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“These midsummer evenings are so enchanting, don’t you think?” Alfred asked, looking up at Edward, a look of longing in his crystal blue eyes.
He looked so beautiful, the setting sun highlighting his sleek blond hair and blond eyebrows. He was in a state of slight undress from the ceilidh, revealing the smooth, soft skin on his neck. His cheeks were flushed, which made Edward Drummond’s heart race. Really, everything about Alfred Paget made that happen.
He felt the strongest urge to, to…
One quick, dry kiss on Alfred’s lips, pulling away in fear that he had misread all the signs Alfred had given him. Another kiss, this time, Alfred leading, calming all of Edward’s fears. Yet a third kiss, the deepest, most passionate of them all. Both men led this kiss together, passionately embracing, neither wanting to let go of the other. Each man let out a sigh of relief when they came up for air, smiling as they rubbed their noses together, sated to the core.
“Oh, Alfred, that was,” Edward began, almost whispering, “wonderful. Absolutely heavenly.”
“Yes, Edward, it certainly was.” It was the first time Alfred had used his first name, and Edward melted into this beautiful, wonderful, amazing, lovely man’s embrace, his heart nearly overflowing.
“Oh, Alfred, I...I...I love you.” Edward whispered.
“I love you too, Edward. I love you very much.” Alfred whispered back, kissing him again.
They sat down by the statue of Hercules, bathing in each other’s embrace. But soon, Edward’s smile turned into tears, as his breath hitched in his throat.
“My darling, what’s the matter?” Alfred asked warmly, stroking Edward’s cheek.
“Will this last?” Edward said, his voice more desperate than Alfred had ever heard. “My engagement. I am to be married in a few weeks’ time. If I marry, will I still be able to see you? Will we be able to be together?”
“Yes.” Alfred answered.
“You really think so?” Edward sniffed his tears clearing.
“I know so. Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because nothing in this universe, no great power, no engagement, no marriage, absolutely nothing, will keep me from the other half of my soul.”
“I see you know your Plato, Alfred.” Edward flirted. “And, I promise, right here, right now, never to leave you either.”
* * *
Wilhelmina smiled. They hadn’t known she’d seen them kiss. Tentatively, she thought back to her carefully crafted plan with Florence.
It all started in 1843, three years earlier, when Wilhelmina and Florence had their first kiss. It had been very similar to Alfred and Edward’s, but with much more desperation. It had been beautiful, exactly what both young women had needed and wanted.
“Oh, Willie.” Florence had wept. “This engagement, I’m going to get married. I won’t be able to see you anymore, not like I want to.” Wilhelmina had tried her best to comfort her beloved, but the strain of her engagement was too much.
However, as Edward grew emotionally distant, maybe even reluctant, in regards to the engagement, and as he got closer to Alfred, Wilhelmina got an idea.
There was only one way to avoid a miserable marriage: if the husband was in love with someone else.
A story, that was it. They would probe and investigate this…friendship?…between Edward and Alfred, with a secret code: a love story. Wilhelmina, a naturally keen observer, close to both of them, would spy on them, gather all the information she could, and relay it to Florence like it was a romantic novel she was reading.
This enchanting midsummer evening was the end of the novel. A happy ending meant they had gotten lucky; Edward was in love with Alfred. A sad ending meant he was not. Tickled to the bone at this result, she composed a letter to Florence.
Florence, my dear,
I have finished that lovely story I’ve been telling you about, and I’m pleased to say the young lovers ride off into the sunset together, with a promise to marry.
This ending thoroughly warmed my heart, and made me confident that we both will see happy endings in our own love lives.
Love,
Wilhelmina
She sealed the letter with a kiss. When she got back to London, she would meet with Florence, to craft a plan to convince Edward that a marriage to Florence would work in his favor, since the Duchess already had designs on Alfred and Wilhelmina. Finally, a happy ending for all four of them was in sight.