themusemanor | PSL - James Watson | Helen Magnus ---> We're glad for what we've got

Her smile brightened, warm but still gentle on her face as she tilted her head down so he could kiss her forehead a second time.

"I would like that very much."

She moved to the couch, smoothing her skirts and settling in. If he would let her, she'd return her head to his shoulder just so she could hold him again.

"What would you like to talk about? If you say 'the weather,' I will leave."

The smile was still on her face, as she was more teasing than serious in that regard.

He moved with her, smoothing his own jacket as he sat down next to her, instantly taking one of her hands in his own. He honestly couldn't get enough of that, of holding her hand and everything else.

"I was going to say the party, but if you would rather the weather..."

He smirked though to show he was teasing, he honestly didn't care what they talked about but the party seemed to be the best thing at the moment.

Helen let out a small noise of annoyance despite her smile as she settled against him, squeezing his hand when he took hers.

"No. No weather." Unless it was the atmosphere of the party. That she could deal with. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

That noise got a chuckle out of him and he squeezed her hand back, smiling still.

"I did, found a couple of possible cases for later if they lead to anything of interest. And yourself?" It had been her idea after all.

She nodded in return. "Yes. I believe it was well worth the effort, despite my acquaintances asking after my romantic life."

That had been mortifying, to say the least, though at least something decent had come out of it. She could count herself lucky for that.

"Though, I must admit, it was quite nice to have a companion this time."

Oh right that. Oops. He hadn't helped much at all with that when he had touched her forehead and escorted her out now had he? "I can, understand that feeling."

But he did smile at that though, turning and shifting to kiss her cheek with a smile. "It was indeed, especially with it being you, darling. It made it all the more special."

No, he hadn't. He'd made it worse. Fortunately for him, she wasn't going to complain about it anymore.

Her breath caught and she let her eyes slide shut just a touch as he kissed her cheek. It was still so new to her, another loving relationship like this, but she wanted to take it slowly now that she could think about it. She didn't want to mess this one up.

"Perhaps we ought to do this more often. I rather like going places with you." And going places and being seen with him. It was all very nice.

Oh well, you know, he hadn't meant much by it really. But so long as she didn't complain about it then it was all well and good.

So he just enjoyed her reactions, loved them really and wanted to bring them about more. Taking it slow, that had been his original plan and he was sticking to it as long as he could.

"If you would like to then we shall," he smiled at that as he had enjoyed it. He had very much so, considering he usually disliked parties. And he blamed her for it.

"I would, actually, but... I simply enjoy spending time with you, no matter what it is we are doing."

And that much was true, though she would willingly take the blame for his sudden interest in party-going. She wasn't much of a partier herself, not when she had other things she could be doing around the Sanctuary, but if given the chance to show off her newly acquired... man... then she would be more than happy to.

But what she really wanted to do was stay here with him for now. She liked this. Probably too much.

"And I you Helen, if I did not, we would not be here."

And that was the truth as well, if he didn't want to be around her he would be gone by now. But yes, if given the chance to show Helen off on his arm, he would gladly take it, even if it was at a party, and he had better things too do. Because he liked showing her off, really.

And this closeness? He liked, no loved this as well. Probably too much as well.

"I know."

And she did know. If either of them had wanted to be anywhere else in the world, they would be. They wouldn't stay where they were uncomfortable. That just wasn't how they worked.

Her smile couldn't have been happier if she'd wanted it to be. She did want to kiss him again, but she wasn't sure if that would be acceptable or not, especially with propriety still staring them in the face. So instead, she reached up to simply place a hand against his cheek, doing her best not to brush his beard the wrong way.

It was perfect. Too perfect. For the moment, she didn't care. She was just happy to have this chance with him at all.

Being so comfortable with her that he tilted his head into her hand, resisting some urge to lean in and kiss her (because propriety really, it was important no matter what he may say), instead focusing her hand on his cheek. Which was enough in and of itself to prompt him to squeeze her hand for a moment before speaking.

"Helen, how far," he started, not sure how to word it. He knew he wanted her at his side for as long as she'd have him, but how far did she want to go? This was, an entirely difficult situation truly.

"How far, would you like to take this? Or are we, going to see how this will go, love?"

"I don't know," she answered honestly, letting her eyes search his for a moment. And that was the truth. She really didn't know just how far she was comfortable with taking this... relationship. "I do know that.. when the ladies asked me tonight whether or not you and I were seeing each other, I had wanted to be able to say 'yes.'"

Helen wanted that much at least, to be with him, to know he would protect her and that she could trust him. It really was too bad that their society cared so much about reputations. Helen wasn't sure who else was in the Sanctuary with them at the moment, and deciding if it was worth the risk or not was quite the distraction.

Her admission shocked him at first, and he glanced down at their hands, trying to process what it meant. This was a new area for him to attempt to figure out, and when he looked back at her he was, at least, assured of her honesty. "I, would very much like it if you did say that."

It was a quiet admission, and spoke volumes, he hoped, as to what he wanted out of this relationship. And as he said it he leaned in and this time, attempted to kiss her first, to see if she would take that as a sign of how much he wanted this with her.

At first, Helen thought that perhaps she'd said too much, become too forward suddenly. But then he was looking back at her and his words made her heart miss a beat. The surprise was clear on her face before a smile stole its way onto her lips. Maybe this would work out. Maybe they could-

Her mind dropped that thought partway as she noticed he was leaning towards her. She let her eyes slide shut as he kissed her, keeping her hand on his cheek as she moved just a touch closer to him. Her hand in his squeezed, holding onto him as they sat there and for a moment, she couldn't think of anything else but how close they were and what this kiss meant.

After a few moments, she pulled back just a little bit so she could see him. "I guess that answers that," she murmured before she leaned back in to press her lips against his a third time.

Yes maybe this would work out, maybe they could be something more. But until he knew better he would just take the moments when he could with her as it was better than anything else at the moment.

Which was why he held his tongue after the second kiss, and when she started the third he squeezed her hand just as she had done to him before, his eyes closed. Perhaps he should take advantage of this after all, while Gregory was away and he could be more free with his affections concerning her. At least until they talked to Gregory about it of course.

But he did pull away after a few moments himself, smiling at her, "I believe, darling, you and I should enjoy this, before your father comes home. I would not like to, squander our time together while he is away."

Helen knew her father would be returning in a few days' time and she'd expected as much. He wouldn't be happy when he heard about John's visit, if he heard about it. Helen herself wasn't sure she wanted to tell him, not because she didn't want him to know, but because she didn't want to talk about it again. Saying anything to James, admitting that it had happened at all, had been bad enough, but saying something to her father would be much worse. Her mind strayed back to the embryo for the barest of seconds and she paused, breaking away as James did, grateful for the distraction.

His words both confused and excited her. She wasn't entirely sure what he was insinuating. Or whether or not she was ready if she was right.

"Did you have something in mind, Darling?" she asked, her voice soft as she let her hand at his cheek drop to cover their joined ones. She was fairly certain her father wouldn't mind her new relationship with James, as he was one Gregory had approved of from the start, simply because of the way James treated Helen. Why else would he have allowed James to live with them in the Sanctuary?

James had no intention of telling her father about John's visit. If anyone told him it would be Helen, James would just be next to her offering his support in the best way possible, silently and with a cup of tea nearby. It was the best way he could think of handling that situation.

But now? Well now he wasn't entirely certain what to make of her actions, after she dropped her hand off his cheek, feeling a little lost. He was a bit more touch driven then he would admit, which was why he shifted his own hand to cover her's on top of their joined hands. It gave him something to touch, to feel of her while he thought. "No, not particularly, just, a wish to spend time with you in a manner more, familiar than what, we otherwise have done so in the past." Which meant more quiet nights with her in one of their studies, just the two of them, or perhaps even another room, in another manner. However much he respected Gregory, and however much the other man liked him, well it was his daughter. Men did change when it was family involved.

She'd only moved to give him a little room, a chance to speak without the distraction of her hand against his face. Her smile warmed as she listened to him, liking what she heard, even as her heart missed a half-beat at the implications of those words. Was she really ready for this? They could take it slowly, yes. Whatever happened would happen and she would take it day-by-day.

She gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "I do believe I would like that, very much." Which was why she had yet to move from their positioning. She liked this closeness, what it was and what it meant. They were officially seeing each other now, weren't they? The only obstacle in their path was her father and Helen didn't see Gregory as an obstacle as much as delayed encouragement. And that was good. In some respects, she felt like a giddy schoolgirl with a secret, a precious secret she could share with none, but that everyone knew already anyway. She could deal with this and the smile on her face practically shouted as much.

The touch wasn't a distraction, he would dare say it was an aide in getting his words out, but he did prevail. Even if his words had come out more, potentially implying of a more intimate thing than he had originally intended, he was just glad she wasn't glaring and leaving him at this point. And he was glad for the squeeze, smiling more at her.

"I do believe it will be easy enough to do then, with us both willing." And that was why he hadn't moved himself. The thought that they were seeing each other now, well it was making his day rather brighter than he had thought it could ever be. Gregory aside (and he would be an obstacle for James until they dealt with him), it was a good thing this. "What would you say, Helen, to not sleeping on the sofa tonight for that more, familiar, evening?" It was as close to an indecent approach as he would make for the moment.

Helen would never glare and leave James. He'd done nothing to hurt her. He wasn't John, after all. She gave his hands another squeeze, trying to encourage both of them so they could work through what was happening between them.

"Yes. I quite agree." She wasn't sure what she wanted, but she was willing to give all of this a try, work through what they could and find a middle ground that they would both be comfortable with. She was just imagining what else they could do tonight when he continued, voicing something she'd almost been afraid of thinking was a possibility. It didn't imply anything particularly intimate, just falling asleep together, as they had the previous night, except in a much more comfortable position.

Her head ducked down for a moment as she considering his request, her cheeks flushing again almost as brightly as they had at the party. Looking back into his eyes, she tried to hold in the smile that was attempting to take over her lips. "I believe... I would be able to accept this."

That only left the question of whose room they would retreat to.

There was that fear there, that he would somehow step across some unspoken line he wasn't aware of and end up paying the consequences for it in that way. He may not be John but he was hesitant about what all he had done to her, and if he would make a mistake John would have that would hurt her.

He was also glad she agreed about how this would work. If they were willing then they would find a way to make this work, a middle ground. Because it was important to them both, to make it work, at least for now. Which was in part why he had asked about just a more comfortable sleeping arrangement, to try and reach something that was both comfortable and safe for them.

It didn't stop his own blush however either but it didn't stop him from standing by the thought. So he sat there waiting until she talked before he smiled at her slightly. No he wasn't going to ask whose room it should be, he would leave that to her instead, he focused on something else. "Well it is either that or I insure you are tucked in well for night, seeing as how you seem unusually flushed all evening, Helen, and I am starting to wonder if you are indeed coming down with something."

Yes a little teasing seemed right in place for the moment to try and make things easier.

Helen would tell him if he ever crossed one of her lines and so far he hadn't done so. She didn't expect him to ever do so, honestly. He was too kind for such a thing, too gentlemanly to ever treat her like John had and she was more grateful for that than she could say. His teasing was met with another soft laugh from her and she ducked her head once more, unsure of where to go now. Her cheeks really were bright red, she was sure.

"Then I suppose I shall let you see me to bed," she murmured, looking back up at him, her eyes teasing him right back. "I daresay I am feeling a little tired now. Shall we, Darling?"

It would likely be her room, as it was closer, and that was just fine with her. But she wouldn't stand up until he did, not wanting to seem eager to let the evening draw to a close.

Where Helen thought he was too kind, James would say he was far more restrained than John had been. A gentleman he may be (and John had been one himself), he was also a far more restrained man, which had led to his being rather quiet about his own feelings. But he was just thankful she liked that in him in all honesty. And if he could just get her to blush that much all the time he would be a happy man.

"If you would like to Helen," he just smiled at her, holding back a chuckle at her words. "I dare say we shall."

But like her he didn't move, not right away at least. Instead he just kissed her cheek once before shifting, slowly, to stand, trying to keep at least one of her hands in his own as he did so, not wishing to give up that contact.

James' quiet control gave Helen a sense of peace and she leaned into it, enjoying the kiss to her cheek. They stood as one, with one of her hands remaining in his as the other rested on his arm. Her smile was bright and warm as they moved towards the door. She didn't let go of him during the entire walk to her room. Fortunately, it wasn't a long walk and soon enough, she was shutting the door and all thoughts of propriety had fled Helen's mind.

She turned towards James once more, taking his hand back in hers as she looked up into his eyes. She didn't want this moment to end, not even if she had to endure gossip in the morning. Wordlessly, she held him close, wanting nothing more than to just keep him with her, for the night and as long as he would consent to be there.

Helen cared about him, far more than she'd previously allowed herself to imagine.

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