Hello everyone! Apologies for the long delay but here is a mega long chapter! Enjoy and please review love Miffygirl18 xx
Chapter 38 – Arrival
Despite the dreadful storm the Zephyr made its way through it all unharmed and arrived in Brest on schedule. In the morning the Porters shared breakfast with the crew as they normally did and Jane along with the cook served up everyone big bowls of porridge and jam. Jane's ears pricked up as she noted the men's hushed tones and eager whispers. When she served them they would either avoid her gaze or gave her a surreptitious wink!
One of sailors sitting at the far end of the mess room suddenly guffawed quite raucously and Jane's cheeks flushed deep crimson with embarrassment! The crew were clearly gossiping about her and her husband's loud lovemaking last night. Clearly the thunder and lightning utterly failed to mask their cries of indecent pleasure!
"Uhmmummmm!" Captain Gerald from out of nowhere cleared his throat loudly and sternly eyed all of his crew. He didn't say a single word but the crew instantly fell silent, not daring to speak another word for the remainder of the meal. Jane could see that Captain Gerald was determined to keep a tight ship and that his crew was always well disciplined. The memory of his old crew from the Arrow mutinying with Clayton had certainly made a more than lasting impression on Captain Gerald's mind and he was more than adamant for it not to happen again. But as he got up after finishing his breakfast and walked past the Porters even Captain Gerald couldn't help sneaking Tarzan a little congratulatory pat on the back!
A few days later, just after dawn the Zephyr docked in Dover, the sun a watery orange against the grey sea. Tarzan and Jane couldn't believe that they were finally here. After all this time being at sea and seeing so many different places, it seemed unreal to be in England. It was as if they had all grown accustomed to the idea of a never-ending voyage.
"Welcome to England," Captain Gerald bobbed his cap as the family walked down the gangway and stepped onto the grey cobblestones of the harbour. Tarzan stared wide-eyed at his new surroundings, drinking in every single detail of the port and the chalky white cliffs as the crew unloaded their suitcases.
"Thank you Captain," Archimedes vigorously shook Captain Gerald's hand. "Thank you so much for everything."
"It's been a pleasure Professor. If you need a tavern for the night then I would recommend the White Bull in Ferry Lane. It's a quiet inn with good rooms, reasonable rates and Mrs Adams makes an excellent steak and kidney pudding."
"As much as I would take delight in a steak and kidney pudding I think it'd be best if we got the train straight to London."
"Of course Professor. I will organise you a carriage as well as sort out your papers with the port authority."
Soon enough the Porters were piling into a carriage after saying goodbye to Captain Gerald and the crew. Annabelle was particularly dismayed as she got on very well with the Zephyr's crew. They absolutely adored having her on board and taught her to sing traditional sea shanties. When it was her birthday they helped Jane organise a party and clubbed together to buy her a skipping rope and a set of marbles.
It wasn't long before they arrived at Dover Harbour station and Archimedes bought them all first class tickets so that they could have a compartment to themselves. The platform was quite busy and the hands of the clock on the station tower warned them that they only had five minutes until their train arrived!
"Come along children!" he called to a flagging Jane, Tarzan and the children with a porter carting all their luggage behind them. Annabelle stared at all the different people on the platform, sailors and workers as well as men in sharp suits and bowler hats whilst the ladies sported heavily decorated hats. They looked so strange to her, nothing like the people she mingled amongst in the port back in Africa. They were a completely different species.
"Mama, those ladies are wearing birds on their heads!' she spoke to her mother in gorilla as three well dressed ladies walked past them.
"English," Jane quickly replied, hoping that the women did not overhear. "We must speak only English here darling. They are not wearing birds, their hats have feathers on them." Jane looked around and felt so out of place. Her clothes looked so unfashionable compared to the other women on the platform. She felt that she stuck out like a sore thumb, a stranger in her own country. Pretty clothes should be the lowest of her priorities but Jane did wish that she looked like them if only to blend in a little better.
A minute later the train pulled into the station, the engine black and imposing and pulling eight green carriages behind it, Tarzan was completely overwhelmed. He had seen locomotives in slides and books before but this was the first time that he saw one in the flesh and it was incredible to see. His eyes widened as he took in its large powerful wheels as it slowly came to a halt alongside the platform, huge plumes of white smoke billowing out of its smokestack.
"Beautiful piece of engineering isn't it my boy?" Archimedes commented to his son-in-law as everyone started to pile into the carriages.
"This way gentlemen," the porter approached them, "all your luggage has been loaded."
"Thank you," Archimedes and Tarzan nodded gratefully and they both boarded the 1st class carriage. As Tarzan got on he noticed that his wife and children were not behind them and stuck his head out of the window to see them still on the platform.
"Jane!" he called and waved to her. "Over here!"
"Coming darling!" Jane called back as she quickly adjusted the Moses basket holding William in the crook of her arm.
Suddenly, the train blew a long loud whistle and Annabelle made a little scream of shock at the unexpected noise, burying her face into her mother's coat.
"It's alright sweetheart," Jane reassured her daughter and softly stroked her hair, "it's just the train telling everyone it's ready to go. Come on, we'd better get on it before it leaves without us!" Annabelle pulled her face out from her mother's coat and Jane smiled before taking her daughter's hand and led them onto the same carriage that Archimedes and Tarzan had boarded.
As they found their assigned compartment, Tarzan saw that it had inside two pushily upholstered red bench seats facing each other with a rack above them for hand luggage. He ran his hand over the highly polished surface of the rich brown wood; it felt smoother than any wood back in the jungle. He sat down next to Jane on one bench with William on her lap and Annabelle sat down with her grandfather on the other bench. Archimedes let her sit by the window and Annabelle was almost pressing her nose up against the glass, drinking in every detail of the station.
The train whistled again and slowly chugged its way out of the station, puffs of smoke huffing and puffing behind it as it made its way along the track. Soon enough it gained speed and was moving at a good pace through the Kentish countryside. Annabelle and Tarzan glanced out in sheer awe at passing countryside, frequently asking Jane and Archimedes what were things called as they whizzed past them.
"Mama!" Annabelle eagerly called out again, "That house has a funny roof!" The strange building was made out of a reddish brick with a turret shaped roof with a white cone on top of it set at an angle.
"That's an oast house dear, it's where people dry hops. They are very common in Kent."
"Hops?"
"It's a grain that is used to make beer. Hops are an important crop in Kent."
"Just hops?" Tarzan asked as he watched the oast house disappear into the distance.
"Oh not just hops," Archimedes added, "many fruits, vegetables, wheat are grown here as well as animals for meat and dairy. Kent is a very fertile part of the country. They call it 'The Garden of England' you know."
Tarzan nodded, fascinated by it all. The landscape was so different to back home. There was woodland but most of the land was divided into large fields for farming. They were all edged with dark green hedges and it reminded Tarzan of his wife's patchwork quilts. Even the animals looked so different. The cows were black and white and huge compared to the lean brown ones he often saw being auctioned at the port market. The sheep even looked like little white clouds munching on the grass of the rolling fields.
Jane and Archimedes were soon both asleep but Tarzan and Annabelle were both wide awake, too excited to nap and continued to drink in every sight they past by.
A few hours later, the train pulled into London Paddington station and Archimedes flagged down a carriage to take them and their luggage to Knightsbridge. But instead of letting her husband and her daughter look out of the windows, Jane drew the curtains so that they couldn't look out and no one could look in.
"But Mama I'm not tired," Annabelle remarked as she went to peek through the curtains but Jane stopped her.
"I know, but we cannot be seen. London may be a big city but someone might recognise us."
"Why? Why is it a problem if we are seen?" Annabelle was confused by her mother's secretiveness.
"Your grandfather and I have been away from London for many years. If people find out that we are indeed alive, well then the city will have a field day! The press will hound us to death especially if they found out about your father's origins. Maybe they might even follow us back to the jungle. We cannot risk anyone who could bring harm to the gorillas following us, so we must keep low for a while. Do you understand Annabelle?"
Annabelle nodded reluctantly as she settled back down into her seat. She knew the story of the wicked Clayton who chaperoned her grandfather and mother in the jungle before they found her father. She was fully aware of Clayton's desire to kidnap and stuff the gorillas including her grandmother Kala as well as killing Kerchak. The idea of that potentially happening again was a thought too abhorrent for her to contemplate. If they had all to go into hiding in order to protect their family back in Africa then so be it.
Some time later, the driver slowed down the horses and knocked on the roof of the carriage to signal to the Porters that they had arrived at their final destination. As the family stepped out the carriage it was only gone 4pm and it was already dark but then again it was November. Jane was glad for the darkness, it would make it easier for them to enter the house undetected and there were hardly any people outside.
As Tarzan lifted his daughter down from the carriage, he observed that the houses were as tall as trees. He also noticed that the houses were built in a square with a good-sized communal garden in the centre, guarded with box hedging and fancy black wrought iron railings. At first he was shocked that there was hardly anything growing in the garden and that all the trees were devoid of leaves. But then he remembered Jane telling him about the four seasons and how the plants and trees always lost their foliage in the bleak winter cold.
Despite the gloom of the November night, he recognised his wife and father-in-law's old home and its features. Jane had sketched the house for him whilst they were sailing on the Zephyr and it looked exactly as how she drew it. It was indeed a very pretty house, white stucco on the bottom third with remaining upper two thirds in a yellowy-brown brick. There were four rows of windows above the stucco section, big white Georgian sash windows and two dormer windows in the roof.
Whereas all the other houses had neatly clipped boxwood trees by their front doors, the Porters had wisteria growing around the arched porch. Even though it was winter and the wisteria wines were bare, he preferred it to the ball shaped trees. He thought it reflected the Porters' sense of adventure and willingness to break boundaries rather well.
"Here we are," Jane turned to her husband and exhaled deeply, "number 19 Montpelier Square." Tarzan took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, hoping it gave both of them some courage. Archimedes knocked on the front door and there was a little wait before the door was opened by an old, rather rotund, bespectacled man in a smart black 3-piece suit with a white tipped collar and black bow tie.
He ushered them in quickly before any potential onlooker in the square could see them. As they entered the hallway Archimedes was pleased with its appearance. He corresponded with his staff every time he visited the port and regularly whilst travelling to England. He instructed them to keep the house shipshape and up to date and they had certainly done that.
Gone was the heavy, dark, cluttered look of the previous era and in its place was something much more lighter and cheerful.
"Welcome home Professor Porter," the rotund man bowed respectfully to his master and Archimedes shook his hand.
"Thank you Carson, it's good to be back."
Carson nodded and the rest of the staff entered the hallway from the stairs leading down to the kitchen below. Jane took in their faces, most of them were new but she was certainly happy to see Carson and Mrs Fairfax. They were all dressed very smartly, the maids in black dresses with frilly white aprons, not a single hair out of place. They looked a tad nervous, not just due to the long awaited return of their employers but also by the presence of the strangers in the hallway, especially her tall, handsome husband. Jane could sense the apprehension and decided to introduce themselves first.
"Um everyone, I would like to introduce to you my husband Tarzan Porter. And these are my children, my daughter Annabelle and my son William."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Tarzan added in his usual friendly manner and Jane could see that the servants relax a little. The last thing any of the staff wanted was having to deal with a strict, demanding new man of the house.
"Professor Porter, Mr and Mrs Porter may I introduce the staff to you all?" Carson asked and Jane nodded politely.
"I am Mr Carson, your butler and I will be Professor Porter's valet. This is Mrs Fairfax, your housekeeper and will be your ladies' maid Madam. Then we have hired Mr Thomas Blackwell to be your footman and valet for you Mr Porter. Martha is to be your nursery maid and Daisy is your 'maid of all work' and will help Mrs Griggs in the kitchen. She would be here now but she is busy preparing your dinner. I hope everything is to your liking Mrs Porter?"
"Of course," Jane nodded as she shook Carson's hand, "and we are so grateful to you for organising everything and staying on despite our prolonged absence."
"Dinner will be ready in an hour Mrs Porter," Mrs Fairfax added, "would you like to change out of your travelling clothes Madam?"
Jane was a little taken aback by this. The last time she was here she was 18 and Mrs Fairfax would address her as 'Miss Jane'. It was odd to be called 'Madam' but then again she was a married woman now and it was to be expected to be called by this new, more formal title. It was so good to see her again, she had being their housekeeper for as long as Jane could remember and Mrs Fairfax was more like another motherly figure to her.
"Yes that would be good," Jane replied as she unwrapped the rough woollen shawl off her shoulders. "I would like some hot water for us to all wash with, a nice hot cup of tea and change out of these travelling clothes."
Mrs Fairfax nodded to Daisy who bobbed a little curtsey as she quietly took Jane's shawl, and as she went to down to the kitchen Jane could hear her muttering to herself: "Hot water. Tea. Clothes," so as not to forget. "This must her first job in domestic service," Jane thought to herself, "I must remember not to be too hard on her."
Carson showed them around the house, which had all been redecorated in the latest interior design fashions. The entrance hall, which was on the upper ground floor, was a light cream with its Victorian patterned tiling still on the floor and the kitchen situated on the lower ground floor below them. They were politely escorted into the dining room; now decorated with a simple but rich gold and cream damask wallpaper above the carved wooden friezes and the furniture including dining table and chairs had been replaced with the Queen Anne styled furniture.
Then on the other side of the entrance hall they were led into the large drawing room now decorated with the latest Art Nouveau wallpaper where her mother and father entertained guests after dinner and she would host countless afternoon teas with her friends. Her beloved piano was still there in its pride of place in front of the windows facing the garden, which she often played whilst her mother sang when entertaining guests at their parties. Despite the winter weather Jane was pleased to see that the garden was still in good condition, especially her mother's prized rose bushes.
They were led up to the first floor where there was another drawing room which the Porters used more as a parlour, just for everyday use as a family. It was decorated with a pretty pastel, floral wallpaper and there was a nice little fire crackling in the fireplace with two large settees and a couple of wing back chairs upholstered in floral fabric facing it. Also on the same floor was Archimedes' beloved study where he researched and wrote his academic papers.
They climbed the stairs to the second floor to the master bedroom where Archimedes and Jane's mother lived with its own bathroom and dressing room. Annabelle was amazed to be taken up yet another flight of stairs to the third floor where her mother's old bedroom was, again with its own bathroom and dressing room and another bedroom that was now William's nursery. Finally they were taken to the fourth floor where her bedroom was with its own bathroom and another spare bedroom, which Mrs Fairfax suggested that it could be used as a playroom if they so wished.
"But where do you sleep?" Annabelle asked Mrs Fairfax as she observed the many keys dangling on a chatelaine at her waist.
"Well dear," Mrs Fairfax smiled kindly, "Mr Carson, Thomas and I have our own rooms up in the attic. Martha will sleep in the nursery with your baby brother and Mrs Griggs has own room just off the kitchen and Daisy sleeps in the kitchen. It is a bit of a maze I know but I am sure you will become accustomed in no time."
"I, I've never had my own room before," Annabelle noted as she took in the pretty pastel blue wallpaper with pink flowers. There was a large, comfy looking bed with a white painted iron bed-frame and a large wooden toy trunk placed at the foot of it. There was also to her delight a dolls house in the room, which she always dreamed of having. She wandered around the room, stroking the highly polished wood of the wardrobe, the chest of drawers with its own vanity mirror and a bookcase with some of the latest children's novels. But the best thing of all was a sweet writing desk placed under the window, overlooking the garden below.
"We've heard that you like to write," Mrs Fairfax commented as Annabelle admired the drawer pulls and then saw the pile of blank paper and the silver inkwell on the desk.
"Oh thank you Mrs Fairfax! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Annabelle ran over and hugged the housekeeper. She was tall and rather angular with not many curves and could be easily assumed as being strict and cold-hearted in nature. Mrs Fairfax was indeed rather taken aback by the display of overt affection from Annabelle, but she was soon smiling and hugging the young girl back. Annabelle reminded her of how Jane was when she was a little girl and she could see that it was going to be good thing having a young child back in the house again. A child's lively innocence was just what 19 Montpelier Square needed.
"Come, come now, you'd all best get ready for dinner. Martha will help you change." Mrs Fairfax nodded, leaving the eighteen old Martha to deal with Annabelle whilst Carson, Thomas and herself followed their master and mistress and Archimedes to their respective rooms to help them dress.
As they prepared for dinner Tarzan was being dressed in the dressing room by Thomas whilst Jane was in the bedroom with Mrs Fairfax.
"I hope the room is still to your liking Madam?" Mrs Fairfax asked as she finished undressing Jane to her chemise and pulled out a simple white lacy shirtwaist and a dark blue and black gored skirt from the wardrobe.
"Yes it is," Jane nodded. The room was still decorated in the pomegranate and bird William Morris wallpaper that she always loved. Her four-poster bed was still there along with her wardrobe, dressing table and writing desk. It was exactly same as she left it all those years ago but now it was cleaner, brighter.
"Mrs Griggs has also prepared a dinner for Miss Annabelle in the kitchen," Mrs Fairfax said as she placed a new corset around Jane's stomach and started to lace her in.
"My daughter has always had dinner with the family and she eats the same food as us adults. She will not need to eat in the kitchen as it is customary for a child here." Normally a child ate their dinner in the kitchen with the cook or nursemaid until they were deemed old enough to dine with their parents.
"Of course Madam," Mrs Fairfax nodded as she tightened the lacing on Jane's corset. Jane gasped a little as the corset dramatically cinched in her waist. She was still getting used to wearing a corset again after so many years of just binding her breasts. It seemed to her that it was just as fashionable for women not to breathe in this new Edwardian era as it was back when she was a young woman in Queen Victoria's reign!
"Do you all know about my husband's… origins?" Jane asked curiously as Mrs Fairfax helped her into her shirtwaist and skirt. It was an unusual story to say the least! It would surely cause the servants, both old and new to gossip like mad!
"Yes, your father did explain it all in his letters. We were all shocked at first of course but as long as you have married a man that is good and kind then that's all that matters. He does treat you well… Mr Porter?" Mrs Fairfax asked both in curiosity and with concern. She regarded Jane more like a daughter rather than just a charge. The last thing she wanted for Jane was to be trapped in a loveless, possibly abusive marriage.
"Oh yes, very much so," Jane nodded eagerly and blushed a little. "Tarzan is the most loving, sweetest, kindest husband a woman could ever wish for. He is a very modern man you know. He is very hands on with the children and helps around the house. I love him, I love him even more than I did nearly 16 years ago when I first met him."
Mrs Fairfax beamed, relieved to see that Jane was in a blissfully happy marriage. So many women in Jane's circle of friends were married off to men with good family names or successful businesses but would have to deal with a husband who drank or gambled too much, visited the local brothels or worse still suffered the back of his hand. Even though she had only spent a few fleeting moments with Jane's husband, apart from being extraordinarily handsome he seemed to be very kind and doting towards her.
"There… perfect," Mrs Fairfax said once she pinned a cameo brooch to the front of Jane's shirtwaist, just below the high neckband. She then smiled and stroked Jane's cheek in an affectionate manner. Jane smiled; it reminded her of the old days back she was a young girl. Mrs Fairfax may have been the absolute epitome of politeness and respectability when she served her parents' visiting friends and acquaintances, but she had a close and tender bond with Jane. Jane was more than grateful for this connection as Mrs Fairfax provided her with great emotional support, especially when her mother was slowly dying.
"You look beautiful. You look just like your mother," Mrs Fairfax removed her hand from Jane's cheek and adjusted a tendril of her hair. "When you first came into the house, I thought for a wild moment that you were really her." Jane looked at herself in the dressing table mirror and scrutinised herself. Sure she had the same hair and eye colour as well as face shape of her mother but she always thought that her mother was far more elegant, more graceful than she ever was. When she was little she swore that her mother actually glided rather than walked!
"Is t'mistress dressed already Mrs Fairfax?" Thomas called from the dressing room.
"Yes Thomas," Mrs Fairfax rolled her eyes and the door to the dressing room opened and in walked Tarzan dressed in a smart brown suit and clean shirt followed by Thomas, looking mighty pleased with himself.
"Thank you for helping with the cufflinks Thomas," Tarzan said as he patted him on the back, "I just find them so fiddly!"
"Ta sir," Thomas replied, pleased with Tarzan's friendly disposition. He was a young man, only about nineteen or twenty, tall but not as tall as Tarzan with a head of russet hair, his face peppered with freckles and his mouth seemed to be fixed into a cheeky grin! Jane could tell that when he spoke he was from God's own country, Yorkshire.
"Thomas, what have I said to you about your accent!" Mrs Fairfax reprimanded the young valet. "You must communicate more clearly and with better dictation my boy."
"Aye, I mean yes Mrs Fairfax!" Thomas stumbled and then took up a cut glass, posh English accent, "Do I declare that the master and mistress of the house are ready to descend to the dining room for an evening of delectable delights?" Jane stifled a giggle at the ridiculousness of Thomas' aristocratic sounding accent, clearly trying to wind up Mrs Fairfax. Mrs Fairfax didn't reprove but rolled her eyes as she opened the bedroom door for Jane and Tarzan.
"Ya can tek't lad outta Yorkshire, but ya can't tek't Yorkshire outta't lad!" Thomas winked at Jane as they left the room and made their way downstairs to the dining room.
Dinner was a rich, hearty affair. For starters they had Parmentier soup, a velvety smooth, creamy potato and leek soup served with oyster croutons on top. For the main course Mrs Griggs cooked them a beautifully rolled mutton joint stuffed with capers and anchovies. It served with 'walnut whips' of mashed potato browned in the oven alongside quenelles of pureed carrots wrapped in blanched spinach leaves and gravy made from the juices.
It was the most elaborate meal that Jane and Archimedes had eaten for a long time and certainly the most sumptuous meal ever for Tarzan and Annabelle. It was the first time that they had ever tried mutton and they both enjoyed its strong flavour. As they were tucking in Archimedes wiped his brow with a handkerchief; his forehead was slowly beginning to sweat from eating so much meat!
Tarzan sipped a little of the claret served with the mutton, but he was still not accustomed to drinking alcohol and felt his head slowly starting to spin. Jane meanwhile could only eat delicate portions due to the corset constraining her stomach. It was an unworldly experience, nothing like their simple suppers eaten together around the dining table in the treehouse, filled with chatting and laughter.
After dessert of a grand Charlotte Russe of which the Porters forced themselves to eat a little bit of it, only to not offend Mrs Griggs and her many hours of slaving away in the kitchen and retired to the upstairs parlour.
"Mama my tummy hurts," Annabelle groaned as she laid down on the rug in front of the fire whilst her father and grandfather slouched in the wing back chairs.
"Mine too sweetheart," Jane replied who was reclining flat out on the settee, "it will settle in bit." For a while the Porters didn't talk, too exhausted from travelling, too stuffed and woozy from the food and drink to engage in conversation. But a little later Tarzan's head cleared and Jane's stomach settled down.
"I think I'd better head off to bed," Archimedes hauled himself up from the chair and yawned loudly, "I think our little lady is already in the land of Nod." He nodded at Annabelle who was now fast asleep, curled up in front of the fire.
"I'll take her up," Tarzan got out of his chair and gently picked up his daughter without waking her whilst Archimedes said goodnight to all of them, kissing his granddaughter on the top of her head.
Tarzan carried Annabelle all the way up to her bedroom on the fourth floor where Martha took over and helped her get ready for bed.
"Goodnight Papa," Annabelle said dozily as he tucked her into bed and kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight Belle. Sweet dreams."
"Will Mama come and say goodnight too?"
"Of course, I will tell her to come up toute suite for our sweetie!"
Annabelle giggled at her father using French words and hugged him tightly. Martha who was putting away Annabelle's clothes couldn't help but be moved her master's tenderness towards his own daughter. She had been in domestic service since she was thirteen and most of her previous masters seemed rather detached from their daughters.
"Goodnight sir," she said once he had finished tucking in Annabelle and bobbed him a polite curtsey.
"Goodnight Martha," Tarzan replied with a kind smile and went downstairs to tell his wife that his daughter was in bed and was wanting her to come up and say goodnight.
"Hello sweetpea," Jane smiled gently as she sat down on Annabelle's bed beside her, the oil lamp in her hand lighting her face with a warm glow. "It's been a long day hasn't it?"
"Umhummm," Annabelle nodded and yawned, her mouth gaping wide.
"Well you can have a nice long lie in, no need to get up early tomorrow. Well, I can see that your father has tucked you in well. Snug as a bug in a rug!" She kissed and hugged her daughter goodnight but as she went to get off the bed, Annabelle suddenly grasped the fabric of her skirt.
"Will Martha be sleeping with me?"
"No, she is sleeping in the nursery with William… why?"
"Can I, can I… can I sleep with you and Papa?"
"But don't you want to sleep in your own room? You've always wanted your own room, don't you like it?
"I do, it's just," Annabelle hesitated as her eyes took in the unfamiliar darkness and shadows, "what if there are monsters in here? Or ghosts?"
"Oh Anna!" Jane tried hard to stifle a laugh, "you live in a jungle with leopards, snakes and spiders! Why would you be scared of a bedroom?"
"I don't mind them, but they are not the same as monsters and ghosts."
Jane realised that even though her daughter was a very brave girl she was in a strange land, in a strange room. It was absolutely natural for her to feel nervous.
"Here let me check," she stood up and went around the bedroom with the oil lamp, opening up the wardrobe and the chest of drawers, checking for monsters and ghosts. "There," she said after she finished looking under the bed, "not a single monster or ghost to be found!" But Annabelle still looked uneasy and Jane saw that she had no doll with her in the bed. She had given her African doll to her grandmother, which she still slept with and now had nothing to cuddle or sleep with.
"What are you doing Mama?" Annabelle asked as her mother opened up the toy chest at the foot of the bed and starting rifling through it.
"Ah ha! Here it is!" Jane pulled something out and came back over to her daughter. "This is Pollyanna. She was my favourite doll and my mother, your grandmother bought her for me when I was a little younger than you. I slept with her every night and she kept all the monsters and ghosts away for me and I'm certain that she will do the same for you."
Jane handed the doll to her daughter and Annabelle looked at the doll with great interest, her hands feeling her stuffed cloth body together with her china face, hands and feet. The fabric of the doll's yellow dress and bonnet was a little faded but the doll had a kind expression on its face and Jane sensed her daughter relaxing and taking to Pollyanna.
"If Pollyanna stays with me, I think I can sleep on my own."
"That's my girl," Jane smiled as she tucked her daughter back in with Pollyanna beside her, just like her own mother did with her at bedtime and she felt herself getting a little choked up.
"Are you alright Mama?"
"Oh I'm fine darling," Jane smiled and hugged her daughter tightly, "night night."
"Love you Mama."
"Love you too Anna." Jane kissed her daughter's forehead again and left the room, Annabelle snuggling down into the warm covers with her new companion Pollyanna.
"Anna's asleep," Jane said as she entered hers and Tarzan's bedroom. "She was a little scared at first but I gave my old doll and she settled down no problem. I have checked on William, have you?"
"Of course," Tarzan got off the four-poster bed and went over to his wife who was unpinning her hair at her dressing table. "I told Mrs Fairfax that I will undress you tonight."
"Ohhh, so you're my ladies maid are you now?" Jane giggled as he kissed the crook of her neck and she took the cameo brooch of her shirtwaist. "I don't think Mrs Fairfax will be thrilled at the fact that you have taken over her job!" The smooth cotton of his nightshirt stroked against her skin as he slowly and carefully undressed her.
"Are you in pain?" he asked as he helped her out of her corset and was astonished by the bright red marks on her stomach left by the boning.
"Oh no it's nothing," Jane shook her head, "I'll ask Mrs Fairfax to lace me in a little less tightly tomorrow." Tarzan slipped her nightgown over her head and kissed her sweetly on the lips. Jane giggled as he swept her up in his arms and carried her over to the four poster bed, just like a newlywed couple. The mattress was so soft and comfy and they snuggled down under the covers with the fire crackling in the fireplace.
Tarzan started to kiss Jane all over, working his way down her body so that he was fully under the covers. He lifted up her nightgown and his lips tenderly caressed the red markings on her stomach.
"Oh Tarzan!" Jane gasped as she felt him gently push her legs apart and she lifted up the covers, "What are you doing?" Tarzan looked up at her, his lips formed a roguish grin and his eyes were hungry with desire.
"Kissing you," was all he said and pulled the covers back down over his head. Jane gasped as her husband put his head in between her legs and began 'tipping the velvet.' It didn't take long before Jane felt the strong carnal rush of ecstasy. She grabbed a pillow and stuffed it into her mouth to muffle her cries and whimpers of pleasure. But Tarzan was not done and continued to lick and tease her privates until she climaxed not just once but twice. When she was about to have her third orgasm it was only then that he entered her and they both intensely climaxed together, their bodies completely entwined with each other.
"Now that's what I call 'christening the bed'!" Jane gasped once Tarzan got off her and laid down beside her. Tarzan smiled, glad that he had just given his wife immense pleasure and kiss her forehead. Jane laid her head on his chest and snaked her hands around his waist. Tarzan gently stroked his wife's long, soft brown tresses until she fell asleep. He pulled up the covers and soon he was asleep, happy that he did come to London with his wife and children and was looking forward to seeing the city and its sights in the coming days.