Poppy could have laughed again in relief as it seemed her darling Mr. Dempsey regained himself at her words. Whew, that had been close! She hated the idea of his being miserable or unhappy… It tugged at her heart in a way Poppy wasn’t sure she was prepared to admit, attached as she was to the man. It was silly. They were just… friends after all. (Oh how she seemed to have a great many of those these days, she thought in frustration.)Still, the brunette followed cheerily as they moved towards the garden. She accepted the gentleman’s offered arm with a feather-light touch, still preservative and knowing full-well she had to rely on her own two feet. Though Mr. Dempsey was easily becoming a trusted resource, Poppy didn’t dare put herself at the whims of any man so fully as to lean upon them for support. Not while dancing, and certainly not while strolling - unchaperoned - in a darkened garden.
They passed through a set of double doors then into the frosty winter outside and Poppy turned in time to catch the unusually demure smile her companion shared. Something in the girl’s heart twisted and she wanted so badly to reach out a hand to brush a thumb gently across his perfect cheek. She didn’t, instead pausing to turn towards the gentleman as he came to a stop. Another laugh trickled out from her vocals, bell-like and soft. “Mr. Dempsey, you flatter me too much,” Poppy teased. “I would be easily satisfied by merely your continued presence and support.” She leaned forward towards him conspiratorially, mischief alight in her gaze once more. “You should know, I’ve grown rather fond of you.”
© Fox