20.
Partings and Parents
"Oh, how quaint." Hook said, sarcastically. He was brushing the offending flakes off of his velvet brocade coat.
" Don't you like Christmas?" Wendy asked, as he helped her step out of the boat. She shivered a little, having grown quite comfortable with Neverland's gentle weather.
" Oh yes. It's so wonderful. All those...carolers." he waved a hand pompously, and she raised a bemused brow at his insolent haughtiness.
" I see.." she said " You were never a good boy were you?"
" I was always as well mannered in my youth as I am now," he sniffed,
" At the promise of sweets and puddings?" she couldn't imagine the Captain as a young boy...
" And mistletoe."
" Oh surely not when you were a boy!" she laughed.
" I was practiced in precocity." he said. And speaking of youth and all of it's follies...we should be depositing your young friend someplace."
Wendy glanced back behind her, to where Peter was being practically dragged between the two pirates.
" Gracious! He can't be dragged through London in this fashion!" she exclaimed.
" He isn't being dragged...he's being escorted. " said Hook. " Would you rather us drag him?"
But Wendy was not teasing. She stamped her foot impatiently, but lowered her voice. Not even Jane, who was right behind her could hear.
" Really! Do you know how suspicious we might appear to other people? A girl with no coat, a serving girl, two pirates, a bound boy and a...a...peacock?" As soon as the last word was spoken, she regretted it. It was the cold creeping up her legs that irritated her, not his teasing. And to be truthful, at the moment, she greatly envied him the velvet coat.
But instead of being angry, he raised a disbelieving brow, and stared at her for a few moments. Then he simply turned away, and began conversing with his men in a low tone. Wendy glanced at Jane, but Jane didn't seem to feel the weather, her dress being a more practical and woolen affair, with a high collar.
The Captain finished giving his orders, and one of the men vanished into the now heavier snowfall. Without a word, Hook easily removed the velvet coat, and slung it around Wendy's shoulders. She would have proudly refused it, but it was ablaze with his body heat, and heavy with his fragrance. They waited there by the boat, in silence for quite awhile... The Captain offering no explanation, and Wendy did not ask...assuming for the time being that silence was wisest.
Then the man returned, and handed over a bundle to the Captain, who was stubbornly refusing to shiver even though he stood in only his shirtsleeves. The Captain tipped the man a gold coin...proof to Wendy that he was still in a fair enough temper. As did the bundle.
Inside of it were two cloaks, one of a plain grey, which he gave to Jane, who curtsied in thanks. The other was of rich crimson, the exact shade of his own coat. This one he threw around Wendy's shoulders, and carefully pinned it closed at her throat. There was a bemused look in his eye again, that suggested he would torment her at a later time.
But for the moment, he whirled her around and said against her ear... "Tis time to say your last farewell. This is where we part ways." He gave her a little push with his hand, propelling her towards Peter.
She approached Peter...who had his head lowered, but was watching the carolers out of the corner of his eye.
" Peter..." he looked up at her, and his expression was not the one of sullen anger she had seen days ago, but one intense and eager mischief.
" Peter, this is goodbye. For real this time. No more pretending." she said.
" I know Wendy. But the adventure is just beginning." and with a grin he turned away from her, and addressed Hook.
" For both of us."
After Peter's cryptic last words, the men had escorted him away, and Wendy was left with both a felling of sadness, at seeing him go, and an immense relief that they were at last unburdened of him. She couldn't help but see it as a bit unfair that end of Pan's rule came about because of her heart. It was his own arrogance and bloodlust that had gotten him in the end. She could only wish him well. He was being forced into her world, while she was so willingly ensnared in his.
" Where will they take him? " she asked Hook, as they themselves began to travel towards her home.
" To a charming home for boys. No doubt the same one from which he acquired those last thuggish companions of his. Is your cloak to your liking?"
" Hmmm? Oh yes...thank you." she murmured , peering up almost shyly at him from under her lashes.
" Don't practice your wily female arts on me" he scoffed. " No amount of prim gazes will ever convince me that you are demure."
" Oh yes...I remember , my femininity provokes indigestion, does it not?" she asked with a saucy grin instead.
" Indeed it does, my little peahen."
" What did you call me? " she exclaimed.
" Oh, I believe you heard me.'
" I believe half of London heard you! " she cried.
" And they are still hearing you." he smirked. " I only figured that if I were a peacock, then my mate, would naturally be a peahen...both of us fine birds in fine feathers." he discreetly pinched her hip through the folds of her skirt, causing her to yelp and sidestep him.He caught her hand and pulled her right back to him.
" Oh dear, your hands are chilled" he said rather dramatically. " Here put them in my pocket." he guided her around so that she was on his right.
She wound her arms around his and buried her hands in his pocket, just as they met a group of carolers strolling down the walk. A few turned their heads to peer at the magnificent figure of the Captain. . .and one or two even frowned a little as if he were familiar to them in some way. . .like something they had dreamed of once as children.
They passed several such groups of people, all rosy-cheeked and laughing as they spent their Christmas Eve at merry-making. At one point, near to the Darling's house, they met two people. One was a sour-faced girl, who was quarreling noisily with her fiance. The girl was overly pampered, and spoiled...she looked disdainfully at Wendy as they passed.
A few paces out of hearing of the girl, and Hook said: " What a gruesome creature.", and Wendy laughed.
" Oh, look what I have just managed to acquire!" exclaimed the Captain in mock surprise. He handed Wendy a very pretty fur muff. The same muff she had not a few seconds ago seen in the rude girl's possession.
"Oh! " cried Wendy, trying to be appalled. She was more amused than anything, at how smoothly he had pinched the item, and she slid her hands into the warm fur.
" ED-WARD!" the girl cried out behind them. " I dropped my muff!" she said accusingly. " WELL? Aren't you going to look for it?"
Hook leaned over and said; " Let us make haste..." and laughing they quickened their steps and made their escape.
When they arrived at last at the door of the Darling house, Wendy was out of breath, but light of heart. Her smile faltered only little as she faced the door of her old home. Of course it hadn't changed any...she had only been gone a few months. It only seemed like forever.
" You're not afraid...are you?' she heard him whisper, in that same taunting voice he had used ten years ago.
" No. Just cautious." she said, flippantly. And just to show him she wasn't a coward, she marched up the steps, and pulled the bell.
A middle-aged woman in a huge ruffled white cap, opened the door and peered out. " Are you caroling?" she asked.
" No...I've come home to see my mother and father." Wendy said.
The woman put a hand over her plentiful bosom, and stepped back.
" Who is it, Maude?" called a familiar voice...
Wendy spoke before Maude could manage a sound.
" Mother! It's me! Wendy!"she called.
A flurry of footsteps sounded throughout the house. Wendy's mother appeared from the parlour, her beautiful face alight with glee and curiosity.
" Wendy? Wendy it is you! " she exclaimed as she embraced her. " Oh, Wendy...where have you been! Just look at you!" her mother laughed, and cried at the same time.
" Mother..." she started, prepared to explain. But she was interrupted
" Wendy! " it was her father, and brothers...also to embrace her and bombard her with questions that did not give her time to answer.
And then Aunt Millicent came, and Elizabeth, Wendy's younger sister. ...They all tugged on her clothes and tried to all be heard at once.
" Wendy, do come in, you'll catch your death. Maude, bring something warm for her to drink." Mrs. Darling tried to pull Wendy inside, but Wendy freed herself , and held up her hand.
" Mother...Father...there is someone I would like for you to meet." she said.
Aunt Millicent and Mrs. Darling exchanged knowing looks with each other.
Wendy took a deep breath, and plunged forward, before they could interrupt again...or before she lost her nerve.
" Mother, Father...this is.. Captain James Hook... "