Chapter two.
Centennial Celebration.
London 2004
Wendy Darling sat quietly thinking as the rest of the passengers on the long flight slept. From the time her Great Granny had pass until now she'd made a yearly pilgrimage to England. Fourteen years of spending one wonderful week in magical old London town. She had been six when this had begun, traveling with her parents. For the last few years, she made the journey on her own. Her father was not well, and her mother didn't like to leave him. So Wendy made the trip on her own, staying in the Darling family home with her cousins who now lived in the house.
She smiled as she thought of being with her cousins John, Michael, Peter, and Phillip. Her only regret was that this was going to have to be so short a visit, but if she intended to finish her degree by the new year, she was going to have to return home right after the celebrations. Quietly she wondered if her Great Granny would have would have approved of her choice of vocations, teacher of literature.
"Miss," a crisp English voice broke into her reverie. "There's a call for you." She pointed to the phone system at the front of the airliner.
Wendy slipped out of her blanket and followed the uniformed woman to the front. Picking up the reviver she placed it to her ear. "Wendy Darling here." She said quietly, not wanting to cause the scene that name had a habit of starting. Fortunately most of the other passengers were asleep.
"Wendy! It's John!" a voice crackled on the line. "We're Fogged in, and they are re-routing your flight from Heathrow. I suggest you hire a car, love."
"John," she was going to protest, but then smiled. "I'll do that. I'll see you when I arrive cousin." She smiled at the Stewardess who was staring at her. "Something wrong?"
"Did you say Wendy Darling?" The young woman asked quietly. "Any relation to…"
"She was my great-great-grandmother." Wendy smiled considerately. She was use to the excitement that name generated.
"Oh I loved her books when I was a girl." The stewardess gushed.
"Thank you." Wendy said as was the family habit of saying. "Excuse me, but my cousin informed me we'll be putting down at another port, would you happen to know if I can call ahead and hire a car to take me to London?"
"I'll make the arrangements for you myself," the girl offered.
Returning to her seat Wendy closed her eyes and tried to get the last hour of rest she could. It was going to be a wickedly rushed weekend, even more so now that she had to hire a car and drive to London. Still it gave her a chance to see some of the wonderful countryside that she so rarely had a chance to see.
Two short hours later, the jet landed and the passengers disembarked. Wendy was exiting the plane when she saw the man with the 'Miss Darling' sign. She looked at the man in the uniform holding the sign. "I'm Miss Darling."
"Bradley Miss," He smiled warmly. "Your driver." He tipped his hat.
Wendy laughed lightly, "We have to go though customs, then we can be on our way."
Shortly thereafter, the driver was packing the boot of the limo while Wendy settled in the back seat.
A man in a car parked a few spaces behind them dialed the two digit speed dial, when the other end answered he said quietly. "Bird is now in transit."
"Follow her," came the order.
"Yes sir." The man in the dark car answered.
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Wendy looked up at the house as the limo pulled to the curb. It almost felt like coming home. Even if she had not grownup in that house, nor lived in England all her life. Great Granny's house was home to blood born Darlings, and Darlings adopted alike.
As the driver was pulling her luggage out a shout at the top of the stairs altered her that she was about to be surrounded by loved ones. "Wendy-bird!" A man from the top stair shouted.
Wendy turned round and waved. "Hi ho John!" she called back at him.
There was a car across the street with dark glass; no one took notice of as it was often parked there. The occupant in the back seat watched the warm reunion with contemptuous scorn. He recognized the man as the eldest of the present Darling clan living in the house. The woman he was sure was the elusive young Miss Darling of America. He let the tip of his tongue flick across his lips as he watched her being embraced by her family.
At the top of the stairs stood a stylishly dress young woman who was very clearly British. The look on her face was frozen. "My god," she griped to the person at her side. "Look at how she's dressed."
"Shocking." The young man said frowning and looking down his nose at he newcomer. "What can you expect, she's an American."
John had relinquished his embrace of her reluctantly, turning her over to Michael and then to Peter and lastly to Phillip. John as the elder stood by smiling. "Alright let the bird breath!" He ordered sliding his glasses up his nose yet again.
Wendy blushed. "You boys sure know how to make a girl feel welcome!"
John had at that moment noticed the girl at the top of the stairs making her way down. "Oh no, Lizzie at three o clock!" He warned.
Wendy schooled her face and turned to look at her cousin Elisabeth. "Hello, Elisabeth, I hear congratulations are in order." She extended a friendly gloved hand to the woman who looked at the glove with disdain.
"How lovely of you to come all the way…we of course were not expecting you," The cool blond intoned. "However, I'm sure we can find some little thing for you to do to make you feel part of the celebration of my wedding."
Wendy felt the chill, and it was not the cold weather. "I won't be staying for the wedding, Cousin Lizzie. I'm leaving on a red eye early Monday."
"My name is Elisabeth," the icy reply came. "And what do you mean you won't be staying for the wedding?"
"I'm here for the memorial, and then it's back to the states for me. I've a degree to finish up. Then an assignment as a student teacher in a high school back home." Wendy said sweetly.
"Have you any idea of how important my wedding is?" The blond asked. "Who do you think you are refusing to attend?"
Turning on her snotty cousin with what she thought was 'Good old American' spit and fire, Wendy stated loud and clear. "I'm Wendy Mora Angelia Darling. Who are you?"
John, Michael, Peter and Phillip all began coughing into their fists to prevent themselves from laughing at Lizzie's expense. Elisabeth huffed, turned and went back to the house. John snickered. "She doesn't like you."
"She never did." Added Peter.
Wendy shrugged. "Sue me."
John and the boys grabbed her few cases, "You be in the old sewing room. He pointed to the two houses on either side of the main house. "We now own these two as well, opened up a few walls and its Darling central!" He joked.
Wendy sighed, "I'm sorry about Lizzie."
"Don't be, her heads too big, and you shot her down good." Michael noted.
John held her back as the others preceded them up the stairs. "Given any thought to my request?"
The young woman with long honey colored hair, and fair blue eyes nodded. "I'll be happy to sing with you and the boys."
John did a little victory dance. "Great! You have no idea of how much we are looking forward to this. You know when you came and recorded with us two years ago, we had a number one hit!"
Wendy already heading for the stairs scoffed. "You've had hits before. Darling is one of the most popular groups on either side of the pond."
"Oh we have a decent following, but your song got us longer play on the stations love." John praised her. "Knowing you're going to be with us tomorrow night at the Dragon's Kiss, well it's icing on a cake."
Making a grimace Wendy thought of the play written about her Great Granny's adventures. "Let's not talk cake." She warned.
The man in the back of the car with the dark glass smiled. "So the bird is back in the home nest…feeling all save and warm…how nice."
The man sitting beside him gulped. He'd heard that icy tone, and knew how dangerous the man using it was. "Sir, she's barely more than a child."
"Your point?" the man said coldly.
The little man backed down. "I don't have one, sir."
Tapping the glass the man who watched gave instructions. "Home."
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Dinner was held up so that Wendy could refresh and change from her long journey. When she joined the family in the dinning room, she noticed the glare coming her way from Elisabeth. She understood that her idea of dressing for dinner and her cousins were a far cry from each other. Elisabeth was seated beside her intended both dressed in stylish fashion and looking very British. While Wendy was dressed in a silk poet shirt and a long black velvet skirt without a hint of jewels.
Elisabeth looked at her with scorn, "Is this your idea of dressing for dinner?"
"I didn't come down in jeans." Wendy said holding her temper back.
John coughed into his hand, a warning, but Wendy was not sure who it was aimed at.
During dinner most of the conversations were devoted to the up coming nuptials. Elisabeth loved being the center of attention and behaved best when she was. It was when she heard a few cousins asking Wendy questions that Lizzie acted up.
Owing to the long journey Wendy finally snapped. "Lizzie, get over yourself." The American cousin glared at the English girl. "How many of those oh so important guests you keep boasting of would have the slightest thing to do with you were you not a Darling?"
The blond was speechless.
Wendy stood up and excused herself from the table. Heading toward the staircase she was not surprised to find John had followed her. "I'm sorry, John." She put a hand to her eyes. "I must be more tired than I thought."
John tucked her hand into his arm. "Think nothing of it," He led her up the stairs. "I've something to show you." He moved past the sewing room and led her to the Attic storage room. "I found this and a note from Great Granny that it was supposed to go to you." He moved past the well organized items and toward a trunk that sat beside the wall. He looked like a kid at Christmas. "Go on, cousin, open it."
Wendy knelt down beside the trunk and opened the lid and whistled. "Wow. What a wonderful collection."
John knelt down beside her. "The note was on top. Guess Granny thought we'd find it when she died. I had not touched anything up here until Lizzie asked for a few of the old candlesticks. Which I gave her." John warned.
"She's welcome to them." Wendy sat with her back to the trunk. "I don't begrudge her anything. I just wish she'd accept that most of what we get is because we're Darlings."
John winked. "Go on explore the trunk. There are things in there that are unique."
Her cousin had not exaggerated; the trunk was full of treasures. It was the silver ship that caught Wendy's attention. She turned to John. "Did you know Great Granny had a bit of a crush on the Captain?"
John put his index finger to his lips. "Shhhh…no one is supposed to talk about that." He teased.
She turned back to the chest. "There are some impressive things in here."
"You'll have to have them shipped home." John said. "We can have arrangements made for the trunk to go with you when you leave. I think Granny would want you to have them as you start your new life as a teacher."
"A teacher." Wendy sighed, "Those who can do… those who can't…teach."
"Can't what?" John leaned against her. "Come on, talk to big brother."
"Big brother." Wendy felt a tear slid down her cheek. "Oh John, that's what you've always been to me."
The head of the Darling clan held out a hand to his favorite cousin. "Come on, what gives?"
She shrugged. "I think perhaps I'm just a bit envious of old Lizzie." She took the outstretched hand. "I've never felt the way she does about a man…I've never had the least interest in being pursued. I've always been so suspicious of the reasons men were so called attracted to me." She laughed. "I called her on her being a phony and I'm just as guilty. I pretend to be so happy and contented and all in charge."
"Wendy." John said calmly. "You could come here, to England and live with us. There is any number of second and third Darling cousins who would love to court you. Myself included."
She shook her head. "No, John. I'm cursed." She wiped away her tears. "I would never put that on you." She looked down into the chest again. "Did you see this, this sword and sash?"
"Yes, looks old to me." John said knowing the subject had been changed for good.
"It is." Wendy's second love was history. "By God, Great Granny was a real collector!"
"Oh you should see the things she donated to the museum." John laughed. "Hey, what are you going to dress as for the gathering at the Dragon's Kiss? You might be able to use some of this junk."
"I'm going as a stylish Red-handed Jill." Wendy pulled the sword from the trunk. "Look, it's just the right size! As if it were made for me."
Laughing John stood up. "Don't spend too much time in here. Get to bed. It's a long day tomorrow." He bent down, kissed his cousin on the head and moved to the door. "Good night, Wendy Bird."
"Good night, John." She called as she moved her hands deeper into the trunk.
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Wendy shuddered and quaked in her sleep, having nightmares of red eyed men chasing after her. She awoke at daybreak with a start. The window to her room was wide open, and she didn't recall opening it.
The family took so many cars to reach the cemetery that the Police had been sent to direct traffic. When they arrived the cemetery was already filled with fans of Wendy Darling, the author of so many loved children's books. There had been seats set up for the descendants of the woman being honored. The cold gray sky gave way to sunshine, and the day seemed less dreary. Wendy looked at the park like cemetery, loving the mildness of this English winter. It had not snowed, and the grass was a green gold hue. Each of the separate family branches had a spokes person to give testimony. Wendy represented the American branch of the family.
"Good day," she began as she placed her notes on the podium. "Thank you all for coming. Our family has received many a blessing. All due to the woman we honor here today. Our lives would be very different today had she not told her wonderful story to dear Mr. Barrie, and had he not penned the first tale and given her access to his publisher."
A man standing off to the side watched and listened to the eloquence of the young woman. He stood with stoic features and looked at the crowd. 'The namesake has your gift of gab.' He sent his thought to the long gone Wendy. 'Does she have your sense of adventure as well I wonder?'
Finishing her portion of the dedication, Wendy left the podium and returned to her seat. Aware she was being watched, but feeling cold eyes in the crowd and worrying that she'd too little sleep.
The crowds began to depart, Wendy was glad she had a car to herself, "Driver, could you go around the cemetery slowly, and return to this spot in, oh say fifteen minuets when the crowd has gone?"
"Aye miss." Her driver nodded.
Fifteen minuets later the girl walked back to the grave with a spray of gardenias in her hands. She noticed a man kneeling and placing a single bird of paradise at the head stone. "How did you know that Granny loved those?" She said without realizing she'd spoken aloud.
The man rose up, and turned to face her. Cold forget-me-not blue eyes peered down into her fair blue eyes. Seeing the namesake up close he forgot himself for a moment. "Wendy." He said softly.
"Do I know you?" she asked feeling rather stunned herself.
"I'm sorry, your resemblance…" he began.
"Ah yes," she smiled and her eyes twinkled like stars. "I do strongly resemble my Great Granny. More so I'm told than most of the Darling clan." She extended her hand. "I'm Wendy Darling, and you are?"
The man bent over her fingers having taken them in his left hand. "I'm James…Rogers."
The manservant looked up startled and quickly away, not wishing the girl to see.
"Mr. Rogers," Wendy pointed to the flower he'd placed. "How did you know? Most everyone else sends violets and daisies. How did you know Great Gran liked birds of paradise? I doubt it's a well know fact."
"It's Captain Rogers, retired." He held up his right hand and she could see it was a mechanical hand incased in a fine leather glove. He smiled, not warmly but it was a smile that could entice. "I have my secrets, and they will go to the grave with me, Miss Darling."
"Touché, Captain Rogers" She was still holding the gardenias lightly. "I don't recall seeing you at the memorial."
"I arrived unavoidably late I'm afraid." He stated. "I was lucky to make it at all. I always wait until the family have gone and then quietly place our tribute."
"Our tribute? Your families?" she asked feeling a sense of despair at the thought that the man had a wife somewhere about waiting for his return. "Oh I really shouldn't keep you, I'm sure your family are expecting your return."
"I don't have a family." He said easily.
"Oh." She looked up not sure why she was so happy.
"No," He looked at the spray in her hands. "You really should put that down." He teased.
"Good lord." She turned and knelt down, then was surprised to find him kneeling beside her. She turned to look at him and felt the breath catch in her throat. She quickly looked back at the family monument and her spray of flowers.
The man looked at her, and smiled. The wind whipped up and he chuckled. 'Don't you wish you could rise up from that grave and warn her?' he sent the thought to the dead Wendy buried beneath the stone. 'Happy anniversary Wendy, now it's my turn for exacting my long due payment of revenge.'
Wendy Darling shivered and looked over at the man. "My that's a cold wind." She commented.
"Yes, it is." He agreed. "Allow me to walk you to your car, Miss Darling."
"That's kind of you." She blinked several times. "I'm sorry…lack of sleep and the trans-Atlantic flight." She excused her behavior.
"Of course." He said easily, "However I must warn you that if you continue to gaze at me so intently I'll have no recourse but to kiss you."
Wendy gasped, looked about to be sure no one had heard his importance. Seeing they were alone with only his man servant standing discreetly by she blushed. "Really?"
The man laughed softly. "Really, Miss Darling."
Wendy rose to her feet. "I think I'd best get back to my car, and my family."
Captain Roger stood up. "Will you be attending the celebration at the Dragon's Kiss?"
"Yes, I will." She said much too quickly.
He took her hand up in his, bent over the fingers and brushed his lips to them. "Perhaps you would save me a dance?"
"It's a costumed party…" Wendy whispered in a gasp as his fingers held hers. "How will I know you?"
"I assure you, my dear Miss Darling. You won't be able to miss me." He led her to her car and settled her in. "Until later." He watched as the car took her away.
"Captain James Rogers?" the man servant asked as they walked back to the waiting limo.
"Well, did you expect me to introduce myself as Captain James Hook?" The man with the dark hair pulled back into a stylish plait at the nape of his neck, asked with true arrogance. "Smee, sometimes you amaze me."