Almost 10

Killian wasn't entirely sure what a birthday party celebration was since his family followed the old traditions. But he had been given the beautiful invitation by his friend Sarah herself. So it was with much pomp he was put in his best clothes and sent along with the Williams and their two younger children to what the adults deemed a most prestigious social event at the Pennington's large estate. Killian didn't care about the fuss being made; Sarah was one of his best friends at their school and she had promised him there would be cake and games, that's all that mattered to him.

The two friends sat huddled in conspiracy in a large formal room, surrounded by adults discussing things only adults could deem important. The house simply glowed with spring festivity. Apparently turning ten was a big occasion in this house hold Killian mused.

"This is all for your birth date?" Killian asked looking around at the elaborate decorations and abundance of various temptations of food placed around the grand room.

"Yes Mama says it is important to make a bold statement on my coming into my first decade," she sighed. Never of them understood that with the various ills and dangers of childhood to reach the age of ten was quite an accomplishment in their realm.

"Doesn't it make you happy Sarah?" he noticed his friend's slightly quiet demeanour. At school she could raise hell with the best of them out in the fields when they were allowed out of their lessons.

"Yes it's all very beautiful, it's just….."

"What?" Killian asked gently taking his friends hand and pressing his forehead to hers so they could talk more privately in their own world, oblivious to gossiping grownups.

"It's just I am afraid I will do something wrong and then Mama will become angry at me. She wants everything to be perfect today. It has taken weeks to prepare this."

"What could you do wrong Sarah, come on lets go get some of those bonbons before Albert scoffs the lot," his gorgeous smile instantly relieving his friend's nervousness as he pulled her up off their seat and they went to seek candied treasure.

Later after games and more delicacies Killian wandered out to the grand staircase looking for Sarah.

He saw her with her mother, a woman who didn't looked pleased at all as she admonished Sarah for getting her attire messed up (Killian might have had a bit to do with that, after all it was a chase game called Grasp the Goose). Killian occasionally pondered what having a mother might have been like but seeing this cold and reprimanding woman before him, he was simply grateful for Mrs Bristol and Alice's warmth and fussing.

He found himself staring at Lady Pennington's portrait at the top of the stairs. It was an accurate likeness. She was beautiful and elegant, dressed in formal attire and bejewelled in the painting, like the real version across from him. He wondered what his mother really looked like, if he really did resemble her as people often said. His father had showed him the miniature he kept in his desk, giving him some idea of her features. Killian's musings were interrupted by Higgins dragging him off for another game in need of a few more participants.

Later while getting a drink at the buffet from one of the serving staff, Killian heard over the noise "Jones." Killian found himself eavesdropping on some of the ladies clustered to his left, thinking the lad could not hear their remarks, as they openly discussed his father and him.

"He's never remarried?"

"No I guess he was too heartbroken, such a pity for such a fine respectable man to be widowed early and remain so."

"The boy is a striking looking lad, so like his mother."

"Yes he is. It must be hard seeing her remarkable eyes stare back at him when the Captain looks at his son though."

"Maybe that's why he is always away at sea. It's just too painful to be here with the memories."

"Well we will never go to the lad's 10th birth date celebration that's for sure. Who would want to celebrate the same day they lost their beloved?"

"Mrs Beetham! Please have a care not to say such things," a familiar voice admonished the tactless woman.

"Dr Nathaniel Williams why I only meant…."

Killian stiffened, had he heard right? He couldn't be sure. He quickly busied himself in the task of getting some pastries to hide his sudden awkwardness. Suddenly Dr Williams was beside him.

"Killian my boy." he was looking at Killian concern on his face.

"Sir," Killian gave him his best sweetest grin "Would you like some punch Dr Williams?"

"Thank you lad that would be good," Dr Williams smiled, relieved by the boys happy countenance

On the way home Nathaniel put Killian's quiet demeanour down to tiredness, little did he know the boy was using that clever mind of his to find out exactly what Mrs Beetham meant.