Note: Before starting this chapter I want to make it clear that I am not for cultural appropriation nor making fun of other culture's heritage, customs, and traditions, so I hope no one takes offense for my heroine's very slight transgression. This is, after all, a piece of writing done for fun and, while it is not relevant to the story, it is there to demonstrate how growing up immersed only in one culture can prevent a person from being tolerant and receptive of those different than their own. As such, I refer back to the name of my story "I Do Not Know This Land", meaning my characters still have a whole arc of learning and development to go through as the story progresses. Thanks and happy readings!
Rain spattered across the window and the low, rolling sound of thunder echoed in the distance. Inside the country house, three girls peered out with disappointment clearly written on their faces.
"Well, we can't have the party now," Cora sighed.
"Maybe it will stop raining," Eugenie suggested without much conviction.
"Can't we have it in here?" Alice piped up.
"No, it'll be just like having regular tea," her sister replied.
For weeks, the girls had worked in persuading their aunt to allow them to have a garden tea party. They had been a model of good behavior and had worked extra hard in their studies, but the weather had suddenly turned cold and rainy, making their plan impossible.
"Ladies!" a voice exclaimed behind them. "What is this I see?
The three turned around and saw Aunt Beatrice standing in the doorway, her lips pursed in disapproval.
"We were hoping the rain had stopped, so we could go outside, mother," Eugenie answered.
"You were just dawdling. I am afraid today will be impossible for your little party, so I would like you to turn away from the window and bring out your work. I will not have idle girls in my house."
Suppressing a groan, the three slid from their perch and went to fetch their respective projects. Cora set up her paints and canvas next to a vase of dry flowers to continue working on a horrid still life, while Eugenie settled on the piano, and Alice pulled out her basket and embroidery sampler.
For half an hour the drawing room was silent and the girls presented a perfect picture of female diligence, which pleased their aunt and mother enormously. She sat with them for a while, making small comments on their progress.
"Don't slouch over the keys, Eugenie."
"Make sure no paint splatters on the carpet, Cora."
"Those stitches better be neat and straight Alice."
Finally, she announced she would be riding over to the Ls. "I expect to be back in time for dinner, so mind you three have something to show for it."
As soon as they sound of the carriage had faded away, Alice stopped embroidering. "Cora, can you help me? My threads are all knotted up."
Cora rolled her eyes. "It's no wonder, the way you toss them into your basket. If you would only wrap them carefully like I taught you, you wouldn't spend half your time untying them," she answered with the superior tone of an elder sister.
"I do not!"
"Do too!"
"I'll help you, Alice," Eugenie said, readily quitting her music. "I have no patience for boring scales."
"Well if you two aren't doing anything, I don't see why I should be the only one practicing," Cora said, laying down her brush.
"Can't we play at something?" Alice asked.
Cora considered this and then a smile lit up her face. "We can and I have the best idea for it."
Night had fallen as Colonel George Munro descended from his carriage. He had been in town for a few days attending meetings, meeting new recruits and training the new infantry troops, and he was glad to be back in the country. Like any Scot, he preferred the open air and wild, British moors to the stuffiness of cities, especially London; there was freedom in the country.
The doorman was already at the doorway waiting to take his cape, hat, and gloves. "Your room is ready sir, but her ladyship wishes to speak with you in the parlor." George thanked him and wearily ascended the steps, wondering where his daughters might be.
He needn't have asked. As soon as he stepped into the room he realized something serious had happened, for his two daughters and niece were sitting at the table, each with a Bible before them, copying text from the Scripture while Beatrice sat with her embroidery hoop watching over them like a drill sergeant.
"Beatrice? What has happened here?" he asked.
"Oh George, thank god you've arrived! Your daughters are in serious need of disciplining for their awful behavior this afternoon."
George looked from Cora to Alice and noted they were both disheveled and had strange color markings on their faces. He gave a deep sigh. "What did they do exactly?"
Cora's game had been a simple one; they would play at being explorers of America. In less than fifteen minutes, they had plucked a feather duster and ravaged Cora's paints to decorate their faces just like they'd heard tell the natives did. Once their costumes were done, the furniture in the drawing room was moved about to create a landscape of mountains, valleys, caverns and even a waterfall, done by draping a prized tapestry of their aunt's over a table.
The girls then had given way to their imagination, pretending to encounter the perils a true explorer would face in the wild lands of America. The time had passed more quickly than they'd imagined and neglected in hearing the carriage, so that when their aunt entered Eugenie and Cora were pretending to fight off a bear (played by Alice, standing on their aunt's favorite chair) with fireplace pokers when the lady entered the room to discover the mayhem the three had created.
"I have never in my entire life, seen such unruly, disobedient children! You must put an end to this, George, because God knows how much more I can take," Aunt Beatrice ended, breaking down in tears.
"There's no need for that, my dear," he said, offering his handkerchief. "I'll speak with the girls and there won't be any more problems."
The girls had paused their copying to listen to every word, but when the adults finished speaking, they hastily turned back to their pages.
"Eugenie, go to your room." Aunt Beatrice commanded once she'd calmed down.
The girls exchanged sorrowful glances knowing what awaited each of them next before Eugenie silently slid from her chair.
Once they were alone, George called his daughters to stand before him. He let his steel-gray gaze rest in each one of them and he adopted the tone he used when bringing one of his own men to order. "Girls, I am not happy at all with the behavior you have displayed. This is not only an offense to your aunt but an ungrateful way of showing your obedience to one who has taken the role of a mother to bring you up correctly."
"But papa, but we were going to have a garden party and then when it began raining, we decided to play at being natives."
"Be silent, child," her father interrupted. "You have no idea of what you speak. I would have expected this from a child Alice's age, but you, Cora? You're nearly a young lady, lass! What were you thinking of?"
The girl lowered her eyes and tightened her fists, fighting to hold back her tears. "I'm sorry."
"Now listen to me both of you, as long as you are guests in this house, you will abide by your aunt's rules. That means no more playing pretend and climbing on furniture or I will send you off to boarding school, is that understood?" The two heads bobbed in unison. "As for your punishment, it is up to your aunt to decide, but you are both excluded from any outings for a whole month. This means no horseback-riding, no garden parties, and no visits to the town."
Both girls sniffled as the sentence fell over them. No outings for a month! They might as well be placed under arrest.
George let the silence stretch for a bit and then spoke in a gentler tone. "Now give us a kiss and it's off to bed with both of you." The girls approached their father with some hesitation, but he welcomed them in his arms and embraced them tightly to him.
Once they were gone, George sat back on his chair and covered his eyes with his hand before letting out a hearty chuckle. It had taken all his will not to burst out laughing as his sister-in-law had painted the ridiculous picture of his daughters dressed up in paint and feathers, tramping on furniture, pretending to be adventurers of America.
