Sorry it's so late. It's been a difficult few weeks. As a bonus, at the bottom of the newest chapter of Fate Makes a Change, I have posted a sample of one of my stories in the works. I'll be posting selections from two other stories in the next two chapters as well. Respectively, they'll be at the end of chapters 53, 54, and 55. Check them out and let me know what you think!
PS I haven't been able to respond to comments.
"Thomas, what has gotten into you?" Julia cried. Her husband had come running into the room as though someone were chasing him. She was only glad that all of her callers had gone. Thomas struggled to catch his breath.
"I…am not…so old… that…I should… have trouble running…from my study… into here. The Haverly's… have arrived."
"So late? They rarely call on me, unless it is to inquire of Oliver."
Thomas, having finally caught his breath, grinned wickedly. "I know."
"You don't think…"
"That they know that Oliver has returned to the neighborhood? Yes. That he has married? No. Mrs. Croft has been strict with those working at Dalton. No one has said a word so that they might have their privacy. Mrs. Anderson has kept me informed of any gossip circulating the villages and estates. However, it is known that 'Mrs. Andrews' has returned. Everyone believes it is his mother."
"No!"
"Yes. Now, please, pleeease, follow my lead!"
She didn't get another word in as their visitors where announced. "Mrs. Haverly, Miss Haverly. What a surprise! To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
"Mr. Bates," Mrs. Haverly purred, before turning to her, "Mrs. Bates. There has been a little talk going about the neighborhood. Has Mrs. Andrews finally returned to the neighborhood? If so, it is quite rude that she has yet to call or invite me for tea. It has been almost a week."
Thomas answered before she could. "Mr. and Mrs. Andrews wished for some private time together."
"He has just been to visit her. I do not see how spending a little time with friends would encroach upon their day. What made her return to Dalton?"
Julia was appalled at the lack of propriety. Mrs. Haverly had always been as such, however. She believed everyone owed her the answers she sought. Her daughter was no better. Such questions might not be considered breaching propriety in the presence of family or close friends, but not in the presence of someone who was not close, no matter how long they had known her husband. She remained silent and let her husband continue to answer.
"Well, Mr. Andrews was determined and Dalton needed a mistress."
"Then he should marry and leave his poor mother in peace," simpered Miss Haverly. It was no secret that Miss Marie Haverly coveted the position. It was also no secret that Oliver would rather let the estate fall into ruin than marry her. Only Miss Haverly seemed unaware of the fact, though whether by accident or intent, no one outside her family was sure.
"Yes, dear Mrs. Andrews had such a difficult time after the late Mr. Andrews passed. There is no reason he should have brought his mother back," stated Mrs. Haverly.
"Yes, his mother does adore Hertfordshire."
"All the more reason he should let her return if it is her desire. Well, I know what I shall do." She signaled for her daughter to stand so they might leave. Julia glared at her husband and tried to dissuade the matron from what she knew she would be doing.
"Mrs. Haverly, you misunderstand…"
"I misunderstand nothing!" she glared. "Have a good evening, Mr. Bates. Mrs. Bates."
Once they had left, Julia glared back at Thomas. "What have you done?!"
"I have done nothing. She takes what information she wants and cares nothing for the truth. This will be fantastic!"
"I will be blamed for this."
"Dearest, no one believes a word that woman says anymore. She causes nothing but trouble and her daughter is a laughing stock, chasing after Oliver as she does. You have lived in the neighborhood long enough to know their opinion matters little. Once, they carried a great deal of respect, but Mrs. Haverly killed it a long time ago with her need to cause disputes and censure. Her husband and sons still carry some clout, but she and her daughter do not." He kissed her brow. "I must get a note to Oliver. We shall call on them first thing tomorrow!"
Julia shook her head. It would certainly be a spectacle.
Kitty watched as her husband sighed again. "Really, Oliver, it's just Thomas and Julia. We haven't seen anyone in a week. One visit will not ruin your plans. Mrs. Croft assures me that it has been widely circulated that we wish to maintain our privacy for a while. Even if it is not known exactly why."
"You don't understand! Thomas is up to something, I know it. We have always had the uncanny ability to know when the other is causing mischief. We nearly drove our parents mad. He is going to ruin my plans! I can feel it!"
Kitty laughed at him. "Even if he does, it will not be out of spite. Who knows, you might actually enjoy whatever it is that he has planned."
Thomas and Julia were announced at that moment. Oliver groaned at Thomas's expression of absolute glee. Julia walked in and smiled sympathetically at the couple.
"What have you done, Thomas?"
"That's the questions everyone is asking. I do not wish to ruin the surprise."
Julia rolled her eyes. "Mrs. Haverly and Miss Haverly came to call late yesterday afternoon. They inquired about your seclusion and Thomas encouraged the idea that your mother had returned to stand in as mistress of your estate. She is likely to call on you this morning and will possibly come barreling in as she always does."
"Aww! Julia, how could you?!"
"Easily, my love. You neglected to remember that Catherine has never met the Haverly's and I do not wish for her to be caught off guard by them."
Thomas looked aghast. "I am sorry, Catherine, Oliver. I didn't think about that."
"Sometimes I do not think you think at all!" growled Oliver.
"There is no harm done. Who are the Haverly's?" asked Kitty.
"A local family whose matron likes to cause trouble and does what she can in her attempts to get her way."
"Mrs. Haverly and her daughter, Miss Marie Haverly, have tried for years to force a proposal from Oliver, and Thomas before we married," added Julia. "Mr. Haverly and his sons are very respectable men, however. They are friendly and apologize often for their wife and sister."
"We have long been convinced that all the goodness ran out once the younger Mr. Haverly was born. He is two years older than Miss Haverly," said Thomas. "Now what do we do?"
"If they meet Catherine today, I cannot surprise the whole of the neighborhood at the assembly next month," pouted Oliver. "I looked forward to the reaction I would receive from our neighbors."
"Oh, be original. At least this way, Mrs. Haverly and Miss Haverly will have spread tales of how homely and rude Catherine is. When you bring her into the assembly room, all beauty and friendliness, they'll be looked upon as fools. She'll win the room, as well as the hearts of all our neighbors."
"You are too kind, sir. Your wife, however, has already warned me that many of the families with eligible young ladies might not look upon my presence with a friendly eye."
"Some families do tend to hold a grudge, and they will not be overly friendly, but they will not treat you unkindly outright. They will take some time to warm up to you. Julia has been here a year and they just now have begun to accept her presence."
"I am aware of how matrons behave themselves. Four years ago, when Mr. Barkley came home from Ramsgate with a bride, Mama was beside herself. She would hardly say a word to the poor girl. It took Jane consistently seeking her out for Mama to come to terms with it. So you see, I am fully prepared for the censure. I will at least have Julia by my side," she smiled at her friend.
"Indeed, you shall!" crowed her friend.
"You shall both make a most formidable force. However, that does not indicate how we should proceed at this moment," stated Oliver.
"I say let them come," said Kitty. "At least then we can be assured that no one else shall come to call unless we invite them or let it be circulated that we are ready to be sociable. That is the proper way to do these things, is it not?"
"Yes, it is," applauded Julia. "Most would be very understanding of Oliver wishing to keep his bride to himself for as long as possible. They may not enjoy the idea that he found his bride outside of the neighborhood, but they would not disparage him any private time he wished to keep with her."
Thomas was thrilled once more. "Well, now that our little problem is resolved, how shall we go about introducing our Mrs. Andrews to Mrs. Haverly and her daughter?"
It was only Oliver and Thomas who were in the drawing room to receive their guests. "Ah, Mrs. Haverly, Miss Haverly, Thomas informed me that I might expect a call from you today. Though, one might find it rude to do so when it has been widely circulated that we wish for our privacy," scolded Oliver.
"You are too brash, Mr. Andrews. I do not understand the liberty your father bestowed upon you to enable it. Your mother and I have been good friends for many years and I am entitled to know her concerns."
"You know, I do not recall her mentioning your letters. Has it been long since you have written her?"
"Such rude behavior is not to be tolerated. I shall have a word with your mother. Where is Mrs. Andrews?"
"Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Bates are upstairs," Thomas inserted. "Mrs. Andrews had an idea for one of my wife's dresses that she does not favor. Something that the seamstress in Meryton did for her. They should be back shortly."
"We were all sorry to hear of the dispute that occurred on your lands," said Miss Haverly in an attempt to bring the attention to herself. "Tenants should know better than to cause such trouble for the Master of an estate."
"That is my business, Miss Haverly, and not something I wish to discuss in present company."
She sat back and pouted. She began to question him about his trip to Hertfordshire, which he said little of. Oliver tried not to laugh at Thomas's obvious amusement over the Haverly's upset. He dodged every comment and question sent to him by the matron's daughter.
"There is a matter I need to address with you before your mother returns. It is abominable that you would force your mother back into a house that causes her pain just so you might avoid your duty for a little longer. You should marry and give your estate a proper mistress."
He heard voices and in hall and smothered his glee. "I agree, Mrs. Haverly. It is high time that my estate had a proper mistress."
Mrs. Haverly' triumphant expression soon altered once the owners of the voices entered the room.
"Are you sure it will be no bother?"
"Of course not. Oliver and I are not likely to attend a gathering worthy of the gown any time soon. Once you have shown your maid, I trust you shall return it with haste. Oh, Mr. Andrews, forgive me. I didn't realize we had more guests," his wife gasped. She was very convincing. She was utterly perfect for him. He rose to meet her.
"Yes. I admit, I did not quite believe Thomas when he said we should expect visitors today, but alas, here they are. Dearest, these are two of your new neighbors, Mrs. Haverly and her daughter, Miss Marie Haverly. Mrs. Haverly, Miss Haverly, allow me to introduce to you my wife, Mrs. Catherine Andrews nee Bennet, very lately of Longbourn in Hertfordshire."
Catherine smiled at the ladies, and Oliver took great delight in the strained and sour smiles that gave in return. Watching them stutter while his wife gracefully took control of the situation caused him to swell with pride. He had noticed her confidence improving in the short time she had been separated from her family at Longbourn. He once remembered his father personally caring for a mare he had acquired from a neighbor. She had not been treated well, but with his father's constant attention, she improved. His father told him that most living creatures, people included, thrived much better under the right attention. He considered his wife further proof of that statement.
"You married?" managed Miss Haverly. "When did this happen?"
"Ten days ago. I 'stumbled' across my wife not long after her birthday," they smiled at each other. "Her elder sisters I knew. I was introduced to her on the night of her very first assembly and found myself with the honor of her first dance, after her father of course. It did not take me long to realize I wished to claim more than a dance."
Thomas would later tell him that their visitors' completions ranged from pale, to green, to red during his little speech. He only had eyes for his wife. Mrs. Haverly and her daughter did not stay long. Thomas and Julia also quickly took their leave. Neither of the Andrews really cared to take notice. They spent the rest of the day, and the following weeks, very much enjoying the company of the other