“I am sure he cares not a whit for me,” Eveline went on as they both walked along the red carpet.
“Now why would you think that?” asked Theodore brightly.
“Because I care not a whit for him,” she replied frankly, feeling a deep grudge arise, she was never a firm believer in God and life had never taught her to believe in a higher presence, she just accepted life as it was a beginning and end with hills in between.
“You cannot be serious?” asked Theodore seriously, looking down at her in all earnest.
“You find it strange that someone like me should care not for religion?” replied Eveline now standing at the altar of the chapel taking in the carved animals.
“Not strange as such, just ironic,” murmured Theodore.
“How is it ironic?”
“Forgive me I didn’t mean ironic just, well I haven’t met many women who are well atheists, its well new for me,” answered Theodore.
“I’m guessing you are religious?” Eveline asked as Theodore led them away from the chapel toward the nave altar.
“It’s complicated,” retorted Theodore looking toward the altar intently.
“How so?”
“Well I believe in God that much is true, but I also believe that he is much more than man has made him to be.”
“As strange as this may sound, I understand a little,” smiled Eveline.
“What is your understanding?” asked Theodore making for the high altar Eveline in toe.
“Well, I suppose we limit God to what works for us, that’s how churches have so much power am I right?” she turned and looked to Theodore who looked puzzled.
“I suppose you are right,” he replied meekly, God is so much more he thought to himself.
“What I’m trying to say very in articulately is that God if He is real is more than our image of Him, we limit him in our ideologies, imagine if we didn’t, what kind of God would He be then?” said Eveline softly.
“A very great God, beyond the reaches of our understanding,” came the voice of a stranger who walked out to meet them. Theodore suddenly let go of Eveline’s arm and hugged what looked like the vicar.
“John!” beamed Theodore his face alit with happiness at the meeting of his old and wisest of friends, one of his kindred.
“Theodore my friend it’s been such a long time, I thought you were in Tripoli? When did you return?” John asked, releasing him from his hug but keeping his hands on Theodores shoulder tenderly as a father would his son.
“Oh I was injured and have only just returned and made a friend along the way,” replied Theodore glancing across to Eveline who stood smiling at the pair.
“Ah yes, I believe your friend has a wise head upon her shoulders,” remarked the vicar making his way over to her holding out his hand. Eveline clasped the vicar’s hand in her own and smiled into his deep blue eyes, eyes very similar to Theodores.
“I wouldn’t say wise exactly,” answered Eveline shyly lowering her eyes as the vicar took notice of them.
“And who are you?” he asked carefully, looking at Theodore with a questioning glare.
“My name is Eveline sir,” replied Eveline shielding her eyes with her long eyelashes, embarrassed and red faced.
“There is no need to shield your eyes from me child, it is a rare sight, a beautiful miracle,” soothed the vicar turning from Theodore toward the shy young woman, whose auburn curls fell about her heart shaped face.
“It’s alright Eveline, John means no harm and he is right,” he walked over towards Eveline and gently titled her chin up to meet his gaze. “It is a beautiful miracle, you shouldn’t feel ashamed.”
“My friends and neighbours are so used to my eyes I had quite forgotten that down here people would look at me oddly,” whispered Eveline looking up into Theodore’s blue eyes.
“Come child let me see you,” asked the vicar, gently intervening. The vicar let out a silent gasp as Eveline looked into his eyes shyly. “Don’t worry I won’t bite,” smiled John letting his gaze drop from Eveline.
“I know, Theodore wouldn’t let you bite me anyway,” she chuckled softly.
“She’s right, I’ve taken her completely under my wing for today,” blurted out Theodore proudly nodding to the vicar.
“Well, now Eveline why don’t I let you come and meet my wife Georgiana, she’s in the vestry making up the flowers for this afternoons wedding,” beamed John taking Eveline’s arm into his own and leading her to his wife, who was standing on a stool fixing some roses into place. Georgiana looked down from her work and met her husband’s gaze and then Eveline’s and nearly fell off.
“Watch out dearest you don’t want to enter Heaven’s realm before Emily’s wedding,” laughed John, leaving Eveline’s side to help bring his wife down. Georgiana patted away her husband’s hand and stepped down from the stool and walked toward Eveline.
“My dear, how nice it is to finally meet you,” she cooed.
“Finally?” blurted Eveline looking from John to Georgiana a little confused.
“Forgive me, honestly wedding stress it does strange things to you, it is lovely to meet you, now have you both had lunch?” Georgina looked to Theodore who held up his hands.
“Guilty,” he smiled his face lop sided.
“Honestly just like you to have no lunch Theodore,” Georgiana scolded. “Come Eveline we will make some nice sandwiches and you can tell me all about yourself, whilst my husband and Theodore catch up.”
Georgiana smiled to her husband before leading Eveline back up the nave towards a secret exit that led onto the gardens towards the vicarage. Eveline didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Theodore, but followed the vicar’s wife merrily, she seemed like a lovely middle aged woman. The vicarage was small and homely, surrounded by what Eveline would have envisioned as lovely gardens. Upon entering the house, Georgiana took off her shoes and bid Eveline do the same. Once unshed, Eveline followed Georgiana into the kitchen and sat down at the oak table. Georgiana busied herself with making a pot of tea and sandwiches all the while making conversation with the shy Eveline.
“Well now what brings you to our lovely church with Theodore of all people?” asked the vicar’s wife, pouring hot water into the pot. Eveline closed her eyes briefly and let the smell of the tea leafs fill her senses before answering.
“I am on my way to Bath to meet my grandmother, I met your friend on the train and ever since we have been in one another’s company,” replied a slightly drained Eveline.
“Well what a lovely surprise, I haven’t seen Theodore in oh, at least two years,” smiled Georgiana coming to sit down opposite Eveline with a tray.
“Would you like any help?” Eveline asked, needing to do something to distract Georgiana’s eyes from her own.
“You must forgive me, you must get this a lot but your eyes, they are beautiful, stunning, even I have never seen the like before,” replied Georgiana her cheeks flushed with shame.
“Well in Keswick they are used to my strange looks, but down here well its different, but I mostly am unaware of it until someone looks at me,” answered Eveline bluntly. “It is alright though you may look but beware I am slightly shy,” she laughed.
“Oh I think you have more gumption than you let on my dear,” beamed Georgiana. “I think I hear our men,” pondered Georgiana upon hearing footsteps at the front door. Bending her chair over toward the doorway, Georgiana spied her husband and friend coming in, “remember shoes!” she yelled at them.
“Yes wifey!” replied John merrily taking off his shoes quickly upon smelling the sandwiches. Theodore followed suite and happily found Georgiana and Eveline sitting talking at the table.
“I was just saying dearest that I could take Theodore and Eveline to Bath later, I thought maybe they would like to stay and watch the wedding of the year?” asked John rolling his eyes at Theodore before sitting down beside his wife and taking a cup of tea from her.
“Oh John that would be lovely! What do you say Ev
eline? Do you like weddings?” asked Georgiana. Everyone turned to look at Eveline who went a little red at the cheeks.
“Off course I love weddings what woman doesn’t?” she replied happily.
“I knew she would!” muttered Theodore gazing at her warmly.
“Brilliant!” clapped the vicar “now let’s say a prayer”.
*
After much talking and debating the group retired to the sitting room for some rest before the upcoming nuptials. Georgiana sat with her sowing and Eveline with a book whilst Theodore and John played chess in the corner, sipping a brandy each. Every so often Eveline caught Theodore’s gaze and warmly returned his smile as though signalling that she was very content in front of the fire, reading and talking with Mrs Brown. Theodore however looked exasperated with John who was winning by a long shot, Eveline offered him a sympathetic smile and Theodore rolled his eyes in sarcasm bringing a giggle to her lips.
“So, what are you reading dear?” asked Georgiana her eyes on her current project which looked to be a Christmas jumper, all be it a very deformed Christmas jumper.
“Marcus Aurelius’ meditations,” replied Eveline lowering the book to her knees.
“Oh I love Aurelius, I’m a bit of a philosopher myself,” she winked at Eveline. “Everybody thinks it is my husband that has the brains, but I will let you into a secret my dear.”
Eveline drew close mainly because Georgiana stopped her work and drew her head in.
“Yes?”
“I went to Oxford!” smiled Georgiana. “Studied English and Philosophy, that’s where I met my husband, took him all but three years to realise he was in love with me!” she laughed throwing back her head of grey curls and resting a hand on her bosom.
“Really!” choked Eveline. “Gosh how lucky you were! I would give anything to go to Oxford or Cambridge, but I hear only a few women get through.”
“Your right I was lucky, we few who are blessed with education often forget what a gift it is and that we owe it to everyone to make sure that all are allowed such privileges,” lectured Mrs. Brown happily returning back to her work, her cheeks plump and rosy.
“You would get on well with my grandmother,” smiled Eveline looking down at her book once more.
“Oh and what does she do?” asked Georgiana. Eveline blushed slightly and without thinking turned and found Theodore’s eyes upon her own a roguish grin on his face.
“Oh well she is, well she is an author,” choked Eveline trying to ignore Theodore’s gaze.
“Oh really how intriguing and what genre does she ascertain too?” went on Georgiana happily content sewing and keeping her eyes and fingers busy.
“Em, well,” spat Eveline.
“Go on Eveline no need to be shy,” bolstered Theodore, prompting John to look up from the chess board with interest, resting his head in his palms.
“She writes gothic romances,” blurted out Eveline.
“Say that again dear,” announced Georgiana looking up from her work.
“You know very well what she said!” smiled John winking at Eveline.
“Oh well you know, age does funny things to your hearing,” moaned Georgiana. “Gothic you say, well now isn’t that…, interesting”
“Yes, I have never in my life time read a gothic romance,” Theodore laid a dramatic hand on his heart. “But upon my soul I think they are meant to be very fanciful and full of ardent lovers and tragic circumstances,” he smiled winking at Eveline who returned his teasing with a stern gaze.
“Theodore stop teasing your young friend so,” scolded John who returned his eyes to the board and moved a king.
“Well Theodore, I have read several gothic romances in my time and I happened to like them all,” argued Georgiana smiling across at Eveline hoping to put her at ease, despite never reading one gothic romance novel in her life. Both John and Theodore stopped what they were doing and looked over at the prim and proper Georgiana with shocked faces then looked at each other with confused expressions before coughing away any remnants of awkwardness. Eveline laughed into her hand.
“I love a good solid love story, nothing like ardent lovers and tragic tales,” Georgiana went on “I say most women love to dive into the dark depths of romance.”
“My dear I have never once seen you read a romance novel,” quipped John his face red with embarrassment.
“That’s because I keep them hidden away from your prying eyes, why Hilda and I on several occasions read a romance novel and many times discussed them over a pot of tea down at chitticks café,” choked Georgiana her lies ever exploding before her eyes. Both men decided enough was enough and dived back into their game of chess too red faced to look at the women who hide their smiles behind their hands.
“Thank you,” whispered Eveline realising what Mrs Brown had done for her.
“Tush it is no problem dearest, taught that young kipper a lesson,” laughed Georgiana before returning to her jumper.
When the grandfather clocked struck four, the group arose from their activities and made for the wedding that was due to begin in thirty minutes.
“Now dear do you have a cardigan or warm coat, it gets awfully chilly in the church,” asked Georgiana who was being helped into her own coat by the vicar who was already dressed and ready to go, bible under his arm.
“Yes I have a coat and scarf with me,” replied Eveline looking about for her coat, hat, gloves and scarf.
“Here I have them,” announced Theodore from behind, holding the coat open for Eveline to slip into.
“Oh thank you,” she muttered, keeping her eyes away from his own. Eveline reached out for her scarf, gloves and hat but was brushed away.
“No need,” smiled Theodore wrapping her scarf about her gently before placing her hat on her auburn curls, looking down into her golden eyes. Eveline noticed a frown on the vicar’s face as he watched the intimate gesture and looked away embarrassed. Theodore looked at the leather gloves and realised it was a lost cause trying to help her into them and so shoved them into her hands and walked off, giving John a long look of apology. Eveline and Theodore kept themselves apart as they entered the beautifully lit cathedral which was now full of guests who began to claim seats. John kissed his wife and bid Theodore and Eveline goodbye as he went to the front to join the guests, hugging what looked to be the groom who was walking back and forth obviously nervous.
“The cathedral is beautifully lit,” whispered Eveline to Georgiana who was looking about for a comfortable but quiet place to sit.
“Yes some helpers come in a light the candles, you know we haven’t had much weddings really in the last year with all the raids, but they are a nice reminder that love and happiness still exist within such tragic situations,” beamed Georgiana finding Theodore and Eveline two seats a little bit back from the front but not too far away so they could both watch the ceremony. “Now, I have to go and say hello to some of our guests, I will see you in a short while.” Georgiana rushed off leaving Theodore and Eveline sitting in silence.
“So, enjoying Bristol?” asked Theodore awkwardly keeping his eyes on the high altar.
“Yes I think so, your friends are very kind, thank you for letting me meet them,” smiled Eveline hugging her coat close to her as the cold air swirled about her legs.
“Oh I didn’t expect to see them or to even be invited to their house but I suppose it was a nice treat, they have been awfully kind to me in the last few years, I owe them a lot,” he replied watching Eveline squirm about, shivering.
“Yes I know the feeling, my grandmother has been so kind to me, putting up with my moods and what not after my parents death, I forgot she was grieving too,” moaned Eveline feeling a little bit guilty.
“I’m sure she doesn’t see it that way at all,” replied Theodore warmly “grief does strange things to you, in a way it makes you quite selfish and it isolates you.”
“You sound like you know it well,” asked Eveline.
“Well yes I suppose I do i
n a way,” replied Theodore sadly.
“And what about your parents?” Eveline asked quietly looking up at his face.
“I haven’t seen them in a long time,” answered Theodore.
“Oh, did you part on bad terms?” enquired Eveline keeping her tone calm and kind.
“Not really no, I was consigned to the army and never had much time to visit them, I still write to them occasionally.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“No, I am a lonely child,” Theodore smiled.
“Same.”
“Thought as much.”
“Will you excuse me a minute I have to go to the toilet,” smiled Theodore getting up.
“Oh no, go ahead,” Eveline replied awkwardly feeling as though Theodore wanted to dodge their conversation. Eveline watched as Theodore edged out of the aisle and made for the back of the church just as the procession music started and the guests began to stand up waiting for the bride. As the hymn I Was Glad began, Eveline rose with the guests and turned to watch the young bride enter the church on the arm of her father. The organ’s music filled the church and sent a shiver down Eveline’s body as she watched the four bridesmaids walk down the aisle in soft pink dresses decorated with flowers. Eveline turned to look at the choir, singing beautifully and smiled. John stood at the high altar smiling down at the bridesmaids who paced slowly up the aisle. As Eveline turned she noticed Theodore was at her side with a tartan rug in his arms.
“Thought it would keep you warm,” he whispered into her ear, his warm blue eyes filled with kindness.
“Thank you,” replied Eveline shyly not able to meet his gaze.
“Come you’ll miss the bride, gosh is she wearing champagne pink?” muttered a shocked Theodore. “Aren’t you supposed to wear white or ivory?”
“Well yes you are,” replied Eveline figuratively eyeing the bride with intrigue, it really was a beautiful dress, champagne pink with delicately woven flowers that shimmered with gold thread. Her beautiful ivory orchids were tied with champagne pink ribbon and fell to her knees. Her thin rose coloured veil fell upon her gently, shielding the roses in her hair perfectly. Eveline slightly envied the woman, whose eyes were glistening with tears as she eyed her husband to be, clutching onto her papa’s hand tightly, her pink slippered feet making their way to the centre of the church. A strand of the dying daylight hit the brides dress creating a lovely contrast between the sunset and candle lit cathedral making Eveline feel slightly emotional, barely registering that Theodores arm was about her shoulder, holding her to him closely. As the bride met her husband to be at the altar the music ended and the guests took their seats as John began the service. Theodore dropped his arm as they sat down, but carefully unfolded the blanket and laid it over Eveline’s legs, tucking it in around her, watching her pale face redden slightly at the touch. Theodore knew he was testing his boundaries but it was hard in such a romantic setting as this to not want to comfort the one woman he had loved all his life, well his life on earth. Theodore fully understood why such a union was forbidden, but his logical mind had been in conflict with his heart for the last few years. Shaking himself out of his thoughts Theodore drew himself back into reality glancing at Eveline’s face as she looked on at the loved up couple making their vows to one another.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 4