Chapter 1
Colin Craven was looking out the window of the train as his cousin Mary, his father, Mrs. Medlock and his friend Dickon stood on the platform waving at the train slowly departed from the station. He was on his way to London to study. He would miss his cousin most of all but knew if he were to become the educated man he wished to be he would have to attend one of the city schools. So for the next six months he would be attending boarding school while Mary stayed at Misselthwaite continuing her own studies with their tutor.
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Mary sat in the carriage with her Uncle Archie and Mrs. Medlock looking wistfully at the moor, and at Dickon as he rode his pony Jump. She wished she were riding with him rather than sitting in the carriage as it slowly bumped down the old road.
She let her thoughts turn to Colin instead, hoping to pass the time from the station to the manor in the quickest way possible. She would miss Colin. After living at Misselthwaite for five years now she had grown accustomed to spending every spare moment with her cousin and with Dickon. Now though, Colin was in London and would not return until the holidays in six months time. If Mrs. Medlock had gotten her way Mary would be on that train to London too. Ever since she had arrived the old housekeeper had been trying to convince her uncle to send her to a boarding school. The only reason she never went was because every time the subject was broached she would beg him not to send her away. In India she had spent all her time alone or with her Ayah, she had never felt loved until she had come to Misselthwaite and she was loathe to give that up so that she could go to a school in London.
So instead of having the formal education Colin would have she was going to continue to be tutored at the Manor as she had for the last three years. She knew she was learning more from the tutor than she would at school anyway because she had been taught with Colin and as such learnt the lessons young boys learnt as well as those of young ladies. She couldn't bear the thought of going to an all girls finishing school. She had been informed though that since she was to stay Mrs. Medlock would be teaching her about proper etiquette and how to act as young ladies should. The thought bored her but she could stand it if she got to stay at home
Finally she let her mind rest and after getting as comfortable as one could in a jolting carriage Mary fell into a light doze.
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Dickon rode Jump across the moor reveling in the feeling of the wind rushing past him. He wasn't envious of Colin going to London to get an education as some people may have been, Dickon was happy for his friend. He had all he needed, he had the garden to work in, he had his animals, and he had Mary. His mental addition of Mary no longer surprised him, he loved her but knew there was little chance of anything coming of it.
Dickon was now seventeen and was working full time in the gardens of the manor. Ben Weatherstaff couldn't do much work anymore so Dickon had been hired to do the majority of the work required in the expansive grounds of Misselthwaite Manor. So each day he rode to the manor and did his work and got to spend lunch with his two best friends. Now that Colin was gone though it would only be he and Mary meeting for lunch in the garden. Not that he would mind.
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Archie awakened Mary when they arrived back at Misselthwaite.
"Mary, wake up. We're home."
She blinked her eyes open and smiled at him. "Sorry Uncle Archie, I didn't really mean to fall asleep."
"Never mind child. Now come on out of the carriage and we will go have lunch."
Mary nodded her head absently as she stepped from the carriage but then quickly shook her head. "I can't."
"Why ever not?" even after all this time he still hadn't quite worked his niece out.
"I always have lunch in the garden with Dickon and Colin, and since Colin set off today we have to continue to do so more than ever."
He shook his head in amusement. "Alright then Mary, but you will have dinner with me this evening."
"Of course Uncle Archie. I'm just going to get some sandwiches for lunch in the garden. See you at dinner Uncle Archie," she ran off toward the kitchen as soon as she finished speaking leaving her uncle looking after her with a bemused smile.
Mary retrieved the sandwiches she got everyday for lunch and then headed to the garden. She knew Dickon would already be there, waiting for her and the thought brought a smile to her face. She always loved spending time with Dickon. They had both grown up so much in the years they had known each other. No longer was she the angry, sour faced child she had been when Dickon first befriended her, and although Dickon was still as kind as ever he had grown up a lot, living on his own and working full time. She was just happy he worked at Misselthwaite for if he were someplace else she didn't know what she would do with herself. For some time now she had known that the best part of her day was seeing Dickon for their shared lunch.
Before she knew it Mary was standing before the unlocked gate of her secret garden. She entered and then paused to close the gate behind her. She glanced around the garden quickly and was a little confused when she did not see Dickon anywhere. She could usually sense him in the garden but today, there was nothing.
"Maybe he had to do something else first," she said to herself quietly, though she knew it wasn't true. "Perhaps he just doesn't want to see me," she then said in a voice barely more than a whisper. Dejectedly Mary wandered further into her sanctuary and sat down on the swing. She was over come with thoughts of rejection and despair and soon a tear slipped down her cheek.
"Of course he didn't come. Why would he want to?"
She hadn't noticed the shadow that had fallen over her though as she hung her head, her hair obscuring her face.
"Come now Miss Mary, why the tears?"
She looked up suddenly and was greeted with Dickon's worried face. "I thought you weren't going to come," she said softly.
"Of course I came, I always come. I just had to check on Ben Weatherstaff afore comin' that's all. If I'd known it'd upset ye this much I'd have waited until after lunch."
"Oh I'm sorry Dickon, it's not your fault. I'm just being silly that's all."
"Cheer up lass and never mind that. Why don't we go and sit by the fountain and have a bite to eat?"
She nodded the pair went and ate in a comfortable, each taking comfort in the others presence.
AN: My first Secret garden fic so I hope it isn't too bad. Reviews are always welcome, unless of course you're flaming. Constructive criticism welcome too. And sorry about the Yorkshire stuff I'm trying my best.