A Beautiful Thing is Never Perfect

[Meredith Bancroft]

July 10, 1884
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Meredith might have been a little shaky and skittish on the inside, she always tried her best to hide it. Usually she did so by convincing herself everything was alright and that there was nothing to worry about, which was partially true because her father was now dead. She did have to deal with the haunting memories of her sister's murders and the multiple deaths she'd worked with at the hospital.

The supposed spinster walked through the entrance of the Post Office, her eyes flickering around at the scene. In the back of the room, she could see a bunch of owls lined up in cages as they waited their turns to deliver letters for someone. Ever since the quarantine was placed on Hogsmeade, the only way to get in contact with her outside relatives and friends was to deliver messages by owls. She was sort of peeved that she wasn't able to leave, but she also had dozens of patients to help tend to. Plagues and diseases weren't her specialty, but whenever something huge like the laughing plague came around she was expected to lend a hand.

Her mind was caught in so much thought that she barely registered it when she bumped right into someone in front of her. She looked up at the taller man with nervous eyes, a little shaken that she'd came in physical contact with a man. "I apologize, sir. I was caught in my thoughts," she said softly.

  

[Benedict Sterling]

Benedict had been to the Post Office many a time before, so he had no trouble going to his regular owl and delivering the message to his mother. He was alright, and doing well. It had been a little while since he'd said good bye to Aerofax, but the pain was still there, so his face was more troubled than carrying a cheerful gaze. He became submersed in his memories that he didn't see the woman in front of him and promptly bumped into her.

Shaken out of his reverie, Benedict found his manners, as well as his words and swept his hat off in respect. "The fault is entirely mine," he said smoothly, smiling. "I hope you are alright, Miss. It appears we're both immersed in our thoughts today," he added good-humoredly.

  

[Meredith Bancroft]

There was no way that Meredith would think about being rude to the kind man, but she did feel a little uncomfortable around him. It wasn't him exactly—she felt uncomfortable around most, if all men. She gave him a weak smile, nodding her head softly. While she might not have been so thrilled to have run straight into him, she could appreciate his handsome appearance. Just because she was afraid of the male species didn't mean she couldn't appreciate their beauty.

"There's no need to worry, sir. I'm perfectly fine," she said, composing herself. "I hope that I did not interrupt any of your thoughts," she said apologetically, her cheeks flushing a pale pink color.

  

[Benedict Sterling]

The girl was polite enough, if not a little timid. Timidness was a trait that Benedict never knew how to act properly around, seeing as he did not possess even an ounce of it within his entire body. Still, he did his best to be polite and cheerful when the times called for it.

Unfortunately, the necessity of being cheerful had struck him at a rather bad time, seeing as he had put his horse down a few weeks prior. Nonetheless, a grin spread across his handsome face, stretching his scar taut, and Benedict bowed. "None that cannot wait until tomorrow," he replied. "And in return, I too, hope that I haven't interrupted any of yours?"