Ella looked out the carriage window with eyes wide as she took in London for the first time. The streets were full of people wandering about their business. She was in awe of the sheer scope of everything and was trying to figure how everyone fit. Her mind was racing trying to pick out all of the different types of people that passed by. Ella's attention shifted as she felt someone's eyes watching her.
"You must think I am foolish."
"Not at all. It is nice to see someone experience something for the first time."
"Is it always so crowded?" She asked.
"In this part of town yes. Most of the laborers live in this area. Where our townhouse is located will not be as busy."
As they arrived at their London residence, she observed how crammed all the homes where together. The house itself stood five stories tall and was faced in red brick, while the stairs leading to the front door were painted white with a covering just above the door. Upon entering the townhouse she moved from room to room taking in the narrow layout.
"I know it is not as large of a home as you are used to." James said with a hint of concern in his voice.
"No it is perfect. I have always wanted a smaller more comfortable home and this is as close as I have been to one."
"I never would have expected someone of your means to dream of something so quaint."
"You will find she is full of surprises." Becca's voiced echoed as she entered the dining room with them.
Ella went to her friend and embraced her while she exclaimed, "I did not think you would be here so soon!"
"My parents insisted I leave right away, something about finding myself a suitable match and what not." She shrugged.
"Oh? Did you not mention the potential match you made at Hamsfield?"
"Ella! Who ever can you mean?"
"I shall leave you two to get reacquainted." James said with a slight bow of his head.
"Please you are more than welcome to join us in pretending Becca does not fancy Charles." Joked Ella.
Becca gave Ella a friendly swat on her arm. She looked up just in time to see James smile at the display before turning his face grimly serious.
"I am not a man to gossip about my good friend." He leaned in and lowered his voice as if sharing a secret, "Even if I believe the feeling to be mutual." Ella let out a throaty laugh she tried to hold in as James made a quick exit.
"Come let us find our rooms and we can not talk about you and Charles." She said with a wink.
After exploring the house and its many rooms as the two laughed together about nothing in particular, they found themselves in Ella's room and assisted Jane with unpacking her belongings.
"So you and James seem to be getting along better." Becca pointed out.
"I believe we have come to an understanding of our arrangement and have found a common ground."
"Really? It appears to me that you have found a special report with one another."
"We have become more comfortable around each other for sure. I believe it has to do with the time spent fixing the Manor."
"Hmmmm... Jane what are your thoughts?"
"It is not my place Miss. Chambers." Jane said dutifully.
"It is alright Jane, you are always free to speak your mind." Ella mentioned.
"If I may be so bold?"
"You may. I am desperately waiting to hear your thoughts." Becca said while bouncing on her feet.
Jane looked between the two ladies and took a steadying breath before speaking, "Aside from Mr. Hawthorne, Lord Winters seems more relaxed in your company than anyone else."
Becca smiled smugly, "How interesting." She made a show of tapping her finger on her chin as if pondering something.
Ella simply rolled her eyes before speaking, "We do share a home, it is not surprising that we would interact with one another."
"Of course, but do you think it could maybe be anything else?"
Ella scoffed at Becca and shooed her and Jane out of the room under the guise of rest. She threw herself on the bed and tried to contemplate what Becca could have been alluding to. It is not something unusual to form a friendship with the person you are living with. But she slowly began to wonder if there may be more to the growing comfortability between her and James. Or maybe she is beginning to hope for something she was not looking for from the start. As those thoughts filled her mind she slowly drifted off to a deep sleep.
******
As the days in London became colder, Ella had become familiar with the city itself. She and Becca spent the mornings walking the streets and the afternoons exploring the odds and ends the city had to offer. On occasion they would join Helen at assembly, aimlessly wandering the large room with other well known in society. Most evenings had been spent dining either at her and James' residence or that of the Hawthornes. There had been a few evenings that had been spent at restaurants throughout the city alone with James. Ella had found herself enjoying those nights most of all.
One night on the way to one of those dinners, James had informed Ella that the rest of their party would be joining them. It would mark the first time that the five of them would take a meal outside of one of their homes. As the carriage drove further into the heart of the city, Ella's curiosity began to grow.
"Where exactly is this restaurant we are going to this evening?" She ask suspiciously.
"Not much further. I thought you would like to try something different tonight."
"I for one am quite excited for this!" Becca exclaimed.
Ella could not help but notice James glaring at Becca while the latter wore a playful smirk. "You are aware that if you wish me to not suspect something, you are failing miserably."
"There is nothing to be suspicious of. We are simply a group of friends enjoying an evening meal together." Becca nodded her head once in a show of determination.
Ella blinked at her, "Yes, nothing suspicious at all."
As the carriage slowed, Ella peaked out the window and saw people congregated on the sidewalk outside one of the large buildings. Once outside of the carriage she looked around more closely and realized where they where.
"Is this the theater?" She asked with a wondrous smile.
"And they say you are just a pretty face." Becca said with a pat of Ella's head.
"You are hilarious."
Charles walked up to the group with his trademark smile and offered his arm to Becca. Ella could see her friend attempt to hide a blush. "I have personally always believed the theater to be an assembly that you can nap during." He said with a teasing laugh.
"Dear brother, you nap during assembly as it is, why would this be any different?" Helen said as she approached the group.
"Sister I am offended that you would think I would not give assembly my full attention!"
"So you were not drooling the last time we went?" Becca teased.
"Miss. Chambers not you too." Charles put his hand to his heart in mock offence.
They continued to tease one another as the party headed into the theater. Ella however had not been listening, for she had been to caught up in trying to figure out why they had come here. As if reading her thoughts, James stood beside her offering his arm. "I hope you are pleased with tonight's change of plans."
"Quite, I am just surprised and confused as to why you did not tell me before."
"I thought it would be a nice surprise. You still have not seen what the play is yet."
James opened the curtain to their private box and Ella looked out at the theater in awe. Hundreds of candles flickered throughout while people milled about waiting for the show to begin some shouting from the boxed to the patrons below in good humour. The box they were in was just big enough for the two of them with two plush seats facing out over the balcony, the walls a cream color that glowed with shadow from the candles on the wall.
"Thoughts?" James asked.
"It is wonderful, although rather loud if I may say."
"Yes the one unfortunate thing about the theater is people tend to get rowdy."
"No not rowdy." Ella pondered, "They are just simply adding to the atmosphere of the play."
James chuckled softly and they took their seats just as the play began. Once it had, it did not take long for Ella to figure out what the play was. How could she not, considering it was based on one of her favorite poems published. She could not help but lean forward in her chair to catch every detail possible. Ella could not stop the smile that graced her lips, weather from the joy of watching the play or the fact that James had surprised her with it.
"Queen Mab. How did you know I would like this?"
"I have only seen you read it a dozen times since we married." He said with a laugh and she turned to face him and noticed something new in his eyes. There was a warmth in them she had never seen before and the slight smile that touched his lips was gentle.
Ella turned back to the performance and as she begun to settle in her seat she could feel James' hand touch hers. Without thought she intertwined her fingers with his and continued to watch the play. It had been nearly two years since Ella found herself feeling something she could only describe as if she was floating on a gentle breeze of an autumn day. She begun to realize that for the first time in a long time she was smiling and it was because she was genuinely happy.