Chapter 3

The Party for Myrtle

Four candles flickered quietly and caused a calming mellow mood in the large room while sleepy little children began to close their eyes. One after the other drifted slowly to sleep all nestled quietly in their soft warm beds.

Estella smiled while she sat in the rocking chair with one of the twins wrapped securely in a knitted blanket, slowly rocking back and forth. The only sound was that of the rocking chair as it creaked in slow steady rhythms. Slowly the rocking chair became quiet when she rose from it and crept over to the wooden cradle to place the baby in her soft bed. Gently she rocked the cradle and watched the baby fall deeper into sleep.

Taking in a sigh, Estella stretched her back and let her eyes wonder from one little bed to the next to make sure everyone was sound to sleep. When no sound was heard but sleepy little snoring, she turned to the door to find her uncle and aunt.

The sitting room was warm and cozy sitting next to the fireplace where the last log looked more like ash than wood and the flames were slowly burning themselves out.

Estella stood just inside the doorway and took in the comfortable surroundings of the room until her eyes focused upon her aunt and uncle sitting side by side on the settee.

Her aunt was knitting, while her uncle was reading from a worn leather bound book that he must have read a hundred times.

She cleared her voice to gain their attention and to announce her presence. When her uncle turned around and looked over his shoulder, he smiled and welcomed her in.

"Estella, please join us and rest yourself next to us," he offered and patted the spot next to him where he sat. "I take it you had no trouble getting those little ones off to sleep?"

"No, uncle," commented Estella while she walked over to the settee and sat down next to him. "Their little eyes closed as soon as they hit the pillow."

"I want to thank you for coming and helping my Misses with the children," her uncle said with a warm caring smile.

"You are very welcome, uncle," said Estella and added. "They are wonderful children and I enjoy them so much."

"I know it's not much, your sleeping area and all, but in time perhaps we can come up with something better for you," he said trying to encourage his niece.

Estella turned to her uncle and softly spoke, "When I first arrived, we passed an old cottage just on the other side of your field. I was wondering since no one lives there that perhaps I could fix it up and move in there. That way I will not be too far away from you and I can still have some time for myself."

Her uncle shook his head slightly and had a look upon his kindly face of regret. "Estella, that old cottage belonged to my grandfather many long years ago. I fear it is in retched shape. It would take more than a little fixing before it would be livable."

"But uncle, I still have my inheritance from my Mum and Da's passing. It should be more than enough to help purchase the things we would need to repair it and with you helping and your sons, we could have it finished in no time."

Again her uncle shook his head and the same look of regret upon his face. "I could give you some of my coins to help purchase the materials, but with the planting season started late for us, I fear I could not offer you my time. It will be another month or so before the boys and I are finished."

Estella lowered her chin and stared at her hands folded upon her lap. She sat there thinking for a few minutes and came up with another plan. Raising her eyes to her uncle again, she commented, "I could get some of the lads in town to help out and when you are able we could finish it. Then when you no longer need my help with the children and I must go home again, we could sell the cottage and split the coins we make."

Rubbing his chin and thinking, he gave his niece a smile when he answered her. "Well no harming in trying. If you got your heart set upon it, Estella, I'll help you as much as I can."

Estella broke into a bright smile with excitement and instantly looked forward to getting started with her new place. Giving her uncle a hug before she said her good evenings, she went to her room to make plans on visiting the old cottage in the morning.

xxx

The door to the kitchen banged loudly when the servant lass closed it behind her when she finished the last of her chores and old Hatty let out a deep sigh and settled her nerves to relax. The kitchen became quiet once more as the last plates were washed and put in the cupboard. After the mourning rush to prepare and feed the Bucklander's of Brandy Hall, she would have an hour to herself.

Hatty looked forward to her quiet times in the kitchen when no one else was around. It was hard work standing over a hot cook stove preparing all the meal and her age was catching up to her. She would never admit it to anyone, but she felt it in her bones. Every joint ached especially in her ankles and knees. She swore her feet were swollen from the throbbing pain that shot through them. A few minutes more and she could put her stew to rest and let simmer upon the stove until the luncheon was ready to served. Then the kitchen would be full again with servants moving about and the clanging of pots, pans and dishes.

Hatty did not notice when the outside door of the kitchen opened and someone tipped toed in. She was lost in her thoughts of her hot tea and warm water bottle to ease her aches and pains.

While she stirred her pot enjoying the peace and quiet, she could almost feel someone behind her. When hands suddenly grabbed her, she let out a whooping holler and turned around with her stirring spoon dripping gravy upon her clean floor.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck!" she shouted and scolded. "Have ya got no sense sneaking up and scaring the living life out o' me?"

Merry chuckled at his little prank that he often played upon the old cook and loved it when he could get the better of her. Hatty was constant in his life and he loved the old cook like a second mother. When she was not scolding him and trying to keep him in line, she was sticking up for him to his parents. She kept all his secrets and would never tell a soul and she was wise to all his antics. She was there when he was ill, and fretted when he was away. She always kept an extra sweet roll or tart just for him when he had a little more room in stomach to snack upon.

"Oh, come now, Hatty!" teased Merry. "It's just a bit of fun and besides how many times could I have gotten away with it. You usually catch me before I can get the drop on you."

"You wouldn't o' have if'n my nose wasn't in my pot!" she commented and chuckled at the younger master of Brandy Hall. "It's the finest stew that I have made yet!"

Merry went over to the pot to get a big whiff of the stew that Hatty made. A big smile turned each corner of his lips when he turned back to the cook. "Then fill me up a big bowl and bring a spoon to sample it!"

Hatty again shook her stirring spoon in front of the young master's face. "You'll wait until luncheon like everyone else until it has simmered to its perfection! I'll not have my stew ruined!"

"Oh, Hatty, you wound me to the heart making me wait," commented Merry acting so slighted.

"You'll have more than your share, especially when your mum's tea party begins," added Hatty. "I have her cakes all ready to be served."

"Speaking about that, have you seen my cousin, yet?" asked Merry. "He was supposed to be here last night or early this morning and he has not shown up as of yet."

"I've not seen him, Master Merry, but when he shows, I'll send him to you straightway."

"Could you please tell Hobs to have my pony ready later this afternoon. I plan on running her to get her ready for the pony race."

"Hobs is sitting just outside the door by the wash tub scrubbing my tatters and peeling 'em. I'll go fetch him right now before he heads back to the barn." With that the cook left Merry to stand in the kitchen alone to find her husband.

When Hatty went outside, Merry quickly walked over to where she had placed his mother's cake that was already cut and sat upon their own plates. A stack of freshly pressed napkins was next to it.

Merry looked over his shoulder towards the door and hoped that her visit with her husband would take a few minutes. He carefully wiped his finger across the edge of the cake to get a small scratch of frosting and applied it to the very edge of the plate. Marking it so he could tell them apart from each other, he took out the pouch in his vest pocket. Lightly sprinkling it with the hot pepper spice, he rushed to close it and replaced it back into his pocket.

Again, Merry looked over his shoulder towards the door and rushed to get the sneezing powder from his right pocket. Stretching his arm out so not to get his nose close to it, he flipped the first pressed napkin open and applied another very light coating. He quickly closed the pouch and returned it back into his pocket. Closing the napkin gently as to not to disturb the sneezing powder, he stood back away from the cake to wait for Hatty to return.

With in moments, Hatty returned to find Merry standing in the middle of her kitchen and she approached him saying, "I've told Hobs and he'll have your pony ready fer ya." Turning to the cakes and placing the napkins on the tray, she turned back to Merry. "You better get these cakes to your mum. The guests will be arriving shortly."

Merry mood sobered a bit thinking about yet another tea party that he must endure and without his cousin, he knew he would have a time of it trying to cover up his tracks. He found little choice but to go through with his plan and hope for the best.

Before Merry left the kitchen, Hatty spoke from behind him. "When the party has ended, Master Meriadoc, I would greatly appreciate you returning my pepper powder. Then if'n I was you, I'd be watching my manners."

Merry stopped in his tracks and cringed without turning around and he knew that Hatty was on to him. He also knew that she would not turn him in and would keep his secret that is after she had scolded him. Without saying a word to Hatty or turning around, he continued on to find his parent's private chambers.

Carrying the tray into their sitting room, Merry saw his father propped up in his favorite chair reading from one of his old ledgers. Carefully he put the tray down upon the small table next to the large settee.

He did not have to wait long until he heard the servant escorting the guests into the room.

When his son walked out of the room to greet their guests, Saradoc put his ledger back into the case and walked over to look at the cakes upon the table. Carefully he inspected each piece trying to detect any differences between them. If there was, he did not notice. Doubt entered his thoughts in what the healer spoke to him about. But for Saradoc, he would be carefully watching his son waiting for any of his pranks.

Merry approached the Broadbelts and was surprised to see that his mother invited Myrtle.

She was a few years younger than himself and what he could remember of her from his younger years was that she was such a pest. He thought back to the time when he and his cousin stole watermelons and mushrooms from the Maggots garden and was caught by Farmer Maggot's dogs because someone had placed small bells in the bushes. Even though Merry could not prove it, he had always thought it was Myrtle behind it. She seemed to get the most joy out of seeing them working in Maggot's fields for the entire week.

She was a lovely girl to look upon, but Merry was not so sure about her temperament.

Graciously he shook Mr. Broadbelt's hand and invited them over to the settee. Before he could invite them to sit down, his mum entered into their sitting room and also greeted her guests giving them a warm welcome. Inviting them to all to sit down to begin her tea party, she joined Merry at the settee.

Offering them some tea, she asked her son to serve the cakes.

When Merry stood, so did Myrtle, and this took him by surprise. Acting quickly, she politely asked. "Please, may I serve the cakes to thank you for your kind invitation to this tea party?"

Before Esmeralda could respond, she took the tray of cakes before Merry could reach them. Thinking quickly, Merry tried to stop her. "It would be rude for you to serve the cake since you are our guest. Please allow me," he insisted.

"Nonsense, Master Meriadoc! I am quite capable of serving cakes and it is my pleasure. Please sit down."

Giving Merry no choice, but to sit, she placed the first cake in front of Merry and then served his mother. He saw the bit of frosting upon his plate and knew he had the spicy cake and he faked a smile as he accepted it. After she placed the two cakes on the table in front of the Brandybucks, she also placed a napkin making sure to give Merry the first one.

Esmeralda thought it was sweet that she wanted to serve Merry in the hopes of pleasing him. She smiled at the cuteness of her gesture.

Saradoc marveled at the girl's audacity and could clearly see that Merry would be hard pressed to get one over on her. He felt that this is the type of girl that would make Merry the best in a wife because if any one could handle his wayward son, it seemed to be her.

When everyone tasted their cake, except for Merry, it was Saradoc who noticed it first. He knew this was unusual for his son and knew how much he loved to eat his mother's cakes. Knowing what the healers had told him, Saradoc knew that Myrtle had foiled his prank and his son had the spoiled cake. So he began to push him to teach his son a lesson. "Merry you are not eating your mother's cake. Going on, my son, take a bite!"

Merry faked another smile and lifted his fork to his cake. Taking a very small piece of it and carefully putting it into his mouth. Instantly he felt the hot spicy taste that had begun to burn his tongue. But for the most part, Merry held back on his response and acted as if nothing happened. For each bite he had to take, he would deliberately pause a moment and then ever so slowly, he would take his cup of tea, taking a small sip of it. He could feel his father's eyes upon him and knew his father was on to him. If he could, he would not give it entirely away that he was behind all of this.

Saradoc watched him carefully and had begun to think that maybe he was wrong and the healers who accused him perhaps made a mistake.

His tongue was almost numb when his eyes had begun to water. Fighting the tears back and taking in longer sips of his tea, he hoped that he had already convinced his father that nothing was amiss.

Saradoc noticed immediately how quiet his son was during the tea party and then noticed the tearing in his eyes and the redness of his cheeks. Shaking his head he retracted his earlier thoughts and put his plan into action. Turning to Myrtle's father, Saradoc spoke directly to him. "Your daughter is very lovely, Mr. Broadbelt," he began and paused a moment. "As you know, we have been introducing our son to many of the Bucklander's lasses in hopes that we could find a suitable courtship for our son. I think, if you're agreeable, we have found this suitable match."

Tea spewed from Merry's mouth and he coughed loudly trying to catch his breath and clear this throat. In a squeaking unclear voice Merry tried to protest, "Wait a minute!... I-I-I have not agreed……. to anything as of yet!"

A/N: I am going to close this chapter here. Nothing like a little cliffy to make things interesting. This is a rewrite to change the character of Myrtle that goes together with my other story, "The New Mistress of Brandy Hall'. However, you do not have to read both stories as they just spin off of each other in creating a sequence in Merry's life.

I hope this keeps the interest of the readers who by the hits count have been reading this little story of mine (I continue to write this just for you!). I would love to know if anyone is enjoying this story and leaving a review would be nice….