Daniel....
Valerie's walking across the grounds, making her way up to the Chatterly house. She isn't always thrilled about having to go back there...she feels like she's got "failure" branded across her forehead for not making it on the staff there. No one's ever breathed an unkind word to her but there are looks
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And now he sounds a little perturbed again, and she fears that she's ruined any chance of him liking her at all. When he so kindly offers his arm, it nearly kills her to think that someone so sweet is so unattainable.
"I'm sorry," she says softly, curling one hand around his upper arm, and bringing the other across to rest on his forearm. It's how she's used to holding on to a man, and she's not sure if it's too close, but she figures she probably will need him to keep her steady on her clumsy feet. "I didn't mean to keep you from your work." She looks ahead down the path, not trusting herself to meet his pretty brown eyes again.
OOC--sorry, my Net connection failed! *weeps*
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Valerie's words---"I didn't mean to keep you from your work"---sink in, and he feels even worse that she would think such a thing.
"You're not keeping me from anything," Daniel assures Valerie. "I'm glad we finally met." He finally gets his big, in-the-way feet to move forward. Mia sighs as only a horse can, with her entire body. He feels the muffled whump of her long tail as it switches against the back of his legs. "Although I must tell you that I think Mia is jealous that I'm paying more attention to you than to her," he adds, hoping to coax a smile from Valerie once more.
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"I knew it," she says, looking over at Mia. "I knew she was the jealous type the moment I laid eyes on her." She giggles a little and then looks back down at the ground, too embarrassed to look at him as she murmurs, "I'm glad we finally met, too." And then she can't help curling her hands a bit tighter, shifting closer so that her breast rubs against his arm as they walk. It's terrible of her, she knows, but he's so handsome and the taut muscles under her fingertips feel so good...her heart is pounding wildly and she's starting to get warm all over.
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"I'm glad we finally met, too," Valerie murmurs, and he's convinced he could take flight now. To know that this sweet, beautiful girl is glad to spend time with him is more than he could have ever hoped for. He bends his head a little to try to meet her gaze, but she's keeping her eyes trained on the uneven path beneath their feet. A gold-tipped curl brushes against his cheek. Her hands tighten gently on his arm, and as her body shifts, he feels the unmistakable press of her breast against his arm. Through the thin linen of his shirt, he can feel her warmth, her curving softness.
If he were a gentleman, he would gently but casually move his arm away. If he were a gentleman, he wouldn't hold his breath and bite down on the tip of his tongue just to prolong the contact between them. He wouldn't have to swallow a soft whimper as her stride pushes her breast tighter against his arm so that he can feel the tiny point of her nipple beneath the thin cotton and thinner camisole beneath her snowy blouse.
Daniel breathes in and tries to think of something to say, something polite and pleasant and ordinary, but he's drowning. He's drowning in the scent of her hair and the sight of her flushed face and the feel of her warm softness. His body reminds him, in no uncertain terms, of what it wants, and he wishes he'd worn an overcoat or a longer shirt. He's too afraid to even chance a glance downward to see if his arousal shows.
"Lovely weather we're having," Daniel hears himself babble out loud, and he's surprised by his own breathless, husky tone.
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He makes a soft sound then, like clearing his throat, or something. She can't quite define what it is, and doesn't want to stare because it sounds like he's trying to squelch whatever it is, and be discreet. They keep moving on in silence, and she's starting to worry a bit, that maybe somehow, even without her saying anything, she's displeased him again.
Then suddenly he bursts out talking about the weather, and she does look at him, unable to contain her surprise. His eyes are a bit wide and he sounds distressed and she's wondering what's happened and then realizes he's trying to be a gentleman. Here she is all rubbing against him...why doesn't she just start humping his leg next? He hardly knows her, and he's trying to give her a hint to keep a more respectable distance. She can't believe she's such an idiot.
She attempts a small benign smile and looks around in what she hopes is a casual manner. "Yes, it is a really nice day," she says, barely keeping her voice steady. She lets the movement of her walking naturally pull her back away from him, though she hates to do it, hates losing that extra contact. "It's not as hot as it's been," she adds.
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And he does feel so nice...he's slender but his arm is so tightly muscled. She can't help letting her mind wander and wonder what the rest of him is like, if his abdomen is just as tight, if his legs are corded with muscle...
She licks her lips, blushing that she actually feels like she's drooling at the thought of him. She glances down at his hand, still resting on hers. Her skin looks so pale under his tanned and dirty fingers, and his palm is rough and calloused from work, but none of it bothers her...they're masculine hands, large, with long thick fingers. They're gently tapered though, and have an elegance of their own...she imagines how those hands would look on her naked body, and she can't suppress a delighted shiver...
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"Why, Valerie," Mrs. Bolton greets her. "How nice to see you. And Daniel," she adds, her eyes flicking over him in a way that makes him cringe inwardly. She always gives him that look, not unkindly, but as if she can see every speck of dirt, every unraveled thread and hanging button. He bobs his head and takes a moment to glance down at the front of his trousers. Fate is smiling upon him; the loose corduroys hide his arousal.
"I didn't realize the two of you are…acquainted," Mrs. Bolton continues, stressing that last word, her sharp gaze darting from him to Valerie and back again.
"We met just a few minutes ago," Daniel replies after he feels Valerie's fingers clench his sleeve. "I offered to walk Miss Valerie to the gardens since it's on my way back to the stables."
"Hmmm," Mrs. Bolton comments. "I take it, Valerie, that your position with Mellors has proven satisfactory?"
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It makes her feel better that Daniel seems a little tense, too, but then she hopes that she hasn't inadvertantly gotten him into trouble. She gives a little curtsy to Mrs. Bolton and puts on the most innocent expression she can muster. "Thank you for asking, ma'am," she says. "Mr. Mellors is a very fine employer and things seem to be working out well. I thank you for arranging it for us." She casts a small glance in Daniel's direction. When she curtsied she moved away from him just slightly, but she figures if she pulls away more it will make them both look guilty over nothing. After all, she's just holding onto his arm, as ladies do. "I've a message from my landlady, Miss Wolcott, for her daughter. This kind gentelman, as he says, offered to escort me." She puts on a winning smile. "The staff here have always been so nice to me."
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"I'll let the three of you carry on, then," Mrs. Bolton comments. "Daniel, when you are done this afternoon with your duties, come to the kitchen and send one of the girls to fetch me. I need to speak with you about a few things."
"Yes, madam," Daniel replies. He bobs his head and keeps his gaze on the ground as she moves past.
Hellfire, Daniel thinks. What have I done now? Mr. Hawthorne is the head groom and his immediate superior; why would Mrs. Bolton need to talk to him? Surely he isn't in some kind of trouble. Perhaps she has an errand for him to run, or added duties.
He's certain it will be something that will take up his meager amount of free time. He had hoped he could see Valerie later, assuming he can gather his wits enough to ask her if he might call on her. He sighs, and Mia sighs along with him.
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"I haven't gotten you into trouble, have I?" she asks in a low voice as Mrs. Bolton walks away. "I truly didn't mean to." She almost wants to cry. Surely he won't want to have anything to do with her if she's already gotten him in trouble.
She can just see the gardens from where they're standing now, and she begins to wonder if she just shouldn't run off before one of the Chatterly's comes along and really makes Daniel's life miserable.
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He takes a step before Mia can make another one of her irritated noises and has to tug gently on Valerie's hand to urge her to walk with him. Valerie's expression is so downcast that he wonders if there's some deeper story between her and Mrs. Bolton. He can see the gardens from here, and that funny twinge comes again, tightening his throat. He's not ready to say good-bye to this sweet girl.
Daniel clears his throat. "Miss Valerie," he begins quietly. "May I call on you later?"
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She's laboring over all this in her mind, wondering if she should go and talk to Mrs. Bolton after she's run her errand, and make sure that Daniel is cleared of any misunderstandings. She's just about set to do it when Daniel speaks to her, asking her...asking if he can call on her? Her mind is spinning and she stares at him, eyes wide. "What?" she asks, unable to stop herself. "I mean, you want to...?" and she just lets the question hang there, because he can't possibly mean he wants to see her again, but she doesn't know what else he might mean.
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"Er..um…" he stammers. They are nearly to the fork in the path that will take her into the gardens. He can even see the gate with its heavy mantle of twining roses. He takes a deep breath and meets her blue-gray eyes. "Yes," he says firmly. "I want to see you again. I would like that. Very much. Please."
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And then the please...she almost throws her arms around him and kisses him at that. He's so...earnest in his desire to see her that she thinks she might melt on the spot.
He looks nervous, and she realizes then that in her stupidity she's now most likely given him the impression she doesn't want to see him. Oh God! "Oh, I'm so--" She hardly knows how to phrase it. Calm, be calm! She can't quite control herself and curls her fingers tightly around his hand. "I would very much like that," she manages to say, almost intelligibly, and she thinks she must be blushing to the tips of her toes. Oh God he wants to see me again!!
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"I am so glad---" Daniel begins happily just as Mia jabs him with her muzzle. He tugs on Valerie's hand again so that they resume their pace up the path. "I'm sorry Mia is being such a nuisance," he tells Valerie. "I do believe she's jealous. She now knows she can't hold my full attention."
He knows he's smiling like an idiot, and probably sounds like one too, but he doesn't care.
All that matters is that Valerie has agreed to see him again.
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