I had been home for barely a week and I was already diving into trouble. Tewkesbury and I had developed a code that would be hard to crack.
We made the code to look as though it could be a math equation but isn't. We changed it so the number one starts on the letter E to confuse anyone testing the basic number to letter code. We only had to come up with code names now to keep our identities hidden.
"I'll be clematis since it is my favorite flower. It will be easy to tell who I am but it won't really matter if any unsuspected reader can't figure out the code." I said as I marked the top of the code sheet we had created.
"What about me? Shouldn't I have a part on the title?" Tewkesbury complained.
"Yes that's why I left space on each side of my name. Now what should your code name be?" I asked again.
We were currently in a flower field far from Basilwether so that we could speak in peace. The hot summer sun was blinding us with it's beautiful rays so we both laid under a parasol I brought along.
"How about Myrtle." Tewkesbury claimed.
"I assume you know the secret meaning of that plant." I said in an asking tone though it wasn't a question.
"It means love." He said as he looked over at me with his sparkling eyes. I couldn't help but smile at him as he smiled back at me filling me with peace.
"The Myrtle Clematis Code!" I announced as I handed him the paper.
After a few moments Tewkesbury nocked over the parasol and pulled me to my feet. He collected the paper and pencil we were using while I picked up the parasol.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he took my hand and began running.
"We're going to have fun. I'm tired of being stuck between my childhood and my adulthood. I just want to be children again." He said as we stopped at a hill.
"Tewkesbury, don't." I pleaded before he snaked his leg behind mine and leaned forward causing us to fall. He turned so I fell ontop of him and we rolled down the hill.
I tried to let go but Tewkesbury's arms were wrapped tightly around me not letting me go. Once we came to a stop I was ontop of Tewkesbury again. I rolled off of him as he let me go. We were both laughing hysterically as we got up of the grass.
We turned and noticed an older couple looking at us as we played. They were smiling and reminiscing on the days that they could run around carelessly in a field.
I waved before I was dragged by the hand by Tewkesbury once again. I lost my footing as he continued to run and I tripped. Thankfully I didn't get hurt but Tewkesbury quickly stoped and helped me up.
"Are you okay?" He asked as he didn't let go of my hands even though I was on my feet again.
Instead of responding I began running not letting go of his hands causing him to stumble. He almost fell but regained his balance and began chasing after me. I tried to outrun him but that proved to be imposable as I was tackled to the ground and tickled relentlessly by none other that Tewkesbury himself.
I was squirming for what felt like forever until the tickling finally ceased. I looked over at Tewkesbury and found him sprawled out in the grass beside me. I sat up and leaned over him resting my arms on his chest to prop my head up. He put his arms behind his head to prop his own head up so we were facing each other.
I smiled and tilted my head to the side as I looked at him. He took one of his hands and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. He rested his hand on my cheek and stroked it a few times before replacing his hand behind his head.
"You have a cute laugh." He said out of knowhere.
"And you have a cute face." I replied before I could stop myself.
"Oh?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows and smirked at my quickly redining face.
He sat up and I got off of him. He propped himself up by the hands and I sat on my knees at his side trying to hide my face.
"Stop trying to hide your face I want to see how beautiful you are." Tewkesbury said as he pulled my arms down.
I gave him a confused look at what he said to me before he pulled me close to him again. We were back to laying on the grass staring at the clouds. He smiled at me and held his hand in the air shielding my eyes from the sun.
"You really think I'm beautiful?" I asked him after a few moments.
"The most beautiful." He replied.
"Hmm, even more than your mother?" I asked jokingly.
"Yes, but don't go round telling her that." He replied as he laughed at my joke.
"I can die happy now." I continued to joke.
"But I don't want you to die." Tewkesbury wined.
"Whatever you say." I said with a sigh.
We laid there for a bit longer before we felt the sun baking us. We looked at our exposed skin and saw that it was a shade of pink that wasn't normal.
We hurried to grab my parasol and head back to basilwether to treat our mild sun burns. Once we arrived we went to the kitchen where one of the maids rubbed a special concoction on our exposed skin.
When I touched it it was slimy so I didn't touch it again. We went our separate ways to put on fresh clothes. The goo had dried by now so I didn't worry about getting it on my already dirty dress.
I put on a fancy gown perfect for dinner and left my room. I walked past a large clock and saw that it would be a few more hours until supper so I went to the library.
I sat at the piano and flipped through a few pieces of music. I began playing each of them when I hear the door open. Tewkesbury sat on the bench beside me and took over my right hand leaving me to play the left.
I was surprised he could play the piano since he never took to much interest in it when we were younger. The piece we were playing quickly turned to chaos as we began laughing.
I would poke him in the ribs every time he had to play a high note causing him to mess up. We eventually finished the piece after much struggle. We began laughing hysterically, so much so that the piano bench fell backwards and we ended up on the floor.
We laughed even more as we got up off the floor replacing the bench in it's rightful position, upright and facing the piano.
We were soon called to supper and followed the cook to the dinning room. We took our seats beside eachother but soon began laughing again. We were clearly exhausted and it showed through our inability to stop laughing.
Once the food arrived we dove in and we're quiet for the rest of the meal which deeply confused everyone. They didn't question it however and let us leave once we had finished our plates.
We went our separate ways to our bedrooms to wash up and go to bed. I took off the restrictive clothing and hung it back in my closet. I put on a dressing gown and climbed into bed. I almost instantly fell asleep when my head hit the pillow.
I heard the door open to my very dark room revealing the shilloette of a man. I kept quiet until the man spoke.
"It's just me." Tewkesbury said softly as he sat next to me on my bed.
"Do you need something?" I asked as he set a lamp on my bedside table.
"I just wanted to wish you a goodnight. I had a lot of fun today with you." He said as he looked down at me.
I reached up and tucked some of Tewkesbury's long hair behind his ear just like he did to me earlier that day. He took my hand and kissed it. He really was quite the hand kisser.
"Goodnight to you as well Tewkesbury." I sad back to him as he stood up beginning to leave.
"I shall see you in the morning my lady." He said as he bowed jokingly.
"What have I said about using my title?" I said sternly as I tried to suppress my laughter.
"Right right sorry." He said as he began to laugh as well.
"Go to bed tewks it's past your bed time." I said as i watched him reach the door.
"I don't have a bed time." He said confusedly as he closed the door behind him.
I giggled as I cuddled into my warm covers once again being enveloped in sleeps warm embrace. I was exhausted from all of todays running around and playing that I quickly dosed off into a peaceful slumber that lasted a very long time.