Beauty and the Brit- Chapter 19: AN OUTING **PATRONS ONLY! ** (Patreon)

CHAPTER NINETEEN: AN OUTING

Despite the fact that they were supposed to have brunch that next morning, Paige found herself awake early and unable to sleep again after such a wonderful, fulfilling dream. She got dressed and headed through the house hoping to visit the library or find something to occupy her until her meal with Derick.

“Paige?”

“Derick! Oh hi,” she blushed, partially from being found wandering his house and partially because she was suddenly reminded of her dream which she knew she could never tell him about; it was too embarrassing to admit.

“Everything alright? I didn’t expect you to be up yet,” he admitted.

“Yeah it’s fine. I dunno couldn't fall back asleep. Maybe it’s jet lag I’m not sure. S-sorry to be just wandering around.”

“Gosh no don’t apologize! I am up early too, surprisingly. And you don’t have to apologize for wandering. Unless you’re banging a pot and a pan trying to wake me up as you wander the halls. It would scare me so badly thinking my house was haunted that I may never recover!” he teased then softly apologized for being silly.

Paige didn’t mind. It felt good to laugh with him.

“Well are you hungry now? We don't have to wait for that brunch…”

She shrugged. “I have no idea what to do with today– I sort of figured I’d be waking up late, have that brunch and then just hang around here. But now…” She shrugged again.

He smiled gently.

“Why don’t you pick something for us to do today in London or here?” she suggested slowly, “I’m not completely exhausted and I know you said you have today free of other commitments. I think it would be nice to spend a day together that isn’t split up by shopping trips or plane trips or dinner trips,” she laughed at the list and he laughed with her.

“Hm,” he thought quietly for a moment, “I might have something. If you’re not hungry right now or if you can wait until we get into London, I have an idea of what we can do and then also grab something from Costa or Caffè Nero.”

“You are my tour guide for the day,” she expressed with a smile. “I leave my day in your hands!”

Excited, the two agreed to meet up in about five minutes at the front doors where they’d catch a ride with Martin into London.

The three chat a little on their way (Derick had given Martin directions previously so that Paige would still have a bit of mystery on where they were headed) and spoke about the banquet the night before a little more, spoke about Paige’s stay —which she was praising to high heaven as the kindest and most hospitable reception she’d ever been given anywhere— and about her excitement to be here in London. “I think I’m still too excited to be tired,” she admitted, “Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and realize I need to slow down and take a lazy day but I’m just...overjoyed to be here it’s like waking up to a dream every single day so far!”

Martin dropped them off in an area near to where they’d be headed and Paige got out looking around with happy anticipation. She read ‘Garrick Theatre’ across the street from them and Derick turned her the opposite way to go down a small side street unavailable to cars where an Italian food place stood on the corner and even more restaurants and food venues lined each side of the street.

After not a very long walk, they came to a large, fairly open square and she smiled as Derick led her to a building near the bottom of it straight on from where they’d entered that read ‘t k t s’ in large, lowercase letters.

“Pick a play, any play!” Derick exclaimed.

Paige laughed nervously. “Are you for real?”

“Yes. Here we are in Leicester Square at the ticket booth,” he did his best impression to be a tour guide, “You can have any show you desire that we will attend tonight together. Choose wisely but if you mess it up we’ve always got tomorrow night!” he laughed.

She laughed along, a bit anxious. “They sell tickets for same day?”

“Yep. And some theatres do a day ticket thing and others do a daily lottery. So, you’ve got options but I figure this is the most comprehensive.”

Paige slowly nodded and nervously looked at the booth and the advertised shows in the pamphlet that Derick had slipped her once they’d moved off to the side so other patrons could go up and purchase. She had no idea what to choose. “How many of these have you seen?” she asked timidly.

“Oh brilliant question! I wouldn’t know without counting,” he admitted, “I don’t go all that often but I have seen a few,” he carried on.

“So, you don’t have any that are a favourite or any that you’re not wanting to see again?” she ventured shyly.

“Nope! I’m fair game for all of them!”

“All of them? What about...Mamma Mia?”

“I’d be fine with that.”

She gazed at him intently trying to see if he was serious. He did seem truthful, though.

“Well…” She looked back down at the pamphlet again nervously.

“We’ll get our play tickets, that is if you want to go,” he declared as an aside and she assured him that she would love to go to a show, “and then we can walk around the area a bit since I think you might like it and of course we’ll grab breakfast or brunch or both and I’ll have Martin come grab us and we can go home to change—unless you don’t mind wearing what you’re wearing already for tonight,” he remarked gently, “I’m certainly comfortable in my outfit but I have surprised you with this evening plan so I understand if for your first West End show you’d want to dress up a little. Some people do,” he informed her with a gentle smile.

To hear him say ‘West End show’ and to imagine dressing up for it, Paige felt her heart beat a little faster in excitement and anticipation. “Gosh uh well I guess I’ll let you know! I feel guilty to go all the way back and then come here again but… I might like to change, I'm not sure.”

“We’ve got a long time to decide,” he reassured with a smile. “Meanwhile is the rest of what I said okay for a plan?” he asked her carefully.

“It sounds perfect, Derick,” she gushed.

After some time of indecision, Paige chose her show and went up with Derick to get their tickets. Her heart was beating faster again in exhilaration as they chose them and finalized the transaction. After telling him that he’d better hold onto the tickets, Paige then breathed out a sigh of finality and to let out a bit of nerves from all this.

“Now for breakfast.”

There were a few options to choose from in the area, including a McDonald’s but Paige opted to go to one of the nearby cafe coffee-shop places with him for a small bite to eat and a drink. Then, they could do a sit down restaurant for lunch, she compromised.

Derick laughed softly at her compromisation over lunch once again but he went with it, happy to oblige her wishes.

“What d’you say to ‘The National Gallery’?” he asked after they finished their lunch which had been preceded by walking around Leicester Square to see their fountain (with a statue of William Shakespeare), the front of two movie theatres that bordered the square and "Chinatown" which was just behind the top of the square.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much of what that is,” she blushed.

“It’s an art gallery,” he explained, “It’s free.”

“Free?”

He laughed at the surprised look on her face. “Yes, free. And so is the portrait gallery behind it.”

“I’d love to!” Paige agreed happily.

The two walked over to it (it was only down the block from Leicester Square) and she got to see Trafalgar Square first hand as well for The Gallery sat at the top of the square.

“Wait, is that...is that—?”

“Yes. Big Ben,” he murmured gently as he stood behind Paige to see the icon through her eyes for a moment. It was visible, just barely, in the distance. “Good eye, Paige.”

She was giggling excitedly and fumbling around with her camera to try and get a picture. Derick laughed good-heartedly and took the camera for her so that he could get a picture for her of herself pointing to the familiar imagery in the distance while grinning ear to ear. He then got one of the clock tower in case her shaking hands hadn’t quite captured it properly. It warmed Derick’s heart to see her so excited like that. It was well worth surprising her.

After he promised they’d come back to the square to get pictures with the iconic metal lions that resided there, the two made their way inside the gallery to behold the art.

She had not expected so many pieces of art and such famous artists to be featured. Derick grinned happily, glad she was excited and impressed, as they went through together.

Paige felt herself tear up a few times at particularly moving pieces and at seeing a Van Gogh in person. “Oh gosh Rae would just love this. She would just die. I’m so sad she can’t be here,” she mumbled embarrassed as she recovered from the couple of tears that had threatened to wet her cheeks.

“One day she’ll make it over. I have faith,” Derick tried to reassure and Paige had to nod. “Right now she’s living another dream with her shop. Her time will come.”

Impressed by his wisdom she moved on with Derick through more and more of the gallery until hours had passed and she felt completely serene. “I only have one complaint,” she began as he asked how she liked it, “my feet are too tired to go on through The Portrait Gallery!”

He chuckled with understanding and nodded. “Let’s visit downstairs where we can sit and drink something or eat something,” he offered. “Or the cafe on the main floor if you wish.”

“Either or,” she agreed and they made their way downstairs just to see it before he took her to the cafe.

“So what are we thinking for our outing tonight? Go as we are? Change our entire look?”

“Give me five minutes to think because I’m just so relieved to be sitting down for a bit with this lemonade —and this lemon-raspberry cake is freaking delightful!” she praised with a short bout of laughter following which he had joined in on.

“Also I suppose we should consider dinner soon if we are going to have it,” he mentioned as he looked at his watch and realized the time. It had been such an easy and almost effortless day that the time had gone by almost like it was nothing. He took that as a good sign though he regretted that they might not have time to do a sit-down dinner, go back to his place to change and return for the show. Maybe he could have his chef prep something for their arrival then.

“Oh! I know you probably wanted something special to sit down to,” Paige began slowly, “but with this snack break and with the fact that I’m not entirely hungry in the first place would you mind instead if we got sandwiches or something? Or am I ruining your plans?” she blushed.

“Not at all! If that’s what you want then we’ll have it.”

“I mean I dunno that I want a sandwich specifically but that’s what came to mind,” she admitted shyly after a moment. “Uh…” She tried to think of what to say.

But Derick once again was reassuring, “There are a few different things we can get to tide you over that aren’t big,” he nodded, “I’d be fine with that.”

She smiled gratefully.

“Have you ever had a pasty?” he asked after a moment. She shrugged and he explained the pastry which contained various meats and vegetables.

“Sounds delicious!” she grinned.

“So we could do that or if you want a small, hot meal ‘Pret’ is great they’ve always got little bowls of things.”

“Either works for me.”

After some consideration as they finished their treats in the cafe, Paige and Derick chose to go back to his place to change for their night out. And with Derick’s help and suggestion, the two were able to share a quick hot meal from his chef of a tasty rice with meat and vegetables; a small batch just to give them something to tide them over until the late evening.

Then they went out for their play: Paige in a light blouse and patterned capris with sparkling earrings pairing a subtle necklace to match and a bit of coloured shimmer on her eyes, Derick changing into slacks and a different button-down.

“I think you’re really going to like this,” Derick predicted as they got into central London and both he and Paige’s excitement began to build seeing the people milling about the streets on their way about their business and crowds outside of the theatres that they passed along their way.

The experience at the theatre was like nothing else. The air was abuzz with conversation of excited patrons entering the audience, the bars were handing out drinks and snacks, there were queues for grabbing a program or souvenir and the actual theatre seating itself was glorious and grand around the stage which exuded already a tangible energy just from the small pieces of set visible.

Paige had been to a theatre before but this London experience had a different air about it; and it was a good distinction. She also felt glad she’d dressed up a little. Though there were patrons dressed in all sorts of clothing, she herself felt like this was a grand occasion to be welcomed into the atmosphere of ‘The West End’ for the first time and experience it.

Even having her arm around Derick’s felt different this time too; more familial and more to keep herself grounded too. She was afraid of floating off her feet in excitement, or anticipation even.

It was even hard to sit still in her seat once they sat down. “Oh Derick this view is amazing!” she exclaimed happily, “Oh this is it we’re actually here! I can’t believe it,” she gushed as her head looked this way and that.

Derick smiled fondly at watching her elation. He felt adoration as he took in the exhilaration she was exhibiting and the feeling of joy he had for her was almost intoxicating. “I’m so happy I get to experience this with you,” Derick admitted to her softly. “All of this. Every moment seems heightened to my senses when I’m beside you experiencing London for the first time.”

Paige listened to this with a smile and looked down shyly. “Well I...I’m glad it’s not something you’re bored with or annoyed by yet. I’m having so much fun that I forget a lot of this is probably so old and familiar to you. Sort of something you don’t think twice about.”

“Oh I’m glad for that though because now it’s as though I get to experience it for the first time since I get to see your reactions and your experiences with everything. It’s opening my eyes back to the beauties of London I have perhaps taken for granted for awhile now.”

Blushing, Paige smiled back at him feeling a mixture of humbleness and gratefulness for Derick’s profession of truth. Not only was she getting such an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in this holiday that he was sponsoring but she got to spend more time with him and it was absolutely wonderful. Derick was truly the perfect host and the most wonderful companion she could have asked for: someone to keep her grounded and somewhat sane since he could guide her but also someone that inspired her and made her feel giddy all at once.

It felt silly to say but with only a few days spent in London she already felt like she’d known Derick for weeks now; months even. And whatever was ahead she knew she would be thrilled by since Derick would be woven in some way through all of it.

She was blessed.

The curtain rose.