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It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
Though maybe, maybe some are in want of a husband instead…
The ball was bustling. It was loud inside the ballroom, the sounds of flutes and harps, violins and cellos playing a silly dancing tune combining with the sounds of chatter and laughter coming from the several people in attendance, although somehow it worked in a way that worked together to create such an atmosphere that enhanced the emotions of the patrons in attendance, whether it be positive or, for very few, negative.
It was overcrowded too. Ballrooms really ought to be bigger, considering the events they held, as it seemed that no matter where one stepped they’d always be knocking into someone, and there were few places one could escape to when the constant crowding and the warm, stuffy feel in the air got to be too much in any ballroom, but especially in this one.
It was overwhelming, in the way public balls so often were. The general atmosphere of public balls was always a lot, and while that left something to be desired for some, it did not for Mr Charles Spring. He couldn’t think of much worse than balls and detested the fact he always found himself dragged to one.
His parents were insistent on taking their two eldest children to them, however, for they, apparently, were to find themselves suitable spouses. Charlie needed a wife, although he wasn’t too fond of the idea, and his sister, Miss Victoria Spring, was to find herself a husband. She, like Charlie, wasn’t too agreeable to the idea either until she caught the eye of Mr Michael Holden, and suddenly she was taking interest in such events, and possibly even enjoying herself.
Charlie deemed it out of character for her, but his opinion didn’t much matter now that she was due to be engaged any day now, as his mother claimed.
Charlie still didn’t like balls, even if his sister suddenly did. He wished he could stay home with Oliver instead.
This particular ball felt more intolerable than the others. Maybe it was just him and his sour mood, but there was something about this event that simply made him miserable. The music was too loud, there were far too many people, his mother was glaring at him across the ballroom in hopes that it would make him dance with someone, and his sister had gone off with Mr Holden, leaving him with no one to talk to. Charlie was very unhappy.
He’d danced one dance, with Miss Elle Argent, and although he detested dancing, she wasn’t a bad partner. She was nice to talk to, but although they were well acquainted, Charlie knew he didn’t want to marry her, and she was more interested in Mr Tao Xu anyway, so after their dance, had gone in search of him instead, leaving Charlie back on the side of the room, watching the couples dance. He wasn’t complaining, dancing really wasn’t his idea of fun, but his parents were. He could see them gesturing to some of the single girls on the opposite side of the room, almost threateningly, but he just huffed and looked in the other direction.
Charlie simply wasn’t enjoying himself. The ballroom was unpleasantly warm and sweaty, and his collar felt too tight. He was over dancing, over the music, and certainly over his parent's glances in his direction. Deciding he’d had enough, he stood with a sigh and made his way to the closest exit, one leading out to the gardens behind the hall.
He scurried down the steps, tugging at his collar in hopes of loosening it, and found a bench amongst the bushes. He sunk down onto it and took a deep breath for the first time in what must have been an hour. He could still hear the music from inside, but it wasn’t so bad when it was muted. Enough light came from the open doors that the garden was illuminated, and he admired the garden in front of him, filled with rose bushes and a fountain in the centre.
It was a lovely garden. Much more pleasant than inside.
He saw a shadow in the light but figured it to be someone inside, so he let his eyes drift shut as he took several more deep breaths. “Excuse me, sir, are you alright?” A voice came from behind him.
Charlie startled and turned to the voice, not expecting anyone to be outside with him, and smiled when he saw who it was. “Oh, Mr Nelson. I didn’t realise you were attending this ball. I would have come to say hello otherwise.”
“I only arrived an hour ago, I was dancing briefly with Miss Tara Jones but I saw you leave and wanted to make sure you were alright,” He smiled at him from his place on the balcony. “May I join you?”
Charlie nodded and gestured to the spot beside him. “If you wish.”
Nick smiled and walked down the steps, joining Charlie on the stone bench. “It’s a nice night tonight,” He said, looking up to the stars with a content sigh.
Charlie hummed. “Yes. I suppose it is.” He too looked up at the sky and sighed. There wasn’t a cloud in sight, and the moon was bright, shining for all to see.
“I didn’t startle you, did I, Mr Spring?” Nick asked, giving Charlie a worried sort of smile. “When I came outside?”
“Oh, no, not at all Mr Nelson. I just wasn’t expecting anyone out here with me. Most of the action is inside, you see,” Charlie said, gesturing behind him to the ballroom. Nick nodded, and a brief spell of silence fell between the pair as they stared out at the greenery in front of them, admiring the way the roses swayed in the slight breeze. It was quite beautiful.
“How are your family?”
“They’re well. My sister, we believe, is soon to be engaged and my brother is happy simply playing with his tin soldiers, I do envy him sometimes. My parents are well also,” Charlie said. “How is yours? Are your father and brother still in the army?”
Nick nodded. “Yes, stationed in Newcastle currently. We just got a letter from them both recently. My mother is well, though I believe she is quite sad without my father there. It’s quite difficult running an estate alone, I can imagine. I try to help when I can, but I’m not much help, I’m afraid.”
“I’m sure she’s doing excellently.”
“Thank you, Mr Spring.”
The silence fell back between them, and it was almost uncomfortable. They were sitting slightly apart, knees tilted away from each other. Nick had removed his hat and placed it on his knees, and he fiddled with the ribbon. Charlie watched him. “I’m sorry Mr Spring, I came out here to see whether you were alright and I haven't yet asked. Is everything alright? If you don’t mind me asking, why did you leave the ballroom all alone?”
“I’m afraid balls aren’t quite my idea of a good time, Mr Nelson,” Charlie sighed. “I don’t enjoy dancing as much as I should, and that amount of people overwhelms me. I’m not very good at conversing with those I don’t know, unfortunately.”
“I understand. Places like this can be quite much, and I’m quite hopeless at dancing myself, so I understand your aversion. Still, being out here alone ought to be dangerous, I’d much rather sit out here with you. To make sure you’re alright, of course.” Nick’s cheeks flamed as he spoke, and his fiddling with the ribbon became more insistent.
He had always been drawn to Mr Charlie Spring in a way he couldn’t quite explain. They’d known each other for a while, having been introduced at another ball similar to this one, and had seen each other at various events since, and every time he saw him Nick felt a particular pang in his heart and a flutter in his stomach that he couldn’t quite shake, nor could he put his finger on. All he knew was that what he felt about Charlie was something he felt for no one else.
“I can assure you, Mr Nelson, that I am capable of handling myself, but,” He paused for a moment and smiled at Nick. “I wouldn’t mind the company. You are one of the only people in attendance I actually enjoy the company of.”
Nick's cheeks burned harder, and he turned away from Charlie to attempt to hide it. “Thank you, Mr Spring, I feel likewise with you.”
“Though won’t Miss Jones miss your company if you’re sitting out here with me?” Charlie asked.
“No, I don’t think so. She was speaking to Miss Olsson when I came to find you. I believe the two are quite friendly with each other.” Charlie hummed. “Mr Spring, could I tell you a secret?”
“Yes, Mr Nelson, what is it?”
“I don’t want to court or propose to Miss Jones. And I don’t think she wants me to either,” He sighed, sliding a hand down his face. “There is a lot of pressure from both our parents to do so, it’s been expected that we would marry since we were children, and don’t get me wrong, she’s a fine lady, but neither of us is fond of the idea and we’re trying to delay it as much as we can before it becomes suspicious.” His voice was melancholy as he spoke, and his face was miserable. Charlie could see the burden his predicament had been placing over his shoulders just in his downcast expression.
“Oh. Well, if you don’t love each other, there is nothing that can be done. You can’t force a marriage, no matter what your families think.” He knew what he was saying wasn’t quite the truth, marriage was rarely about love but often about inheritance and convenience, but he was a firm believer in love coming above all that. Maybe that was why he was so disgusted at the thought of a wife. “Is there another woman you fancy or is it just that you don’t love Miss Jones?”
“I don’t think there’s any woman I fancy,” Nick mumbled, quiet enough that Charlie couldn’t quite hear him.
“Sorry, what did you say? I’m afraid I couldn’t hear you,” Charlie said.
Nick sat up straight and shook his head. “No, it doesn't matter. You won’t tell anyone, will you Mr Spring?”
“No, of course not,” Charlie shook his head. “I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not sure I’m fond of the idea of marriage either.”
The silence was back again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable like it was before. It was filled with the understanding that there wasn’t much more that could be said on the matter, and mutual respect for each other and their situations. Though Nick’s heart was pounding from his earlier slip-up, a slip-up that could get him in a lot of trouble had the wrong person heard him, sitting next to Charlie, he managed to get himself to relax.
They could still hear the music coming from inside, now playing a slower tune that made for a much slower dance than the bouncing tunes that came before it. Nick smiled at the sound and turned to look at Charlie, who was once again looking out to the rose bushes, with a grin that suddenly turned shy.
“I know you said you didn’t like dancing, but…” Nick stood and held his hand out to Charlie, who stared between his outstretched fingers and Nick's hopeful face. “Would you do the honour of allowing me the next dance?”
It was Charlie’s turn to blush. “Are you sure, Mr Nelson?”
“Of course, Mr Spring. I don’t just ask anyone to dance with me.”
Charlie looked apprehensive. “I’m not sure I know the steps to this one, though.”
“That’s alright,” Nick smiled. “We can make up our own.”
“Very well then.” Charlie took Nick’s hand and stood, allowing himself to be held in Nick’s arms. “Will you lead the way?”
Their dance consisted mostly of swaying rather than actual dancing, though Nick did manage to twirl Charlie a few times. They swayed in circles around the fountain, chatting mindlessly about the structure of the building, their mutual acquaintances and more about how their families were doing before it went quiet once more, both of them content to simply sway and spin in silence, enjoying each other’s company.
Nick couldn’t help but stare at Charlie. He looked dashing in his dark suit, and the moonlight struck his pale face in such a way that it illuminated his features, making his eyes shine especially. To Nick, in the moonlight, Charlie was more gorgeous than he already was.
And looking at Charlie shining in the moonlight, realisation washed over him, and it felt like everything had fallen into place. The reason he felt so shy around Charlie, the reason for the pang in his chest and the fluttering in his stomach, the reason he didn’t want to marry Miss Jones. It was all because he was in love with Charlie.
For a moment, he panicked. He knew what he was thinking was considered unlawful, and if he confessed to his feelings and Charlie wasn’t accepting, it was a death wish, but looking at him under the light of the moon, seeing Charlie look back at him with shining eyes, gave him a brief assurance that maybe he wasn't alone. That possibly, if the look in his eyes was any indication, Charlie loved him too.
He figured it was now or never. He doubted they’d ever be an occasion in which he’d be this close to Charlie Spring again, and if he was rejected then, well, maybe he’d just run for the hills and never come back.
“If I tell you something, Mr Spring, do you promise not to run away and hate me for the rest of your life, or tell anyone?”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “That sounds serious, Mr Nelson, but if it’s that important, then of course. You are telling me quite a lot tonight.”
Nick took a deep breath. “I’m in love with you. That is why I don’t want to marry Miss Jones. Every time I see you, my heart aches and my stomach flutters, you make me feel in such a way that I could never feel for anyone else. And I know it’s unheard of for two men to love in such a way, but I cannot help how I feel for you.”
Nick breathed harshly once he had finished his speech, relived yet terrified all at once, and Charlie simply stood there, stunned, blinking up at him. The silence was deafening, and Nick was starting to panic again before Charlie finally spoke up. “Mr Nelson?”
“Yes, Mr Spring?”
Charlie moved from the position they had been dancing in, his hands gently on his shoulders, to wrap his arms around his neck, a prominent blush spreading over his face. “I think you ought to start referring to me by Charlie.”
Nick chuckled breathlessly, relief spreading over him like wildfire. “Only if you refer to me as Nick,” He whispered, leaning in closer, and closer still…
And under the light of the moon, Mr Charles Spring and Mr Nicholas Nelson kissed for the very first time.