And another chapter! Robby's POV will be introduced in the next chapter so that everyone knows what's going on with him in America. And reviews are greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy!
Mary stood in the kitchen, looking around and shaking her head with a small sigh. Jerry and Sarah had "helped" Bert make breakfast and there was a royal mess left behind! But at least the children had obviously had a good time with their father.
With a few brisk snaps of her fingers, the kitchen was set to rights again and she nodded approvingly. She and Olivia usually had their tea in here and it wouldn't do to have flour and bits of egg shell everywhere. Last night had been a ball that her friend was dreading and Mary was prepared to offer tea and sympathy. Why couldn't her parents see what they were doing to her? But it wasn't her place to say anything.
She could hear Jerry and Sarah shrieking with laughter as Bert chased them around a tree and she smiled as she touched her gently rounded stomach. Soon, there would be a third for their games.
As she thought about this, and wondered if they would have another son or a daughter, there was a polite knock at the front door. Bustling over as best as she could, she opened the door to find a smiling Olivia.
"Good morning, Mary. Isn't it a lovely day?" the former nurse asked cheerfully as she came inside.
"That it is." Mary replied, her eyebrows raising. She knew that Olivia had not been looking forward to the ball that her parents were forcing her to attend, but perhaps she had been able to get out of it somehow. Surely she hadn't actually attended it!
"It appears that Jerry and Sarah are in high spirits. Bert too, for that matter." Olivia laughed as she took a seat at the kitchen table like she always did.
"They always are." Mary said fondly as she stole a look out the window and smiled at the sight of her husband and children cavorting in the sunlight.
Olivia nodded and poured them both a cup of tea, her movements deft and economical. Mary couldn't help but think that she would make some man a fine wife. She would be able to deal with emergencies with aplomb and not be taken with fits of the vapors like so many others in the upper classes.
"They would have had a fine evening at the ball last night." she chuckled and Mary stared at her for a moment before slowly walking over and taking her own seat. Olivia had gone? But what on earth had produced her fine mood?
"Oh?" she asked, keeping her tone lightly casual.
Shaking her head, Olivia set her tea cup down and leaned forward a bit. "Captain Wallace had come by earlier in the day and completely befuddled my mother! It was rather cheeky of him, but it saved me from another marriage lecture for which I was extremely grateful."
Matthew? Matthew Wallace had befuddled Olivia's mother? Mary didn't doubt that he was capable of it, but he was usually so sober that she just couldn't picture him doing it! However, she knew that Olivia wouldn't lie about such a thing.
"So what happened at the ball?" Mary asked, more than a little curious. She knew that Bert would be teasing her about gossiping, were he in the house but luckily for her, he was still outside with the children.
Olivia chuckled. "Captain Wallace and I banded together against all of the people pursuing us. He danced only with me and we laughed at the way that people were trying to figure out if there was some secret arrangement between our fathers, of all the absurd notions!"
Now Mary knew that her husband had most likely been right. Olivia seemed more...alive than Mary could ever remember seeing her. And if Matthew had been laughing too...well, it only meant that her husband the matchmaker would soon have another couple to add to his list.
"It does seem rather absurd." Mary replied, allowing herself a small smile.
"Captain Wallace and I see eye to eye on many issues." Olivia said, a bit more soberly. "We talked of how difficult it is to assume the semblance of the lives we left behind when everyone expects us to continue on as though nothing ever happened."
Mary nodded slowly. Bert had spoken of that a few times himself when she had pressed him. And after the exhibition, she could appreciate his side of it a bit more than she previously had. Even though she had hated to upset him, she had needed to see those things. She was his wife, and whatever burdens were his to bear, she would share them as best as she was able.
"I feel sorry for him." Olivia observed thoughtfully and Mary tilted her head slightly to one side.
"Why is that?" she asked before sipping at her own tea and taking a bite out of one of the fresh scones she had baked that morning.
"No one seems him for who he really is. All the women see is Lord Greyson's heir, a man with a future title and heir to a considerable fortune. They don't even try to understand why he shies away from society, why he will not lie and play the silly games. And he still carries all of his grief from the war with him. I see it in him from time to time."
"Bert has been concerned about him for some time." Mary admitted, surprised that Olivia, though not having known Matthew for long, was able to see him so clearly. Perhaps it was the nurse in her that was able to see his hurts so well. Or perhaps it was because she knew from experience how Matthew felt.
"Our families' estates are near each other. Adam and I will be visiting him in a few days' time to see how he is faring. I enjoyed his company and hope to have his friendship." Olivia said, her tea forgotten at her elbow.
If Bert has his way, Mary thought to herself, he will have you two wedded before the year is out!
"Matthew is a kind man." Mary said primly. "Bert and I consider ourselves fortunate to know him."
Before Olivia could reply, a familiar voice from outside could be heard growling," Fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood...of a Jerry!"
The boy suddenly shrieked and both Mary and Olivia rushed to the window to find Matthew standing in the middle of the yard, Jerry clamped in one lanky arm as he tickled the lad with his other hand.
"Stop!" Jerry begged, laughing so hard that tears were starting to fall down his small cheeks.
"Why?" Matthew asked blithely. "I happen to be having a good time!"
"Please, Uncle Matthew!" Jerry cried as he writhed and twisted.
Mary could tell that Jerry had taken him by surprise and Matthew stopped tickling him, pulling him up to eye level and looking at him solemnly.
"What did you call me, Jerry?" Matthew asked, his voice soft.
"Uncle Matthew." Jerry mumbled.
"Hmmm...that is acceptable." Matthew nodded after a moment and Jerry hugged him, small arms squeezing him around his neck.
"You are a goof." Matthew chuckled, setting Jerry down on the ground. Sarah demanded that "Unca Maffew" pick her up and he did so, cradling the girl in his arms as he began to speak with Bert.
Mary glanced over at Olivia and wisely said nothing about the young woman staring at Matthew for a moment before looking away as though there was nothing of interest to see outside. Bert had been right, drat him.
Entering the house with Matthew and the children in tow, Bert smiled as he made his way into the kitchen and kissed the top of Mary's head. She blushed a bit and gave him a playful shove away, but leaned back against him as he stood behind her chair, a hand on her shoulder.
"Aren't they precious?" Matthew said in a fluttery tone and Bert laughed outright as Mary tossed a scone at him.
Deftly, Matthew caught it and took a bite out of it, chewing slowly. "Delicious as always, Mary." he pronounced, giving a little bow in her general direction. She rolled her eyes and Bert and Olivia exchanged glances and shrugged in unison.
He grinned and Bert stared at him a bit incredulously. He had never seen that look on Matthew's face before and he glanced at Mary. She just lifted an eyebrow at him and a slow smile spread over his face. He knew that look. She was acknowledging that he had been right about Matthew and Olivia. She poked his arm and he quickly schooled his face. It wouldn't do to tip off Matthew and Olivia.
"Behave, Matthew." Olivia said. There was something in her tone that suggested an inside joke and Bert listened with interest as Matthew chuckled and replied, "I always behave."
They both laughed and his suspicions were confirmed. They already had an inside joke between them.
As they made small talk between them, Bert couldn't help feeling a bit smug. He'd known, somehow, that they would make a good pair. All he had to do now was sit back and let them discover it for themselves.
"Stop looking so smug." Mary muttered as she passed him in order to get a book that Olivia had been wanting to read.
"I shall try." he whispered as she passed him again. She didn't look convinced though, and as soon as both of them had left (Matthew escorting her home as a proper friend and gentleman would), Mary smacked him on the arm.
"What was that for?" he yelped, giving her a wounded look.
"You know what, Herbert Alfred." she replied as she rested her hands on her hips.
"Come on, Sarah." they heard Jerry whisper. "Let's go upstairs! Daddy's in trouble with Mummy again."
Bert's lips twitched and she tried to keep her own composure, but it was no use. Both of them erupted into laughter as their children tried to sneak away rather nosily up the stairs.
"Those two." Bert chuckled as he wrapped his arms around his wife.
"They are just like their father." Mary admonished as she snuggled against his left side.
"I dunno...I think Sarah's just as beautiful as her mother." he said with a soft smile.
She glared up at him and he could tell that she was trying not to give in, but she never could stay upset with him for long. "You're a horrible flatterer, Bert." she said finally.
"S'not flattery if it's the truth, love." he returned, kissing her softly.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him back warmly and he was content to remain where he was until a loud cry of disgust from their son caused them to pull away.
"Mummy! Daddy! Gross!" Jerry groaned, his hands over his eyes. Sarah was behind him, nose wrinkled at the public display of affection.
Looking at Mary, whose blue eyes were dancing with merriment, Bert realized that he wouldn't trade his new life for anything. Even if Jerry and Sarah were little mood runiners.