Well it appears that the problem of a birthday gift has been resolved, and
most satisfactorily too by all accounts if I do say so myself. Mother was a
little hesitant to agree to the plan, but after a relatively small amount
of cajoling from myself and repeated assurances from William that all would
be well, she consented, and so it seems that I am to be a free woman for a
week.
But let me start at the beginning. Yesterday William and Caroline visited for dinner, a pleasant prospect at the best of times as I have missed William since he married and is no longer at home. Caroline is nice enough too I suppose, a little dull for my taste with hardly two words to string together since she is so shy, but they love each other and that says a lot in this day and age. I only hope that I may be as fortunate when my time comes, which is unlikely to be the case I fear if Mother has her way. Anyway, once the necessary pleasantries were dispensed with conversation turned to the topic of my approaching birthday, and of course from there it was but a short step to discussing what I planned to do in order to celebrate.
"I've told you Mother.. I do not want a fuss!" I insisted, cutting off the rather lengthy description she was giving as to how awkward and stubborn I was being over the whole affair.
"But Virginia." she continued, her voice at just the right tone to irritate me still further.
"Ginny, Mother. For the last time, will you please call me Ginny!" I exclaimed, trying hard to keep my temper from showing, but, I have to admit, doing a rather poor job of it. I could see Caroline looking uncomfortable at the scene that was unfolding in front of her, and embarrassment more than anything else caused me to hold my tongue when really I would have liked to give vent to the full set of emotions that the incident was causing in me. I think I might have finally given in as well, if it had not been for William's sudden intervention which turned the conversation to a rather unexpected matter.
"Ginny.. Mother. please. There is no need for such quarrelling!" he insisted, the glance he shot in my direction when I opened my mouth to protest ensuring that I quickly shut it again. "If you will just."
"It is her 18th Birthday, William!" Mother interrupted with a sniff. "I am only trying to make the occasion a memorable one for my only daughter, is that too much to ask?" I resisted the urge to snap at her, hoping as I did so that I was right to trust in William and his handling of the situation. I was not disappointed, as his next words proved only too well that he had not forgotten how to deal with Mother even though he has been away from home for just over a year now.
"I am aware of that Mother, as is Ginny, and I am sure that she fully appreciates that," he soothed, patting her arm comfortingly as he spoke. "Besides." he added quickly before she could begin to speak once more, "I too have been giving the matter of my sister's birthday some thought, and I have a suggestion. It is something Caroline and I have been talking over for a while now, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to put the proposal to you." I looked from William to Mother and back again, my interest truly piqued as I tried to think what he could be about to suggest.
"What is it?" I prompted, leaning forward in my chair like a child in my excitement. William smiled at me before turning once again to Mother, showing her clearly by doing so that it was her opinion rather than my own which he sought. I could not help but be impressed with the way in which he could calm the situation with no more than a look and a few simple words, and forced myself to remain silent whilst he continued.
"Well. we were wondering, and this is only if you agree of course Mother, but we were thinking it would be rather nice if Ginny were to come and stay with us for a while," he suggested carefully, watching her face the whole time to gauge her reaction. As for myself, it took all of my self-control not to make some noise to show my delight, and somehow I forced myself to remain still as I waited with bated breath for Mother to comment.
"But William." she began, and I felt my heart sink slightly. Surely she was not about to refuse? Oh but of course she was, how could I have ever thought otherwise? I need not have worried though, as he quickly silenced her once more, his voice so calm and persuasive that I could see no way for her to be able to refuse his offer.
"It will be perfectly alright Mother, really, I assure you," he soothed. "She will not be on her own, and it is not as if Ginny does not know the city well enough by now is it? It will be a chance for me to get to know my sister a little better now that she is becoming so grown up, and besides, Caroline will be glad of the company, won't you my dear?" Caroline nodded quickly at this, and I could see that they had worked the whole plan out between them before William had decided to make his suggestion. I kept my mouth shut tight, instead focusing my attention on gazing pleadingly at Mother in what I hoped was a calm subdued way that would convince her I could be trusted to do as William was proposing.
"Well." she began, and I could see that her resolve was weakening quickly under such a persuasive argument. "Are you sure William? I mean it is a lot of responsibility for you to take on, and I would hate for you to."
"Oh I think we can manage," he told her with a smile, and I had to struggle to keep my own expression serious in face of the obvious fact that he was winning his case and was well aware of it. I held my breath, hoping against hope that I had not misjudged the situation.
"If you are certain.." She told him slowly, looking from myself to my brother again before continuing, "But if there is any trouble, any at all, you are to send her back here to me immediately, is that understood?" William nodded, and I resisted the urge to ask her just what sort of trouble she imagined I would be getting into whilst under the protection of my brother and his wife. It did not matter by that point anyway, she had agreed and that was all that mattered. I was to be free. If only for a few days, I was to be free.
It has been decided that I am to leave in a fortnight's time and that I will stay with them until the middle of the month, unless anything unforeseen occurs to make it necessary for me to return. I would never have thought this possible and I can still hardly believe that William made the suggestion, much less that Mother should agree to it. But I must believe it as it is true, and I now have to busy myself with deciding what to take with me on my little trip. I cannot wait and hope that the few days until I leave pass quickly. Freedom at last - I can think of no more perfect a gift nor one that I would cherish so much as this. And for once I think this is something that will live up to my expectations.
But let me start at the beginning. Yesterday William and Caroline visited for dinner, a pleasant prospect at the best of times as I have missed William since he married and is no longer at home. Caroline is nice enough too I suppose, a little dull for my taste with hardly two words to string together since she is so shy, but they love each other and that says a lot in this day and age. I only hope that I may be as fortunate when my time comes, which is unlikely to be the case I fear if Mother has her way. Anyway, once the necessary pleasantries were dispensed with conversation turned to the topic of my approaching birthday, and of course from there it was but a short step to discussing what I planned to do in order to celebrate.
"I've told you Mother.. I do not want a fuss!" I insisted, cutting off the rather lengthy description she was giving as to how awkward and stubborn I was being over the whole affair.
"But Virginia." she continued, her voice at just the right tone to irritate me still further.
"Ginny, Mother. For the last time, will you please call me Ginny!" I exclaimed, trying hard to keep my temper from showing, but, I have to admit, doing a rather poor job of it. I could see Caroline looking uncomfortable at the scene that was unfolding in front of her, and embarrassment more than anything else caused me to hold my tongue when really I would have liked to give vent to the full set of emotions that the incident was causing in me. I think I might have finally given in as well, if it had not been for William's sudden intervention which turned the conversation to a rather unexpected matter.
"Ginny.. Mother. please. There is no need for such quarrelling!" he insisted, the glance he shot in my direction when I opened my mouth to protest ensuring that I quickly shut it again. "If you will just."
"It is her 18th Birthday, William!" Mother interrupted with a sniff. "I am only trying to make the occasion a memorable one for my only daughter, is that too much to ask?" I resisted the urge to snap at her, hoping as I did so that I was right to trust in William and his handling of the situation. I was not disappointed, as his next words proved only too well that he had not forgotten how to deal with Mother even though he has been away from home for just over a year now.
"I am aware of that Mother, as is Ginny, and I am sure that she fully appreciates that," he soothed, patting her arm comfortingly as he spoke. "Besides." he added quickly before she could begin to speak once more, "I too have been giving the matter of my sister's birthday some thought, and I have a suggestion. It is something Caroline and I have been talking over for a while now, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to put the proposal to you." I looked from William to Mother and back again, my interest truly piqued as I tried to think what he could be about to suggest.
"What is it?" I prompted, leaning forward in my chair like a child in my excitement. William smiled at me before turning once again to Mother, showing her clearly by doing so that it was her opinion rather than my own which he sought. I could not help but be impressed with the way in which he could calm the situation with no more than a look and a few simple words, and forced myself to remain silent whilst he continued.
"Well. we were wondering, and this is only if you agree of course Mother, but we were thinking it would be rather nice if Ginny were to come and stay with us for a while," he suggested carefully, watching her face the whole time to gauge her reaction. As for myself, it took all of my self-control not to make some noise to show my delight, and somehow I forced myself to remain still as I waited with bated breath for Mother to comment.
"But William." she began, and I felt my heart sink slightly. Surely she was not about to refuse? Oh but of course she was, how could I have ever thought otherwise? I need not have worried though, as he quickly silenced her once more, his voice so calm and persuasive that I could see no way for her to be able to refuse his offer.
"It will be perfectly alright Mother, really, I assure you," he soothed. "She will not be on her own, and it is not as if Ginny does not know the city well enough by now is it? It will be a chance for me to get to know my sister a little better now that she is becoming so grown up, and besides, Caroline will be glad of the company, won't you my dear?" Caroline nodded quickly at this, and I could see that they had worked the whole plan out between them before William had decided to make his suggestion. I kept my mouth shut tight, instead focusing my attention on gazing pleadingly at Mother in what I hoped was a calm subdued way that would convince her I could be trusted to do as William was proposing.
"Well." she began, and I could see that her resolve was weakening quickly under such a persuasive argument. "Are you sure William? I mean it is a lot of responsibility for you to take on, and I would hate for you to."
"Oh I think we can manage," he told her with a smile, and I had to struggle to keep my own expression serious in face of the obvious fact that he was winning his case and was well aware of it. I held my breath, hoping against hope that I had not misjudged the situation.
"If you are certain.." She told him slowly, looking from myself to my brother again before continuing, "But if there is any trouble, any at all, you are to send her back here to me immediately, is that understood?" William nodded, and I resisted the urge to ask her just what sort of trouble she imagined I would be getting into whilst under the protection of my brother and his wife. It did not matter by that point anyway, she had agreed and that was all that mattered. I was to be free. If only for a few days, I was to be free.
It has been decided that I am to leave in a fortnight's time and that I will stay with them until the middle of the month, unless anything unforeseen occurs to make it necessary for me to return. I would never have thought this possible and I can still hardly believe that William made the suggestion, much less that Mother should agree to it. But I must believe it as it is true, and I now have to busy myself with deciding what to take with me on my little trip. I cannot wait and hope that the few days until I leave pass quickly. Freedom at last - I can think of no more perfect a gift nor one that I would cherish so much as this. And for once I think this is something that will live up to my expectations.