RP: Foggy Day in London Town

[shh_roger]

Date: June 17, 2005
Character(s): Roger Davies, Hermione Granger
Location: London
Status: Private
Summary: Roger and Hermione spend Sunday out of town.
Completion: Complete

It was cloudy, but so far, it hadn't rained.  Roger turned away from the kitchen window and moved to the refrigerator to retrieve a carton of milk. Chugging it, he shut the

Comments

[shh_hermione]

When he became silent, she glanced at him, wondering what was on his mind. Then he said that they were on the same page, and she smiled. "I'm glad," she said simply. She didn't think it was the right time to admit that she was happy they shared similar taste in furniture because she'd indulged the thought of sharing a home with him numerous times in recent weeks.

They continued exploring the rooms, taking their time while she read informative plaques and studied the displays. It wasn't very crowded, which was a relief because it let them take their time without the risk of running into groups of tourists. It was fun to visit places like this with Roger, seeing the history in their own backyard that they'd never really explored.

The ballroom was lovely, and she looked around curiously when they stepped inside. Roger pulled her against him, moving his hand down her back while taking her hand. She laughed softly when he began to dance to silent music, reaching up to stroke his face as they danced a few steps before he let her go.

"Me too," she whispered, reluctant to step away but fully aware that a group of people could come in at any time. She squeezed his hand before they continued their tour.

After they spent a couple of hours looking around, she wasn't surprised when he asked about going outside. "I think we can start on the gardens, if you'd like," she decided, knowing that he was probably bored and, really, she'd seen enough during their tour to suit her.

[shh_roger]

"Wouldn't mind taking you somewhere dancing that's quiet, though," he said as he pulled back, imagining her in some sort of dress, moving with him in a lowly-lit club close to closing time after most everyone had left. Somewhere that played that old music she liked -- and that he liked, when he was with her.

Once they'd seen most of the rooms and spent a long while exploring, Hermione acknowledged that she'd like to go outside and have a look through the gardens. He grinned and held out an elbow. "Very well, Miss," he said, fully aware that the action might look a little silly whilst dressed in denims and well-worn blue shirt rather than in a top coat and hat. "We'll adjourn to the gardens, then."

Even though he'd never given gardens and landscaping very much thought, Roger could appreciate the meticulously kept and lush gardens. And, well, they were huge, and featured so many different species of plants, flowers and trees. It was also the perfect time of year to see them. The brochure had even said the gardens here boasted a flower show here each year. One day, he'd take her back to see it.

They walked to the south end of the gardens first, the warmest part where they found an extensive collection of tender exotics that weren't native to England and would probably be much more at home in the tropics, or at least in South France or Spain. There was every type of citrus tree, and mangoes, agaves, aloes, things one just didn't find around here. As they browsed the trees, he smiled. "I should take you someplace where these grow naturally," he said.

[shh_hermione]

"Thank you, kind sir," she said, having to smile as she hooked her arm through his. "Adjourn to the gardens? Are you certain you've not been sneaking reads at Jane Austen, Mister Davies?"

They went outside to explore the gardens, which were beautifully done. "These are lovely," she murmured, studying each flower and tree as they walked past. "I've no talent at all with growing things, unfortunately, but I'd like to have a pretty garden someday."

The southern end of the gardens had a variety of trees that had been moved here for the owner's enjoyment, she assumed. At Roger's comment, she glanced at him and smiled. "Yes, you should," she agreed. She looked around to make sure no one was about before she kissed his jaw. "I'd like to visit such a place with you."

[shh_roger]

He inclined his head as she gave him her arm, then laughed. "No, unfortunately I'd not be caught dead near an Austen novel, Miss Granger," he said. "Just not my thing, I suppose. I generally go for meatier novels from that period, not that I've read a huge amount of them. They were kind of a late discovery."

"I don't get into gardening much either," he said, as he watched Hermione stop and study a rosebush. There were a few bees around, so he stood a bit closer to her. Hermione probably smelled as good to them as she did to him. "But I admit they're pretty relaxing."

He grinned. "Then we'll go this summer," he decided. "Though, I reserve the right to pick the place, since there's a huge variety of places that would fit the bill." It wasn't that he couldn't see, and wasn't looking forward to, seeing Hermione in a swimsuit right here at home. But there was something about white sand and turquoise water that was especially appealing. He tried to imagine the way her skin would flush and warm under the sun on Dominica, and smiled at the thought as he watched her.

After a moment, he cleared his throat and took her hand. "Ah, right. Lots more to see." They left the exotics collection and moved to the Privy Gardens, which looked more like courtyards, spread out over acres. The grass grew in intricate patterns on a sandy background, and they walked past neatly shaped trees and shrubs while he held her hand and moved his thumb over her knuckles.

"Looks more like art than shrubbery," he commented as they passed a perfectly conical evergreen shrub. He looked back; an elderly couple was coming up behind them, holding hands. He let Hermione's go so they could separate long enough for the couple to walk between them on the path. "I'm glad it's somewhat quiet today," he said when he joined back up with Hermione and clasped her hand again.