Blankets
It was freezing temperatures outside, and not even the fires burning in the fireplaces were enough to keep them warm. Every blanket that existed in the house had been dug out, and they were drinking tons of tea merely because it was hot.
For once, Anne and Ann were alone in the small sitting-room. Ann were seated on the sofa with a tartan shawl wrapped around her, and Anne lay with her head in the blonde’s lap with a blanket draped across her. They were enjoying each other’s company in comfortable silence. Anne were resting her eyes, after lending a hand outside all day, and Ann held her book with one hand, running her other hand through Anne’s hair soothingly. Anne moaned quietly, into Ann’s lap, slowly being lulled into sleep by her calm movements. Ann glanced down at her wife for a few seconds, smiling at her relaxed form, she was beautiful. The blonde couldn’t help herself, she bowed down her head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, close to her hairline. Anne moved slightly, placing her hand on Ann’s knee, smiling though her eyes were closed,
“Stop staring at me, Adney!”
“I wasn’t.” Ann replied, and Anne opened one eye slowly, and her eyes crinkled as she laughed softly,
“You are!”
“Well, to be fair, you are quite the distraction, Mrs. Lister.” Ann told her smirking,
“Mm, really?”
“Don’t act so innocent, Anne! You are well aware!”
Anne scoffed, closing her eyes, placing her head on Ann’s lap again,
“Ah, it’s annoying, how much I love you sometimes.”
“Is it?” Anne murmured amused, and Ann nodded, stroking her over the hair gently,
“Immensely. I can’t think of anything else. Let alone get anything done!”
Anne’s eye opened briefly, and she grinned,
“It might be due to the fact that you’re reading that boring novel.”
“You know sometimes a thank you suffices.” Ann told the brunette, placing a chaste kiss over her head, and Anne bit her lip, snorting,
“Yes, you are right. I’m sorry. I adore you with all my heart and soul.”
“You do now, do you?” Ann asked clearly amused by her tired wife, Anne nodded into her lap,
“I love you.”
Ann kissed her temple sweetly, and ran her fingers through her hair, and Anne purred pleased, and Ann thought about how lucky she was, there in-front of the warm fire, with her wife cuddled up in her lap. But just as she were about to convince Anne to kiss her properly, Marian came inside the room, and Ann sat up straighter, pushing at Anne who sat up quickly, a bit delirious. Before any of them had time to make excuses or say anything, Marian squeezed in between them, pulling the blanket over her legs as well.
“Ah, warmth!”
“What in God’s name… what the he… Marian what on earth?” Anne eyed her sister confused, and Marian turned to her,
“What? It’s freezing, and all blankets are already occupied.”
“So, you sat yourself between us?”
“Well, we are all friends, aren’t we?”
“Friends…” Anne muttered, sharing a look with her wife, making her laugh.
“Some with certain benefits.” Ann laughed, and Marian shuddered,
“Yes, which I will kindly decline.”
“But you will share a blanket with us?”
“I’m cold, Anne – I cannot feel my toes!” Marian cried frustrated, and Anne rolled her eyes,
“We need to get more blankets.”
“It hasn’t been this cold since 1807.” Marian complained, trying to warm herself up,
“Mm, yes I remember, I was at school, we had to wear hundreds of layers to be even remotely warm. I didn’t suffer as much as Eliza though.” Anne commented, and Ann’s eyes darted to her wife,
“Who?”
Anne seemed to realise her slip, and cleared her throat, feeling all the awkwardness, but Marian budged in again,
“Anne’s schoolfellow, they used to write each other all the time during the holidays.”
“Not all the time…” Anne said quickly, her cheeks burning under Ann’s inquisitive stare.
“What? Once there were five letters in less than a week.” Marian stated, and Anne glared at her sister,
“Really? I don’t remember that.”
“Wha…” Marian trailed off, looking between her sister and Ann and her mouth opened, forming an ‘o’, and Anne shook her head at her, dragging her hand over her face.
“You know, I need to take care of a few things.” Anne declared standing up, throwing the blanket to Marian and leaving the room.
Ann followed her to her study shortly after. Anne was stood with her back to her, glancing out the window. The blonde crept nearer, putting her arms around her from behind, resting her chin against Anne’s shoulder, and she placed her hands over Ann’s.
“Are you alright?”
“I just… need a moment.” Anne whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. Ann kissed her exposed neck gently,
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No.” Anne murmured, holding her hands tighter to her.
“Was she your first? - Eliza?”
“She was the first girl I fancied myself in love with. Yes.” Anne admitted, another tear following the last one, Ann frowned sweetly,
“What happened?”
“We were found out, sort of. I was expelled and she stayed on. We weren’t allowed to keep in touch. From what I heard, she told, or someone found out about me and they locked her away. Something like that – I don’t know.” Anne told her with a heavy heart, and Ann turned her around, taking her face in her hands softly,
“It isn’t your fault, Anne, don’t blame yourself.”
“How can I not? I am the reason she was, is probably still, locked up there.”
“No. She was complicit in it, and it’s none of your faults, that… that the ‘blanket’ was swept away and revealed what was underneath it.” Ann tried to reassure Anne, and the brunette smiled down at her sadly,
“I can’t help it.”
“I know and I don’t know what to say except that it isn’t your fault. They locked her away, you didn’t.” Ann told her softly, putting her arms around her, embracing her to herself, and Anne held on to her tightly.
“You are so brave for being with me – I don’t think I ever told you.”
“I would rather die than live a life without you.” Ann murmured into her neck, and Anne squeezed her to her, kissing her cheek, and Ann could feel that her cheeks were coated with tears.
“I love you, Ann! Always. I would never let anything happen to you!” Anne told her with a brittle voice, and Ann felt warmth soar through her,
“I love you too!” Ann mumbled and Anne pulled back and kissed her passionately, with an urgency that managed to surprise Ann – and suddenly all thoughts about blankets and the cold disappeared as her blood grew warmer with every kiss.
“Oh, for the…close the doors!” Marian cried annoyed as she passed, wrapped in blankets, shutting the door with her foot, and the pair of them broke apart and then began laughing hysterically with each other, kissing all the while.