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Lady Fell stood in the hallway looking into the mirror that hung on the wall. She adjusted her new hat to a more becoming angle and secured the white ribbon underneath her chin. The flowers on the top were such a lovely blue shade – they matched her eyes.
She smoothed down the full skirts of her pale tartan patterned frock, and picked up her parasol. With one last smile at her reflection she turned and prepared to head out the door for her daily constitutional. Just as she approached the door there was a loud noise. She jumped and placed a hand to her chest in surprise. Someone had banged on the front door. Her Mother, Countess Gabriella, called out to her from upstairs.
“Aziraphale, please could you answer the door. Newton is busy helping me with something”
“Yes, Mother” called back Aziraphale. She put down her parasol and opened the door. Standing on the steps was a very tall, skinny person dressed all in black, with equally black marks on their skin. She couldn’t see much of the face as they had a cap pulled low over their forehead and some sort of dark spectacles that hid the eyes. Aziraphale glanced at the long set of brushes propped on the shoulder and realised the black smudges were coal dust. It was the chimney sweep.
“Good afternoon” she said to the sweep, who simply nodded and touched their cap at her. “You’ve come to clean the chimneys today I take it?” Another nod. “Very well, follow me please”. Aziraphale stepped back and the sweep entered the house, and she closed the door.
“Who is it?” called down Lady Gabriella.
“It’s the chimney sweep, Mother”
“Show him to the front parlour, and make sure he puts down plenty of sheets”
“Yes, Mother”. Aziraphale turned to the sweep and indicated to follow her. She took the sweep to a large parlour which was dominated by a huge fireplace and mantelpiece. The sweep dropped the brushes with a clatter and some dust flew up. Aziraphale glared at the sweep, irritated at the mess.
“Young man, I would prefer it if you would place your items more carefully please” she said sharply.
“Young man?!” exclaimed the sweep, who reached up a dirty hand and pulled off the cap. Aziraphale gasped in surprise as a head of bright red hair was revealed. It was pinned up underneath the cap, strands of it escaping onto the sweep’s shoulders. She could immediately see this sweep was distinctly female.
“I…I do apologise.” said Aziraphale, flustered. As she paid more attention she noticed that the sweep had a feminine figure, underneath the black clothing and the dirt. In fact it was a very nice figure, she thought. The tight black trousers clung in interesting places and the sweep had quite delicate hands… Aziraphale shook her head. This was not the first time she had felt attracted to a female, though it was not something she had given much thought to.
“That’s alright. Most people see a bloke too, first time” said the sweep. She had a smooth voice, surprisingly well-spoken. Aziraphale swallowed hard.
“I’m very sorry. It is quite unusual to see women in such jobs”
“Yep. Well, I am pretty unusual” the sweep lowered her dark glasses briefly and gave Aziraphale a slow and deliberate wink, which did nothing to slow down Aziraphale’s heart rate. “Name’s Antonia Crowley. You can call me Crowley”. Crowley stuck out a hand and without thinking Aziraphale took it. A shock went through her as they shook hands.
“I’m Lady Fell. Er…Aziraphale Fell.” She pulled back and realised she had black dust on her hand, and it had now brushed onto her dress.
“Sorry, Lady Fell. Didn’t mean to make you dirty” said Crowley.
“It’s quite alright, I’ll go and clean it in a minute.” Crowley smiled at her and Aziraphale felt her heart thump again. “And please, call me Aziraphale. Do you need anything?”
“No, I’ll just get all my stuff in and start the job. Thank you… Aziraphale” said Crowley, holding her gaze. Aziraphale flushed pink.
“I’ll leave you to it...Crowley” Aziraphale murmured. She left the parlour and headed up to her room to wash the dirt off. As she scrubbed her hands she smiled to herself….
****************************
Crowley had finished the job and was packing up her equipment. Aziraphale had just returned from a walk and had come into the parlour, closing the door. Crowley glanced at her as she worked. She really was a luscious looking woman. The pretty dress and hat were most becoming on her, and the way her petticoats swung around her curvaceous figure made Crowley think distinctly inappropriate thoughts. Just watching her was so tempting…
Crowley had long ago learned she was attracted to women, but this angelic looking lady was so far out of her reach. She may as well just leave and move on to the next house. Crowley bent down to retrieve a sheet and Aziraphale moved towards her.
“Let me help?” Crowley looked at her, noticing she had very blue eyes.
“Er…sure. We can just fold it up”
They folded the large sheet in half, half again, and Aziraphale reached out to hand Crowley her end so she could finish the final fold. Their fingers brushed and Aziraphale noticed Crowley flushing as red as her hair.
“So, do you have many more houses to do today?” asked Aziraphale.
“Um…just two more on the other side of the square” replied Crowley.
“Well, thank you so much. I must say it makes a change to see a woman doing this type of work”
“Really? Most folks tell me I shouldn’t do this and to go home to my husband”
“You have a husband?” asked Aziraphale, trying to keep her tone light. Crowley laughed loudly.
“Oh no! Nothing like that interests me”
“Really? I am sure the Women’s Social and Political Union would be delighted to hear that”
“Oh, are you one of those suffragettes?”
“I may occasionally take part in some of their…activities. Maybe you could join us”
“Oh no, they don’t want the likes of me”
“Not at all, my dear, we welcome all women wishing to support our movement”
“We’ll see. I had better get going”
She reached for her equipment and at the same time Aziraphale reached out as well. She placed a hand on Crowley’s arm. Crowley started in surprise, then stared at the soft pink hand against her dirty black jacket.
“I’d like you to come to a meeting. We could go there together”
“Together?” Crowley’s voice seemed to go up a tone.
“If you like”
“Aziraphale…I….”
“Please” the hand tightened on her arm.
“You’re getting your dress dirty”
“I hadn’t noticed” Aziraphale’s eyes bored into Crowley’s through her dark glasses.
“I had. It’s a pretty dress”
“Thank you”
“And a nice hat”
“Thank you”
Crowley placed her hand on top of Aziraphale’s and was sure she heard Aziraphale gasp very slightly. Her lips parted and Crowley stepped a little closer.
“Aziraphale…” she whispered. And then they were kissing. Crowley wasn’t certain who leaned forward first. All she knew was that it was the most spectacular kiss she had ever experienced. As the kiss deepened, Crowley instinctively slid her arms around Aziraphale’s neck and held her close.
Aziraphale moaned gently and wrapped her arms around the skinny figure of the chimney sweep, pulling Crowley against her. Her brain was overloaded with what she was doing being so wrong but feeling so very right. She was aware of coal smudges appearing on her dress, and for once she didn’t care.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door, and the pair leapt apart. The door handle was turning.
“Aziraphale, did you pay the chimney sweep?” called Lady Gabriella from the other side.
Aziraphale looked at Crowley in horror as she realised she was standing there smudged with coal dust, her face flushed from the kisses still burning her lips. Crowley returned the look, which held much the same expression.
The door was beginning to open….