaking glances at each other to see who’d give in first. The room grew warmer as breakfast passed, and Ruby finally had to shed her jumper before finishing her porridge.
She stood, setting the bowl down before walking over to reclaim the teapot; Elias pretended not to watch her, his head remaining still as his eyes followed her path to and from the nightstand. His bowl was almost empty, she noted; she set the teapot on the table, making sure it was back from the edge, then turned to her husband. He was plainly watching her now, his eyes almost black as she took the bowl from his hands, as she set it on the floor while kneeling before him. And his eyes grew wide as she then leaned forward, taking him into her mouth without preamble, her hand stroking his rapidly hardening cock as she gently sucked.
Elias’s hands drifted to her hair as she brought him to orgasm, his fingers clenching as he arched against her, his entire body quivering. He relaxed with a sigh once he was spent, his hands now shifting to caress her hair, then her cheek as she released him.
“One of the better breakfasts I’ve ever had,” he murmured, his cheeks still flushed as she looked up at him.
“I enjoyed it, too.” She placed a kiss against his soft flesh, then moved to join him on the couch. Her hand found his, their fingers intertwining, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. “Could do with a bit of a nap, though.”
“Did ye nae sleep well?” Elias murmured against the crown of her head.
“I slept very well. Just sleepy today-it’s the snow, I think.”
“Hmm.” His thumb stroked against her skin, the repetitive motion soothing. She started to doze, her arm now draped across Elias’s chest, the steady rise and fall of it lulling her as she relaxed against him.
She fell asleep like that, and awoke some time later to find she was stretched on the couch, a blanket covering her legs and chest. She groggily sat up, confused by the absence of Elias. The dishes were gone from the table, her neatly folded jumper replacing them, and the fire was low in the grate. It had stopped snowing, she noted as she glanced around, the world outside now showing hints of blue sky above the snowy white of the earth.
As she came awake she finally became aware of the sound of water running, and of snatches of singing coming from behind the closed door of the loo. She couldn’t have been asleep for too long, then, if Elias was just getting showered, and she felt a bit of relief at the thought. It was nice to simply laze the day away, true, but she didn’t want to waste the entirety of their week together by sleeping.
She’d pulled on her jumper and was standing before the windows once Elias emerged into the room, the gentle scent of spicy soap wafting out after him on a cloud of steam. His towel was slung low on his hips, his hair was still standing a bit on end from where he’d towel-dried it; his face split into a wide smile as he noticed her awake, and he practically danced over to join her at the window.
“Ready for a day of exploring?” He bounced on the balls of his feet as he stopped next to her.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Today? Just seeing what’s about. The gentleman who collected our dishes mentioned it’s supposed to stay fine the rest of the day, which makes it perfect for going out.”
“What’s around here?”
“There’s rather a fine loch, you might have noticed.” He winked, then continued, “And a good bit of forest. The village is a bit too much of a walk in this weather.”
“Are you going to lure me out into the wilderness only to take advantage of me?”
“As if I’d do such a thing!” He pretended to be shocked by the idea.
She laughed. “Do I need to inquire about Wellies?”
“Maybe. I did think to bring our hiking boots, when I packed for the trip.”
“Where’d you hide them?” She’d packed her own suitcase, using the rough guidelines Elias had given her, but she’d looked carefully at his own luggage to try to work out where he’d planned to take her before they left London. She’d not noticed seeing a pair of boots for either of them.
“In a spare bag in the car. Bruce snuck them in for me.”
“Clever man.”
“I know.” He grinned. “Let me just get dressed. If you ring down, they’ll prepare a thermos and some sarnies for us.” He kissed her nose, then scampered off before she could jerk the towel from his hips.
They were outside a half-hour later, the sharp cold pricking at her cheeks and nose as they crunched along one of the paths leading away from the main house. Elias had a bag containing their lunch slung over his shoulder, while she had the straps of the blanket roll clutched in her free hand; between them swung their joined hands, moving in time to their matched strides.
“Gorgeous day,” Elias breathed as he looked up, taking in the brilliantly blue sky arching above.
“It is. Bit brisk, though.”
He laughed, his breath curling white before dissipating around them. “Winter in Scotland.” He’d taken to speaking exclusively in his brogue once they were in Scotland, and he rolled his r with relish, grinning over at her.
“You love it.”
“I do. I miss it, down in rainy London.”
“Would you want to move back?”
“Perhaps, some day. London has too many charms for me to give her up entirely.” He continued to gaze at her. “Would you want to? Move up here?”
“I don’t know about here, necessarily.”
“But in general?” His smile had faded, his gaze intensifying.
She slowed, glancing around her. The trees were rich shades of brown and evergreen, the boughs hanging heavy with snow; the loch was reflecting the blue of the sky, broken by the reflection of the snow-covered mountains around them. There was a muted peace to the scene surrounding them, and she felt a wave of contentment wash through her. “I think so, yes,” she finally said softly, returning her gaze to Elias.
He looked so happy at her words she thought she might melt; he, watching her for a moment, brought his free hand up to cup her cheek and pull her in for a slow kiss. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips, his fingers drifting across her jaw, sliding slowly down her neck as he kissed her again.
They eventually parted, Elias brushing her lips with his thumb before returning his attention to the path before them. They walked silently, their hands still linked; their boots periodically squeaked on the snow. They finally reached a fork in the path, and Elias paused as they reached it, glancing to his left and right.
“Which way?” he asked, glancing at her.
To their left the path entered the woods, while to their right it appeared to amble down towards the loch side. The woods would normally be her first choice, the dimness of the trees welcoming, especially when she wanted to be alone with Elias. But today, with the sun out and the sky so very blue, she decided she wanted to walk along the water. “This way.” She moved to the right fork, gently tugging at Elias’s hand.
He looked surprised by her choice but followed happily enough, and was soon whistling as they squeaked through the undisturbed snow. She laughed as she recognised the song, still another melody most familiar from the pub.
“Are you laughing at my whistling?” he asked, sounding unperturbed by the idea.
“At your choice of music.”
He smiled. “I’ll work on learning a bit of Mozart for the next trip.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Purcell, then.”
“I’ll believe it when I hear it.” She bumped her shoulder into his. “I’m just happy to hear you…happy.”
“I am. Deliriously so.”
“Good.”
He brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her glove. “How about a wee snackie along the loch?”
“Did you recon this?”
“I might have asked our hosts about what options there were for stopping and enjoying the scenery, yes.”
“Such a good lad,” she laughed, swinging their hands as they walked. The loch was still, the water at the shoreline edged with ice. Behind it, the mountains rose to meet the sky, their lines blunted by the cover of white which had fallen overnight. It felt as though they were the only people in the world, a rare bit of peace that she suspected they’d not get to experience again for a long while.
They had lunch on a bench further along the path, just back from the water’s edge and facing the spectacular view. Another of the couples staying at the hotel wandered past as they ate, giving a friendly wave, but they were otherwise uninterrupted and the meal ended with Ruby leaning into Elias, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they gazed silently at the vista.
They didn’t return to the hotel until mid-afternoon, taking their time walking along the shore then through the woods after they’d roused themselves from their silent contemplation. Her cheeks burned once they were inside, the heat almost scalding after the prolonged cold; Elias’s cheeks, too, flamed a brilliant pink as they thawed out in the bath, the water gently lapping around them as they relaxed together.
The remainder of their afternoon was leisurely, the two of them snuggling together for a nap after their bath, the snow outside dampening any noise which might have found its way into their room. Elias was already out of bed by the time she awoke, and she was confused for a moment as she noted the firelight dancing in the dimly lit room.
“Eli?”
“Aye?” His voice came from somewhere beyond the bed, to her right, and she pushed herself up, curious. He was seated in the wing chair before the fire, using its light to glance through whatever was on his lap; he was once more clad in jeans and jumper, and had brushed his hair into some semblance of order.
“What time is it?”
“Near to five. I ducked downstairs while you were sleeping; dinner will be ready for us by six-either downstairs, or up here.”
“Do we have to dress if we go downstairs?”
“I’m sure they’d prefer we wear clothes, yes,” he replied wryly.
“I meant dress. Tie for you, dress for me.”
“Ah. Yes, I think so.”
She thought about it for a moment, then had an idea. “Then I’d love to go downstairs.”
“Really?”
“Really.” She grinned, enjoying his expression of pleased surprise. He was also curious, setting the book aside to walk over to the bed. He joined her, sitting atop the duvet as she remained, naked, beneath it.
“I’d have thought you’d want to stay in,” he said softly, the flickering light throwing his face into shadow.
“We have the rest of the week,” she smiled. “And I love seeing you in a suit and tie.”
His teeth glinted as he smiled in return. “Far be it from me to deny you your pleasure.”
He rang down to the desk as she slowly began to get dressed, pulling on her knickers and bra before returning to the palatial loo. Her toiletries were neatly laid out on the counter, and it took only a few moments of hunting to find a dryer with which to tame her hair. Elias joined her when he was done, smiling merrily into the mirror when he met her eye, otherwise concentrating on shaving for their evening together. She shut the dryer off to hear he was humming, and she let out a gentle laugh.
“I’ve never heard you hum so much.”
“Been a while since I’ve been so consistently happy.”
“Is that the only time you do it?”
“Aye. Don’t even realise it until I’m halfway through a song, most times.” He paused, the razor dripping water into the basin as he glanced at her. “Are you going to tell me it’s charming?”
She laughed. “It’s endearing.”
“That’s an improvement, at least.”
She set her makeup down, moving to stand next to him. “Your charm is one of the reasons I love you.” He looked unconvinced, and she leaned up to place a kiss on the cool, soft skin of his freshly-shaven jaw. “I mean it.”
“It’s just...I remember you, in Withington, and it was something I’d always been proud of, and you-”
“Shh.” She brushed her fingers across his jaw, causing him to close his eyes. “That was then. I’m talking about us now.” She turned her hand, drifting her knuckles along his skin. “I tease because, deep down, I love it. It’s part of you and I’d not have you change it at all.” She placed a kiss at the corner of his jaw, then stepped back.
He opened his eyes, their colour exceptionally rich as he met her gaze.
“I do wish...” She tilted her head, making sure she had his attention. “That you’d hum something other than pub songs. Or Scottish songs.”
“They’re frequently the same.” He shook his head, trying not to laugh, and resumed shaving.
“Ah, so true.” She picked up the brush she’d been using and, still smiling, returned to putting on her makeup.
~ - ~
Chapter Twenty
Rating: M
Author: jlrpuck
Pairing: Ruby Quarles, Elias McCoy
Disclaimer: The characters contained in this story are the products of my imagination; as such, I retain all right to and ownership of them.
Summary: Welcome to the story of how Elias McCoy and Ruby Quarles met, and grew to became the characters we know.
Notes: I’m back home, and will be posting at the usual time for the remainder of the story. Welllll, barring any further snowstorms-leading-to-work-being-closed issues.
Thank you to
ginamak for acting as a sympathetic listener and excellent sounding board as I frantically penned this tale (and for enabling my Elias McCoy love), and for providing the first crack at beta of it when it was done. Huge thanks, as well, to
earlgreytea68 and
chicklet73 for their beta work, especially given how utterly insane their lives have been these past months.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19
Elias and Ruby had dinner in their room that evening, a simple meal presented on a rolling cart covered by a brilliant white tablecloth, served on shining china with glittering silver. The dichotomy of the lavish place setting with the humble fare made both of them giggle for much of the meal, and the plentiful wine they drank as they ate only added to the giddiness.
The remainder of the evening was spent cuddled together before the fireplace, their gentle laughter turning instead to caresses and whispered words, both of them content to simply relax together before the flickering light of the flames. At some point Ruby dozed off, wrapped in Elias’s embrace; he roused her, guiding her to their bed, helping her to undress before she slid between the sheets. He joined her a few moments later, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her against him, his hand stroking her arm in the soothing motion she most loved to fall asleep to.
Ruby was first awake the next morning, the weak light trying-and somewhat failing-to penetrate the cavernous room. Elias had left the curtains open, and she was able to see that it was still snowing outside, the world painted in shades of white and grey and purple. Elias remained asleep, his jaw slack, his arm tucked under his pillow as he lay on his side. His expression lacked its usual mischief when he was asleep, oddly making him appear somewhat older-an effect only enhanced by the dark stubble lining his cheeks and jaw. He’d be asleep for a long while yet, she was sure.
She placed a soft kiss on his cheek then slid out of bed, making sure not to disturb his cocoon of duvet. He remained blissfully unaware of what was going on around him, and Ruby laughed gently before looking around for something warm to pull on. The room was chilly, in spite of the radiators under the windows; she’d have to get the fire back up, she suspected, in order to make the room truly cosy once more. A bathrobe was hanging in the closet, and she pulled it on before making her way to the fireplace, her feet sinking into the plush carpet covering the wood floor.
Elias had banked the fire down before going to bed, laying the poker and shovel neatly before the screen in his precise way. She smiled, shaking her head, before using the poker to stab at the cinders. A few coals glowed red, springing to life with the fresh air; she selected a few of the small strips of log in the pile near the hearth, and gently placed them atop the embers. With luck, they’d catch soon enough, and the room would warm up to a more reasonable temperature.
She had time for a shower, to get dressed, and to have tea and porridge delivered to the room before Elias finally began to stir, rolling onto his back in the ridiculously large bed. He let out a soft sigh, a sign he was coming awake; she took it as her cue to prepare a cup of tea for him, quietly carrying it over to his side of the bed and setting it on the nightstand. He, hearing movement, opened his eyes, blinking a few times before looking over to where she stood.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Mmph.” He reached for her, his eyes closing as he found her hand and tugged her toward the bed.
“I have tea for you,” she sing-songed, giving in enough to sit on the edge of the mattress.
Elias cracked one eye, then the other, his gaze focusing on her as he weighed whether he wanted his tea or her in bed with him more. She chuckled, leaning down to kiss him before reaching for the cuppa.
“How long have ye been awake?” he asked as he pushed himself to sit up, his voice gravelly.
“A while. There’s porridge over there, too, if you’d like.”
He took the tea, taking a tentative sniff of the cup before downing a long swig of the hot beverage. His eyes immediately brightened, and he took another sip.
“Or I could bring the teapot over,” she added with a smile.
“Both?” he asked hopefully.
“You’ll get spoiled.”
“Please?” He gave her a plaintive look, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
She shook her head, once again laughing, and stood. “Right. Don’t expect this all of the time.”
“I know better than to think you’d be up before me on a normal day,” he replied impishly.
“Smart man.” She lifted the lid off the pot of porridge, sending steam coiling lazily up into the room. She spooned some into a bowl for Elias, adding a dash of honey to it for him, then reached for the teapot. “Alright, here you are.” She carried the dishes back to the nightstand, setting them delicately on the small bit of open surface before moving away.
“You’re not joining me?”
“I should be asking you that.”
“I’m the one naked in bed.”
“But it’s easier to eat together over here.” She reached for her own bowl, ladling a generous bit of porridge into it. She frowned as she realised she’d have to go back for the teapot; if she went to the bed Elias would be sure to drag her into it, winning their battle. She wouldn’t mind, but it was the principle of the thing.
She’d do without tea for a bit, to lure him out of bed.
The fire was back to dancing in the grate and she took the time to add another log to it before moving to the couch, pulling her porridge to her. She pretended to ignore Elias as she took her first taste, taking care to lick the spoon clean before letting out a little sigh of appreciation. And she fought to keep from grinning in triumph as she heard movement behind her, the sound of Elias tossing the covers back then sliding out of bed, the clink of silver against china as he picked up his own breakfast and moved to join her.
He was still stark naked as he joined her on the sofa, giving her a small smirk as he noted her eyes roving across his body before he sat. He settled the teacup on the small table, then turned his attention to his own breakfast. They teased each other as they ate, each of them being thorough in cleaning their spoons with each bite, sneaking glances at each other to see who’d give in first. The room grew warmer as breakfast passed, and Ruby finally had to shed her jumper before finishing her porridge.
She stood, setting the bowl down before walking over to reclaim the teapot; Elias pretended not to watch her, his head remaining still as his eyes followed her path to and from the nightstand. His bowl was almost empty, she noted; she set the teapot on the table, making sure it was back from the edge, then turned to her husband. He was plainly watching her now, his eyes almost black as she took the bowl from his hands, as she set it on the floor while kneeling before him. And his eyes grew wide as she then leaned forward, taking him into her mouth without preamble, her hand stroking his rapidly hardening cock as she gently sucked.
Elias’s hands drifted to her hair as she brought him to orgasm, his fingers clenching as he arched against her, his entire body quivering. He relaxed with a sigh once he was spent, his hands now shifting to caress her hair, then her cheek as she released him.
“One of the better breakfasts I’ve ever had,” he murmured, his cheeks still flushed as she looked up at him.
“I enjoyed it, too.” She placed a kiss against his soft flesh, then moved to join him on the couch. Her hand found his, their fingers intertwining, and she relaxed her head against his shoulder. “Could do with a bit of a nap, though.”
“Did ye nae sleep well?” Elias murmured against the crown of her head.
“I slept very well. Just sleepy today-it’s the snow, I think.”
“Hmm.” His thumb stroked against her skin, the repetitive motion soothing. She started to doze, her arm now draped across Elias’s chest, the steady rise and fall of it lulling her as she relaxed against him.
She fell asleep like that, and awoke some time later to find she was stretched on the couch, a blanket covering her legs and chest. She groggily sat up, confused by the absence of Elias. The dishes were gone from the table, her neatly folded jumper replacing them, and the fire was low in the grate. It had stopped snowing, she noted as she glanced around, the world outside now showing hints of blue sky above the snowy white of the earth.
As she came awake she finally became aware of the sound of water running, and of snatches of singing coming from behind the closed door of the loo. She couldn’t have been asleep for too long, then, if Elias was just getting showered, and she felt a bit of relief at the thought. It was nice to simply laze the day away, true, but she didn’t want to waste the entirety of their week together by sleeping.
She’d pulled on her jumper and was standing before the windows once Elias emerged into the room, the gentle scent of spicy soap wafting out after him on a cloud of steam. His towel was slung low on his hips, his hair was still standing a bit on end from where he’d towel-dried it; his face split into a wide smile as he noticed her awake, and he practically danced over to join her at the window.
“Ready for a day of exploring?” He bounced on the balls of his feet as he stopped next to her.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Today? Just seeing what’s about. The gentleman who collected our dishes mentioned it’s supposed to stay fine the rest of the day, which makes it perfect for going out.”
“What’s around here?”
“There’s rather a fine loch, you might have noticed.” He winked, then continued, “And a good bit of forest. The village is a bit too much of a walk in this weather.”
“Are you going to lure me out into the wilderness only to take advantage of me?”
“As if I’d do such a thing!” He pretended to be shocked by the idea.
She laughed. “Do I need to inquire about Wellies?”
“Maybe. I did think to bring our hiking boots, when I packed for the trip.”
“Where’d you hide them?” She’d packed her own suitcase, using the rough guidelines Elias had given her, but she’d looked carefully at his own luggage to try to work out where he’d planned to take her before they left London. She’d not noticed seeing a pair of boots for either of them.
“In a spare bag in the car. Bruce snuck them in for me.”
“Clever man.”
“I know.” He grinned. “Let me just get dressed. If you ring down, they’ll prepare a thermos and some sarnies for us.” He kissed her nose, then scampered off before she could jerk the towel from his hips.
They were outside a half-hour later, the sharp cold pricking at her cheeks and nose as they crunched along one of the paths leading away from the main house. Elias had a bag containing their lunch slung over his shoulder, while she had the straps of the blanket roll clutched in her free hand; between them swung their joined hands, moving in time to their matched strides.
“Gorgeous day,” Elias breathed as he looked up, taking in the brilliantly blue sky arching above.
“It is. Bit brisk, though.”
He laughed, his breath curling white before dissipating around them. “Winter in Scotland.” He’d taken to speaking exclusively in his brogue once they were in Scotland, and he rolled his r with relish, grinning over at her.
“You love it.”
“I do. I miss it, down in rainy London.”
“Would you want to move back?”
“Perhaps, some day. London has too many charms for me to give her up entirely.” He continued to gaze at her. “Would you want to? Move up here?”
“I don’t know about here, necessarily.”
“But in general?” His smile had faded, his gaze intensifying.
She slowed, glancing around her. The trees were rich shades of brown and evergreen, the boughs hanging heavy with snow; the loch was reflecting the blue of the sky, broken by the reflection of the snow-covered mountains around them. There was a muted peace to the scene surrounding them, and she felt a wave of contentment wash through her. “I think so, yes,” she finally said softly, returning her gaze to Elias.
He looked so happy at her words she thought she might melt; he, watching her for a moment, brought his free hand up to cup her cheek and pull her in for a slow kiss. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips, his fingers drifting across her jaw, sliding slowly down her neck as he kissed her again.
They eventually parted, Elias brushing her lips with his thumb before returning his attention to the path before them. They walked silently, their hands still linked; their boots periodically squeaked on the snow. They finally reached a fork in the path, and Elias paused as they reached it, glancing to his left and right.
“Which way?” he asked, glancing at her.
To their left the path entered the woods, while to their right it appeared to amble down towards the loch side. The woods would normally be her first choice, the dimness of the trees welcoming, especially when she wanted to be alone with Elias. But today, with the sun out and the sky so very blue, she decided she wanted to walk along the water. “This way.” She moved to the right fork, gently tugging at Elias’s hand.
He looked surprised by her choice but followed happily enough, and was soon whistling as they squeaked through the undisturbed snow. She laughed as she recognised the song, still another melody most familiar from the pub.
“Are you laughing at my whistling?” he asked, sounding unperturbed by the idea.
“At your choice of music.”
He smiled. “I’ll work on learning a bit of Mozart for the next trip.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Purcell, then.”
“I’ll believe it when I hear it.” She bumped her shoulder into his. “I’m just happy to hear you…happy.”
“I am. Deliriously so.”
“Good.”
He brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her glove. “How about a wee snackie along the loch?”
“Did you recon this?”
“I might have asked our hosts about what options there were for stopping and enjoying the scenery, yes.”
“Such a good lad,” she laughed, swinging their hands as they walked. The loch was still, the water at the shoreline edged with ice. Behind it, the mountains rose to meet the sky, their lines blunted by the cover of white which had fallen overnight. It felt as though they were the only people in the world, a rare bit of peace that she suspected they’d not get to experience again for a long while.
They had lunch on a bench further along the path, just back from the water’s edge and facing the spectacular view. Another of the couples staying at the hotel wandered past as they ate, giving a friendly wave, but they were otherwise uninterrupted and the meal ended with Ruby leaning into Elias, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they gazed silently at the vista.
They didn’t return to the hotel until mid-afternoon, taking their time walking along the shore then through the woods after they’d roused themselves from their silent contemplation. Her cheeks burned once they were inside, the heat almost scalding after the prolonged cold; Elias’s cheeks, too, flamed a brilliant pink as they thawed out in the bath, the water gently lapping around them as they relaxed together.
The remainder of their afternoon was leisurely, the two of them snuggling together for a nap after their bath, the snow outside dampening any noise which might have found its way into their room. Elias was already out of bed by the time she awoke, and she was confused for a moment as she noted the firelight dancing in the dimly lit room.
“Eli?”
“Aye?” His voice came from somewhere beyond the bed, to her right, and she pushed herself up, curious. He was seated in the wing chair before the fire, using its light to glance through whatever was on his lap; he was once more clad in jeans and jumper, and had brushed his hair into some semblance of order.
“What time is it?”
“Near to five. I ducked downstairs while you were sleeping; dinner will be ready for us by six-either downstairs, or up here.”
“Do we have to dress if we go downstairs?”
“I’m sure they’d prefer we wear clothes, yes,” he replied wryly.
“I meant dress. Tie for you, dress for me.”
“Ah. Yes, I think so.”
She thought about it for a moment, then had an idea. “Then I’d love to go downstairs.”
“Really?”
“Really.” She grinned, enjoying his expression of pleased surprise. He was also curious, setting the book aside to walk over to the bed. He joined her, sitting atop the duvet as she remained, naked, beneath it.
“I’d have thought you’d want to stay in,” he said softly, the flickering light throwing his face into shadow.
“We have the rest of the week,” she smiled. “And I love seeing you in a suit and tie.”
His teeth glinted as he smiled in return. “Far be it from me to deny you your pleasure.”
He rang down to the desk as she slowly began to get dressed, pulling on her knickers and bra before returning to the palatial loo. Her toiletries were neatly laid out on the counter, and it took only a few moments of hunting to find a dryer with which to tame her hair. Elias joined her when he was done, smiling merrily into the mirror when he met her eye, otherwise concentrating on shaving for their evening together. She shut the dryer off to hear he was humming, and she let out a gentle laugh.
“I’ve never heard you hum so much.”
“Been a while since I’ve been so consistently happy.”
“Is that the only time you do it?”
“Aye. Don’t even realise it until I’m halfway through a song, most times.” He paused, the razor dripping water into the basin as he glanced at her. “Are you going to tell me it’s charming?”
She laughed. “It’s endearing.”
“That’s an improvement, at least.”
She set her makeup down, moving to stand next to him. “Your charm is one of the reasons I love you.” He looked unconvinced, and she leaned up to place a kiss on the cool, soft skin of his freshly-shaven jaw. “I mean it.”
“It’s just...I remember you, in Withington, and it was something I’d always been proud of, and you-”
“Shh.” She brushed her fingers across his jaw, causing him to close his eyes. “That was then. I’m talking about us now.” She turned her hand, drifting her knuckles along his skin. “I tease because, deep down, I love it. It’s part of you and I’d not have you change it at all.” She placed a kiss at the corner of his jaw, then stepped back.
He opened his eyes, their colour exceptionally rich as he met her gaze.
“I do wish...” She tilted her head, making sure she had his attention. “That you’d hum something other than pub songs. Or Scottish songs.”
“They’re frequently the same.” He shook his head, trying not to laugh, and resumed shaving.
“Ah, so true.” She picked up the brush she’d been using and, still smiling, returned to putting on her makeup.
~ - ~
Chapter Twenty