The Luncheon
Note:
All these characters belong to Telescene.
I am merely borrowing them in this story.
"Come on Marguerite you have to
come to the luncheon with me. You know
it wasn't my idea, it was mother's," Roxton said in his defense. "She has to show everyone that she isn't
crazy, and that her son is indeed home.
Besides it will be fun, I can show everyone I used to know, how I turned
out."
"Well if it's important to you I'll
go," Marguerite said giving in.
"You know, I would also like to
make everyone jealous by showing them my beautiful wife," He said smiling, as
he leaned in to give her a kiss.
"I can do jealous, no problem," she
said as she returned his kiss.
"Good because it starts at one
o'clock."
"What should I wear," she asked.
"You look beautiful in anything, so
where what ever you want."
"Thanks, you're a lot of help,"
Marguerite told him.
"Your Welcome," Roxton said
laughing.
* * *
"Mother are you ready to go. You are the one who insisted that we go to
this party. If you don't hurry we're
are going to be late."
"I'm coming John, I'm coming,"
Elizabeth Roxton said as she hurried down the stairs.
"Elizabeth, that dress looks
wonderful on you," Marguerite said admiring her mother- in- law's dress.
"Thank You Marguerite, might I add
your looking lovely toady," Elizabeth said thinking about how she really liked
her daughter-in-law. She hadn't known
her for long, but already they were becoming close.
* * *
The Roxton
family pulled up to the house of Lord and Lady Cornwall. They were welcomed into the home and shown
out to the gardens where the party was taking place.
"Elizabeth,
John how nice to see you again," Lady Cornwall said as she met them in the
garden.
"It's nice
to see you too. May I introduce to my
wife, Marguerite," Roxton said.
"Marguerite
it's so nice to meet you," Lady Cornwall said.
"Mary,
Mary…" Someone called from behind them.
"If you'll
excuse me I have to go, but it was so nice seeing you again," Mary Cornwall
said as she left them.
"Well, I
guess it's time to mingle," Roxton said as he walked out into the crowd with
Marguerite on his arm.
"Oh,
Marguerite look, see that group of women over there?"
"Yes, why?
Do you know them?" She asked.
"Unfortunately
yes, I've known them since I was little, my mother always kept introducing them
to me at every social function we went to.
I wouldn't have anything to do with them. They are the phoniest group of people I've ever met."
"You mean,
now is the time when we make everyone jealous?" Marguerite asked with a grin.
"That's my
girl," Roxton said laughing.
Roxton and
Marguerite made their way over to the group of women who were standing off to
the side chatting.
"Now
remember whatever they say is untrue.
It's all lies," Roxton said in a low voice as they approached the group.
"I'm sure
it is," Marguerite said teasing him.
* * *
"Look who's
coming this way," Grace said to the three women standing around her.
"Would that
be the handsome Lord John Roxton?" Victoria asked as she eyed Roxton.
"I think
that it would be. Who's the girl?" Beth asked the group giving Marguerite a
piercing glance.
"That's his
wife," Darcie said. "I guess if your
stuck in the middle of nowhere there's not much to choose from." All the women laughed.
"Darcie,
Victoria, Beth, Grace, it's so nice to see all again," Roxton said as he
approached the group.
"Why Lord
Roxton is that you?" Victoria asked innocently.
"In the
flesh. Ladies I would like you to meet
my wife, Marguerite."
Roxton
could see how fake their smiles were as they introduced themselves to
Marguerite. He didn't like these people
when he was a kid, and he didn't like them now.
"Tell me
John, what was it like living with dinosaurs? I'm sure it must have been
exciting," Beth said.
"Exciting?
Well it was, but it was also very dangerous."
"Well
nothing too dangerous for our John," Victoria said. "I mean you are a world class hunter after all."
"Yes, well,
I have been known to go on a hunting trip or two," Roxton said.
"So,
Marguerite," Darcie said. "Tell me, do
you keep John on a short leash?"
"Excuse
me?"
"You know
John is a wild one, I for one would watch him at all times if he was my
husband. You should have seen the stuff
he used to get himself into when he was younger," Darcie said.
"Yes, our
John has known to be rebellious," Victoria said.
Roxton turned and saw his mother
making her way over to him. He heard
her call his name and thought it was a good time to leave.
"Well
ladies, it really was nice to see you all again but we must be going. Have a pleasant afternoon." With that they left the group to find
Roxton's mother.
"I could
see how you could hate those people.
They are the worst bunch of liars I have ever seen," Marguerite said.
"What do
you mean?" Roxton asked his wife.
"Well, we
could tell that all those lovely ladies were happy to see the handsome hunter
home safe and sound." Roxton laughed at this comment. "As for me, they wouldn't care if I was attacked by a pack of
wild dogs. I think your jealously plan
worked," she said. "But, sometime, I
would like to hear about this rebellious Lord John Roxton," Marguerite teased
him.
"You don't
actually believe them do you? I warned you not to believe what they say. It's all lies, trust me none f it is true,"
Roxton said defending himself.
"It's okay,
I believe you besides I don't like them anyway."
"Well
sweetheart, I told you I never liked those people. To think my mother always tried to push me on them, 'Come on John they're such nice girls…"
"John,
Marguerite, there you are. You know
there are some people who are just dying to meet the two of you. Since you both came back from that trip your
famous."
"That's my
mother, always making things seem bigger than they really are," Roxton
whispered to Marguerite.
"Oh come on
John, let her have her fun. After all
she hasn't seen you in so long. And she
is the mother of the most famous hunter back from his greatest adventure. You know, the man who used to wrestle
dinosaurs with his bare hands."
"She said
that?" Roxton asked, hoping that Marguerite was just kidding with him.
"Of course,
I mean, you did, didn't you?" Marguerite could no longer keep a straight face
as she burst out laughing.
"Thanks
Marguerite, "Roxton said shaking his head.
* * *
"So
Victoria, what do you think of our Lord now?" Darcie asked.
"Well I
must say he is looking good. That
Jungle must have suited him."
"How long
do you give the two of them?" Beth asked pointing at Marguerite and Roxton.
"Now that
he's back in civilization, I give them a year," Grace said.
"Maybe I
won't have to wait that long," Victoria said.
"What do
you mean," Darcie asked her.
"When we
were young John was known to be somewhat of a wild one. It doesn't take long for old habits to
resurface." All the women chuckled.
"You do
have a point there. She won't last
long, he'll just grow tired of her you'll see," Beth said.
As the
women continued to talk, none of them seemed to notice Roxton's behavior. They didn't notice how Roxton never left
Marguerite's side. They never noticed
how his hand always found its way into hers, or the way he would lovingly look
at her while she spoke to him. They didn't see how no one else around him
mattered when he was looking at her.
No, they would never see these things.
They didn't want to.
* * *
As music began to play, and people got up to dance,
Roxton asked Marguerite if she would like to dance. "Madame may I have this dance?"
"I don't
know, should I?" Marguerite said teasingly.
"Well, you
see, there are these women standing over there and it would be really nice if
you would dance with me because I know it would make them jealous."
"In that
case, lead the way," Marguerite said with a smile.
"So what do
you think of this side of London's social elite?" Roxton asked Marguerite.
"I like
them. Well most of them."
"Me
too. But there are certain people I
just can't stand."
"You mean,
are four lady friends over there."
"Yes, they
are some of my least favorite people."
As the
music started to wind down and everyone sat down to eat, Roxton looked for his
mother.
"There she
is, standing over by that rose bush," Marguerite said as she spotted her
mother-in-law.
They made
their way over to Roxton's mother and then found their table.
"It's such
a nice day out isn't it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes it is,
not a cloud in the sky," Marguerite commented.
After
everyone had finished eating, the music was again put on for anyone who wanted
to dance. Roxton and Marguerite headed
out unto the dance floor.
"Are you
having a good time," Roxton asked Marguerite.
"Actually,
I'm having a great time," she replied.
"So aren't
you glad you came?"
"Of course,
between dancing, making people jealous, eating, and telling stories of the man
who kills dinosaurs bear handed, I'd say it's been a splendid afternoon."
Roxton laughed.
"Well it
has been an interesting afternoon," Roxton commented.
Elizabeth
Roxton looked on as her son and daughter-in-law were dancing. She was so proud of her son. Although she had missed him so all the years
he was gone, she could tell it was worth it.
He had come back a changed man.
He was happier then she had ever seen him before. Elizabeth also loved the fact that she was
now a grandmother. She had two
beautiful grandchildren.
At the
beginning of the next song Roxton and Marguerite returned to the table to sit
for a while. A few minutes later
Roxton's mother joined them.
"Mother
would you like to dance?" Roxton asked his mother.
"I would
love to."
Marguerite
smiled as she watched her husband and her mother-in-law make their way onto the
dance floor. Marguerite remembered how
nervous she was when she knew she was going to meet her mother-in-law for the
first time. Roxton had told her that
she didn't need to worry, but she did anyway.
She felt a great sense of relief once she had met her mother-in-law and
they had actually become quite close.
"Marguerite,"
Roxton said as he and his mother sat down at the table.
"Yes,
John."
" I was
thinking that maybe we should hold a party like this one. Wouldn't it be fun?" Roxton asked with a
huge smile on his face.
"That's a
great idea. I love to plan parties,"
Marguerite answered.
"Wonderful,
will make it a huge party, it will be so much fun."
"I thought
you hated big parties?" Roxton's mother asked.
"Well I
used to. But just think about. Everyone will be talking about this party
for months."
"Sounds
like we're going to be hosting one big party," Marguerite said.
"You don't
want to?" Roxton asked.
"No, no, I
was just kidding. Of course I do."
"Oh ok just
checking," Roxton said smiling.
* * *
Later as
the party started to wind down, and guests were leaving, the Roxton's said
their goodbyes and headed home.
"That was a
fun party but I'm exhausted," Marguerite said stifling a yawn.
"Yes, I'm
tired too," Elizabeth commented.
"I think
that was too much dancing for you ladies," Roxton teased.
"Oh shut up
John," Marguerite said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
By the time
they made it back home Marguerite was fast asleep. Roxton, being careful not to wake her, brought her upstairs and
put her in bed. Roxton, who was also
tired, changed and went to bed.
Marguerite snuggled closer to him and Roxton whispered,
"Good night
Marguerite, I love you." As Roxton
closed his eyes he heard a sleepy mumbled I love you from Marguerite. He just smiled and joined her in her dreams.
