9th June, 1910- Burdock PondDaisy was gathering angelica one evening by Burdock Pond when she heard

9th June, 1910- Burdock Pond

Daisy was gathering angelica one evening by Burdock Pond when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Eli standing a few feet away. Her heart gave a thump which she did her best to ignore.

‘Oh! I didn’t-‘

‘No, I- I came to apologise. About how I behaved the other day. It was…ungentlemanly.’

‘You don’t have to apologise.’ Both of their voices sounded stiff and unnatural. I shouldn’t have- I suppose we were both being rather silly.’

‘Yes.’ For a few long seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Eli turned to go. ‘Well, I should probably-‘

‘Wait!’

The word left her mouth before she could stop it. Eli turned back. ‘Daisy?’

‘Is that it?’ Daisy felt her face heat up. She couldn’t quite believe she was saying it, but she couldn’t stop herself. ‘Isn’t there anything else?’

Eli looked at her for a long moment. She couldn’t read his expression. ‘Do you want there to be something else, Daisy?’

She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t speak. She just nodded. She was looking at the ground, so when she heard him draw closer and looked up he was inches away. He smelled like soap and hay. She felt his fingers brush her cheek. ‘Can I…’