3

2 Weeks Later

Patience's POV

I was currently in Walter's sitting room since Claude and I were to be wedded my mother made it her to duty to have me here every day, but I was alone as usual since Claude went off to do 'Men's work' and I as his future wife was to sit and await his return, against my better judgement that is.

I didn't even have Patsy's company since she was asked not to come in today, I would love to visit but me a white woman in the black community would raise a few heads. A few heads that would result in an ear full from my mother and Patsy on trial.

A knock sounded breaking my thoughts and I followed it to see Hannah smiling by the door in a black suit, a grey buttoned down on the inside and a tie in her hand. Her hair in its usual low ponytail.

"You seem to be in deep thought," she announced leaning off the wall, moving over to me and I smiled.

"I'm bored out of mind," I said as she sat down.

"I can only imagine," she replied leaning back, dropping the tie in her lap.

"Who shall I thank for this visit?" I asked amused and she titled her head in my direction.

"Claude actually, I needed him to help me with this, but sadly he is not here," she replied referring to her tie and I released a small laugh.

"You're always dressed in a suit but you lack the knowledge of how to tie a tie," I pointed out and she smirked looking over to me.

"I have only recently begun wearing ties with my suits because my bigot of father decided it was a must to the men's work attire, and since I wear the men's work attire I am now required to wear one and they are very difficult," she replied sounding frustrated and I smiled, it was quite amusing and inspiring the way she pushed the norms of society without a care or fear in sight.

"Let me show you," I offered and she lifted the tie handing it to me.

I began showing her to and she frowned in deep concentration, her eyes never leaving my hands.

"You made it look so easy," she pointed out as I undid it handing the tie to her.

"Try," I said and she lifted her collar placing it around her neck.

"Where did you learn such a thing?" She asked as she began to imitate what I had just done.

"It was a must learn in my household, since every husband should earn a wife who could tie one," I replied rolling my eyes earning a laugh from her.

"Is this the lucky day I get to bash men with you?" She asked amused and I smiled watching as she turned, showing me her tie and I laughed at her proud expression.

"It looks lovely," I complimented and she smiled fixing her jacket after she had placed her collar down.

"Are you leaving?" I asked hoping she wouldn't and she nodded.

"I have to head into town before work later," she replied the word work sounding foreign coming from a woman's mouth, but it was something I loved hearing her say.

"Where is Patsy?" She asked frowning standing up.

"She is at home for the day," I replied and she nodded.

"Can I tag along?" I asked hopefully.

"You want to accompany me?" She asked and I nodded.

"And risk your mother and Claude's mental health?" She asked amused and I smiled.

"They won't know unless you tell," I reasoned and she smiled

"I wouldn't have to tell for them to know, your mother seems to keep an ear in gossip, and I'm currently the gossip of the town,"

"I'm not ready to return to boredom as yet," I replied and she sighed moving to sit beside me once more.

"Then I shall stay for a little while," she said and I smiled, happy to have her company.

"Why don't you teach me something while you're here," I offered and she released a small laugh.

"Why don't I show you something instead?" She asked

"Show me?"

"Yes, I would like to refer to it as a getaway," she replied standing

"A getaway from what?" I asked as she held out her hand and I took it standing up.

"From reality," she replied as we made our way outside.

"I discovered it while trying to evade Lydia one late afternoon," she confided and I released a small laugh as she led me to the back of the house.

We walked over to a tree pushing past its branches to find a swing, and I smiled now becoming aware of its existence.

"This is your place of escape?" I asked appreciating the scenery, there were flowers on the floor from trees that released them.

"Yes it is," she replied smiling

"I've been reading the book," I announced sitting on the swing and she smiled.

"Enjoying it?" she asked and I released a small smile looking down at my feet that hovered over the grass.

"I read her biography at the back," I announced softly not meeting her eyes and I heard the breaking of sticks before I felt her hands on back pushing me softly allowing the swing to move back and forth slightly.

"You did?"

"Yes, I didn't know people like her existed back then, " I confessed and she laughed not hiding her amusement.

"Lesbians?"

"Yes lesbians," I whispered knowing how sensitive the town was to the term.

"We aren't aliens," she replied and I frowned not sure if I heard her correctly.

"We?" I questioned and I felt her hands on my waist, her fingers pressing against my skin firmly as she forced the swing to stop.

"Yes, we,"

"You're-"

"I am," she replied and I turned my head to the side immediately meeting her eyes, her face inches away from mine.

"You're joking?" I asked amused.

"I would never joke about such a thing," she replied her eyes running over me but this time it felt different as if I was finally seeing it for what it was a look of attraction.

.

.

.

.

Hannah's POV

"Does Claude know?" She questioned turning away from me looking at the ground and I frowned regretting saying anything, but I guess apart of me had wished she felt something or at least thought she did, after the numerous interactions we had over the days that had passed.

"No, my father and yourself are the only ones in the town who are aware of my preference," I replied pulling away from the swing.

"We don't have to speak about it, if it makes you uncomfortable," I mumbled not missing how tense she was.

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable, just like everything about you it's just different," she replied as I sat under the tree, the branches blocking the view of the house from me.

"Different bad or different good?"

"Different interesting," she replied smiling removing herself from the swing.

"Different interesting?" I asked amused and she nodded moving to sit beside me.

"We can talk about whatever you please," she replied turning to face me.

"How about your wedding," I offered knowing that we hadn't spoken about it, since the day I found out she was going to marry Claude.

"My wedding belongs to my mother," she announced

"I can only imagine," I replied laughing

"She made my sister my maid of honour sadly, I was actually looking forward to you taking that position to witness you in a dress," she told me amused

"Everything happens for a reason,"

"Will you still be attending?" She asked hopefully

"Of course I wouldn't miss the big day of both my friends," I replied resting my head against the tree, trying my best to push away the emotions that seemed to pour out whenever she was next to me.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading ❤️‼️

Hope you enjoyed the chapter ❤️‼️