A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

Maria was just descending the staircase when she heard a knock at the door. Miss Heliotrope hurried out from the dining room.

"Dear me, that's her! Oh, Maria. My cousin Lillian is here. Be a good hostess and greet her with me." Maria smiled bravely, bracing herself for whatever kind of cousin this Lillian was. They neared the door, inhaled deeply, and swung the door open.

"Jane! Oh, how good it is to see you!" Cousin Lillian slid her slender arms around Miss Heliotrope in a gentle embrace. "Ah, but how I've missed you!" She stood back, smiling kindly at Maria. "You must be Miss Maria Merriweather! A pleasure to meet you." She curtsied gracefully, and Maria returned the gesture.

"Come on in, Lillian," Miss Heliotrope welcomed her a bit formally. "Let us show you to your room. We can help you with your bags, can't we, Maria?" Ordinarily, Maria would have been irritated by Miss Heliotrope's bossiness. But Lillian's good-naturedness offset the trouble.

"Oh, I'm sorry to be a burden. I tried to pack light. I had no idea what kind of a place this would be," she looked around. "What a beautiful manor! I've never seen its equal." They began to walk down to the guest room.

"Thank you," Maria said. "It has been in my family for years. My uncle is on his honeymoon; I am sorry he could not be here to welcome you." Lillian laughed a silvery laugh.

"You need not apologize. I could hardly expect him to be here during his honeymoon! Who is the lucky girl?" Maria ushered them into the guest bedroom.

"Her name is Loveday De Noir."

"My, what a name! It is almost magical. Loveday De Noir." Lillian's eyes were distant. She seemed unlike Miss Heliotrope in that she was more of a dreamer, a wistful smiler. Maria liked her.

"Excuse me while I fetch some flowers for your room. Maria, keep Lillian company, please." Miss Heliotrope scuttled out of the room. Lillian sat down upon the bed. She looked a little younger than Miss Heliotrope, and indeed her expressions were youthful.

"So, tell me about Loveday De Noir. Does she live around here?" Maria chuckled.

"Yes; that is…oh dear. I'd better explain this all to you. Where to begin? Well, yes, the De Noir Village is within the forest that encompasses the manor grounds. Together, our two families, the Merriweathers and the De Noirs, make up Moonacre Valley." She paused. Lillian nodded in comprehension. Maria sat down beside her on the bed. This would take a little while. "Our families have lived here for centuries. And long, long ago…"

She proceeded to tell the legend of the pearls and how the feud had originated. She went on to describe her arrival at Moonacre and how, at last, the feud had been resolved.

"That was only a few months ago," Maria said finally. "And all has been well since."

"That explains the lion I saw when I arrived," Lillian said, a little grin dancing around her lips. "I almost thought I was imagining it; I'd never heard of a black lion. But Wrolf sounds like a good creature." Maria nodded.

"He is."

"And you said Robert and Coeur De Noir are on good terms now?"

"Robin, yes. In fact," Maria's eyes twinkled, "You ought to meet them in a little while. Robin said he would bring his father to meet you." Lillian's eyebrows popped up.

"Oh! I would be delighted to meet them. Will Rob—Robin's mother come, also?" Maria bit her lip.

"Robin's mother…she died years ago." Lillian put a hand over her heart, eyes wide.

"Gracious, I'm sorry! I didn't know." Maria waved it off.

"You couldn't have known. Anyway, it is all right. Both Robin and his father have made peace with it. They loved her, and she is gone. But they honor her memory and all is well." Lillian nodded. She looked as though she would have said something, but Miss Heliotrope came bustling through the door.

"Here we are; I found some fresh flowers for you. Well, the gardener helped a little." She set a vase of lilies on the bureau.

"How kind!" Lillian exclaimed. "She must be a helpful woman." Miss Heliotrope frowned.

"Who?"

"Why, the gardener." Maria burst out laughing, but at Miss Heliotrope's sharp glare she stopped. It was not ladylike to burst out laughing.

"Oh, Lillian, no," Maria sobered, "The gardener is a man. Digweed. And he—"

"Maria, dear," Miss Heliotrope interrupted, "Would you like to go and check with Marmaduke to see if breakfast is ready? No doubt Lillian will want to eat soon." Maria would have liked to stay and talk, but she only nodded, dropped a curtsy, and exited.

Lillian turned to Miss Heliotrope, a question etched in her face.

"Why, Jane, your cheeks are pink. Is something the matter?" Miss Heliotrope sighed wearily.

"Not—not really. Yes. I—I'm not sure." Lillian patted the bed.

"Come and have a seat. Tell me all about it."

And so Miss Heliotrope, in a faltering tone, explained about Digweed.

Meanwhile, Maria had been informed by Marmaduke that unless they ate very soon, breakfast would be cold. She began heading back to the guest room when she heard a knock at the door. A smile alighted on her face, and she skipped gaily over to answer the door.

"Good morning," she beamed.

"Morning, Princess." Robin grinned.

"Good morning, Maria." Coeur De Noir bowed.

"You're just in time. Come and join us for breakfast! Go on in to the dining room; I'm going to fetch Miss Heliotrope and her cousin." Coeur De Noir brushed past them to the dining room. Robin drew Maria aside.

"Is she nice?" he asked. Maria bobbed her head enthusiastically.

"She is ever so much nicer than I imagined! She is kind and gentle and—oh, well you'll meet her in a minute. Let me go and get her. You get settled in the dining room." And so Robin obediently followed his father to the food while Maria speed-walked (for a lady cannot run) down to retrieve Miss Heliotrope and Lillian.

A/N: Dear reader,

Here I must stop. I apologize for the rather abrupt ending, but I do try to keep the chapter lengths similar. Hopefully the next chapter will perhaps enlighten you a bit. Thank you for reading this chapter and for your encouraging reviews! They really do make my day. Happy reading!

Your devoted

Ponygirl7