Wednesday Brief: Your Hump Day dose of Flash Fiction

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas Holiday! Did Santa bring you any gifts? I got some, but I'll write another post on that sometime during the week when I've uploaded the pictures *wink* Meanwhile, I'm back with the Wednesday Brief I began on December 12. I was unable to participate last week due to life getting in the way (grrr) but I'm hoping to continue expanding this story throughout the remaining holiday season. If you want a reminder of last, last week's story Click Here. 

Have a great day!

December Tingles (2)

Anne hummed the melody over and over. Everywhere she went the music rang in her ears and his eyes in her mind. Grey. She saw them every time she closed her eyes. Grey like the sky before a thunderstorm. She shivered. That had been more than a fortnight ago. She’d been dancing with Arthur, attempting to steal a glimpse of Dermouth’s friend at every twist and turn. Finally, as the song ended she’d seen his face fully: Thick dark eyebrows over soulful eyes, a straight nose, an angular face, clean shaven. He’d smiled. She wasn’t sure if because he noticed her stare or because someone in his party had said something but the gesture had made her heart skip a beat. His lips were none too perfect, thinner at the top, thicker at the bottom, yet the desire to kiss him burnt inside her like a roaring fire. 

Caught back in the dance, when she looked again he was gone. Until—Anne sighed. Resting her head against the back of her hand, she stared out the window. Snow dotted the landscape turning everything into a perfect Christmas postcard. She closed her eyes. 

She followed Arthur’s gaze, her breath stopping as she observed him up close. Arthur looked shocked and she mildly wondered if she too had that bewildered look. She didn’t hear the words, she couldn’t over the loud staccato of her heart but the next thing she knew was his hands taking hers and leading her around the ball room. She wanted to be bashful, to be that silly maiden her mother had taught her to be around men, but she couldn’t. All she could muster was to look into his eyes and absorb their beauty. Grey like the sea at storm. She followed him, step after step, the music weaving around them and creating a magical spell in which it was just him and her. Abruptly, the waltz came to an end. He released her and bowed, his dark locks tumbling over his features, hiding them from her. Grasping her hand, he kissed her knuckles, sending an electric shock up her arm. He glanced up at her, his lips slightly parted as if he had trouble breathing. Then, before she could stop him, before she could ask his name or another dance, he’d vanished into the crowd.

For fifteen days and nights, she’d dreamt about him, strived to find out more about the Colonel’s mysterious friend. Yet, no one knew anything and the Colonel was out of the city having gone to visit Beth’s family for the holidays. She had been about to give up hope until yesterday, when on Christmas Day she’d received that parcel…

“What is it Anne?”

Anne stared at the snow globe. A couple turned in slow circles in the middle to a familiar melody. A waltz she’d been humming repeatedly since that night, since that shared dance with him. There was nothing else, no note, no name, nothing. 

Opening her eyes, she stared at the delicate object on her desk. How many times had she set the couple dancing in the past few days?  A knock at the door startled her.

“Come In.”

The butler entered baring a silver tray. 

“This just came in for you, lady Annette.” 

“Oh.” The bow bowed before her and she retrieved the small box wrapped in bright red paper. “Thank you.”

With a nod, Gerard left the room. Furrowing her brow, Annette ripped open the box. A sprig of mistletoe and a piece of paper with a single sentence fell from it.

Her eyes widened and her heart jumped to her throat as she read the note. 

To be continued...

More Briefers? Click ahead! 

Lily Sawyer     m/m 

Cia Nordwell    m/m

MA Church    m/m

Nephylim     m/m

MC Houle      m/m

Julie Lynn Hayes  m/m