Childhood Threats

 She was always chasing me. Everywhere I went, she followed. I just wanted some space. How did she not understand? I was eleven years old, I didn’t need or want a girl as a friend. She said she liked racing paper boats in the stream and climbing trees just like me. But that couldn’t be true. Girls liked dolls and dresses and ribbons. And the worst part was, she was always trying to kiss me.

My mother thought it was cute and my father always winked at me. Like I was supposed to understand what he meant by that. I wanted to just get away from her. But the problem with that was, our parents were close friends. Every outing, every garden party and dinner, her family was there. I spent most of those days dodging her and trying to find some peace. It also didn’t help that they lived next door. Just a field away from us. It wasn’t enough space apparently. She’d always find me when I didn’t want her company. Not that I ever wanted her company.

Today, I hoped that I was lucky. It had already been half an hour and she hadn’t shown up. I was peacefully reading my favorite book. The breeze kept the heat from being unbearable and the occasional twittering of birds was relaxing.

I should’ve known the serenity wouldn’t last.

Miss Charlotte Aldevron came tromping through the field, a huge smile on her face. I pretended not to notice her and stared intently at my book. Maybe she would take the hint.

“Adam, Adam, Adam!”

I let out an audible, longsuffering sigh and slammed my book closed. Slowly I looked up at her. “What is it you want, Charlotte?”

Her smile dimmed a bit at the annoyance in my voice. But not by much. “I had an idea! What if we go catch frogs by the stream? Spring is almost over and it’s the perfect time to–”

“No thank you.

“But Adam!” She whined.

“Charlotte,” I mimicked her tone, “I said no. Go find someone else to bother.”

Instead of leaving me be, Charlotte took my refusal as a challenge. She laid down on her stomach in front of me. “My mother is teaching me to be a proper lady,” she said as if we were in the middle of a conversation. “All the rules are so strange.” She grinned then, and I knew she was up to something. 

Charlotte leaned towards me with her lips puckered. I scrambled away and held my book out in front of me as if that would hold her off. 

“For example,” she said, not even surprised that I’d once again eluded her. “If I kiss you, you’ll have to marry me.”

I shook my head, backing away. “No, I’d only have to marry you if we got caught. But that isn’t going to happen.” 

Charlotte stood and brushed off her dress. She began walking towards me. It was time for me to make a getaway. Before Charlotte could do anything, I turned and ran for the safety of my house.

Behind me, Charlotte called, “I am going to marry you one day, Adam Watson!”

That was not, under any circumstances, going to happen. Charlotte could wish all she wanted. I would never be hers.

I didn’t see Charlotte much after that. Her mother sent her away when she turned twelve. It was quiet after that, peaceful even. Not that I was complaining. I enjoyed having time to myself, it was nice to feel secure and not have to look over my shoulder for her. 

Until she didn’t come back for a year. The months passed and the quiet became lonely. It made me realize that even though I hadn’t realized it before, Charlotte was my only friend. Friend was a strong word. But still.

Another year passed without Charlotte. I found myself missing her. Her energy, her excitement. She did annoy me all the time but so what? She was just like that.

I never forgot about her in all that time she was gone. Her parents still had my family over for dinner. I still stared over at her home, knowing she wouldn’t emerge but wishing a little anyway. 

I vaguely wondered how she turned out. The evening when her parents announced a ball, I found myself oddly thrilled. And nervous. Because the ball was in honor of Miss Aldevron. She was coming home. 

Ten years was a long time for a person to change. I knew I was different from the boy I used to be. But somehow I couldn’t imagine Charlotte any different. A small part of me hoped that she was still the same crazy girl I used to know.

I dressed nicely for the occasion, had my cravat tied in a more complicated knot than I was used to, and styled my hair to perfection. There was a knock at my door from the butler and then he announced that my parents had arrived and were waiting for me downstairs.

I took one last look at my reflection and, satisfied, hurried down the grand staircase. My mother gave me a huge smile and my father offered a nod of approval. 

“The place looks nice, Adam,” said my mother. “You’ve really fixed it up.”

I tried not to show my pride. “Thank you. I’ve been trying to make it presentable so that I can bring a wife here.”

“Is that so?” She gave me a sly look and I realized that this was not the time to mention that. “And are you planning on marrying soon? Perhaps you’ll meet a nice young lady at the ball tonight.”

Flustered, I said, “Perhaps.” I knew exactly who my mother was referring to. All throughout my childhood, she had encouraged a relationship between me and Charlotte. But I hadn’t been preparing my home specifically for her. In fact, it had nothing to do with her. I simply wanted to have a nice home to share with my wife.

And I wasn’t going to her ball to try and win her over. It was simply because we were old friends. Her family and mine were close. To save myself from having any further conversation about this, I opened the front door and let my parents out.

“We should be on our way.”

We walked to the Aldevron’s house. The night air was cool and it soothed my worries. I really had no reason to be worried anyway. My father knocked and the butler opened the door and led us to the ballroom. The Aldevron family stood in the entrance, waiting to welcome us. 

Lord and Lady Aldevron smiled at me and then my parents exchanged polite conversation with them. I stepped past and found myself face to face with a beautiful young woman. Her features were so familiar yet more mature and absolutely breathtaking. Her eyes were on me, a polite, reserved smile on her lips. That was what broke me from my trance. Her smile wasn’t bright and wild like it used to be.

“Good evening, Lord Watson. It’s good to see you again.”

Her voice was changed too. But in her eyes, I could tell she was holding herself back. This wasn’t really what she was like now, was it? And I missed the way she used to call me by my Christian name.

I bowed. “You look lovely, Miss Aldevron.” And I wasn’t just meaning her attire or only this evening. She had turned out well. “How have you been these many years?”

“Very well,” she replied. “I learned much about being a proper lady at the finishing school. But it’s more than good to be back.”

The way she said the word “proper” made me wonder if she hadn’t liked finishing school. I wanted to talk with her some more but the guests were lining up. There were a lot of people waiting to talk with the Aldevrons. 

Without thinking I said, “May I ask for your hand for the first set?”

Just like that, Charlotte’s eyes brightened more than they had since I’d seen her this evening. “Of course.”

I bowed again and made my way deeper into the ballroom, my parents behind me. My father sidled up next to me.

“Did I hear you ask Miss Aldevron for a dance?”

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and he was smiling conspiratorially. “Yes,” I said casually. “What of it?”

“Nothing,” my father answered. “Just curiosity.”

Just because I danced with a lady didn’t mean I was trying to charm her. It didn’t mean I wanted to marry her. I just thought it would be nice to catch up. Now that we were both older and she wasn’t chasing me around the room trying to kiss me. We were friends after all. Maybe I hadn’t considered her a friend when we were younger. But I would be lying to myself if I didn’t say I wished I’d been better to her.

After all the guests had arrived the music began and I found Charlotte near the entrance with her parents still. I greeted them once again and held my hand out for Charlotte. She grinned as she took my gloved hand and I pulled her into the line with all the other dancers.

We didn’t talk much, I mostly just admired her features. The way they had changed and how they hadn’t. She seemed to be studying me too, like she was trying to put together the fact that the man before her was Adam Watson, the neighbor boy from ages ago. 

After the dance, I let her take my arm. “Would you care to get some air?” I asked.

“Yes, please.”

We went outside and I leaned against the arched pillar that stood over the exit. I tried to think of something to start the conversation but what did you say to a stranger?

“It really is good to see you, Adam,” Charlotte said.

I didn’t miss the fact that she’d used my name. So her proper and polite act had been fake. A show for her parents. I hid a smile at the thought.

“It was quiet around here when you left,” I said. “And I’ll have to admit, I missed you, Charlotte.” If she was going to use my Christian name, I’d use hers. Like old times.

“You missed me?” She sounded skeptical. Charlotte turned away and breathed in the cool air. “I was really bothersome back then, wasn’t I.”

I laughed lightly. “I thought so. Until you weren’t there anymore and I found myself thinking about you all the time.”

Her shoulders stiffened. Oops. I hadn’t meant to say that much. Then she let out a breathy laugh.

“It sounds like you were finding yourself to fancy me.”

I shrugged. “I was young. That’s all history now. I really missed my chance back then.”

Charlotte turned back to face me. “Well I’m back now.”

Her eyes were piercing. The air left my lungs. What was I supposed to say to that? 

Words left my mouth before I could recall them.

“If I kiss you, you’ll have to marry me.” The words she’d said to me once, all those years ago.

Charlotte grinned. “Only if we get caught.”

“Miss Aldevron, there you are.”

We both turned around to find a handsome gentleman standing there. He had a smile plastered on his face. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I wanted a place on your dance card this evening, if it’s not full yet.”

“Oh.” Charlotte glanced at me before walking forward and taking the man’s elbow. “Of course, Lord Moore, it would be a pleasure.” 

“The pleasure is all mine.”

The pleasure is all mine. What a charlatan. They walked into the ballroom together, leaving me out in the cold. After a moment of stewing over my loss of companion, I made my way back into the ballroom. I looked around for Charlotte but she’d already disappeared into the crowd. 

I made my way to the refreshment table and sipped a cold punch. In my distracted state, I didn’t notice a lady gazing at me from behind her fan until she was standing right next to me.

“Good evening,” I said. My father had introduced me to her weeks ago but I couldn’t remember her name at the moment. 

“Splendid ball,” she said. She was twirling her fan and I got the message. I wasn’t at this ball for only Charlotte anyway. I was here for a good time. So I pushed her to the back of my mind and gave all my attention to Lady Travinport who I’d only just recalled her name. 

“Would you care for a dance?” I asked.

“I’d be honored, Lord Watson.”

I gave her a charming smile and led her to the dance floor. Unlucky as I was, Charlotte and her partner were right down the row from us. I focused on the steps of the dance instead of the smile on Charlotte’s face.

After the song ended, I hastily dismissed myself and made a beeline for Charlotte. She had walked with Lord Moore to the entrance of the ballroom, still holding tight to his arm.

It made me upset. The man was a bounder and Charlotte was going along with it. It seemed as if she was falling for his wiles. I couldn’t let that happen. She was too good for him. I marched over and cut them off. I ignored Lord Moore and gave my attention to Charlotte. 

“I know this might be presumptuous of me but could I steal you away for the supper dance.”

Lord Moore gave me the “back off” eyes. “I believe I already asked her for the supper dance.”

“And I believe I never got the chance to respond,” Charlotte said “And I’m afraid that my supper dance already belongs to Lord Watson.”

Lord Moore’s mouth dropped.

“He asked me earlier but I forgot to have him sign my dance card.” Charlotte gently pulled away from him and took my arm. Without another word she pulled me away from him and into the throng of people.

I heard Charlotte trying to stifle a giggle and it set me off. I snorted and had to cover my mouth so no one heard me laughing so inappropriately.

“Did you see his face?” Charlotte asked.

I chuckled. “I was worried he was trying to steal you from me.” Uh oh. Another slip up. I couldn’t believe that I’d said that and meant it.

“You saved me.” She turned to me and I pulled her close for the dance. “I hope you know I’m not the same lovestruck girl I used to be.”

“That’s a relief. We wouldn’t want to create a scandal in the middle of the dance floor.”

“Ha! You’re halfway there already by dancing with me a second time. And the supper dance no less. Tsk tsk. You’ll have to be careful from now on if you don’t want to make a scene.”

“I didn’t think you’d mind a scandal.” I smiled, taking her through the next steps. “But I’m glad that finishing school didn’t change you too much.”

“Oh nothing could make me change.” She laughed. “And I may not be lovestruck, Adam, but I still think you’re great.”

I beamed. “Well once upon a time you did threaten me with marriage.”

“If you’re not careful, I’ll follow up on that threat.”

Oh I hoped she would.