Tiny drabblet related to Jeeves and Wooster.
“Jeeves?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I haven’t mentioned my parents to you much, have I?”
“Not in great detail, sir, no.”
“May I speak about them to you now, Jeeves?”
“I would be honoured if you did, sir.”
“They were wonderful, Jeeves, really top notch. My father was a great fisherman and had a moustache, and my mother had soft hair and a smile you could see from the moon.”
Jeeves smiled softly, even as a tired sadness passed over his employer’s face.
“My parents were very clever people, Jeeves. You would have loved them.”
“I don’t doubt that in the slightest, sir.”
“Most of all, though, they showed me that it was alright to show another person that you love them, and I’ll always envy what they had together. They loved each other a great deal.”
Both men sat, quietly, each musing on the words hanging between them, almost tangibly, in the air.
“Can I tell you a secret, Jeeves?”
“If you wish to share one with me, I would carry it as my own.”
Bertie smiled - Jeeves really was the living end.
“I’ve always wanted to be married.”
Jeeves fought to stop himself from protesting.
“But only if I could be as happy as they were.”
“A good point.”
“I never thought it would happen for me, though, Jeeves.”
“Sir, I’m sure that’s not...”
“No, Jeeves. You might not like to admit it, old thing, but I’m not the cleverest cove about, not the best looking. I’m not romantic or poetic or ath...ath...”
“Athletic, sir?”
“That’s the one. Good show, Jeeves.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I couldn’t imagine somebody wanting to spend the rest of their life with me, Jeeves.”
Bertie’s gaze fell to the floor.
“I couldn’t imagine someone loving me.”
Jeeves felt his heart crack and die away in his chest. His jaw clenched and his dark brows nearly met in the middle. It was a great deal more emotion than Bertie was used to seeing on his valet’s face.
“Is there something the matter, Jeeves?”
Jeeves struggled, trying to keep his thoughts to himself.
“Yes, sir.”
“What is it, Jeeves? Do tell me, old thing. Let’s see if I can help you with your dil..dilemthingummy.”
“Dilemma?”
“There’s the chappy. So, what is it, Jeeves?”
“I do.”
“You do what, Jeeves? I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”
“I love you, sir.”