i donât mind [mary x baxter]
The rain catches the team by surprise, theyâre 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 itâs 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.
âWell, that was quite a surprise.â The occupant of the tent says.
âThe rain?â Baxter asks, looking straight ahead.
Thereâs a moment of silence and then âYou choosing me.â comes the soft answer. The ladyâs 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 âIâm not surprised in the slightest.â Because if sheâs honest with herself, she knows sheâd choose Mary no matter what.
Maryâs 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 âPhyllis-â
âYour husband-â Baxter cuts her off âIs due back at the end of next week, isnât he? Itâs been months, Iâm sure you miss him terribly.â
Mary holds back a wince at how Baxter says âhusbandâ, the way bitterness rolls off the ladyâs maidâs tongue is so foreign it leave Mary disoriented. âYes, Henry is due back soon.â 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 âPhyllis, I-â Iâm sorry. I wish he werenât coming back. I wish you would look at me. âI donât think the rain is going to stop anytime soonâ
Baxter exhales softly and she suddenly looks so defeated that it brings the sting of unshed tears to Maryâs eyes. âMaybe itâs for the bestâ Baxter says and forces a smile, she wasnât expecting things to last long, but she had been hoping for it.
Mary doesnât want to agree but she does âPerhaps it isâ 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. Baxterâs lip quivers and she looks at Mary again, she was anything but a sore loser âMiladyâ her head bows slightly and she manages a final smile before turning to walk away.
âWait!â Mary reaches out for her, hand closing around a delicate wrist âPleaseâ 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. Maryâs hand travels down until her fingers can lace with Baxterâs, just as they have so many times before âStay.â she says, over the sound of the wind picking up and the rain thrumming against the top of the tent.
âItâs raining.â Baxter says in lieu of an answer âWeâll catch our deathsâ she adds
âI donât mind.â Is Maryâs reply.
âDonât you?â She looks up, eyes motioning towards the tent that shields her from the icy rain.
âNo, I donât.â 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 thatâs 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.
Weâll catch our deaths. She hadnât 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 âPhyllis, are you awake?â
Baxter didnât respond and opted instead to turn on her side. She heard the door close, followed by the dipping of the bed at her feet âYou shouldnât be here.â
âI told myself that ten times before doing it anywaysâ Mary says, slight humor in her voice.
Rain and thunder fills the silence between them.
âIâll go then.â Mary sighs when the silence becomes unbearable.
âNoâ the protest is barely above a whisper but itâs enough to get Mary to sit back down. Baxter shifts and sits up, hand blindly searching for the other woman âStay.â
Mary is momentarily dizzy with relief. Baxter wanted her to stay, just as she wanted Baxter to stay. All was not lost.
âWeâll catch our deathsâ Baxter says, again.
âI donât mind.â Mary crawls closer to the other woman
âDonât you?â Baxter challenges.
âNo, I donât.â 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.
