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“Professor Montagu, is it true that you’ve…what I’m trying to say is… I must be very dull company, for a man of your experience.” Charles managed. Monty furrowed his brow in disbelief.
“Now say, where’d you get an idea like that?” Monty inquired.
“One hears rumors of traveling salesmen.” Charles replied stiffly.
“Now, Charlie, you mustn’t believe everything you hear. After all, one even hears rumors about librarians.” Monty raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, you mean about Madison, my father’s best friend. No matter what they say, he left me an assured job so Mother and I could have some security. Surely you don’t believe…” Charles faltered.
“Of course not!” Monty assured him. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Why do you think people start those rumors?”
“Narrow-mindedness, jealousy— jealousy mostly, I guess.” Charles mused.
“Exactly. And jealousy mostly starts rumors about traveling salesmen. What have you heard?”
“Just that – but of course, it stands to reason that – that disappointment and jealousy can lead to – I mean – take you for instance – your attentions to – to – customers and – and well, teachers might easily be misinterpreted mightn’t thay? I mean, now honestly, mightn’t they?” A blush spread over Charles' cheeks. Monty quirked his head in confusion.
“Why–”
“And, so you say – if another salesman – or somebody were jealous – I mean – well, they could be downright lies, couldn’t they?” Monty quite liked the idea that he could make the other man so flustered.
“What could?”
“Rumors and things!”
“Of course!”
“It just proves you should never believe everything you hear, doesn’t it? I mean if you discuss things..” Monty clapped him on the shoulder, the brunette flinching at the sudden touch, then relaxing into it.
“My genius, I would be delighted to discuss anything in the world with you. But couldn’t we do it sitting down? You do sit? Your knees bend and all?” Charles chuckled.
“We could sit on the porch steps?” He gestured to the house behind them.
“We could also sit on a large hollow log by the footbridge.” Monty replied flirtatiously. From his limited knowledge of River City, this was where couples got together. And from Charles' reaction, it seemed he was right.
“I couldn’t think of it. I’ve never been to the footbridge with a man in my life.” Monty smiled and shook his head.
“Meet me at the footbridge. Fifteen minutes.” He insisted.
“I… just can't. Please, some other time? Maybe tomorrow?”
“No time like the present, my genius. If you keep stacking up your tomorrows, you’ll end up with a pile of empty yesterdays.” He shouted as he retreated from the Cholmondeleys’ house.
Charles' eyes followed his back down the street. Despite his nerves, he wished the fifteen minutes would pass faster.
— — —
The wood of the footbridge creaked under Charles’s feet as he met Monty at the center, stopping a few feet away from the other man.
“Charlie, you’re late!” Monty greeted him, taking a few steps closer.
“What do you mean?” Charles asked confusedly. “You said fifteen minutes.” Monty laughed.
“You’re about twenty-six years late, never been to the footbridge with anyone.” Charles couldn’t resist that laugh.
“If you want to know the truth, it was almost longer.” Monty leaned casually on the bridge’s railing.
There were bells on a hill/But I never heard them ringing
No, I never heard them at all/'Till there was you
“Oh?”
“Halfway here I nearly turned back.” Charles closed his eyes for a moment and collected his thoughts. “I suppose I’m not the first to find it hard to think clearly under the spell of your salesmanship.” Monty shook his head.
“Now Charlie – surely you don’t think I’ve been selling you anything.” Now Charles was the one to shake his head.
“No – you’ve given me something. That’s why I decided to come.” He grabbed hold of Montagu’s hand, his eyes dropping to the wooden slats of the bridge and the water running beneath it. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it.
There were birds in the sky/But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all/'Till there was you
“I don’t recall giving–” Charles gripped his wrist tighter.
“You’ve given me something beautiful.”
And there was music/And there were wonderful roses/They tell me
In sweet fragrant meadows/Of dawn and dew
“Monty… I’ve never done this before, but—“ He finally raised his eyes to meet the blond’s.
Monty’s eyes stared deeply into his own. They were so close, the taller man could feel hot breath on his chin. Charles’ hands shook as they settled on the blond’s waist.
“Are you sure?” Monty whispered into his neck.
“Positive” breathed Charles.
Charles leaned down and their lips touched. Ran long fingers through his hair, something he had wanted to do for a long time. Monty broke the kiss first, eyes darting away from the taller man.
“I’m sorry if that wasn’t– wasn’t good enough for you. You see, I’ve never done this either and–”
Charles pulled him closer and kissed him again.
“Listen to me – Ewen Montagu – you are – good enough – you beautiful boy.” Murmured Charles, punctuated by kisses to the shorter man’s forehead. He stepped back to see Monty’s reaction. To his shock, the salesman was crying. What had he done wrong?
“No Monty, please don’t–”
“I needed that.” He replied, looking back up at Charles. “Sometimes I forget.”
“Please, kiss me again.” The brunette sighed in relief.
“Yes. Always.”
There was love all around/But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all/'Till there was you