Chapter 9

‘I am terribly sorry, how embarrassing!’ George said. He took the glass of water from Anne’s delicate hands and began to sip it awkwardly.

Taking George into a room away from prying eyes felt like the right decision to Anne.

‘I have to say, I am not used to seeing a gentleman in such a state.’ Anne laughed to herself in amusement.

George tried to hide just how inebriated he was but he couldn't hide it at all.

‘You are too kind. Taking me in here away from the other guests. I will never forget how thoughtful you have been Ms. Spenbourne.’ George answered politely. He couldn't help but place his hand gently on top of hers.

George's touch felt remarkably arousing to Anne. She flinched when their skin finally collided but the knot in her stomach was only the result of unspoken chemistry. She moved her hand away almost immediately.

‘Please, call me Anne. You have known me long enough. None of that formal nonsense. We could be great friends, you and I, I can see it now. We share similar interests.’ Anne blurted out rapidly.

‘Yes, similar feelings too if I am lucky.’ George smiled at his own response.

He seemed somewhat impressed with himself. But once he noticed the look of disapproval on Anne's face, his opinion changed very quickly.

‘Forgive me that was quite forward of me to say. I am nothing but a silly, drunken, old man. Ignore my words for they have no meaning.’ George corrected himself.

Anne sat nervously with her palms face down tightly to her knee caps. There was just something about him, his whole demeanour. His eyes were golden water streams, smoothly transitioning from one emotion to another. She got lost in them whenever she looked at him, they were hooks of kindness to indulge her soul. Once she got lost in them, she could never find her way out.

‘I give you permission to say what you are truly thinking, always. There is no need to pretend with me. You must be devastated from the news of your wife. Then you have that son of yours to be worried about. Anyone can see that you are carrying more than your fair share of weight on your shoulders.’ Anne told him. She didn’t look away from his eyes once.

‘Let me give you some life advice, sweet Anne. Never marry unless it is for love. I know my son is most certainly marrying your sister for a devious reason but never let that be you. I can assure you, you will live to regret it. I feel I have wasted many of my younger years on the wrong woman. Now, I am approaching old age and I am unlovable.’ George explained with tears forming in his eyes.

Anne knew that she couldn’t let that hang in the air for long. She thought him to be the opposite of unloveable but to show such feelings to a neighbour was said to be un-lady like and not very British. Anne’s silence was taken as a sign of agreement.

‘I am sorry for taking your time up like this, we should get back now I am not completely drunk.’ George said, followed by fake laughter.

‘No, do not go. I am not the type of woman to speak of feelings but there are some things that just have to be said out loud, to see if they feel true.’ Anne replied. She gently reached for his hand when he stood up and headed for the door. George sat back down out of curiosity, ready to listen to what she had to say.

‘Now, you must promise to forget I ever said anything if this goes horribly wrong. Agreed?’ Anne said nervously.

George nodded in agreement. She could see in his eyes that he was slowly sobering up.

‘I am not sure if what I am feeling is one way, perhaps it is. Perhaps it is wrong of me to even speak these words but even so, I feel I must,’ Anne shuffled in her seat and cleared her throat before continuing. ‘I feel that there is something between us, an unstoppable force constantly pushing us closer together. I tried to ignore my feelings at first and concentrate on finding a rich man of my own age and someone with Aunt Bertha’s approval but it is no good. I guess what I am trying to say is I cannot seem to get you off my mind. Even when you are not around. Ever since I saw you at that dinner that night, I have felt this way.’ Anne opened up. She felt it took everything she had to be so honest.

George sat smiling as he listened to Anne explaining her true feelings. He knew that it took her a lot to speak of matters of the heart. It was not something that he had witnessed any women do in his lifetime.

‘I am both flattered and honoured Anne, truly. I have only ever wished that a beautiful woman such as yourself would harbour such feelings for me. I will not deny that I feel exactly the same. But in our current society, we both know nothing could come of it. They are after all, just human feelings. It is only a fool’s game to marry for love. And you said yourself, you need a younger and more fitting match. But I believe with that head on your shoulders and your great looks, you will have no problem finding a match.’

George responded. He gently lifted Anne’s right hand and kissed it delicately.

Anne looked at him with pure respect but also festering sadness and disappointment.

‘I pray that your happy days will come soon, Anne Spenbourne. We should get back before they start talking.’ George let go of her hand and lifted himself off his seat. Anne pounced up after him.

‘No, I do not accept any of what you just said. As you say, it is not as simple as to just marry for love. But what is life if it has no risks? Why should we not allow ourselves to be loved by one another? Physically if not legally? Hold me, then tell me if you can happily let me walk down the aisle to another man.’ Anne pleaded, she felt her heart breaking the more her words rolled off her tongue.

Before George had the chance to say or do anything else, Anne took him in her arms. She finally gave into the temptation that had been eating away at her for weeks on end. When she felt her mouth trace his, an electrical spark burst through her veins. She had never felt anything like it. And yet, she wanted more.