Disclaimer: I do not own Pat, Hilary, or any of the Gardiners. Well,
except for a few a may come up with on my own (wink, wink)
A/N: If you're reading this, then you liked the first one. If you haven't read my first fic, "The Wedding", you might want to before you get through this. It isn't absolutely necessary, but it might be helpful. Also, in "Pat of Silver Bush", Hilary says he will take Pat to the Austrian Tyrole. I'm assuming this would require some German, but I don't know any, so there won't be any spoken. All I know, I learned from 'The Sound of Music". Not too helpful.
Narrator: (just this once) We join our happily married couple at the end of their honeymoon. It is their last week of honeymoon bliss before settling into life in Vancouver. But a surprise is about to cut everything short.
Pat gazed dreamily at the view before her. She was standing on the balcony of their room, enjoying the sunrise. Ever since they had arrived here, Pat had awoken early to watch the sun come up behind the mountains. It was a beautiful sight and she fervently wished Hilary would join her just once in this little ritual. But it hadn't taken Pat long to discover that her darling Hilary was just not a morning person. Much as he enjoyed sunsets and twilight, he had admitted sheepishly that a sunrise was something he had never seen. It surprised Pat to learn that this man she'd known for most of her life had a little trouble waking up in the mornings. After failing to wake him up for the first two sunrises, she had resigned herself to watching them alone. It was lovely, even if Hilary wouldn't see it with her.
Therefore, she was quite surprised, but pleasantly so, when she felt two strong arms go around her waist and pull her close. Hilary kissed her neck softly, then whispered in her ear.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, sleepy. I'm so glad you could join me this morning."
"Well, sacrifices must be made when one is in love. Even if it means sacrificing sleep."
"You are indeed selfless, my lord."
"I try."
Pat looked over her shoulder and smiled at Hilary, who couldn't resist dropping a kiss on her nose. He was still quite unsure that this whole thing wasn't a dream. But it became a sweet reality with every passing day.
They stood there together in silence, both reveling in the beauty and serenity of this place they had found themselves in. As the sun peaked over the mountains, the small little village below began to stir. Pat had been proud of Hilary's choice. Their chateau was nestled far away from bustling cities and loud 'modern conveniences'. In fact, Pat hadn't even seen a phone since they had arrived. Not even in the small village nearby. They had a post office and a telegraph office, but that was as modern as it got. She and Hilary had explored the village eagerly and were now even known by name in some of the shops and little eateries.
But this idyllic situation couldn't last forever, though Pat wished it could. Next week, it would be time for them to return home. They would have to leave all this behind. She couldn't deny that she missed her native land, but to be here, away from the cares of everyday life, was so completely wonderful. A cool breeze floated off the mountains and, despite the warmth of her thick white robe, combined with Hilary's arms around her, Pat shivered a little.
"Chilly?" asked Hilary.
"Just a little bit. It's nothing."
"Well, the rumbling in my stomach isn't nothing. I am starving, Pat. Let's go down into the village and get something to eat."
"Goodness, Hilary. If you insist on eating like this once we get home, I know I'll get as big as Mrs. Binnie. Then you won't love me anymore."
"I seriously doubt that," replied Hilary, leading Pat back inside.
"Doubt what? That I'll get as big as Mrs. Binnie? Or that you won't love me anymore?"
"Both," came the reply. As further confirmation, he pulled her close to him and kissed her. All thoughts of breakfast quickly disappeared.
LATER THAT DAY:
Hilary glanced around the shop. He had to admit he was a little bored. After their late breakfast, Pat had insisted on shopping for gifts for her family. Hilary had agreed. They had nothing else planned that day. The only items they had bought had been for their own home. It was only natural that Pat would want to buy some things for her family. He had enjoyed helping to pick gifts for their nieces and nephews. Finding things for brothers, sisters, and Pat's father had begun to fray his nerves. But Pat was an absolute perfectionist when it came to searching for her mother's gift. They had been looking for this one gift for nearly an hour.
The shop they were in now was one they had already been in twice that day. The shopkeeper, a short, rotund little man who insisted on being called "Papa" was watching Pat with a twinkle in his eye. He liked this young couple and had tried to give them discounts on several of the items they had purchased in his store. But neither Pat nor Hilary would hear of it. As he watched Pat, he suddenly remembered that he had something for her husband.
"Herr Gordon, I forgot!" he exclaimed. Hilary looked at him, clearly puzzled.
"Forgot what, Papa?"
"Rolfe from the telegraph office brought this over just after you had left for the second time. He and I both thought you would be back so he left it here. Now where did I put that?"
Hilary was hard pressed not to laugh at the little man, who was searching so frantically for the telegram. He was digging into the shelves of the counter and, peering over it, Hilary could only see two short legs sticking out. He managed to quit grinning just in time as 'Papa' suddenly straightened up and, beaming from ear to ear, handed Hilary his telegram.
But Hilary's cheerful mood did not last long as he read it. His face grew serious and his eyes darkened to a stormy grey. Pat came up behind him, clutching a beautiful hand-carved wooden music box. She put one hand on his shoulder and immediately felt his tension.
"Hilary, darling, what's wrong?"
"It's the office. How did they track me here? Laura's the only one who knows where I am. She wouldn't tell them."
"Well, Hilary, it doesn't matter how they found out. What do they say?"
"They want me to go to London. Right away. To interview some architect for a position in the firm."
"Oh. That doesn't sound too bad."
"Don't you understand, Pat? We would have to leave here early. Cut our honeymoon short. No. I'm not going. I'll send them a wire saying I can't go."
Hilary disappeared out the door, leaving Pat and 'Papa' behind in a state of bewilderment. They looked at each other and then Papa nodded at Pat to go catch up with him. She smiled, setting the music box carefully on the counter and ran out after her husband. Papa chuckled.
"Hilary! Hilary, slow down. I can't catch up with you. Hilary, please stop!"
He finally complied and Pat caught up to him. She put a soothing hand on his arm.
"Don't be angry, Hilary. We still have one glorious night left here. We can leave for London tomorrow and spend the rest of our honeymoon there."
"Some honeymoon. Pat, I'll have to spend a lot of time with this man. You don't realize how much. I'll have to look at sketches, blueprints, and even take a tour of any buildings he's designed. There won't be any time for us."
"Nonsense. Hilary, I won't say I'm not upset about this, because I am, but there's no reason for you to refuse your firm. You could get into trouble. We've been here for three weeks. Just think, Hilary. You wouldn't have to be with him the entire time. We could go sightseeing. Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden."
"I've seen all those places."
"Not with me you haven't. And didn't you just say last week that, even though you'd been here before, this time was much better because you were with me?"
That brought a reluctant smile to his face.
"Everything's better when you're with me, Pat."
"Then it's settled. We leave for London tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe we'll even have time to spend in Ireland. I've always wanted to see the places Judy talked about so often. Oh, Hilary, please don't look like that. It'll be fun, I promise."
Hilary smiled and shook his head.
"You're amazing, Pat. Have I ever told you that?"
"Not for the past hour. I must admit, I was beginning to feel unappreciated," came the teasing reply.
"I spoil you, Patricia Gordon," Hilary said, his mouth savoring how sweet those two names sounded together.
"Of course you do. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if we are to be in London by tomorrow, we should go pack. Come on."
"We'll probably need to buy another suitcase with all the things you bought here. What am I saying? It might even take a trunk."
Pat stared evilly at her husband, who grinned and then took off running towards their chateau. Pat chased after him, making quite a sight for the villagers, who merely smiled at the two lovers.
A/N: Does the term 'villagers' work? I know it's the 1940's, but I wanted to make it clear that they weren't anywhere near a city or anyplace even big enough to be a town. Hmmm. I wonder. Read and review please. Chapter 2 to come soon.
A/N: If you're reading this, then you liked the first one. If you haven't read my first fic, "The Wedding", you might want to before you get through this. It isn't absolutely necessary, but it might be helpful. Also, in "Pat of Silver Bush", Hilary says he will take Pat to the Austrian Tyrole. I'm assuming this would require some German, but I don't know any, so there won't be any spoken. All I know, I learned from 'The Sound of Music". Not too helpful.
Narrator: (just this once) We join our happily married couple at the end of their honeymoon. It is their last week of honeymoon bliss before settling into life in Vancouver. But a surprise is about to cut everything short.
Pat gazed dreamily at the view before her. She was standing on the balcony of their room, enjoying the sunrise. Ever since they had arrived here, Pat had awoken early to watch the sun come up behind the mountains. It was a beautiful sight and she fervently wished Hilary would join her just once in this little ritual. But it hadn't taken Pat long to discover that her darling Hilary was just not a morning person. Much as he enjoyed sunsets and twilight, he had admitted sheepishly that a sunrise was something he had never seen. It surprised Pat to learn that this man she'd known for most of her life had a little trouble waking up in the mornings. After failing to wake him up for the first two sunrises, she had resigned herself to watching them alone. It was lovely, even if Hilary wouldn't see it with her.
Therefore, she was quite surprised, but pleasantly so, when she felt two strong arms go around her waist and pull her close. Hilary kissed her neck softly, then whispered in her ear.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, sleepy. I'm so glad you could join me this morning."
"Well, sacrifices must be made when one is in love. Even if it means sacrificing sleep."
"You are indeed selfless, my lord."
"I try."
Pat looked over her shoulder and smiled at Hilary, who couldn't resist dropping a kiss on her nose. He was still quite unsure that this whole thing wasn't a dream. But it became a sweet reality with every passing day.
They stood there together in silence, both reveling in the beauty and serenity of this place they had found themselves in. As the sun peaked over the mountains, the small little village below began to stir. Pat had been proud of Hilary's choice. Their chateau was nestled far away from bustling cities and loud 'modern conveniences'. In fact, Pat hadn't even seen a phone since they had arrived. Not even in the small village nearby. They had a post office and a telegraph office, but that was as modern as it got. She and Hilary had explored the village eagerly and were now even known by name in some of the shops and little eateries.
But this idyllic situation couldn't last forever, though Pat wished it could. Next week, it would be time for them to return home. They would have to leave all this behind. She couldn't deny that she missed her native land, but to be here, away from the cares of everyday life, was so completely wonderful. A cool breeze floated off the mountains and, despite the warmth of her thick white robe, combined with Hilary's arms around her, Pat shivered a little.
"Chilly?" asked Hilary.
"Just a little bit. It's nothing."
"Well, the rumbling in my stomach isn't nothing. I am starving, Pat. Let's go down into the village and get something to eat."
"Goodness, Hilary. If you insist on eating like this once we get home, I know I'll get as big as Mrs. Binnie. Then you won't love me anymore."
"I seriously doubt that," replied Hilary, leading Pat back inside.
"Doubt what? That I'll get as big as Mrs. Binnie? Or that you won't love me anymore?"
"Both," came the reply. As further confirmation, he pulled her close to him and kissed her. All thoughts of breakfast quickly disappeared.
LATER THAT DAY:
Hilary glanced around the shop. He had to admit he was a little bored. After their late breakfast, Pat had insisted on shopping for gifts for her family. Hilary had agreed. They had nothing else planned that day. The only items they had bought had been for their own home. It was only natural that Pat would want to buy some things for her family. He had enjoyed helping to pick gifts for their nieces and nephews. Finding things for brothers, sisters, and Pat's father had begun to fray his nerves. But Pat was an absolute perfectionist when it came to searching for her mother's gift. They had been looking for this one gift for nearly an hour.
The shop they were in now was one they had already been in twice that day. The shopkeeper, a short, rotund little man who insisted on being called "Papa" was watching Pat with a twinkle in his eye. He liked this young couple and had tried to give them discounts on several of the items they had purchased in his store. But neither Pat nor Hilary would hear of it. As he watched Pat, he suddenly remembered that he had something for her husband.
"Herr Gordon, I forgot!" he exclaimed. Hilary looked at him, clearly puzzled.
"Forgot what, Papa?"
"Rolfe from the telegraph office brought this over just after you had left for the second time. He and I both thought you would be back so he left it here. Now where did I put that?"
Hilary was hard pressed not to laugh at the little man, who was searching so frantically for the telegram. He was digging into the shelves of the counter and, peering over it, Hilary could only see two short legs sticking out. He managed to quit grinning just in time as 'Papa' suddenly straightened up and, beaming from ear to ear, handed Hilary his telegram.
But Hilary's cheerful mood did not last long as he read it. His face grew serious and his eyes darkened to a stormy grey. Pat came up behind him, clutching a beautiful hand-carved wooden music box. She put one hand on his shoulder and immediately felt his tension.
"Hilary, darling, what's wrong?"
"It's the office. How did they track me here? Laura's the only one who knows where I am. She wouldn't tell them."
"Well, Hilary, it doesn't matter how they found out. What do they say?"
"They want me to go to London. Right away. To interview some architect for a position in the firm."
"Oh. That doesn't sound too bad."
"Don't you understand, Pat? We would have to leave here early. Cut our honeymoon short. No. I'm not going. I'll send them a wire saying I can't go."
Hilary disappeared out the door, leaving Pat and 'Papa' behind in a state of bewilderment. They looked at each other and then Papa nodded at Pat to go catch up with him. She smiled, setting the music box carefully on the counter and ran out after her husband. Papa chuckled.
"Hilary! Hilary, slow down. I can't catch up with you. Hilary, please stop!"
He finally complied and Pat caught up to him. She put a soothing hand on his arm.
"Don't be angry, Hilary. We still have one glorious night left here. We can leave for London tomorrow and spend the rest of our honeymoon there."
"Some honeymoon. Pat, I'll have to spend a lot of time with this man. You don't realize how much. I'll have to look at sketches, blueprints, and even take a tour of any buildings he's designed. There won't be any time for us."
"Nonsense. Hilary, I won't say I'm not upset about this, because I am, but there's no reason for you to refuse your firm. You could get into trouble. We've been here for three weeks. Just think, Hilary. You wouldn't have to be with him the entire time. We could go sightseeing. Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden."
"I've seen all those places."
"Not with me you haven't. And didn't you just say last week that, even though you'd been here before, this time was much better because you were with me?"
That brought a reluctant smile to his face.
"Everything's better when you're with me, Pat."
"Then it's settled. We leave for London tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe we'll even have time to spend in Ireland. I've always wanted to see the places Judy talked about so often. Oh, Hilary, please don't look like that. It'll be fun, I promise."
Hilary smiled and shook his head.
"You're amazing, Pat. Have I ever told you that?"
"Not for the past hour. I must admit, I was beginning to feel unappreciated," came the teasing reply.
"I spoil you, Patricia Gordon," Hilary said, his mouth savoring how sweet those two names sounded together.
"Of course you do. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if we are to be in London by tomorrow, we should go pack. Come on."
"We'll probably need to buy another suitcase with all the things you bought here. What am I saying? It might even take a trunk."
Pat stared evilly at her husband, who grinned and then took off running towards their chateau. Pat chased after him, making quite a sight for the villagers, who merely smiled at the two lovers.
A/N: Does the term 'villagers' work? I know it's the 1940's, but I wanted to make it clear that they weren't anywhere near a city or anyplace even big enough to be a town. Hmmm. I wonder. Read and review please. Chapter 2 to come soon.