Chapter Text
In which The Heart is triumphant
One month later
The first autumn colours were appearing, the sky was a stunning blue and the sun was warming the fresh autumn air.
Gregory kept on looking for the woman who owned his heart, going over every word that Hermione had shared with him. Could he have misunderstood?
He had found a routine of walking in all the places they had enjoyed as friends. It comforted him to know they shared the same love for these places, it brought him closer to her, although he had no clue where she was. Ever since she had fled from him in the greenhouse, she had been in his thoughts daily.
During his walk, he often remembered their night together. Every last detail. The way she had looked at him, when she was so distressed about the elopement. She had been clutching him, and it had almost felt like she needed him. He felt like he could be her rock, to steady her. He had never ever felt that way before with anyone.
And he had kissed her, without knowing why he had kissed her and they had grown more passionate and had crossed the line from friends to lovers. It had been fabulous, magical and mesmerising and it had taken his breath away.
Lucy had been gazing up at him, her eyes looking right into his soul, and then … somehow … she was closer. He still didn’t know who had made the first move, closing the distance between them. Nor did he remember him lowering his head, but her face was just so close to his and the next thing he knew … he was kissing her.
His mind had lost all knowledge of words, of rationality and thought. His world turned into fireworks and colour, music and sensation. And heat, most of all heat. His body had responded to her, switching his mind completely off.
His heart skipped a beat and he looked up and that’s when he saw her, sitting on their favourite bench in Hyde Park, next to the Round Pond where they used to feed the ducks. She looked so familiar, and she still took his breath away. He had missed her terribly and he was so happy he had finally found her. Instead of walking over to her, he took a moment just to look at her from a distance, because she had not spotted him yet.
She was admonishing a greedy duck for stealing a piece of bread that was meant for a smaller water bird. Lucy probably would know what type of bird it was. Gregory did not have a head for details like that and he loved her all the more for it.
He enjoyed the tableau in front of him, she was talking to the duck sternly, even wagging her finger at him. He smiled. That was his Lucy, sunny, pragmatic and orderly, having all her ducks in a row. He chuckled, he just couldn’t help himself.
She looked up, and she saw him. Her eyes widened and her lips parted, her heart skipped a beat. She had hoped to see him and here he was. It was so good to finally see him again. He walked over to her, his mind working overtime on how to greet her. The last time he had seen her, he had been totally speechless and she had run from him. Better not let that happen again.
“Lucy,” it was all he could say, but it was like a song, a heartfelt song.
For a moment, it seemed she did not know how to respond to him and then she smiled and offered him a piece of bread.
“For me?” he murmured, “Or the ducks?”
“Ah, so you have found your voice, I am so glad for that,” Lucy looked at him, with her teasing smile, the one he knew from when they were friends and then it was like the awkwardness lifted and they were okay again. He took a seat next to her and started throwing pieces of bread to the ducks. It was good to be close to her, it was pleasant simply to be in her company again.
Lucy turned her head to get a good look at Gregory. She had missed him the last few weeks. His sense of humour, his teasing and here he was, back to his old self. And she was so thankful for that. When she had first seen him, just standing there watching her as she fed the ducks, her stomach had dropped at least an inch and she had felt squeamish.
She didn’t know what to say or how to act. She had had weeks to plan for this event and still she did not know, so she decided to let her heart speak. And her heart felt bold, complimenting him on finding his voice. Who knew she could be so daring.
And he had felt so familiar, like the good friend she knew so well. He had put her at ease immediately, which was quite remarkable because they still had to address the elephant in the park.
She still had to explain what had happened, with her. How she, Lucy Abernathy, who had always mocked romantic love, nay, denied there existed such a thing as true love, had fallen, completely and hopelessly, in love with Gregory.
She cleared her throat, taking a deep breath to explain.
“I could have been happy with him,” she whispered.
Gregory turned his head, wondering where she was going with this, hoping she wasn’t telling him she regretted running from the altar. “Oh God…” he had not intended to say those words, but they were out now.
But Lucy took his hand and looked at him, “No, let me explain.”
Her finger was stroking his thumb gingerly, while she was gathering her thoughts. “There might not have been love in our marriage, but I could have been happy. It was what I expected. Please understand, I was prepared for being a trophy wife. In my family, whatever was left of it, they trained me to fulfil a duty. It was all I had ever known.”
Gregory gulped, he just couldn’t fathom such a family, with such high expectations. From the heir yes, he knew about duty and responsibility from Anthony, but from daughters. Inconceivable.
“But now—“, Lucy raised her eyes to his, and Gregory had a hard time breathing, eager to hear what she needed to say. “You made me want you instead.”
His heart slammed in his chest, cause she had said. She wanted him. Him!
He took her face in his hands, looked into her slate blue eyes and kissed her with every fibre of his being.
When he let go of her lips, his right hand took hers and she felt what he was doing before she realised it. He dropped from the bench on his knee, looking up at her as if she were a royal banquet and he a starved man.
She smiled at his silliness, but when his left hand produced a little blue velvet box, her hand flew to her mouth and she started shaking for nerves.
“Lucinda Abernathy, my dear Lucy,” his voice all emotional and husky, “will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?”
Lucy tried to speak, but she was lost for words, so she nodded, while tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Marry me, Lucy,” Gregory said, “Make me the happiest man on earth and marry me.”
And this time Lucy found her voice, “Yes, I will. I will marry you.”
He shoved the ring on her finger and sealed it with a kiss, before he stood up to embrace her. He swirled her around, making her shriek with laughter, the ducks quacking loudly at the disturbance, while he shouted for all to hear, “She said YES!”