The next morning I awoke slowly. Realizing at once that I was warm and dry and no one was yelling or shouting in the usual way in the square. The sunlight hit my window and bounced into my eyes and I couldn't help but open them as more a reflex as anything else. Beatrice was sitting by my bedside giving me small opportunity to explore my new home. I crept around the room trying desperately not to wake her. I was wearing an oversized white nightshirt I was later to find that this belonged to one of my older brothers. There were trinkets of all kinds on the oaken dresser, mainly little porcelain bears and dogs and even some birds. They were very pretty and would probably fetch a good deal of money if sold. But I resolved to lose my old ways and seeing Beatrice still slumbering I crept off to explore the rest of the house. I poked my head out the door and saw women walking around in black dresses carrying things. Steaming trays of breakfast; bacon, broth and bread, mushrooms, kippers, sausages and eggs. Neatly pressed clothes of all kinds. And one even carried a small boy. The boy saw me and shouted, "gypsy!" upsetting the maids dreadfully. The guards ran in from the courtyard and the stable boys from the stables. Hubert and three little Hubert's ran downstairs. Soon everyone in the house was on the landing where I stood. I didn't know what else to do, I ran back into the room and dove into the safety of Beatrice's skirts. She awoke with a start when the servants began banging on the door. It probably didn't help my case that I had run for now they thought I was a gypsy. Beatrice gave a little laugh when she saw me hiding amongst her petticoats. She scooped me up, "good morning Lucy. Did you sleep well?" she looked up at the door upon which they were still banging disapprovingly, "did they frighten you?"
Finally something I understood, I nodded.
"We can't have that then. You're to be the Lady of this house just like me and you can't be afraid of your servants." She carried me to the door and flung it open. The gardeners with their big metal spades and hoes thundered into the room looking for the gypsy that little Benjamin had seen. The servants drew back when they saw the mistress of the house carrying a little girl.
"Gather round," Beatrice called, "this is Lucinda Elizabeth Louisa Mary Cassandra Darling. She was an orphan and is now a member of this family. She is not a gypsy and never was. Everyone is to be patient and gentle with her. Is that understood?"
The maids nodded, the guards saluted and Hubert grumbled. With everyone dismissed back to his or her work. Beatrice called all of the immediate family members into the room. (This was extended to the family dog.)
The boys stood in a militaristic fashion all except little Benjamin and the nanny that carried him. Hubert sat on the bed next to Beatrice and Lucinda Elizabeth Louisa Mary Cassandra. The dog sat on the floor next to Benjamin's nanny.
"Gentlemen. Rosie. This is Lucy. We found her in London and she will be living here from now on."
I was scared, none of the boys looked at all pleased except maybe Benjamin who was very confused. Beatrice demanded my attention by turning me around to face her. "Lucy. These are your brothers. Do you understand? They are here to help and protect you. This is Gregory Shane. He is 14 years old." The oldest boy stepped forward and held out his hand. I looked up at Beatrice who nodded at me. I put my hand up to him and he took it and put it to his mouth. I pulled my hand back in astonishment.
Beatrice looked at me strangely, "what on earth is wrong?"
I whispered to her. She laughed. Gregory went a little red, "what's the matter, Mother? Did I do something wrong?"
Beatrice waved his question off looking at me again she tried to stifle a little laugh. "He wasn't going to bite you, Lucy. He was going to kiss your hand like this." And she did it.
Now my face was scarlet. Gregory bowed and kissed my hand like he had intended to all along. Beatrice looked past it and introduced the rest of the family.
"This is Christopher Henry." The middle boy took my hand and kissed it after a curt bow. I realized somewhere along the line that Christopher and Richard were twins.
"This is Richard George. They are both 11." The next boy standing took my hand and kissed it like the boys before him.
"And finally Benjamin Michael. He is 5." The littlest boy in the arms of his nanny waved.
Beatrice smiled. I could tell that Benjamin was a sickly child and that he didn't warm to many people by the hope in his Mother's eyes.
Hubert picked up the big English sheep dog which in itself was no east task. "This is the seventh member of our family. This is Bruno." Bruno was beautiful, he fast became my favorite member of the family. Bruno was a big dog, he was a fluffy white and grey sheep dog. He was good company on long walks but he was also happy to lie by the fireside when it snowed. Little Benjamin was close to my second favorite one. He grew happy and plump in my company and soon became strong enough to go on walks or on rides with his brothers. He even became strong enough to pick up his schooling in the schoolroom up the stairs from my room.
The oldest boy, Gregory or Greg as family called him, kept most to himself but on long winter nights when Beatrice was asleep on the settee and Hubert was in his den smoking or drinking his evening's brandy, he would read great books to me until I began to read myself. The newest books like Titus Andronicus, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Julius Caesar.
Hubert insisted that now I was family I called him Father and he too began to warm to me. He tutored me all through the remaining autumn and winter in reading and writing, until I could read as proficiently as Greg and write as neatly as Beatrice. By the time spring came again he had given me a plucky little grey pony and taught me to ride. Beatrice, who I was to call Mother, spoiled me tremendously with sweets and trips to town or to the seaside. She always it seemed was organizing trips to the linen shop wherein she fashioned me with magnificent dresses of true renaissance style with the low, square neckline and many pleated skirts. I always had new bodice's to match my many skirts. And the most cunning little brown leather boots.
I had stayed with the Darling family for just over two years and I was now about 10 years of age and the jealousy of Chris and Ritchie had become apparent to even me. And I became wary of them. They always seemed to be looking for mischief, filling my little boots with manure and making mud in the bathtub when the maids had drawn it for my bath. Until Mother finally told them to leave me be and would not let me alone with them unless Gregory or Benjamin were there. If only I had listened to her but the promise of acceptance has led many a young girl astray.
Father came into the study one late July evening where we all sat reading and proposed a family trip to the country. For the boys to go riding and hunting and for Mother and I to socialize with the Hart's (another wealthy family in the neighborhood). However Mother suggested that I was too lively to enjoy sitting in the country with her and the older ladies. "Perhaps," she ventured, " Lucy might be allowed to go riding with the boys if she should get restless." Father looked at Gregory. Gregory realizing the responsibility that was resting upon his shoulders looked to his father then his mother, "Certainly Father. I shall be 16 then and should prepare to handle the responsibility like a man. It would be an honor to watch over Lucinda."
Everyone thoroughly reassured. The Darling family looked forward to a day in the country at the end of the week.
