“I think that is a lovely idea, Leonard,” she replied and watched as he took off his great coat and splayed it out beneath the trees for her.
“One never ought to let one’s wife’s gown get dirty,” he said with a chuckle.
Who is this man? One moment he is charismatic and the next withdrawn. Which is the real Leonard? And how can I make this pleasant even charming version stay?
He extended his hand to help her sit and Sally’s heart raced as she settled beneath the sprawling branches of the ancient elm tree. The atmosphere between them was entirely changed. The air charged with something she could not grasp. The gentle lapping of the lake’s waters only added to the sensation. He was about it sit beside her when he paused and straightened up again, eyes narrowed at something in the water.
“Do you see that?” He pointed at something floating nearby. A length of rope or perhaps a scarf bopped on the water’s edge.
“I do, what is it?”
“I think some rope, perhaps a discarded horse’s lead. I will get it before the wildlife gets tangled up. I once had to watch the gamekeeper put a hare out of its misery after it ate a length of rope, part of it still hanging out of its mouth. Dreadful.” He shrugged and set off for the lake, leaving Sally to wish he was always like this, so caring, so kind – this man she knew she could love, this man she wanted to allow herself to love.
Knowing such thoughts were useless given their arrangement she tried to push them aside as she leaned back, but the truth was she could not help herself. She wanted to imagine herself with him as he was now, so easy to talk to, so … A rustle in a nearby bush interrupted her woolgathering and she whipped around, eyes wide as her body tensed with apprehension.
She scanned the foliage, her breath caught in her throat. What could be lurking in the undergrowth? Or rather who? Had someone followed them and was looking to take advantage of their vulnerable position? No, that was foolish … And yet, it would not be the first time.
Sally’s heart thundered as memories of the night not long ago when she’d hurt her foot suddenly surfaced, memories she’d thought banished forever. Her mind raced with fearful possibilities as the rustling grew louder, closer. She gripped the rough bark of the tree, her pulse quickening with each passing moment.
Then, with a sudden burst of movement, something emerged from the bushes—a dark shape hurtling towards her.
“Leonard!” she screamed, and she sprang to her feet, stumbling backward in terror. Fear gripped her like icy tendrils, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to comprehend the looming threat before her.
“Sally?” Leonard’s voice came from far away and yet from very nearby. Strange how panic could obscure reality. She heard slushing footsteps as he made his way back from the water’s edge and then, leaves crunched again as he made his way to her. Her legs sprang into motion and closed the distance between them.
“Leonard!” She called again and ran straight into his arms. Inhaling his scent calmed her pounding heart. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Then, she felt his finger under her chin, gently titling it upward so her eyes fixed on his. His lips were slightly parted, his eyes full of confusion as he looked at her. Her mouth parted, wanting to form words to tell him what had happened but none came.
The momentary closeness was so unexpected, so mesmerizing she didn’t know what to say, do, or feel. The only thing she could do was stand there and stare into his eyes while a feeling of glorious isolation from the world enveloped her. As if the two of them were alone in the world, in a bubble of just the two of them. Alas, Leonard broke the spell, dropping his finger though he kept one arm around her.
“Sally, are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes, there was something in the bushes and for a moment I thought it was a highway robber or some sort of bandit. Silly…” she let out a ragged breath, mortified that she’d screeched like a child. She wanted him to see her as an equal – not as a child who needed his protection. But still, as he stood in front of her, shoulders wide and his jaw set, she could not deny that she felt safe.
“I do not think we have highway robbers near here,” he said gently. “My father rooted them all out long ago. It might have been a wild animal.” He turned and squinted when the culprit made its presence known again by way of a rustling – this time from another bush.
“There it is, that’s what I heard. Only louder,” she said, feeling silly now that the rustle sounded like nothing more alarming than a breeze. He opened his mouth but before he could, a squirrel leaped out of the bush and sprinted past them and up into a tree.
“Well, there we have the solution to the misery,” Leonard said, the bemusement evident in his voice.
“I … I do not know what to say. I …”
“Admit it, are you afraid of squirrels?” he asked, head dipped to the side with a teasing smile on his lips.
“Evidently, I am,” she conceded.
“Well, he does look like a menace to society, that squirrel,” Leonard quipped, his tone light and mischievous.
Sally chuckled in agreement, relieved to see his sense of humor intact. “Yes, menacing indeed. I feel the need to assure you that I’m not usually terrified of wildlife.”
“Is that so? Only squirrels?”
“Only when they hide in bushes,” she retorted.
“And wild bores?”
“I venture to say I could get one, if need be,” she said and crossed her arms, enjoying their banter.
“Brave, very brave. And a stag?”
