i don’t mind [mary x baxter]
The rain catches the team by surprise, they’re in the middle of putting up chairs when Baxter feels the first splashes of rain against the back of her neck. It takes mere moments for the light trickle to turn into a turrent and she looks up to see Anna and Lady Edith sprinting towards cover, as well as the rest of the group. Baxter watches them run across the lawn then looks back at the only tent left standing and it’s single occupant. At this point her hair has begun to stick to her neck and forehead, her dress clinging to her uncomfortably. She stands a few moments more watching everyone flee to safety before turning and heading towards the open tent.
“Well, that was quite a surprise.” The occupant of the tent says.
“The rain?” Baxter asks, looking straight ahead.
There’s a moment of silence and then “You choosing me.” comes the soft answer. The lady’s maid had been distant for the last couple of days, she could blame it on their suddenly busy schedules but she knew it was more than that.
At this Baxter turns, eyes settling on the form of Lady Mary. Her fists clench and unclench at her sides “I’m not surprised in the slightest.” Because if she’s honest with herself, she knows she’d choose Mary no matter what.
Mary’s jaw is squared and it flexes as Baxter looks away from her. Look at me. She wants to scream but takes a calming breath and a step closer to the other woman instead “Phyllis-”
“Your husband-” Baxter cuts her off “Is due back at the end of next week, isn’t he? It’s been months, I’m sure you miss him terribly.”
Mary holds back a wince at how Baxter says ‘husband’, the way bitterness rolls off the lady’s maid’s tongue is so foreign it leave Mary disoriented. “Yes, Henry is due back soon.” She bites the inside of her cheeks and looks off into the distance. After a while she looks at the shivering woman besides her and something in her chest constricts “Phyllis, I-” I’m sorry. I wish he weren’t coming back. I wish you would look at me. “I don’t think the rain is going to stop anytime soon”
Baxter exhales softly and she suddenly looks so defeated that it brings the sting of unshed tears to Mary’s eyes. “Maybe it’s for the best” Baxter says and forces a smile, she wasn’t expecting things to last long, but she had been hoping for it.
Mary doesn’t want to agree but she does “Perhaps it is” She wants to take it back as soon as she says it.
The wind picks up around them and the cold rain pricks against both of their faces. Baxter’s lip quivers and she looks at Mary again, she was anything but a sore loser “Milady” her head bows slightly and she manages a final smile before turning to walk away.
“Wait!” Mary reaches out for her, hand closing around a delicate wrist “Please” she adds, when Baxter tries to pull away. To her great relief, the maid stops, brown eyes locking with hers.
They stare at one another, Baxter exposed to the rain once more and Mary still mostly shielded by the tent. Mary’s hand travels down until her fingers can lace with Baxter’s, just as they have so many times before “Stay.” she says, over the sound of the wind picking up and the rain thrumming against the top of the tent.
“It’s raining.” Baxter says in lieu of an answer “We’ll catch our deaths” she adds
“I don’t mind.” Is Mary’s reply.
“Don’t you?” She looks up, eyes motioning towards the tent that shields her from the icy rain.
“No, I don’t.” Mary shakes her head, and steps out to weather the storm with her companion. The rain soaks through her clothes in an instant and chills her, but she doesnt care, if standing in the rain and catching her death is what it takes to keep Baxter at her side then that’s what she will do.
The Storm only worsens as the night goes on and Baxter listens as rain pelts against her single window. She restless, and unable to think of anything besides her earlier interaction with Mary.
We’ll catch our deaths. She hadn’t been talking about the rain.
Soft rapping against her door brought her out of her musing and before she could respond a familiar voice filled the room “Phyllis, are you awake?”
Baxter didn’t respond and opted instead to turn on her side. She heard the door close, followed by the dipping of the bed at her feet “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I told myself that ten times before doing it anyways” Mary says, slight humor in her voice.
Rain and thunder fills the silence between them.
“I’ll go then.” Mary sighs when the silence becomes unbearable.
“No” the protest is barely above a whisper but it’s enough to get Mary to sit back down. Baxter shifts and sits up, hand blindly searching for the other woman “Stay.”
Mary is momentarily dizzy with relief. Baxter wanted her to stay, just as she wanted Baxter to stay. All was not lost.
“We’ll catch our deaths” Baxter says, again.
“I don’t mind.” Mary crawls closer to the other woman
“Don’t you?” Baxter challenges.
“No, I don’t.” Mary says firmly before closing the distance between them.
Warmth spreads through them both and they feel whole like this, in eachother arms. Like this, they could weather any storm.
