P&P FF
"Captain's Concession: A Bennet's Destiny"
*Grasshaven..as far as I know another town of my making (and I could find no Grasshaven in my
Previously:
"I believe you. I was just hopin' someone could back you up for my own reasons."
"Gardener might have." Hannah's eyes lit up. "He was just outside the door."
"Go back to work, but tell Miss Julia, I said you are work with her." Mary went and talked to the gardener and within the hour Mrs. McDowell was let go.
Gifts
Ch. 28
A fairly warm breeze blew through the gardens of the Lucas' new home. Charlotte had married Leif Borg and was now visiting her parents. Sir William and Lady Lucas had invited Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and her beau, Lyle Lucas — no relation to Sir William. Their other guests were Mr. and Mrs. Hales, who had fit in quite well into Meryton.
The gardens of the Lucas were surrounded by a low stone wall and lined with multiple types of trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows onto the graveled path below. Further in the garden, children played among the natural landscaping that the Lucas's gardeners had worked so hard to create.
The stream in the garden led to a small lake, its surface a mirror reflecting the weeping willows that leaned gracefully over the water, their branches trailing along the water, creating ripples as if tiny strings were dancing with partners upon its surface.
"I think your daughter has been blessed with a fine husband," Mr. Hales smiled as he lifted his glass towards Sir William. "It might have taken longer than some; however, I dare say it has been worth the wait."
"And I dare say Lady Catherine is the one calling for smelling salts now," Mrs. Bennet slapped her hand over her mouth, horrified she had let that remark slip out when one of her efforts really had been to watch her tongue.
"The fact my daughter is now married, the fact Sir Borg's home is as large as Rosings Park? Or the fact Mr. Collins has just been declared mentally unfit and consigned to his cousin's attic under the care of a nurse?" Charlotte's mother did not bother watching her tongue. "After the names that lady has called Charlotte, and used Collins as a puppet in the past, she deserves all the salts her servants can buy." And, for once, Lady Lucas's words were spot on.
Charlotte ignored the talk and went to ask Mr. Bennet about Mary when a rider could be seen drawing close. He might not have been noticed had his buggy not stopped by the garden gate. All eyes turned toward him as he not only climbed down but hauled out a large box and brought it over to those gathered in the Lucas' garden.
"I was sent by a friend who sailed from Bristol but did not have time to travel down here. These gifts are for Mr. Hale, Miss Charlotte, and the Bennets. I was informed in town all were here. I am limited on time myself. Please forgive me for begging to leave them all here at once."
"How wonderful," Lady Lucas clapped her hands. "I love seeing presents opened, even when they are not my own."
"You always have," Lady Borg laughed, her mind certain the items must be from Mary. It must have been Captain Pedersen who had sent the box, and she was eager to see what had been sent. "Here," Charlotte pointed to the table, "we can take it from here."
"Thank you," the rider said as he set the oversized box down and then departed.
Everyone waited until the rider had left before opening the box. "Here, Mr. Hales, this box has your name on it." She proceeded to hand out the gifts and then suggested they open them.
"Lady Borg," Mr. Bennet smiled, "this is your parents' home, and we came to visit you; our boxes can wait."
"Nonsense," Charlotte replied with a wide smile. "We do not need to be told who the gentleman's friend was who sailed from Bristol. Even Mr. Collins in his state of mind could deduce that. Unless…" She turned to Leif, "Sir Leif has a problem with it. I would love for the Bennets to be the ones to open presents first."
"I am all for it," Leif grinned broadly. "I love seeing presents opened. However, I vote to see Mr. Bennet's first."
Mr. Bennet's gift had been placed in a sturdy box, sealed with wax and marked 'Fragile'. Thomas opened it with great care, revealing hay padding and a cloth-wrapped present. Unwrapping it, everyone gasped to see a ship within a bottle, engraved with 'MBP DREAMER'. Thomas sat silently, his teary-eyed expression saying it all.
"Your turn, Mrs. Bennet," Charlotte insisted and then replied, when though her own mother pressed for her to open hers first. ""No, I wish to continue to see Mary's family open theirs before me."
Mrs. Bennet's eyes welled up as she removed the wrapping to reveal an artistic rendition of the Bennet family tree. A small, unsigned note informed Mary's mother that while her daughter had not drawn it, she had been responsible for commissioning one of the captain's crew members to create it. Kitty opened her gift next.
"She remembered," Kitty grinned, looking at an antique Scottish recipe book. The two had discussed Mary's younger sister's desire to taste foods from the country Mary would be living in before she had followed the Captain into Scotland.
"Now, Charlotte, it is your turn; do not dare suggest Mr. and Mrs. Hales open theirs before you," Lady Lucas gave her newly married daughter 'the look', prompting laughter from everyone.
"Go ahead, my child. " Mrs. Hales smiled as if it looked as if Lady Borg was concerned they might take offense. "You have known the Bennets longer and we have not been here that long in Meryton. We are fine with it. Besides, when it comes to presents I am in the same boat as your mother. And am eager to see yours."
Charlotte smiled and unwrapped Leif's and her brown package. She was delighted to find white embroidered linen. Flowers adorned the borders, and small butterflies with emblems Charlotte had confessed to liking to Mary on their first night in Scotland were on their wings.
"These gifts were definitely sent from Mary through her captain," Charlotte grinned, turning to the Hales to see what theirs would be. The couple simply smiled.
"We already know ours," laughed Mr. Hales as he grinned wide himself, along with his wife. "It is a Scottish history book our nephew promised us when I wrote and told him of needing my own replaced." His words were spoken as his wife unwrapped the book, revealing indeed a history book. "Now," he looked at Leif and Charlotte, "pray tell, how long are you to stay? Is it long enough for you to come by and take a stroll through memory lane of Charlotte's old childhood home?"
"We would love that, after supper that is."