Bloody Hell

[Ivy Scrivenshaft]

The question momentarily stumped her but Ivy couldn't quite recall a time when she hadn't wanted to be a healer. She supposed it had begun as a way of bettering herself: she had seen what her clever, capable Aunt had been reduced to without an education, though she certainly seemed happy with Mrs Pendergast now, and she had never wanted that for herself when she knew perfectly well she was capable of more. And she had always liked to help people. That had begun on the farm, nursing animals instead of humans, but she remembered distinctly her father having injured himself climbing a ladder and how she had insisted tending to him herself at the tender age of ten and she supposed that was the moment she had decided on her future. But her department of choice was a recent decision and one she had made quite consciously.

"I suppose it's the answer every healer gives, but I've always been quite passionate about helping people," she replied, though it was a rather paltry answer and she felt rather ashamed of it when Mr Scrivenshaft had given her such a glimpse into his early life. "But lately," she continued, "I've become acquainted with the mother of a school friend who was attacked quite brutally in her own home, and she's been so dreadfully kind to me it seemed only natural that Spells Damage should be my department of choice."

  

[Silas Scrivenshaft]

Though it was a simple reasoning, he could not help but smile. For truly someone so passionate about helping others had a beautiful soul - not that the beauty of her soul had ever been in question. Silas found himself thinking that every bit of her must be beautiful and enchanting as he'd yet to come across anything that was other than that. It was strange to feel like that, so taken with someone he hardly knew. But it was, after all, something he'd been hoping to find. He could only hope that she felt the same fondness towards him that he felt towards her. He would not blame her if she did not - perhaps she would prefer a younger, more handsome man - but he could still hope that she would wish to see him again.

"That is a beautiful sentiment, Miss O'Neill." He said with a smile. "It takes a special person to see a profession such as that and decide that they wish to dedicate their lives to it. I applaud you on that, truly." He knew he could not have handled such a profession. While he was not cold to the plights of other's, he felt quite certain that the excess of pain and damage would take a toll on him. He could not stomach to care for people hurt beyond measure. Miss O'Neill must have been a very strong young woman and that only made her all the more appealing to him.

  

[Ivy Scrivenshaft]

She had heard similar words from others û her Aunt for one, and her grandfather û but it was all the more complimentary from Mr Scrivenshaft's lips and Ivy blushed in pleasure as they continued to stroll in the direction of the hospital. They were closer now than she would like but they still had a couple of minutes together that she intended to savour, and perhaps there would be another encounter sometime soon?

Ivy wondered, vaguely, whether her family would approve and quickly surmised that her mother would, wholeheartedly: he had money after all, and there was nothing more important to her mother than that, whether Mr Scrivenshaft would make her happy or not. Her father would simply be happy as long as she was, but her Aunt was another matter entirely. Margaret would insist upon interrogating any man that had any serious designs upon her but then this was only their second meeting and she was certainly getting ahead of herself now!

"We should both be applauded," she murmured softly, smiling up at her companion as they drew closer to their destination. "For doing something that we love. Sadly, not everyone can say that."

  

[Silas Scrivenshaft]

"It is very sad indeed." He spoke. He knew many people that were unhappy in their profession and he was ever glad to say that he was lucky in being very pleased in his. Not only had it been pleasing but profitable enough to make his social standing higher than he had been raised with. Not that he much cared for such things. The amount of monetary wealth one had did not account for the character of said person though he knew that was something that not everyone would agree with. He knew better than to try to persuade everyone that it was true but that didn't mean he would turn up his nose at those of lesser wealth than himself.

Approaching the front doors to the hospital he felt very displeased. This was where they would have to part and he very much did not want to leave her presence. "Well here we are." He said, stopping just shy of the entrance. He disentangled their arms and took one of her hands lightly in his, bending so slightly to place a chaste kiss across her knuckles. It was perhaps a bolder move than he usually would have made but he wanted to make it very clear to her that he wished to see her again truly if his next words were to leave any doubt. "I hope you do not think me terribly forward, Miss O'Neill, but I should very much like to see you again in the future." He said with an unsure smile. "Of course, if you are not opposed to that." He added with a slight sense of haste. He was far from debonair, after all.

  

[Ivy Scrivenshaft]

Ivy couldn't help but recall the times she and her Aunt had chortled over gestures like this: she had always dismissed them as silly, fantastical notions plucked straight from the depths of romance novels but this felt entirely natural and Ivy felt her heart constrict violently in her chest. She would rather not have to part from Mr Scrivenshaft at all but as far as partings went this one was rather pleasant and there was the hope of seeing him again. The brush of his lips against her knuckles, combined with the invitation, was surely indication enough of his interest and she felt some of the nerves that had plagued her a minute ago dispel in the wake of relief.

She wondered, vaguely, what Mr Scrivenshaft saw in her. It was not her wealth or social standing, for Ivy had neither, and there were plenty of young women who had pursued the same career she had chosen with a great deal more intelligence, and Mr Scrivenshaft's own intelligence far outswamped her own. And she wasn't even very pretty! Mr Scrivenshaft on the other hand was dreadfully handsome and she probably appeared very drab in appearance next to him. But she was not one for looking a gift horse in the mouth and she eagerly nodded her approval. Ivy wanted to see him again and soon.

"I'm not," she responded quickly, blushing lightly at her haste but she didn't see the point of playing hard to get when she clearly admired him! Her lips curved into a smile. "I'd like that very much, Mr Scrivenshaft."

  

[Silas Scrivenshaft]

It was incredibly pleasing to see her reaction. She seemed very interested in seeing him again and while he did not want to make assumptions he thought that surely that meant she had some marginal fondness of him as well. He couldn't keep the smile off of his face at the thought. It was very pleasing to think he could attract any sort of regard from a beautiful young woman such as Miss O'Neill and he wasn't going to try to convince himself that it wasn't at least a small sense of pride swelling in his chest at it all. After all he was an exceedingly humble man - the very notion that he was enough to attract her fondness was very surprising indeed.

Still with a smile on his face he said: "I am very pleased to hear that." He couldn't help feeling he had and it was rather silly but he wasn't going to question it. "I shan't keep you any longer but please, do not hesitate to write me at your nearest convenience." He figured they could correspond to decide how they could see one another again. He had to admit it had been so long since he'd had to do anything like this that he wasn't even certain how to properly go about it. He hoped, however, that he could manage without making any mars on her reputation.

  

[Ivy Scrivenshaft]

Time was still ticking and the close of her break was rapidly approaching but even an extra minute would be worth a scolding from Miss Herbert. But as much as Ivy would like to stay here all day and enjoy Mr Scrivenshaft's company she had been quite determined to embark on a career since the age of ten and not even the hope of romance could distract her from that desire, and if she had any hope of success she would be wise to bid her companion û her suitor, she thought, feeling a little shiver of pleasure û farewell. But only for now: she was determined to write to him following today's encounter with embarrassing haste.

"Fortunately, I have a rather attractive new quill which I have been eager to use," she smiled, eyes twinkling as she took a rather reluctant step back. She inclined her head in farewell, but what she really wanted to do was press her lips to his cheek. "Good day, Mr Scrivenshaft."