Sorry for being a day late, I was busy yesterday.
Two years later
Wendy dabbed her tears away with a handkerchief.
Brian looked so dashing as he said his vows to Catharina.
The bride blushed. She looked very beautiful.
"And with that, I declare you husband and wife. My lord, you may kiss the bride."
As Brian kissed his new wife, Wendy dabbed even more tears away. Her little boy had grown up.
She rose along with the rest of the church as Brian led Catharina down the aisle.
People around them mumbled, about how they looked good together.
"It was such a long engagement." Someone whispered.
"No young people nowadays want to take things slowly." Another whispered back.
Wendy took Eric's arm, and they walked out of the church along with Catharina's parents; with Adaline following behind them.
Brian's smile reminded her of her own wedding day.
She looked over at Eric, who smiled back at her and squeezed her hand.
"Congratulations to you both." A pair of older ladies said as the newlyweds climbed into their carriage. "They make such a beautiful couple."
"Thank you," Wendy said lightly with a nod as Eric excused himself to speak to someone he saw in the crowd.
"Yes, I guess you never dreamed that your son might one day marry a daughter of a Marquise with your background." One of the older ladies said with a smile as she fanned her face.
Before Wendy could reply to the strange remark, the other woman stepped in.
"Magnolia. That is no way to speak to the Baroness. You know, her dancing skills were widely known."
The other woman, Magnolia, nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, I doubt there are many men in the social circles that could say they have not seen your ankles."
Wendy kept a stiff smile on her lips.
"I really do not understand the older generation sometimes." Adaline suddenly cut in after standing behind Wendy the entire time. "Why worry about someone's ankles when most fashion shows just below the knee these days?"
The older ladies did not seem to like that, and Wendy had to keep herself from laughing.
"There is no need to get into a debate young lady." One of the ladies said. "It is the joyous occasion of your brother's wedding."
"That reminds me, Lady Adaline. Do you have a suitor at the moment?" The other old woman asked.
Wendy looked at her daughter with intrigue as the girl's cheeks turned the color of her hair.
She did not know that Adaline had fallen in love with someone.
"But then again…" The woman, Magnolia, said as she turned and started to walk away. "If she is anything like her sister, she might just run away with a man in the middle of the night."
"Well, you never know…" The other old woman said as she followed her friend, while still speaking loudly. "They are twins after all."
Wendy put a hand on her daughter's shoulder to stop her from responding.
She could feel the young girl shake with anger and tried to silently soothe her so as not to make a scene at Brian's wedding.
"Adaline?" Wendy said carefully when she found her daughter sitting on a swing at the back of the Marchioness' garden. "You are missing the dancing."
The swing creaked as Adaline moved slowly back and forth before she looked up at her mother.
She looked like she was about to cry.
"Dearest…" She whispered softly and sat down next to her on the large swing.
Adaline leaned against her like she used to when she was a small child.
"I wish Mary were here." She whispered as the swing rocked them slowly.
Wendy smiled and put an arm around her daughter. What those two old women had said probably hit her very hard. "I do too my little one, but she is doing fine wherever she is."
Adaline raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"
Wendy's smiled and gave her daughter a squeeze. "The Elven Queen told me."
Adaline giggled at her.
Her children had long forgotten the elven folk and how they used to play in the forest. They still remembered playing, but they thought the elven queen and the other creatures in the forest were things they had made up as children.
"I just wish I had been kinder to Mary when she was here," Adaline said, somber again. "I never told her how important she was to me."
Wendy didn't say anything but just listened and rocked with her little girl as she poured her heart out.
After Mary had left, Adaline had grown a little rebellious too. Not in the sense that she was causing trouble, but more like she was pointing out the problems she saw, rather than just going along to get along. Her tongue had become very sharp, and she had grown distant at high society events. It was Eric, who got the worst of it, not a week went by without a snide remark. Not to mention her husband had thrown a fit when Adaline had insisted on going to university to get a degree. Not that she had any plans on using it, but she wanted the experience.
It was very clear that she felt guilty about Mary leaving. She knew that the rumor was going around, that Mary had abandoned the family for some strange man, and such were just that. But the insults about her sister were still hard to hear.
Wendy stroked her daughter's hair. When had she grown so big?
"If I were … if I were to go a different path than Brian, would you be upset?"
Wendy looked at the girl with suspicion but smiled. "Liney, I went a very different path from my siblings. And it would be wrong of me to dictate your path when you are almost an adult."
Adaline smiled at the old nickname, and her fingers fidgeted with the long red braid that hung over her shoulder as a blush crept up her cheek.
Wendy smiled. "So … Does he have a name?"
The young woman in front of her looked startled. "What?"
Wendy continued to smile as she got off the swing. "We should head back to the festivities. Your brother and father are probably wondering where we are. And I know how much you loved to dance."
Two years later.
Catharina held her hand so tightly, that Wendy thought she might break the skin.
She and Marchioness Sophia tried to encourage the younger woman over her loud gasps and shallow breathing, which soon turned to screams.
When the crying baby was placed in Catharina's arms, Wendy smiled and stroked her daughter-in-law's hair. "You did great, my dear."
When the midwife went out to get Brian, he was standing just on the other side of the door.
He looked both frightened and excited as he went to his wife.
As the four of them cooed and fussed over the baby, Wendy took a step back.
"I will go find your sister, dear." She said and patted Brian on the shoulder as she went towards the door.
Wendy took a deep breath as the door closed behind her and reminded herself that this was a joyous day, that should not be overshadowed by her feelings.
Adeline was probably in the garden.
As she walked through the halls, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and stopped.
There was a painting of her from her younger years hanging next to it. It was one of Elias' fairy paintings with her as a motif.
There were lines in her face now, and the color had faded a bit from her hair.
In just the last few years, so many worries had weighed her down.
She found her daughter in the courtyard with Devin Hastings.
"Hello, Mr. Hastings." She greeted him with a warm smile.
The young man bowed. "Mrs. Branigan." Adaline held his hand. "I wanted to congratulate Brian, but I was unsure that I was allowed inside."
Wendy lifted an eyebrow.
Devin Hastings was a young man that Adaline had met at the university. His father was an up-and-coming businessman who had scraped together enough money for the young man to go to a good school. Devin was polite, ambitious, and charming; and her husband could not stand him.
Wendy did wonder which of those attributes Adaline found most appealing.
She had certainly made it clear that she was in love with the young Mr. Hastings. She declined invitations to social gatherings and instead chose to go on long walks with him or attend lectures at the university.
Whenever Wendy saw them together, they were happily chatting away. Adaline seemed to have a lot of ideas about how to expand the business that Devin was going to inherit, and Devin's eyes always shined as he listened to her.
"Since you are here, it must have gone well." Adaline smiled nervously.
Wendy nodded. "You are an Aunt, Adaline; it is a little boy."
The younger woman smiled and clapped her hands. "Oh, I bet Catharina is going to spoil him. Did they decide on a name?"
"Eric." Wendy just answered.
Adeline's smile stiffened a bit. "Of course, after Father. It is tradition."
"You should go in and say hello to your new family member," Devin said politely.
Adaline smiled brightly again. "You should come too."
Devin tipped his hat at her. "I would not want to impose."
He nodded to Wendy and made a show of kissing Adaline's hand and then got in his car.
"I like him," Wendy commented as they walked up the steps.
"I wish Father would as well." Adaline sighed. "Devin is ambitious and a hard worker."
"I am sure your father will come around." Wendy's smiled.
If nothing else the Hastings' business was thriving, and the estate was in need of money and new opportunities. Times were changing, and titles and families weren't really enough anymore.
"He better. We are engaged." Adaline spoke fast and showed a golden band on her ring finger.
Wendy stared at her daughter's hand, then up at her daughter. "When did this happen?"
The girl smiled sheepishly and blushed. "Two weeks ago. I... could not find the right time to tell you."
Wendy took hold of her daughter's hand and lifted it up to get a better look at the ring. It was a simple gold band with the words I love you inscribed into it.
She smiled and shook her head. "Wait a couple of weeks before you tell the rest of them. We would not want anything to overshadow the new baby."
"Do you think Father is gonna be upset?" Adaline, as they turned down the hallway.
"Very much so. Most likely because young Mr. Hastings did not ask for his blessing."
Adaline sighed in irritation. "Times are changing. We can't keep doing everything the same way."
"Yes…" Wendy caught a glimpse of the fairy painting again.
"Is something wrong, mother?" Adaline asked.
Wendy hadn't noticed she had stopped walking.
"Nothing, my dearest." She smiled brightly. "Now let's go meet your nephew."
She had had the same feeling after helping Catharina through the birth.
She watched her beautiful daughter.
Adaline was engaged now, and then a wedding would not be far behind, and then children.
She had more or less promised Elias to divorce her husband after Adaline was married, but after seeing Catharina desperate for her mother in that moment, she couldn't do it. She could not bear the thought of not being with her child in such a moment.
She wondered if Mary had married yet. Maybe she already had a child?
Wendy managed to keep the tears away, as they got to Brian and Catharina's room.
Elias would not be happy with her decision, but her mind was made up. She would not go through with the divorce before Adaline had had her first child; at least.
One and a half years later.
"I am always happy when you come visit, my dear," Wendy said as she poured tea.
"I would never miss a teatime with you, Mother," Adaline said and put a hand on her growing stomach. "I think it's really cute that you still doing that."
"Pardon?" Wendy asked and stopped pouring tea to look at her daughter.
Adeline smiled and nodded at the cup in front of the empty chair that Wendy had just poured tea into. "Pour a cup of tea for The Elven Queen. I remember you doing it even when we were little children."
"Well…" Wendy poured her own tea and put the pot back on the tray. "Who knows, she might visit today."
Adeline giggled. "I can remember a time when me and Mary played with this little girl but came in from the forest and we thought she was elven child."
Wendy smiled and leaned back in her chair as she watched her daughter.
"And then there was that woman with the dark skin…"
"Olympia was not an elven," Wendy said with a smile and put the cup to her lips. "Though she does act like one from time to time. Coming and going like she pleases and speaking nonsense."
It had been a few years since she had seen her. She had come to the estates not long after Mary had run away. Wendy had asked if she could help locate the young girl, but as Olympia said herself, America was a very vast country.
"Really?" Adeline sipped her tea as well and stared fondly out into the forest. "You really did your best to make our childhood magical. Do you remember when we used to go hunting in the forest? Father didn't like it, but you took us anyway. And then we would meet all these people out there … we would dance and sing…"
Yes … it was quite marvelous… The Elven Queen sat in the empty chair and put a sugar cube in her teacup.
Wendy smiled as Adeline almost dropped her teacup.
"Careful dear," she said and stood up as her daughter nearly fell out of her chair.
Adeline grabbed onto the table and stared at the beautiful creature, who was stirring the sugar into her tea.
"Are you real" She mumbled.
The elven queen looked at her, puzzled. Sometimes I am … dear child … though to you and your siblings … I have not been for a long time…
Adeline looked at her mother. "Mother, please tell me you see her."
Wendy smiled and put a gentle hand on her daughter's arm. "Calm yourself, Liney." She then turned to Her Majesty. "There is nothing to scared off."
Yes… The elven's voice echoed all around them. Right this moment … is peaceful…
Wendy shook her head at her old friend. "You are scaring her."
The beautiful creature turned her endless eyes towards the younger woman. That is not my intention … I apologize…
When Wendy looked back at her daughter, Adeline was staring right at her with confusion. "But if The Elven Queen is real, was everything real?"
Adults always ask … very hard questions… Eva appeared at Wendy's side.
Wendy put her other hand on Eva's shoulders, as Adeline made big eyes with the little girl.
She sputtered in confusion, and the elven girl smiled patiently as the woman calmed herself. "Is that really you, Eva?"
Wendy patted her daughter's hand. "If I had known it would cause you this distress, I would not have asked them for tea."
Adeline looked at her. "I thought we were just playing pretend back then."
We were… all three of us… Eva smiled brightly and reached for the small basket of fairy bread on the tray.
"But how could I forget?" Adeline did not seem to know who she should look at.
As trees grow … they look up towards the sun … and often forget the ground … from which they came… The Elven Queen smiled, and her eyes glittered.
"I was… I'm sorry … I just can't believe it…" Adeline mumbled.
There is no need for your sorrow yet… The Elven Queen elegantly rose from her seat. We are often forgotten … yet sometimes remembered … The beautiful being gently put her hand on Adeline's stomach.
Adeline took hold of the Elven Queen's hand like she was still unsure she was real.
Is she having a baby too …? Eva laughed.
Indeed… The elven queen gently caressed Adeline's stomach. A healthy child … this one… is a girl…
Adeline smiled at the news. "How do you know?"
Many mysteries … whisper their secrets to me… The Elven Queen smiled mischievously and went back to her seat and sipped on her sugary tea.
"How did Brian react when you showed him when you showed him the elvens again?" Adeline asked after some time.
Wendy smiled stiffly and put her teacup down.
"He has not been able to see her since he was … 12 or something like that." She breathed.
When Adeline raised her eyebrows in confusion, The Elven Queen explained.
That child is far … too rooted in reality … to see us….
Three months later
"The weather is quite dreary this time of year," Catharina said dryly as she drank her tea.
"Well, at least the tearoom is nice and warm," Brian remarked and glanced at the open fire.
Wendy's smiled down at their son who was driving his toy car around their feet. "I know at least one person who is happy we had tea indoors today."
Little Eric made his way over the carpet towards his aunt and uncle.
His uncle Devin laughed as the little boy drove the car around his feet. The man clearly could not wait to be a father himself.
"As much as I enjoy your outdoor tea times, I really do enjoy spending time with you all like this." He remarked and pushed at the little boy with his feet, which made the little boy squeal.
Adeline padded her growing belly and smiled at her husband.
Wendy lifted her teacup to her lips. "Yes, this reminds me of when we would gather at the inn during thunderstorms and sit and tell stories around the fireplace."
Her children and their spouses' eyes lit up as she mentioned the inn. Edward had done a great job at running the inn, and despite it being modernized, it had kept a lot of its old charm. Despite time passing, the children still wanted to go there to visit. It was also still popular amongst both common folk and nobles from when Wendy danced there.
"I cannot wait to show Uncle Innkeeper our daughter," Adeline said and caressed her stomach. Her husband knitted his fingers into hers, and they stared at each other for a long moment.
Wendy smiled at the peaceful moment. "I hope you will. Edward is always bragging that he has more grandchildren than me."
As they continued to talk, there was a soft knock at the door.
"Yes?" Wendy asked and the door opened to Jameson, Abraham's grandson, and the new butler in training.
"Madam, there was a letter for you." He said and handed her an envelope.
"A letter? At this time of day?" She asked and turned the envelope around in her hands.
The young man suddenly seemed nervous. "It came this morning, but…"
Wendy looked up at the young man but did that move a muscle until he continued. "It came inside another letter addressed to my grandfather. I just had time to bring it to him and he told me that I should bring you this letter which was inside and tell you that there were strict instructions not to give it to you at breakfast."
Wendy the envelope in confusion But smiled at the young man. "Your grandfather must know something I do not. You are dismissed. Do not worry."
The young man did not seem convinced but left.
"What could it be? Some kind of parlor game?" Catharina asked and leaned forward as if to see it better.
"I doubt it. Who would send a letter to the Madam of the house through the butler?" Adeline asked.
"Well, let's see," Wendy said and opened the blank envelope.
It was 3 pages machine written text. As Wendy began to read, her children and children-in-law's questions didn't reach her ears.
It was an apology. Mary's apology. For not writing sooner.
She went over what had happened when she left. Taking a ship alone for the very first time and been so amazed and yet so afraid. The pages were just a brief overview of her life in America, her fears, and her triumphs. How her English accent had faded with time, but still came out at times. How she had the most wonderful man who she was sure her mother would like. And how she had fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse.
As she flipped to the last page, two photographs fell out in her lap.
Wendy picked them up and looked at them.
One was a wedding photograph. Mary was standing in a beautiful wedding gown with hair that barely reached her shoulders and beside her stood a tall, young man with dark hair and a warm smile.
The other one was of a tiny little baby with little strands of red hair.
She looked up at her confused family with a smile.
Mary had named her newborn son Wallace.
"Congratulations, you are all aunts and uncles." When little Eric looked up at her, confused, from his toy, she smiled at him gently. "And you, my little one, is a cousin."
Thank you for reading.
I am debating with myself whether I should split the next chapter into two, because there is a lot of things I have to cover before I can finish this.