Disney! Hey, Disney! Can I have the rights if I give you a bar of
chocolate? What's that? NO!? Hmph. Still don't own it. And thanks to
Katrina again.
***
A Hard Man To Predict
Autumn and winter in Port Royal come and go, with Maggie becoming ever more tired and ever more irritable. She remains undetected by the other inhabitants of the house, but she is tired of mending, and tired of her isolation. She takes to standing in front of the mirror, and staring at her reflection, with its dark gold hair, eyes that flash sometimes green sometimes grey, and at her swollen belly, just to prove to herself that she still exists. The dark circles under her eyes continue to grow as a result of many sleepless nights, thinking of him.
Elizabeth comes to see her now, almost as much as Susie does. For a girl so young she is suspiciously sneaky. She brings food, water, and all the daily news of a ten-year- old, which Maggie finds herself listening to as eagerly as if she has never been outside at all. Susie tries her best to keep Maggie cheerful, but with an outlook so uncertain, it is rare that her sister ever smiles, except for Elizabeth, and it is Elizabeth who, one day in March, tells Maggie the best thing she has heard in many months.
'The Lieutenant is taking Father to Kingston! Think of it! They'll both be gone for at least a month or so - isn't it wonderful? You'll be able to come out more - most of the servants are going with Father. Only the one of the under-butlers and Cook are staying, and I told Father I would look after everything.' She beams proudly, sitting bolt upright in her chair, opposite Maggie's chair by the window, like quite the young lady.
Maggie grins from ear to ear, and she even feels the joyful kick of her small passenger. She could go outside, she could go for walks in the grounds, maybe even have some flowers to brighten up the room.
'When are they leaving?' she asks, utterly helpless with anticipation.
Elizabeth thinks for a moment. 'In a week or so. I suppose they have to pack up and things.'
'How did you persuade your father to leave you behind?'
Elizabeth smiles slyly, but says nothing.
'Come on, tell me.'
'I just cried and cried and said why didn't he trust me with the running of the house and how much it hurt my feelings.'
'Miss Elizabeth!'
Elizabeth looks momentarily shamefaced. 'It worked, didn't it? Now Susie and me can stay here with you.' 'Well, I'm not saying I approve of your methods, but maybe the ends do sometimes justify the means. What would I have done here without you?' In a month, the baby will be born, Maggie adds to herself.
Elizabeth shrugs. 'I think it would be very lonely to be alone for a whole month.'
'Ah, but you wouldn't be alone, would you? You could invite Will up to keep you company.'
Elizabeth blushes.
-------
It takes every second of that week and a bit for the Governor's household to make ready to depart. The Lieutenant visits every day, and more and more Elizabeth seeks refuge with Maggie to get away from his terrible jokes and the rigours of packing. Susie gets up in the morning before Maggie is awake, and gets back to her room after Maggie is asleep, so it is Elizabeth who brings Maggie food and gossip and yet more mending to be done.
On the morning of the exodus from Port Royal, Maggie is woken before dawn by the sound of carriage wheels on the driveway outside. She goes to her window, and peers out through the slats in the shutters, careful not to be seen by anyone who might be watching.
There are so many carriages and men on horseback leaving, with so many trunks, that it looks as if they have simply gutted the house and taken all the furniture with them. She looks down through the darkness, and sees the Governor and a very sleepy Elizabeth come out of the front door many floors below her, and exchange a brief goodbye. The Lieutenant follows them out, briefly says something to the Governor, then turns and kisses Elizabeth's hand. As soon as their backs are turned, Elizabeth yawns hugely, and goes back into the house.
Maggie is cold standing by the window, and her feet hurt. She goes back to bed to enjoy a few more hours of sleep.
When she wakes up again, the sunlight is streaming in through the open window, and Elizabeth is sitting in her customary chair, watching a ship coming in across the bay. She is thinking how wonderful it would be to have a ship, to be able to go wherever she wanted, to be free.
Maggie crawls out of bed, and goes to stand by Elizabeth, but is stopped by a strange sensation, a dampness creeping down her legs. She looks down in shock to se her nightdress stained, and she feels like she is being kicked very hard from inside, but it is not a kick, and it hurts. She breathes in sharply. Elizabeth looks up, her eyes wide with shock. Maggie stumbles backwards, and sits down heavily on the bed.
Fear, utter fear takes over Maggie's entire being, but she tries to keep her voice level. 'Get Susie,' she tells Elizabeth. 'It's starting.'
***
Drama! Tension! Please review for me, and then tune in for another exciting episode.
***
A Hard Man To Predict
Autumn and winter in Port Royal come and go, with Maggie becoming ever more tired and ever more irritable. She remains undetected by the other inhabitants of the house, but she is tired of mending, and tired of her isolation. She takes to standing in front of the mirror, and staring at her reflection, with its dark gold hair, eyes that flash sometimes green sometimes grey, and at her swollen belly, just to prove to herself that she still exists. The dark circles under her eyes continue to grow as a result of many sleepless nights, thinking of him.
Elizabeth comes to see her now, almost as much as Susie does. For a girl so young she is suspiciously sneaky. She brings food, water, and all the daily news of a ten-year- old, which Maggie finds herself listening to as eagerly as if she has never been outside at all. Susie tries her best to keep Maggie cheerful, but with an outlook so uncertain, it is rare that her sister ever smiles, except for Elizabeth, and it is Elizabeth who, one day in March, tells Maggie the best thing she has heard in many months.
'The Lieutenant is taking Father to Kingston! Think of it! They'll both be gone for at least a month or so - isn't it wonderful? You'll be able to come out more - most of the servants are going with Father. Only the one of the under-butlers and Cook are staying, and I told Father I would look after everything.' She beams proudly, sitting bolt upright in her chair, opposite Maggie's chair by the window, like quite the young lady.
Maggie grins from ear to ear, and she even feels the joyful kick of her small passenger. She could go outside, she could go for walks in the grounds, maybe even have some flowers to brighten up the room.
'When are they leaving?' she asks, utterly helpless with anticipation.
Elizabeth thinks for a moment. 'In a week or so. I suppose they have to pack up and things.'
'How did you persuade your father to leave you behind?'
Elizabeth smiles slyly, but says nothing.
'Come on, tell me.'
'I just cried and cried and said why didn't he trust me with the running of the house and how much it hurt my feelings.'
'Miss Elizabeth!'
Elizabeth looks momentarily shamefaced. 'It worked, didn't it? Now Susie and me can stay here with you.' 'Well, I'm not saying I approve of your methods, but maybe the ends do sometimes justify the means. What would I have done here without you?' In a month, the baby will be born, Maggie adds to herself.
Elizabeth shrugs. 'I think it would be very lonely to be alone for a whole month.'
'Ah, but you wouldn't be alone, would you? You could invite Will up to keep you company.'
Elizabeth blushes.
-------
It takes every second of that week and a bit for the Governor's household to make ready to depart. The Lieutenant visits every day, and more and more Elizabeth seeks refuge with Maggie to get away from his terrible jokes and the rigours of packing. Susie gets up in the morning before Maggie is awake, and gets back to her room after Maggie is asleep, so it is Elizabeth who brings Maggie food and gossip and yet more mending to be done.
On the morning of the exodus from Port Royal, Maggie is woken before dawn by the sound of carriage wheels on the driveway outside. She goes to her window, and peers out through the slats in the shutters, careful not to be seen by anyone who might be watching.
There are so many carriages and men on horseback leaving, with so many trunks, that it looks as if they have simply gutted the house and taken all the furniture with them. She looks down through the darkness, and sees the Governor and a very sleepy Elizabeth come out of the front door many floors below her, and exchange a brief goodbye. The Lieutenant follows them out, briefly says something to the Governor, then turns and kisses Elizabeth's hand. As soon as their backs are turned, Elizabeth yawns hugely, and goes back into the house.
Maggie is cold standing by the window, and her feet hurt. She goes back to bed to enjoy a few more hours of sleep.
When she wakes up again, the sunlight is streaming in through the open window, and Elizabeth is sitting in her customary chair, watching a ship coming in across the bay. She is thinking how wonderful it would be to have a ship, to be able to go wherever she wanted, to be free.
Maggie crawls out of bed, and goes to stand by Elizabeth, but is stopped by a strange sensation, a dampness creeping down her legs. She looks down in shock to se her nightdress stained, and she feels like she is being kicked very hard from inside, but it is not a kick, and it hurts. She breathes in sharply. Elizabeth looks up, her eyes wide with shock. Maggie stumbles backwards, and sits down heavily on the bed.
Fear, utter fear takes over Maggie's entire being, but she tries to keep her voice level. 'Get Susie,' she tells Elizabeth. 'It's starting.'
***
Drama! Tension! Please review for me, and then tune in for another exciting episode.
