June 9th, 1890 - Lestrange Wedding Reception

Looking like that, you'll open some wounds
How does it start?
And when does it end?

August ought to have stopped writing Mrs. Selwyn; they had crossed from being acquaintances to good friends, and now, perhaps, he had picked up on more details of her marriage than he ought to. The smart thing to do would have been to end their correspondence and simply be friends, but they were writing one another almost daily, at least on days that they were not running into one another at society events.

This was one of those days; August had not particularly wanted to come to the Lestrange-Pendergast reception, but had, suspecting that he would see Freya. The garden party aspect was lovely, though, and the reception was certainly large enough that August could avoid anyone he was particularly hoping to avoid.

He had not necessarily sought her out - he talked to the younger Lovegood boy first, and to a debutante - but had of course eventually ended up in her orbit. August raised his half-empty champagne flute at her in greeting.

"Mrs. Selwyn," he said, "Have you had the chance to discover the hedge maze yet?"

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Thankfully, Daniel hadn't needed much convincing to willfully attend today's affair. Even her brooding, depressed husband had to realize the importance of the invitation. Pendergast and Lestrange matches were common enough (there were two weddings between the family this month, after all) but they were commonly viewed as the event of the Season. Only a select few families had the connections and finances deep enough to make the wedding possible, and those who did often fell short when planning.

Despite being fairly close in age, Freya knew little of the bride. They shared their status as Head Girl, but that was about as far as the familiarity went. She knew plenty of people in attendance to not feel uncomfortable (many even were frequent attendeee's of her own parties) but Freya still chose to remain on the outskirts for now. It was rather hot for an early summer day, and she would rather not cause a scene by fainting.

She spotted Mr. Echelon-Arnost's approach well before he finally made his way to her. Their friendship and frequent correspondence would be frowned upon by many, Daniel included. It was right of him not to maneuver directly towards her. Still, she did little to dampen the smile that spread across her features as he made his greeting. Mr. Echelon-Arnost was a dear friend, one with whom she needn't worry as she did with so many others. "I haven't yet had the opportunity." She answered. "Have you, Mr. Echelon-Arnost? Is it lovely?"

  

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Amazing Set by Stef!

"Not yet," August said, glancing in the direction of the hedge maze. It was likely safer if he did not look directly at her; her husband was not famed for his patience or his good moods, and August did not want to give him reason to be irritated. "I was wondering if you thought it would be worthwhile."

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Freya paused mid sip of her champagne at his suggestion. There were just about a million reasons as to why a stroll through the maze alone with him was a bad idea. The foremost of them being the most obvious reason. If anyone so much as saw them disappearing into the hedges together rumors would begin to swirl. Daniel would know to suspect something despite nothing having ever happened. It was a bad idea.

Which was why she surprised even herself when she said, "yes. I think it would be." They were only friends, after all. Friends ought to be able to travel about the maze together without arousing suspicion.

  

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Amazing Set by Stef!

August was surprised, genuinely, when she agreed; perhaps it was not the best decision. But he was also, as a cripple, not much of a romantic item - perhaps she was not thinking of the rumor mill at all.

But August was, and he did not want to cause damage to her reputation.

"We could meet there," he said, almost in an undertone. "Lest others -" he shrugged one shoulder towards the entrance of the maze. The problem was implied.

---

  

Meet...in the maze. Freya's heart skipped a beat, then two. Entering the maze together would be foolish, but something she could reasonably explain to Daniel if rumors spread. A clandestine meeting in the hedges... there was no explaining that.

It was as though she was tethering on the edge of a cliff. Behind her lay the safety of her everyday life, the normal marriage with no scent of a scandal. Beyond the edge was the great mystery, the dangerous unknown that might be her undoing. But, what if it wasn't? What if Mr. Pettigrew was right and most marriages never ended up happy? What if she said no to Mr. Echelon-Arnost now and never again had the opportunity to explore whatever was beyond the hedges?

What if he just simply only wanted a walk through the hedges?

"That would be for the best." She answered softly. "I'll follow after you... take the first two lefts." It'd give her one last opportunity to choose safety. Or, at the very least, the ability to finish her drink.

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

August meandered back through the crowd, paused for small talk with an acquaintance from school, got another champagne flute, avoided a dance with an obviously-less-than-competent debutante with a gesture to his injured leg. He entered the maze, took the first two lefts, and took a sip of his champagne.

This was - stupid.

Or at least ill-advised.

Surely he had better things to be doing; things that were, at the very least, not a surface-level scandal. Still, he didn't move from his spot in the maze, sipped the champagne, leaned on his cane - worried.

---

  

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set by Bree

Freya sipped on her champagne as he walked away, her gaze focused on anything but his retreating form. She searched for Daniel's tall head above the crowd to no avail. Good. It was good if he didn't notice her slipping into the maze unaccompanied, lest he get the idea to follow after her. What a disaster that would be.

She chatted cheerfully with some friends, making sure to compliment the bride repeatedly before making her way towards the maze. At least ten minutes had to have passed since she last spoke to Mr. Echelon-Arnost. What if he wasn't there waiting? What if he was?

She didn't have the chance to wonder long as the first two lefts came in quick succession. "Hello, again." Freya greeted quietly. There was no telling who was waiting on the other side of the hedge. "Did I leave you waiting too long?"

  

---

Amazing Set by Stef!

August didn't know what the point of this was, but smiled faintly at her nonetheless.

"Not at all, Mrs. Selwyn," he said, and found himself immediately at a loss. There ought to be a point - or a conversation - or something. He knew it was there. He just could not place it yet.

---

  

The conversation, which usually flowed without much thought, seemed different now that they were alone. Freya looked from him the the row of flowers further down the way then back towards him. "Shall we?"

  

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Amazing Set by Stef!

"Let's see if we can find our way out," August said, gesturing for Mrs. Selwyn to lead the way. The further in the maze they got, at least, the less likely it was that they would run into anyone else - because other people would have questions, here.

---

  

They walked further into the maze in relative quiet. Her thoughts, which were racing with possibilities only minutes ago, were now focused on navigating the maze. "How is Lysander?" Freya eventually asked as they made another turn. "Is he enjoying the beginnings of summer?"

  

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Amazing Set by Stef!

"So far, yes," August said cheerfully, "He's interested in some of the Quidditch, which surprises me. Do you have any plans for this summer, Mrs. Selwyn?"

---

  

Quidditch wasn't one of Freya's interests, but with the World Cup here for the summer she wasn't keen to voice such thoughts. Instead, she said with a smile, "it's hard not to be interested with all the excitement going on at the moment." Lysander was just like all the other young boys, apparently. Perhaps she would send a small broom over for him.

"Please, call me Freya," she then continued, shocking even herself with the bold request. Daniel hadn't called her Freya until they were married, though that was at Mama's insistence. "If that's okay..." Freya quickly amended, a slight blush on her cheeks. He would or he wouldn't. She wouldn't push the issue again.

Then, once that blunder was over with, she explained how they would be relocating to the Sanditon for the summer. Freya was greatly looking forward to the change of scenery and the sea air, even if her husband was reluctant. Eventually, as they chatted easily about the summer plans and whatever other subjects, they came to the end of the maze. And with it, the end to their rendezvous.

  

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Amazing Set by Stef!