Transition Plan Chapter 19: First Homecoming Part 6 - House Warming
Archimedes, Jane, and Tarzan took a carriage to the Porter estate, which intentionally took them through the main part of London by the Parliament, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey and other London landmarks. Tarzan was all eyes looking at everything in London, taking it all in. He would be unrecognizable in the scarf protecting his face, and wearing the cap of a commoner. All the way, he held Jane's gloved hand tightly, and she was so happy for his boyish, innocent discovery of English history. They played with each other's rings through their gloves, and smiled.
"The slides do London no justice, Jane," he said in awe.
They arrived at the tall wrought iron gates guarding the Porter estate, with Archimedes' family coat of arms on both sides of the gate. The Porter mansion was enormous and beautiful. It was made primarily of light and dark gray stone, with turrets, a main tower, and surrounded by what would be in the spring bloom, exquisitely maintained gardens, fountains, and fence lines.
The three arrived at the huge oaken door, and opened it with a skin-crawling squeak. Servants rushed from all hallways to confront whatever unannounced intruder had dared to open the doors. Some held household items as weapons against the intruder.
Amidst the other household staff, the head butler James exclaimed, "Oh my word! It's the baron and his daughter! What was lost is found!"
There were hugs all around, but they were surprised at seeing the handsome young stranger, with his long dreadlocks tied in a colonial ponytail, and wearing antiquated, mid-1880s clothing.
"And who is this fine young man?" asked James.
Jane smiled has she held out her ringed hand, "Everyone, Let me introduce you to my husband, Jonathan."
The women servants shrieked in joy and hugged Jane again, all asking questions at once. Archimedes and Tarzan chuckled and just watched the women in their fussing and gushing over her and her ring, and comments about how dashing her husband was. James was appreciative, but quietly wanted to understand what really happened while they were missing in Africa, who this Jonathan was that Jane was so enthralled about, and why she came back already married. But he would hold his tongue until the Professor and Jane were ready to explain.
The servants were in a huge rush to get the family reestablished in their home, and had a thousand questions. Jane insisted that Jonathan be placed in her room. Tarzan looked around and gawked at the enormity of her room, her ornate furniture, and even some remaining childhood toys – exquisite china dolls, and a large dollhouse.
Jane blushed, "Some things I could never part with. I played 'dolls' and 'house' games with Mother. I… I always wanted to remember her. She passed so early in my life, Jonathan."
He just hugged her as her eyes misted up, knowing her mother would never meet Tarzan. Jane dressed in some fresh clothes. She wore a beautiful blue on blue version of Tarzan's favorite yellow bustled dress with a similar high collar, white hose, and high button boots. James sent other of the servants to fetch some new, more modern suits and outerwear for Jonathan.
As they got ready for dinner, Tarzan modeled one of his new suits. Jane's breath was taken away. He hadn't gotten the hang of tying his cravat, so she did for him, and gave him a quick kiss.
"You are truly the most handsome man in the world, Jonathan. Can I keep you?" she teased, smiled, and took his arm formally to head down the banister staircase to dinner.
"I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Jane. That's the way this 'husband and wife' thing works!" he joked.
She shot back, "Oh, well, things could be worse. I might have gotten stuck with a wild man from Borneo if Daddy's next expedition plans had worked out. I hear they never shave."
"You do seem to have this 'thing' for uncivilized men, Jane, dear, or should I say, 'Jungle Woman'?"
She made fake claw gestures with her fingers, and bared her teeth, "Rawrrr!"
He snickered and noted, "If you say that to Naima, she'd be really embarrassed. You don't say things like that to cats."
"Really?" she fretted, worried her growl was terribly offensive.
He winked, "Naw. Just kidding."
She jabbed his arm teasing Tarzan, "You cad, you had me going there!"
They kissed and unpacked a few things. They knew their true destination was further north.
They had dinner in the long table of the dining hall, covered in a lace tablecloth and with several candelabra. The vaulted dark wood ceiling and walls with family paintings surrounding the table were impressive, including one featuring a very fit and handsome Professor in a military uniform and his bride. They were an elegant couple and her mother did resemble Jane closely.
Jane helped teach Tarzan how to eat 'properly' with all the plates, glasses, and utensils. He paid rapt attention to every detail she showed him, knowing that he must adapt, understand and make no mistakes to have the greatest impact in what he needed to do to take back the power that was his. He was learning that appearances, controlled behavior according to their standards of civilization, and etiquette meant much to the English. Credibility and respect was established first through that, then by words and actions from which trust was built. It was backwards to the ways the jungle.
Archimedes wondered, watching the two interact, if there was any limit to the love and devotion they had together, and the deep intelligence and intuition that Jonathan showed about every aspect of his dual jungle and English life. He learned very quickly from any mistakes and was extremely intuitive. The old Professor thought young Jonathan would probably immediately charm the Queen herself.
The servants were ecstatic that Jane and Archimedes were alive and had returned. The cooking staff put on a true feast. Tarzan never felt so full, and knew he had a little too much to drink. But so did Jane, and they could not resist each other when it came to retire.
Before they went to bed, they prepare to take a hot bath together in her iron tub that was designed to hold one. It was the first time in months they'd been able to bathe in comfort. Aboard the ship it was really impossible except for sponging off in 'cat baths', and by standing and washing together naked in the rain when no one was looking, just like they did in the jungle.
Their desire for a joint bath in her tub she used growing up caused a stir at first with James and Jane's personal servant Elisabeth. The servants were uncomfortable drawing the hot water for both of them together - which she insisted.
James said stiffly in an effort to quell the situation, "This is very irregular, Miss… pardon me… Madam Jane, as men and women bathe separately normally."
Jane nearly stomped her feet, "I am married now. We can bathe together, and did so in the jungle. We want to do so here at home."
"But Madam, it would not be right for the male and female servants to see you both together."
Jane scowled and was indignant, "Then leave the hot water outside my bathroom. I will pour it for us myself. And every time we bathe together in the future, James."
"As you wish, Lady Jane," James responded and bowed. He noted that Jane was even more single-minded in her twenties than as a youth, but not in an unpleasant way. She always knew what she wanted, and it was clear she desired the arrangements for her new husband in her home to be just exactly the way she planned.
The bathtub was a new experience for Tarzan, and even for Jane in sharing it with her husband. There wasn't much room for two in her cast iron private tub, which caused her to settle herself into his lap, much to Tarzan's delight, and both had to bend their knees to fit. There was a lot of suppressed laughter at that, and in fact it got a lot warmer in the tub because their desires were a lot hotter than the bath water was. But it was fun to bathe together, and it got them anxious to be in her bed.
It was a big four poster bed that sat high off the ground, with deep mattresses, much larger than their portable wedding night bed in the treehouse, but of similar design. A half-dozen pillows lined the head of the bed, and soft blankets were piled high to fend off the cold. With the two of them standing in breathless anticipation next to the bed touching their foreheads together and their arms loosely around their necks, she dropped the sleeves of her silk nightgown and it fell to the floor in front of Tarzan. After two months at sea in the late fall and winter, much of her tan was gone, and Jane's perfect shape and creamy, milky smooth skin that he had fallen for at first sight was displayed there in its entirety before him, accented only by a small tuft of auburn hair that matched the hair on her head. He left his towel wrap behind him on the floor and embraced her.
"Ever since I was a teen girl, I have always dreamed of sleeping with my husband in my bed on a visit home," Jane said softly as she laid back, offering herself to him anxiously, "Now that dream comes true."
The down bed sank under their combined weight and was softer than anything Tarzan had ever felt, with the exception of Jane. They were more relaxed together than ever before, just as they were in their simple beginnings in the nest and in the moments joining on the beach and in the treehouse. Afterward, they slept peacefully, not letting go of each other for an instant, warmed more by their togetherness than by any blanket that covered them.