[oh so very, very AU]
The afternoon and evening had, in Thomasina's estimation, been the longest of her life. Every time her eyes met Septimus's, she felt as though what had already happened and what was very shortly going to happen between them was written all over her face, although she could not imagine that anyone else in the household was any wiser. They had by some silent mutual agreement kept as much space as possible between them that afternoon, thinking that the safest option by far, but even that had not been enough to keep Thom from being keenly aware of his presence and movement at every instant.
There had been champagne after dinner, as promised, and after a few glasses Thom had feigned exhaustion and begged off for the evening, shutting herself in her room to wait. The time would still go slowly, but it would be a relief to be alone, she thought. And surely Septimus would waste no time in coming to her, once the house was quiet and dark. The champagne was quite an effective soporific, however, and by the time Septimus pushed her door open noiselessly, she had drifted off gently while waiting, her cheek pillowed on her hand as she curled up atop her bedclothes.
There had been champagne after dinner, as promised, and after a few glasses Thom had feigned exhaustion and begged off for the evening, shutting herself in her room to wait. The time would still go slowly, but it would be a relief to be alone, she thought. And surely Septimus would waste no time in coming to her, once the house was quiet and dark. The champagne was quite an effective soporific, however, and by the time Septimus pushed her door open noiselessly, she had drifted off gently while waiting, her cheek pillowed on her hand as she curled up atop her bedclothes.