Chapter Text
It was the happiest day of Theo’s life; he’d just married the most beautiful and perfect woman in the world. He couldn’t be happier. Nan had chosen him; she loved him.
The wedding reception was extravagant, befitting of a duke and the new duchess. Only, Theo’s new wife, Nan, seemed to have disappeared. Theo began wandering through the partygoers to try to find her, before coming across Lizzy.
“Lizzy,” Theo walked up to her. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen Nan.”
“She was here a moment ago.” Lizzy looked around in equal confusion. She then turned back to Theo with a sympathetic smile. “It’s a lovely party, the dancing and the drinks. But you don’t need me to explain parties.” Lizzy ducked her head, giving an embarrassed chuckle. It was endearing and cute; Theo couldn’t help but smile. Nan had a good lot in her friends.
“I’ve been to a fair few parties I’d like an explanation for.” Theo joked in return, making Lizzy chuckle.
“Is that so?” Lizzy smiled. Theo couldn’t help but smile back. Lizzy seemed so much cheerier and bubblier than when Theo first moved in circles around her, in his pursuit of Nan.
Suddenly, from across the room came a boisterous laugh, drawing both their heads. Theo recognized the man as Hector Robinson. Hector seemed to have caught their eyes from across the room, or more specifically, Lizzy’s. She was, after all, an undeniably beautiful face, made even more so in her bridesmaid’s blue dress. Hector raised the glass he was drinking from in a curt nod to Lizzy. Theo found Lizzy looking away with a blush.
“That’s Hector Robinson,” Theo informed her.
“Is that so?” Lizzy kept her head down with a blush.
“Upstanding citizen. Member of parliament. And that jawline.” Theo teased.
Lizzy chuckled softly.
“I should find Nan. But you, you should definitely go say hi.”
Lizzy chuckled softly some more with her head still ducked, and Theo left her.
Theo heard Nan crying softly in the other room, raising his concern. He pressed closer, hand raised to the door. Should he dare, or would it be best to leave her be? He felt conflicted, unsure of what to do. Ultimately, like a coward, he pulled away.
It continued, the crying, Nan pulling away, being distant. Theo told himself that she was just tired from the tour; they both were. Nan missed home as he did, missed her family. She was worried about her sister; how could she not be?
“You know you can tell me if you’re unhappy at all, if this is ever all too much,” Theo spoke to her one day. “I know you didn’t grow up like this, into this life as I have. I know it can be overwhelming.” He brought his hand to stroke over hers comfortingly. “But we’ll be back to our new home together soon, where we can relax.”
Nan seemed to ease at that.
“You’re happy, right?” Theo asked tentatively, their hands falling into each other’s.
Nan turned to Theo and gave a smile. “Of course, Theo.” She gripped his hands tightly.
Theo felt he could see through her façade, but what was Nan hiding?
/
Hector Robinson was perfect; he was handsome and charming. He made Lizzy’s stomach and heart flutter. He was highly praised for his character, said to be a good, honest, hard-working man. Lizzy thought that maybe, just maybe, he could be the man to offer her a second chance.
Lizzy was brought back to the darkness in the world as she received a letter from Guy. She was relieved to hear news that he and Ginny were okay, but she hated that he had to burden her with carrying on a message to Nan. Of course, she was Nan’s best friend, but did it have to be her?
Another letter came, signed from the Duke of Tintagel, Theo himself. Lizzy felt alarmed as anything as she opened it.
In the letter, Theo penned, “Dear Lizzy, I do not wish to burden you in any way by writing you this letter. But as you may be aware, Nan and I are returning to Castle Tintagel from our tour. I dare say Nan has missed her home and friends sufficiently. I worry that she is too proud to ask her friends to welcome her home and provide her with the comfort she so longs for. So I have taken it upon myself to do so. As she is my wife, I only long to make her happy. I hope you can understand. By my understanding, you are Nan’s truest and best friend. And so I hope that you will be there to greet us, her, when we return.”
Lizzy was filled with worry over Theo’s letter. It was distressing. Had Nan been so out of sorts since their marriage that he’d noticed? She pulled Guy’s letter out from where she had stored it in a drawer, deep in thought. Maybe she should check in on Nan. If Nan truly was still in love with Guy, wouldn’t it be the right thing to give her the letter? Lizzy’s eyes then flicked over to Theo’s letter… Poor Theo.
/
Theo was heart-fallen to hear Nan crying in her room upon their return to Castle Tintagel. He’d hoped that Lizzy would have been there to greet them upon their arrival to offer Nan comfort. But alas, that did not seem to be the case.
The next day, some servants alerted Theo that a carriage was approaching the castle. Theo and Nan went outside to greet the visitor. Theo found a servant helping Lizzy out of the carriage and smiled fondly, glad at her arrival. She was looking up at the castle in awe and wonder before catching sight of him on the stairs above her.
Lizzy offered him an easy smile. “Your grace.” She welcomed warmly.
“Lizzy!” Nan ran out behind Theo to excitedly greet her friend.
/
Lizzy was so glad to see Nan. Nan assured Lizzy that Theo and she were happy, that he was a kind man, and that she’d be alright. After being assured that Nan was alright, Lizzy went to join Hector on the lawn for the precursor to the spring gala. She was more than content to be in his company and enjoyed a bit of flirty banter with him.
Soon, everyone set off on their search for the “holy grail”. Hector proposed to Lizzy that they turn the search for the grail into a game of friendly competition between them, rather than working as a pair.
“We’ll see which of us can find it first,” Hector said.
“Oh? You think you can find it?” Lizzy teased back.
And so Lizzy set off alone into the forest alongside the creek, not even half sure what exactly she was searching for. All in all, even if she came out empty-handed, it would still prove to be a nice walk.
/
“We should mingle,” Theo told Nan as their guests set out on the search for the grail. “You’ll do fine on your own?” Theo inquired of her.
“I’m determined to find this grail,” Nan replied sternly, making Theo chuckle.
“And I’m sure with your headstrongness, you will.”
“Is that a diss?” She cocked her head with a warning, teasing glare.
“Never.” He smiled back, making her smile.
“So no clues then?”
“Even I don’t know where they hid it. But I have the utmost faith you’ll find it.” Theo then sent Nan off with a kiss to her forehead.
Theo wasn’t so intent on finding the cup. Instead, he snuck away from talking with lords to have a nice, peaceful walk through the forest by the creek. He’d picked up a stick and was swinging it at the grass, his thoughts still in deep concern for Nan. There were moments when they felt so close and in love. Yet there were others when Nan felt so far away or was putting on an act. Theo’s heart ached, worried that… He didn’t want to think about it.
Theo looked up and was shocked to find Lizzy walking towards him. “Hello.” He smiled, dropping the stick from his hand.
“Hello,” Lizzy replied with a friendly smile. “I’m glad it’s you, because I don’t honestly know what I’m looking for.”
“Do you not know what the holy grail is?” Theo inquired, intrigued and a bit shocked, if so.
“I’m afraid so,” Lizzy admitted with a bit of an embarrassed blush.
“They don’t tell Americans the tales of King Arthur?”
“I don’t know much. He pulled some sword from a stone and had a collection of knights with a round table.”
“I should give you a book with the tales.”
“I’d like that.” Lizzy smiled. “So what is this holy grail anyway?” Lizzy began walking ahead of him.
“Well, it’s a silver chalice, said to be the one Jesus used at the last supper.” Theo followed Lizzy, walking alongside her.
“So we're looking for a silver chalice that Jesus drank from?”
“Well, not the same one. In reality, we just hide the bowl we keep nuts in at Christmas.”
Lizzy laughed at that.
“King Arthur’s quest was to bring the real grail to Camelot. Though it also had to do with beating Lancelot.”
“Who?” Lizzy turned her head to Theo.
“Arthur’s great friend and rival. Guinevere was Arthur’s wife, but she…she and Lancelot loved each other more.” Theo’s mind wandered briefly to Nan.
“I see.”
“It’s regarded as a legendary love story. But I’m never sure.” Theo commented as they strolled along.
“How did it end?”
“Not well for Arthur.” Theo turned to Lizzy. “He got a spear through the head.”
“And what about Guinevere?”
“They say Lancelot came back for her. After Arthur died, he found her in a nunnery.”
“Three meals a day, a comfortable frock. What more could a woman want?”
Theo turned to Lizzy with a smile.
They continued their stroll, coming closer to the stream.
“You know, one year they hid the grail in the water.” Theo gestured to the stream.
“Sneaky,” Lizzy said as they stepped onto the rocks in the stream.
“I hope they haven’t again this year. I don’t fancy getting wet.”
“Isn’t that it there?” Lizzy crouched down, pointing further down the stream.
Theo crouched down beside her, trying to see what Lizzy had seen. To do so, he shuffled closer to her. Only as he did so, Lizzy splashed him with water from the stream. Theo let out a surprised laugh, turning to her in bewilderment. Americans never ceased to amaze him with their lack of propriety. It did lighten the mood, though, and make things more enjoyable.
Lizzy stifled her chuckle with her hand. To get her back, Theo immediately splashed her in return.
“No!” Lizzy cried through giggles and jumped up to race away from another potential splash.
Theo chuckled, taking off after her to chase her. Only Lizzy stopped short and sharp on the shore, hand to her wrist, looking back in worry.
“Is something the matter?” Theo stopped, asking in concern.
“My bracelet.” Lizzy wrung her hand around her bare wrist.
“It might have fallen in the water.” Theo raced back to look for it. He found something shining in the river. “I see it!” He declared, relieved. Theo then crouched to fetch it out of the stream.
“Oh my gosh, thank you.” Lizzy ran over to Theo’s side as he reached up to hand the bracelet to her.
“That’ll teach me not to splash dukes.” Lizzy joked lightly as Theo rose to his feet.
“Here, let me.” Theo reached his hand to where Lizzy was attempting to clasp her bracelet around her wrist. “I know how finicky these things are.” He took either end of the clasp from her.
“Really? You have some experience with bracelets then?” She looked up to him with a teasing grin.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Theo met her dark brown eyes. It suddenly felt inappropriate how close they were.
With the clasp of the bracelet secured around Lizzy’s wrist, Theo took a step back. He cleared his throat to inquire: “Shall we continue our search?”
Lizzy cleared her own throat, nodding diligently.
And so with that, they turned to continue on their walk.
“Thank you for coming,” Theo spoke to Lizzy. “You didn’t tell Nan I wrote asking you to come, did you?”
“No, I just told her that I wanted to check in on her. It was practically the truth.”
They walked quietly side by side for a bit, coming out of the forest onto the grass clearing.
“I hear her sometimes, crying. Nan. When she’s alone.” Theo spoke lowly. “It’s not as though I didn’t suspect how she felt about Guy.” He took a breath, slowing his walk. “I think my wife has a broken heart. I’m not sure what I can do to mend it.” He looked to Lizzy, who gave him a solemn, sad sort of smile.
“Theo, Lizzy!” Nan’s voice cried out before them in the clearing. Theo looked over, spotting Hector beside her, holding up the nut bowl.
/
Guy’s letter weighed like a heavy stone in Lizzy’s pouch. She sat in Nan’s room waiting for her to get dressed for dinner.
“He hears you.” Lizzy stood up from the bed, speaking to Nan.
Nan looked back at Lizzy in her mirror, where she was fixing her earrings.
“Theo, he hears you crying when you're alone, and it’s killing him. I think he knows about you and Guy.”
“Theo knows Guy was here the night before the wedding?” Nan turned sharply to Lizzy in concern and worry.
“No,” Lizzy reassured Nan. “He’s just… He’s trying to understand, and he’s worried about you. We both are.”
“Well, no one asked you to worry,” Nan replied sharply. “Why can’t everyone just mind their own business?”
“Nan, I came here to see you. And I’ve been trying to figure out if you’re happy or not.”
“Why?” Nan turned sharply back, having now moved on to her lips. “I was happy before you asked me. And what does happy mean?”
“Oh, I would love to know.” Lizzy shot back, matching Nan’s tone. “I just don’t think it means crying in secret whenever you get the chance.”
“And what do you know about marriage? I made my decision, and we were all in on it. Now I have to live and deal with my decision every day for the rest of my life. I’m trying to make it work.”
After Nan stomped out, Lizzy needed a breather. She came out onto a balcony, taking in the fresh air. She lounged over the edge, finding Theo down below, laughing and talking with some lords. He looked up and met Lizzy’s eyes, smiling.
Suddenly, Hector came out behind Lizzy, cheering her spirits up.
It was late in the evening, after dinner. Lizzy had just put herself into bed when Nan came.
“I’m really sorry.” Nan apologized. “Everything… this whole marriage has been…a lot. Overwhelming.”
Lizzy took Nan’s hands, pulling Nan into her.
“I have to let go of the grief,” Nan said, leaning against Lizzy’s shoulder, sighing solemnly. “I have to let go of Guy. I think Theo and I really have a chance.”
Lizzy expected to leave the next day, having tossed Guy’s letter into the fire. It wouldn't be fair to give it to Nan. Lizzy was packing when a knock came on her door. She expected it to be Nan.
“Come in,” Lizzy called, turning to the door.
The door opened, and to her surprise, in walked Theo. Lizzy stood up straighter, her breath catching. Instinctively, her hand fell to her bracelet. She could still feel the brush of Theo’s fingers against the skin of her delicate wrist from just yesterday.
“Theo,” Lizzy got out.
“I'm sorry to intrude. I know you were planning on returning to your lodgings here in England today. But I…I wanted to ask if you'd maybe consider staying a bit longer. It's just… Nan has really brightened with your return and arrival. And I know how happy it'd make her if you stayed.”
“And you strive to make her happy.” Lizzy nodded in understanding.
“I do.” Theo gave a small smile.
Lizzy smiled back, toying with her bracelet.
“Would you consider it then? Unless you have plans with Hector.”
Lizzy chuckled at that. “Hector and I are getting along. I do like him. But we have no plans. Besides, friendship always comes over romantic prospects, right?”
“Exactly.” Theo flashed a gleaming smile. There was such a boyish charm to Theo that it was easy to feel yourself being pulled into him.
“Shall we tell Nan the news then, that you’ll stay?” Theo posited.
“Yes.” Lizzy agreed, nodding.
Theo gleamed widely.