He was listening to her response and yet he couldn’t help but watch in awe as she gestured out to the grounds and to the scenery, her voice alone enough to convey her feelings. As she spoke a smile lit up his features. It was a far cry from what she deserved, in Faustus’s estimation. He knew he would go to the furthest depths of the ocean if it meant finding something that would bring that smile to her features again.
She seemed to come into his life by sheer will, a bright light accompanied by a nightmare of a hurricane. And yet despite the setting, he couldn’t help but count himself as the luckiest man in the world to have been by her side that day. He had never managed to tell her exactly how impressed he was by her fortitude, especially after having almost drowned. Her resilience spoke volumes and it was a marvel to him that she remained so modestly unaware of exactly how much power she possessed.
He would spend the rest of his life cherishing that, if she would permit him.
“You deserve everything in front of you and more, Marie,” he murmured, his hand coming up to rest on her waist as she kissed him on the cheek. As his heart seemed to pick up rhythm, Faustus felt himself grow solemn.
“Marie, as you know I’ve been on my own for quite some time,” he began, his tone quiet as he observed her expressions to his words. “And as a result it’s been….a different experience entirely to lose one’s heart and to try and find it again. It has been lonely. And it yet it’s also been fulfilling, figuring out this path.”
Here, he walked past her, his hands laced behind his back as he gathered his thoughts:
“Being a father to Iris, Edelweiss and Mezereon has been nothing but wonderful and filled with so many unexpected challenges. Especially involving Mezereon and food from the kitchen….” He chuckled at the memory of sharing this with her at the Sanditon before continuing: “But they need a mother, someone to look up to and someone who cherishes them.
And I would like….” He turned back to face her. “Someone I might share my day with. Someone I might look to for strength and resilience when I need, and who might feel –” His stomach twisted as his breath caught in his throat. “– who might feel the same about me.”
Faustus paused again, his eyes meeting hers, searching for a sign that she might feel the same. That she still felt the same as she did after the events of Valentine’s Day. “Who might wish to accept all that I have and all that I am.”
She seemed to come into his life by sheer will, a bright light accompanied by a nightmare of a hurricane. And yet despite the setting, he couldn’t help but count himself as the luckiest man in the world to have been by her side that day. He had never managed to tell her exactly how impressed he was by her fortitude, especially after having almost drowned. Her resilience spoke volumes and it was a marvel to him that she remained so modestly unaware of exactly how much power she possessed.
He would spend the rest of his life cherishing that, if she would permit him.
“You deserve everything in front of you and more, Marie,” he murmured, his hand coming up to rest on her waist as she kissed him on the cheek. As his heart seemed to pick up rhythm, Faustus felt himself grow solemn.
“Marie, as you know I’ve been on my own for quite some time,” he began, his tone quiet as he observed her expressions to his words. “And as a result it’s been….a different experience entirely to lose one’s heart and to try and find it again. It has been lonely. And it yet it’s also been fulfilling, figuring out this path.”
Here, he walked past her, his hands laced behind his back as he gathered his thoughts:
“Being a father to Iris, Edelweiss and Mezereon has been nothing but wonderful and filled with so many unexpected challenges. Especially involving Mezereon and food from the kitchen….” He chuckled at the memory of sharing this with her at the Sanditon before continuing: “But they need a mother, someone to look up to and someone who cherishes them.
And I would like….” He turned back to face her. “Someone I might share my day with. Someone I might look to for strength and resilience when I need, and who might feel –” His stomach twisted as his breath caught in his throat. “– who might feel the same about me.”
Faustus paused again, his eyes meeting hers, searching for a sign that she might feel the same. That she still felt the same as she did after the events of Valentine’s Day. “Who might wish to accept all that I have and all that I am.”