This is part of my test writing, with the same characters in different genres and settings. I had a lot of fun imagining Alex in a regency romance; it's my first time writing the genre. My reading background is more Patrick O'Bian than Jane Austen. As a note for the reader, Alex is a transgender woman living at a time when medical transition is not available. I tried to write this with sensitivity to how she sees herself balanced against how others see her.
London, 1817
Alex sat in her bedroom, brushing her hair, gazing at a
small mirror perched on her rosewood dresser. She was dressed in a simple
cotton nightgown, the trousers and frock coat from the dance crumpled in the
corner. Her bedroom window was cracked open and the scent of jasmine drifted in
from the garden, a faltering glow from a late June twilight infused the room
with a hint of red and orange.
Alex peered in to the mirror, a touch of rouge on her
cheeks. She heard a knock at the door, “come in”. The door opened and Alex’s
valet, a tall man, gray haired, blue eyed, walked into the room.
“Good evening, sir”
“Good evening, Manfried. I could have used you five minutes ago.”
“My apologies. You know I can’t keep up with you when you
run down the halls.”
“I know. I just had to …” Alex gestured at herself.
Manfried stooped to pick up the fallen clothing that Alex
had kicked off; he shook his head, “I think you tore a seam . . . well, never
mind, I’ll mend it.”
“You can leave it with me, I have a steadier hand.”
“Why didn’t you wear your naval uniform?”
“I was only ever a midshipman, Manfried, not very impressive
with all those captains and coronels walking about.” She sailed almost five
years on the frigate Euryalus patrolling in the Mediterranean, passed
her lieutenants exam, only to be injured and left to recover in Gibraltar while
her ship went to America. With that war over, the countryside was filled with
lieutenants on half pay and her naval career already over.
“Well you can’t attend a dance like this, now can you Sir?
Your father wouldn’t be happy to see you dressed like . . . . this. Even if
it’s only in your room.”
“And he won’t, Manfried. You wouldn’t say anything”
“No. I would not come between you and your father. You are
safe with me.”
“Anyway, as soon as the dance ended he took a carriage to St
James Square. I won’t see him tonight, or tomorrow either if I’m lucky”.
“I hope the dance was successful.”
“It most certainly was not. If you saw me at the dance
tonight you’d give up hope that I would ever find a bride. Father was furious
at me, and yelled at me in front of everyone. I almost died from embarrassment.
I really do want to go to bed and put this entire dreadful event behind me.
Good night, Manfried. I’m tired and I want to sleep.”
“Your father only wants what is best for you.”
“He wants me to perform my duty and pass on the family name.
If only Arthur were still here, I would be saved the bother.” Arthur, tall and
dashing and brave and in a hole in Spain with a French musket ball buried in
his chest. Everything Alex wanted. Everything she couldn’t be.
Manfried folded Alex’s trousers and jacket over his arm, and
walked to the door, pausing. “Your brother was a good man, Alex. You could have
learned a lot from him.” Then into the hall, gently closing the door behind
him. Alex turned again to the mirror . . .
She walks in
beauty, like the night
Of cloudless
climes and starry skies
And all that’s
best of dark and bright
Meet in her
aspect and her eyes
From outside the window a voice whispered, “Shy love, I
think of you. As the evening air brushes the window pane.” Kevin slid a leg
over the sill and clambered in.
“You know Kevin, it’s the morning air. . . . in the sonnet,
Shakespeare wrote morning air.”
Keven laughed, “I wasn’t going to wait for morning just to
fit the poem.” He still wore his red major’s uniform, and as he smiled Alex
took in his curly brown hair peaking from his hat, his soft brown eyes “I would
have come by the front door, but you were already in your chambers. It’s not so
late, is it? Or are you hiding from me?”.
Kevin looked over Alex’s slim figure in the soft cotton,
hugging her wide hips and narrow waist. “Strange” Kevin said, “When we were at
the dance I saw a gentleman. But now I see a lady. Are you truly Alex, or are
you a sister I have not met?”
“Well, you may look like the gentleman I saw tonight. But
what kind of gentleman would sneak into a ladies bedroom at night? If you are
looking for jewels, I have none to offer. Or did you come for some other
purpose?”
“Wait, I have something for you.” Kevin held up a hand,
“It’s not a gift, I’m sorry, I will have to return it.” He took his other hand
out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a sapphire stone pendant on a golden
chain. It was the same necklace that had graced his wife Bethany at the dance.
“I want to see how this looks on you.”
Alex stepped forward as Kevin reached around Alex’s neck and
clasped the necklace behind her neck. She looked in the mirror, “It’s
beautiful.”
“You should see your smile, Alex, you’re glowing. And you’re
right, that necklace is beautiful on you.” Alex touched the soft spot at the
base of Alex’s neck, slowly tracing down.
“I wish my neck were as elegant as Bethany’s. And that blue
silk gown. Kevin, why are not lying by her side?”
“I was worried for you, Alex. After your father yelled . . .
and then you both disappeared. What is he so upset about?”
“He thinks I should be getting married. Now with Arthur
gone, I am his only child. He says I need to find a wife and sire a son of my
own, to pass on the family name and such. It’s dreadful Kevin, I can’t do it.
He stood next to me at the dance and pointed to the women one by one like
picking out stock at an auction.”
“And nobody caught your eye?”
“I wouldn’t say nobody. I did see Ruth, across the hall,
looking as unhappy as I felt.”
“She’s rather plain, don’t you think. And old. Well, 27
isn’t that old, but she’s your senior in every way.”
"You're 28. Besides, I think she’s rather handsome. And
independent. She ignored the dance and went to the card table – shocking I
know. Father thinks she’s too headstrong. I watched her from across the room,
until my father pulled me away. I don’t know if she heard us, but I couldn’t
stay after that.”
Kevin lifted his finger up from Alex’s collarbone, tilting
her chin up. “If you did marry, your father would leave you alone. You would
have your own household.”
“I’m not sure I can manage it. I know what everyone expects
of me. But sometimes I don’t even know what I want.”
“I think I know what you want.” Kevin leaned in, kissing
Alex’s upturned mouth. Rough whiskers, his arms wrapping around her waist. Alex
let the kiss linger, and then gently pushed on Kevin’s chest.
Alex’s voice in a whisper. “Kevin, if Manfried hears us,
he’ll tell my father.”
“Darling, I will be a quiet as a mouse tip-toeing across
your kitchen floor.”
“Sit with me a moment.” Alex walked across the room and
returned with two cut crystal glasses and a decanter of wine. She set the
glasses down on the dresser and poured out two measures “Always the charge with
you.”
“Not true, Alex. I’m adept at other things. Flanking actions
. . . I haven't seen you in three years, and never a moment alone.” Kevin
shrugged out of his coat and draped it over the back of his chair before
sitting. He took the glass from Alex’s hand, gently swirling it before taking a
sip, warm and sweet. “This is very good, what is it?”
“It’s a Hungarian wine, Tokaji Aszu. My father says it came
from Napoleon’s own cellar. I doubt that’s true, but it makes a good story.”
“It reminds me a bit of Madeira, but better, sweeter, like
you." Kevin took another sip and put down the glass; he started to
casually unbutton his shirt.
“Kevin, I need some help from you.”
“Alex, anything, just name it.”
“It’s the estate in Hampstead. There’s something there. I
need to retrieve it.”
“But Alex, you’ll inherit the estate, and everything that
comes with it.”
“I’m sure that if I wait, it will be gone. I just want you
to come with me, Kevin. I can’t go there alone. And my father must not know.
That’s why I want to go tomorrow, while he’s still in the city and distracted
by … other things.”
“Very well, Alex. I'll take care of that in the morning. But
now, let's turn our minds to other things.”
Alex looked over Kevin’s now bare torso, arms muscled from
his time in the cavalry. She leaned forward so she could reach his torso and
traced her finger across his chest. A scar hidden beneath the dark hair on his
chest, memento from a French sword. Then lower, sliding her hand down Kevin’s
stomach, gently caressing him. “You rascal. You’ve been waiting for this.”
Alex crouched in front of Kevin’s chair and started kissing
her way down his stomach, down to his thighs and back up again. She gently
kissed the tip of Kevin’s penis, sliding it into her mouth. Kevin gasped,
stroking Alex’s long hair. He muttered “Bethany would never do such things for
me.”
Alex lifted her head, “this is not the time to remind me
about Bethany.”
“I’m sorry. Please keep going. Please.”
“That’s funny. Usually, I’m the one who has to say please.
Tell me I’m beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
Alex teased Kevin’s member with her fingertips. “Don’t be so
literal. What were you saying before?”
“The curves along your head, your ears, your hair.” Kevin
stroked Alex’s hair. “Your lips, your every breath and sigh. Your heart, your
mind, your thoughts, I would need five centuries to love them all.”
“Borrowing from Shakespeare again? Surely you can come up
with your own verse and prose?”
“When you smile, your bright blue eyes glisten like sapphires.
I want to sit with you and try to say something witty, just to see you smile.
Or to blush. You have a dimple, on your cheek, there. You can’t hide it.”
“Come, crawl into the bed with me.” Alex walked across the
room and sat on the edge of a four-poster bed, patting the mattress.
Kevin stripped of his remaining clothes as he walked over
and made himself comfortable on the cushions. Alex reached for a small jar of
oil, taking a few drops in her hand, rubbing it on Kevin’s body. She lifted her
nightgown up and over her head, then rubbed some more oil onto her thighs.
“Relax my love.” Alex draped herself over Kevin’s torso; she
kissed his rough cheeks, his neck, his lips. The faint smell of horse and
saddle still lingering, somehow intoxicating. She shifted her body back and
forth, feeling him hard against her thighs. Alex giggled as she felt Kevin arch
his back, pushing back against her weight.
Kevin smiled, “You were never any good at posting, Alex. Let
the real horseman take charge.” His strong arms flipped Alex off and he rolled
over, now Alex on her stomach, face pressed into a pillow. Kevin steadied
himself for a moment, and then pushed forward.
“Gently Kevin, please." He paused, backed away,
forward. Alex gasped, closing her eyes, pushing her face into the pillows. Soon
the entire bed was shifting back and forth. Alex could barely talk, “Kevin, please,
you’re making too much noise.”
“… almost … there.” Alex felt Kevin shudder, and then his
full weight on her back. He kissed the back of her neck, then rolled to the
side and swung his legs to the floor. Alex heard footsteps in the hallway,
glanced at Kevin who had already grabbed his clothes, but the sound faded
again.
Alex whispered, “I told you to be quiet.”
“I should go.”
“No, wait, lie down beside me just a little longer. I want
you to hold me.”
Kevin crawled back into bed, pulling the white silken sheets
over their torsos. Alex lifted the sheet over her head, disappeared, and then
pulled the sheet down again to peek at Kevin. “There was a lovely boy on the Euryalus,
Edward. Well, not really a boy. He joined before the blockade of Toulon. He
served before the mast, so we never talked. But he was a cheerful lad, and
stunning to look at. I'd watch him skylarking with the rest of the men. It was
a joy just to watch him.”
“Are you trying to make me jealous, Alex?”
“Of course, I never talked to him. But Percy did - he was
one of the lieutenants. Someone found the two of them in the rope locker. Such
desperate foolishness. When we got to Marseilles, after the surrender, I saw
Edward swing from the yard arm. Sodomy. Percy jumped ship, probably still in
France.”
“Absolutely dreadful, Alex. I’m sorry. But you said you
weren’t close to the boy.”
"Not close to either of them. On a small ship the
junior officers dine together. Percy was a real martinet. Short and angry like
the old emperor. I didn't like to cross him, and he had hardly a friendly word
for me the entire time we sailed together. Still, I hate to think that he can
never return to his old home."
“Why are you telling me this story?”
“It’s only that, sometimes I’m frightened. I don’t know why
I feel the things I do. But I fear if anyone knew. Well, if anyone else knew.
They’d hate me for it. You’re the only one who understands.”
Kevin pulled Alex closer and she rested her head on his
chest. Alex pulled a blanket over Alex's shoulder and stared at the ceiling for
a bit before saying, “Your father is right about one thing, Alex, you do need
to marry.”
“Oh please, not this again.”
“You were in the navy. A ship may sail under a false flag.
You must deceive the enemy. There’s no other way for a spright little frigate
like you to survive against a ship of the line.”
“And if I should think of love, I’d think of you.”
Alex felt the rise and fall of Kevin’s chest under her
cheek. The room grew dim as one candle after another faded out, lit by rising
moon. She drifted in and out of sleep until the gentle glow of dawn crept up
the window and the first rooster sounded the call of morning. Her hand on the
lingering warmth from where Kevin had been lying. He stood at the foot of the
bed, buttoning his jacket.
“I should not have stayed so long. I have to run. Really.
It’s almost two miles to my own house.”
“I’m sorry to have kept you.”
“I’ve been on forced marches before.” Kevin picked up his
hat, walked to the bed and gave Alex a quick peck on the cheek. “I just hope
it’s still dark enough that nobody recognizes me.”
“Please do call on me for lunch. I’ll let Manfried know to
set out an extra plate.”
Kevin opened the window and put out his leg. “I’ll send a
message to you as soon as I’m back in my own home.”
Alex closed her eyes again, the morning air from the window
cool against the skin of her face. Her mind drifted back to the Mediterranean,
the smell of salt water, the roll of the ship. Her fingertips glided across
breast, and then they brushed the gold chain of the necklace. Alex sat bolt
upright and strode to the window, opened it, and stuck her head out. But she
knew nobody would be there. She walked back to her dresser and found a small
leather bag, carefully slid the necklace inside, cinching it shut. She hoped
she could get it back to Kevin before Bethany knew it was gone.
Alex walked back to the window and looked at the moon, dimming
in the light of dawn.
Awed by her
splendor
stars near the lovely moon cover
their own bright faces
when she is roundest and lights earth
with her silver
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