DAWN broke over England and as the orange glow of the morning sun slowly began to illuminate the granite-stone walls of the Creighton-Ward Mansion, the birds began to sing and the distant sound of a cockerel from a nearby farm drifted through the air.
Most of the people in the Creighton-Ward Mansion were still sleeping, including Lady Penelope who was snoozing peacefully in her four-poster bed. Mrs Appleby, Lil the Cook and some of the other servants were already up getting things ready, but one main was not – Annette Éclair had been having one of the best nights of her life by sleeping in Parker's bed with him.
Just to look at the state of the room would show just how much fun they'd had during the night. Clothes were scattered all over the floor and mixed up. Both were cuddled up underneath the duvet with very little clothing on. It had been a bit of a rush for them to start as Parker and Penelope had only got back from a party at around midnight. So when he'd reached his room, Parker had already found Annette waiting for him.
The alarm clock rang on Parker's bedside table and he had to reach out in order to turn it off. At first he accidentally knocked it onto the floor so had to lean over the side of the bed before he could actually push the button.
"Oh, well," Parker's voice said from under the duvet. "H'another night over."
"Noooo!" pleaded Annette grabbing hold of Parker. "Don't get up, my love! We still need more time."
"Oh, h'alright, just h'another five minutes though," Parker said.
Parker was true to his word and got himself out of the bed five minutes later much to Annette's disappointment. She felt sure it had only been two minutes instead of five. Parker wasn't wearing much at all except for his white sleeveless vest and a pair of blue underpants. Annette wasn't much better except for that she was wearing one of Parker's silk white shirts.
Sitting up in the bed, Annette looked over at the curtains. She could just see the orange glow from the sun creeping through the gap between them. "Oh, sun, why do always have to bring our fun to an end?" she asked bitterly.
"You sound like you'd prefer h'a miserable rainy day?" chuckled Parker as he washed himself in the bathroom.
"Oh, Aloysius, I just wish there could a time when Lady Penelope doesn't need you to be around so that we can just be together," sighed Annette.
Parker emerged from the bathroom drying his face on a towel. "Now don't you be unkind h'about 'er Ladyship, young lady," he said. "She done h'a of a lot for you by making sure you could remain safe h'and 'idden from those who come h'after you in Germany. Besides, I 'ave a sworn oath to protect 'er Ladyship. If h'I were to fail h'in that task, Lord Creighton-Ward would probably 'ave me 'ung, drawn h'and quartered."
Annette looked horrified, she jumped out of the bed and flung her arms around him. "No, he wouldn't!" she cried. "I wouldn't let him!"
Parker laughed. "Calm down, Annette, my dear," he said. 'I wouldn't let it 'appen h'either."
Annette hugged Parker tightly pressing her body up against his. "I love you," she said.
It seemed a typical Spring Saturday morning on the Creighton estate. Ian Appleby the gardener was busy mowing the lawn. Mrs Appleby was watering some of the plants around the front of the house and Annette was inside helping to change the sheets on all the beds. But Lady Penelope was doing something a little different today. She was out on the front lawn exercising her racehorse. In keeping with the tradition of her vehicles, he was called FAB3, and today was going to be a big day for him as he was soon going to be taken up to Aintree Racecourse to take part in the 2069 Grand National. This would be a big first for FAB3 as he'd never competed in that particular race before. He'd run several races at other courses including Ascot and had won a number of them, but never in the Grand National.
Parker walked across the lawn to where Penelope was riding FAB3. She looked very smart in her pink top, brown trousers, black leather riding boots and black jockey hat on. Her blonde hair floated like ocean waves behind her as FAB3 raced down the lawn and back again.
Upon seeing Parker approaching, Penelope slowed FAB3 down and brought him over to where he was standing. "Good morning, Parker," she said.
"Morning, m'lady," said Parker. "'e seems in top form for this h'afternoon's race."
"Oh, indeed, Parker," agreed Penelope. "I've been looking forward to this for so long! It would be wonderful if he won."
"I 'ope so too, m'lady," agreed Parker. "H'I've got h'a little bet on 'im winning!"
Penelope raised her eyebrows but then smiled as well. She knew what Parker could be like when it came to betting, especially on horse and dog races. She was about to speak again when a faint buzzing sound coming from behind. She looked around and was surprised to see a small yellow helijet coming in low towards them. "That's odd," she remarked. "Are we expecting visitors today, Parker?"
Parker shook his head. "Not that I know off, m'lady," he said.
Both watched as the helijet came closer. FAB3 began to get nervous as he didn't like the noise of the helijet's engine. Suddenly, it came down really low and its engines let out a mighty roar.
"Cor lummie! Watch out!" cried Parker.
Penelope gasped and grabbed hold of FAB3's reins as he suddenly neighed and reared himself up. "Oh, no!" she cried. "The noise is frightening him! Steady, FAB3!"
5! (DUN)
4! (DUN)
3! (DUN)
2! (DUN)
1! (ENGINE ROARS)
*Thunderbirds theme plays*
"THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!"
