*Note: This chapter contains a bit of a crossover of characters-Captain Reginald Krewe and his wife from A Little Princess...imagining them to be good friends of Archie & Lilias Craven...*
...
The day of the Spring garden party arrived! All of Lilias's childhood friends and their husbands were in attendance. They met in the drawing room at Misselthwaite. The dearest and truest friend of those was Cornelia Krewe who along with her husband Captain Reginald Krewe were the kindest and most gracious of guests exuding nothing but kindness and good wishes.
Lilias introduced them to Archie during Archie and Lilias's courtship, and Archie got on really well with them. He sensed no judgement from Reginald or fear in Cornelia's eyes when they first met. They treated him wholly as a human being and not a creature of a man to be feared for his deformity.
Lilias led the trail of guests to the secret garden.
They marveled at a table setting of cakes, coffees, and teas and all manner of pastries and delights.
They wandered through the newly bloomed garden in awe.
"Lilias, I can't believe it! You did all this yourself? " Cornelia was impressed.
"We have a head gardener Ben who did work, and my Archie helped, of course." Lilias boasted and gave him a twinkling glance.
"Only a little." He responded. "Lily was its grand architect." He doted smiling.
"It's like a fairytale place. Reggie, isn't it amazing?"
Her husband smiled.
"To imagine one day it will be filled with the laughter and happiness of our children." Lilias dreamily spoke. Cornelia and Reggie smiled too.
After there was a break in eating and conversing, Archie set his camera out to show it off. Each couple sat upon the swing and had their portrait taken as a memento of the occasion. Rose and Albert were the last and then Archie called for Lilias and Rose to take a "Sisters" portrait. He captured a candid moment.
"Archie, photograph Lilias swinging." Rose commanded. "It'll be much more natural than us posing so rigidly. Rose pushed Lilias really high to start and stepped out to the side. Lilias kept swinging really high and laughing.
"Lilias," another of Lilias's friends Gwendolynne called and gestured Lilias to stop and come over to her.
Lilias stepped off from the swing and walked over to Gwendolynne.
Gwendolynne smiled, but then led Lilias aside from the others to speak privately.
"You're not...Are you withchild?" Gwendolynne whispered. "Because if you are, I don't think it's appropriate for you to be swinging high like that not to mention it may cause dizziness and disorientation. Forgive me, I do not mean to chide you so, but I cannot allow you to continue that childlike playfulness. You must be cautious."
Lilias's expression changed to express a sudden hint of sadness.
"I am not...not yet."
"Forgive me. Only earlier...your mentioning children in this garden. I suppose I thought...I thought you were hinting...Can you be certain? Is it not possible that you are in fact now without knowledge of it."
"Perhaps, it is possible. I don't know. Nothing's changed...I've not been ill or lethargic...My appetite hasn't changed. I'm not sleeping more than usual. I'm not expected to...well, you know, I can't be sure for several weeks or so...if anything's different with my body." She whispered.
"But, you're right, Gwen. I need to be more cautious in the future just in case. I shouldn't risk injury." Lilias smiled politely.
The party carried on for hours. No one seemed to want to leave. Dusk fell.
"I must invite you all back for when my Roses bloom in Summer." Lilias said sweetly. Archie smiled at her lovingly.
The guests all thanked Archie & Lilias for a lovely day.
"I love that this garden's at the end of a maze!" We should see if we can navigate it better than Archie & Lilias. Let's try to race through it.
"Gwen, the sun is setting. I don't know if I want to, whilst covered in utter darkness," another guest spoke.
"Don't be silly. We ladies have our husbands for protection. Besides, the servants have set out these lantern lights for us. We'll take them with us of course."
"How adventurous!" Cornelia remarked.
The couples laughed in agreement as they started off.