Chapter 2: Mystery
Authors Note: Here is the next chapter, up and ready to be read, you'll find out something interesting in this chapter so sit back and enjoy
Disclaimer: I do not own any J.M.Barrie character however I do own everyone else
Somewhere in the district of Lambeth on the south bank of the Thames River, within a mansion a high-class family were about to leave for the masquerade too. This large estate was home to the Banning's who had just recently adopted a son about a month ago who was a bit wild until he learned how to be a proper young man. He had a caretaker that Lord and Lady Banning trusted with their son's manners and he was an elderly man but still full of life and good health.
Inside the main foyer, Lord Richard Banning paced the room dressed up in his masquerade costume. He looked like an older version of the male protagonist in the play; the reason why he did was because he had blonde hair just like the young rogue. His wife Lady Evelyn Banning more patient than him calmly waited by sitting on the sofa in the drawing room.
Lord Banning huffed looking up at the grand staircase before turning to his wife "what is taking them so long, we'll be late for the masquerade and you know how much Sir James hates that" "patience dear, they'll be here soon" Evelyn replied softly. Richard placed his hands behind his back and continued to pace the foyer until "I apologise sir and madam, we had trouble with me young lord's costume" a male's voice called from the top of the staircase. Hearing this Lady Banning stood up and walked into the foyer looking up.
She smiled happily "see I told you Richard" she turned to Lord Banning who smiled down at her. Rushing down the steps was a tall young man with neat dirty blonde hair like his father's and mother's and an old man behind him- his caretaker tying up the mask onto his face, over his eyes and upper cheekbones. The young man smiled weakly at his parents "sorry mother, father" his voice deep and American unlike his parent' British accent.
Evelyn walked over to him and clasping his white-gloved hands with her shiny blue ones "never mind darling, let us get going at once". The young man and his caretaker were dressed up as Peter Pan and Mr Smee. The blonde lad laughed "absolutely dear mother" kissing Evelyn's cheek and opening the door for his parents "parents first" he smiled charmingly.
And both adults were charmed, smiling at their adopted son they left the manor followed by the tall young man and his caretaker closing the door behind him. The four entered the awaiting carriage and soon they were off to the northwestern side of the Thames.
One does not notice how one side of this bustling carriage is brighter than any other side and if we look closely we see a tiny figure staring up at the stars within the golden glow. With rainbow wings on her back and wearing a long evergreen leaf gown we recognise this pixie as Tinkerbell! Now what is she doing here in London, no one knows or we may have a guess.
That Peter Pan- the real one has returned to the mortal world to reunite with his Wendy after three long years. Tinkerbell has a rather annoyed expression upon her tiny face and she is folding her arms while sitting on the roof of the carriage. Each time there is a bump; fairy dust comes off the little fairy and floats down to the pebble stone road, its magic does not doing anything except casting a golden glow upon the ugly charcoal.
Within the carriage, the two proud parents are talking with their son about what he should say when he meets the host of the masquerade "now remember son, its all about small talk and politeness" Lady Banning instructed to him.
The young man sighed looking heavenward "mother goodness sake, I know how to speak to Sir James, remember he knows me very well" he then smiled secretly to his caretaker who gave him a small smile back. Evelyn nervously clasped and unclasped her hands on her lap "I know darling but things could go terribly wrong remembering past incidents" "that was a month ago mother when I first arrived" the blonde lad continued to persuade his worrying mother. Lord Banning now growing very confident of what his son was telling his wife nodded agreeing with him.
Taking his wife's hand in his own, Richard whispered to her "remember the day we first met him Evelyn, you even said he would be a fine son to us for adoption" "yes I know I said that and I have belief in him that he will go well tonight" Lady Banning nodded looking up at her husband.
The young man smiled at his father glad that he was putting some sense into his mother's head and leaned back into the seat, he proclaimed aloud in a rather confident manner "do not worry mother, I shall make you prouder than before" he sounded a bit too cocky as a matter of a fact. His old caretaker smiled at him warmly with pride and Lady Banning smiled at her son, if he spoke the truth for she knew he never lied to her, things would go well. The road got a bit more bumpy and the carriage jolted a bit more and the rich family knew at once that they were crossing the bridge to enter Westminster.
The young lord parted the velvet curtain of his window and looked outside, he smiled as they passed the Houses of Parliament and stared up at Big Ben- London's greatest clock and bell that chimed the hour of eight. Memories of a distant past came flooding through his young mind and he leaned back into his seat once more to savour those moments.
The carriage continued on its journey to Kensington Gardens. It passed sites such as St James' Park, Westminster Abbey and the large estate of Buckingham Palace where Queen Victoria lived with her family. Soon the carriage was approaching the road beside Hyde Park it shared the same land as Kensington Gardens making the park area wide and vast. The masquerade was to be held directly opposite the Royal Albert Hall.
The carriage drove down the road beside Kensington Gardens and the Banning family looked out of their windows, wearing their masks so no one would know who they were. The young lord exchanged a grin with his old caretaker before continuing to view the dark and mysterious park.
Soon the carriage stopped meaning that they had arrived and the footmen at the back hopped off their perches and opened the door for the wealthy, upper-class family. "Thankyou Jack, Gilbert we'll see you here at one o'clock or earlier if Mr Reynolds is already exhausted" Lord Banning paid them both before nodding his head to his son's caretaker. The old man looked up from talking with the blonde lad and smiled at Richard who smiled back.
Lady Banning cooed at the lovely sight before her, it looked beautifully ethereal as if lifting from a children's fairytale. Well it really was from a child's imaginary land for Sir James. Matthew. Barrie loved inventing stories to make children use their creativity and imagination. He even managed to weave it around the adults too. And he was only in his middle ages.
Within the trees on the paths were fairy lights illuminating the flora to look like fairies had arrived and settled within them. Speaking of fairies we now go to Tinkerbell, the little fairy was very relieved when the carriage had arrived at its destination. Dimming her light so no human would recognise her, the fairy flew into one of the trees her golden glow lighting up once again.
She stood on a branch and stared down at the large crowd of masked guests. Tinkerbell was looking for a certain maiden and hoped with her pixie magic that she could push aside the girl's mask and recognise a face she hadn't seen in a long time.
With the Banning's, the young man's parents were already mingling with the upper-class families recognising many of the couples in the gardens. While the lad himself alongside his caretaker were searching for the host of the masquerade. The Banning's had just missed out on watching the play in the Royal Albert Hall so many people were still coming out of the theatre and into Kensington Gardens. The blonde young man looked around everywhere walking past gossipping old women a different sort to Aunt Millicent, crying small children, flirtatious adolescents and cranky grandparents.
The blonde lad huffed growing annoyed "where is that man?" he said aloud and his caretaker chuckled "I am pretty sure he hasn't flown away young sir" the blonde young man cast a Look to his caretaker who smiled at him "do not worry my good boy, I haven't told anyone…but you are going to tell her" "eventually, if she still believes" the lad sighed looking heavenward yet again.
The caretaker smiled noticing a yearning look in the lad's blue-green eyes and he patted his shoulder pointing "ah-ha there is the chap" the young man turned to where his caretaker pointed and smiled "yes you're right, let's go" and they walked over to a seated middle-age man who was dressed up Mohican Chief talking to a young exquisite maiden dressed in all white with an angel-winged mask.
Authors Note: Howdy people, who is the young Lord Banning? Only time will tell and there is still more to come in this story. Review and see you next time