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By Pristine_Pencil 20/03/2025 110 views 8.10 KB Text (Quill+ Format)
You're doing very well for yourself this Season. Your family is delighted at the attention from men with lands and titles, which you should be delighted with as well. But you spend all the time that is proper with the handsome young Captain who keeps calling on you. Perhaps tonight you'll see him at the ball...
[Ballroom music and crowd chatter. Perhaps the scattered tinkle of glassware or teacups. A ball.]
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(The speaker is a little out of breath, and perhaps distracted from concentrating on his steps) How gauche would it be, do you think, if I filled up your dance card for the rest of the night?
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(He laughs at her response) You’re quite right– the Ton would never recover from such a slight– however, I may be content to live in exile if only I could have your company for a little longer. You are, as always, a delight, and you make me look a much better dancer than I am!
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No, you do! Plus, while I am in your arms I am safe from the Shackleton sisters– or should I say, my toes are safe. You would think at least ONE of them would have inherited *some* grace…
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(a little ashamed) You’re right. It’s not a very kind thing to say. Consider me properly chastened. It’s a good thing I have you as a moral compass. What would I do without you?
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[The music comes to a flourish, and then ends.]
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(Catching his breath) I find I’m quite parched after all that. Don’t think I could take another turn even if my name *was* next on your dance card! Shall we instead make our way to the refreshment table? Surely no other light-footed hopefuls will steal you from me if you have a beverage in your hand.
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Ah, excellent. This way.
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[The music starts up again, but the music grows distant and the crowd noise more present as they move away from the dance floor.]
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(keeping his voice low) I, ah, know our courtship is less than a formal, but I would have you know that–
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(He’s interrupted by her, and sighs) Yes, I know we can hardly discuss such things in public, but where *can* we discuss them? Certainly here, at least, we are just more noise among the rest rather than being stared down by your chaperone. I’m sure she’s a lovely woman once you get to know her, but your maiden aunt has the mein of a bird of prey– always lurking and with very sharp eyes…
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[The clink of glassware as he collects two glasses of punch.]
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Here, have some punch and get some air with me on the balcony.
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(With a smile in his voice) Don’t worry, we’ll be well within the sights of a number of gossiping dowagers and I’ll stay the proper distance from you. Perfectly respectable. We’re just two exhausted dancers cooling off in the night air.
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[Stepping out on the balcony cuts the chatter now too, and the sounds of the night can now be heard– crickets, owls, a light breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees in the nearby manicured garden.]
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Lovely night. The manor here is quite renowned for its gardens. I wish we could take a walk in them without inviting all sorts of untoward comments… but it is my hope that soon we might be beyond such reproach.
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How? Well… (he takes a bracing breath) with your permission, I’d like to ask your father’s permission for your hand. Tomorrow, if he’s amenable to meeting me.
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I’ve rendered you speechless. (nervous) Please say something?
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I know I’m not the match your family might have hoped for you– I know the other names on your dance card tonight: Lord so-and-so and the Baron of whatever. I know love is a paltry trifle when it compares to how many pounds a year of income, or titles, or lands, or houses… but I hope, now that I’ve been promoted to Captain, in their eyes I’ll be enough. I can’t make you a Duchess or a Baroness, but there will be money enough for a comfortable home.
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It is a cliche for a young man to claim a beautiful woman makes him a better man, but you do. From the moment you captured my heart I have strived to be worthy of you. You are the source of my ambition. I would not have made Captain without you. For you I will be the best man I am capable of being, and with your aid perhaps even manage to be better than that.
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I love you. Madly. Ardently. You haunt my every waking thought and all my dreams. But because I love you, I want the best for you. If I thought your life would be richer for marrying any of those men with titles, I would gladly step aside, I promise. It would be easier, perhaps, to be a Duchess, but I fear you would be but a beautiful caged bird for any of those men. You are beautiful, of course you are, but I so love your unrestrained laugh, your clever mind, your kind heart. I swear I love every part of you, and would not want you to change a thing about yourself for me, other than perhaps your last name… and to no longer be referred to as ‘Miss’. (a tense chuckle)
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I leave it entirely in your hands. I would not leave you a passive game token in this decision about *your* future for all the world. At a word from you I will speak to your father, or redouble my efforts to a larger income, or (tense exhale) step away and allow another your hand.
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If your father says no, again, I will wait on your word and do as you ask. Step away… or hire the fastest coach to Gretna Green. (he laughs)
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I could have all the gold braid in the world on my coat and you would still be the cleverest of the two of us, so I leave all the important decisions to you. They should have promoted *you* to Captain. I think my men would much prefer taking orders from you as well. (He laughs)
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I believe I see your aunt circling like a hawk on the wing and our punch cups are long empty, so what say you? Will you unleash my heart to go chasing after its joy like a hound after a rabbit, or shall I pause for tonight and let you just enjoy the ball as you will? If it is too soon for you, I apologize– I can wait. For you, I can be as patient as you need.
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(He laughs, joyous and overcome, before muffling it behind his hand. He’s choked up.) You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, my love. Would that I could throw my arms around you and show you how glad you’ve made me, but– patience is a virtue, I suppose. You will need to come up with the clever joke you have told me to get that reaction because I do believe your aunt is heading this way after the uncontrolled reaction I’ve just had. My apologies. (he chuckles a little)
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I suppose we should part for now, before our absence seems scandalous. Such sweet sorrow, as the bard said. But not for long– with any luck I will stop by after breakfast and have excellent news for us both. I cannot wait to start our lives together, but know that tonight, you have my heart forever and always.
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(Teasing) Please give my well wishes to your aunt, miss. She’s practically family, after all.