William's first day of school had arrived. He stood next to John at the foot of the grand staircase, looking every bit the young gentleman in his smart little suit. The crisp white shirt, perfectly tied bow tie, and polished black shoes gave him a rather sophisticated look. His suitcase was already packed and stowed neatly in the car.
John checked his watch with a sigh, glancing up the staircase.
"Do you think she's deciding between hats again?" William asked.
"Knowing your Mother, it's not just the hat. It's the gloves, the shoes, the bag—everything has to be just perfect."
Just as they shared a chuckle, Marguerite finally appeared at the top of the stairs. Whatever teasing had been planned fell away as they both stopped to stare. She was dressed in a tailored navy coat dress, cinched at the waist with a slim belt. The lapels were trimmed with ivory and beneath the coat, a pleated skirt swayed gently. It was the very aesthetics of Oxford itself.
"Ah, the queen finally descends," John said, bowing slightly. "Your loyal subjects were growing restless."
"And slightly old," William added, grinning up at her.
Marguerite reached the bottom step, her gaze cool as she regarded them both. "I see. If I knew the pair of you had so much free time for commentary, I'd have assigned you something useful to do."
"We wouldn't dare distract you from such important deliberations." John said.
"Indeed, it must be quite the challenge for you," Marguerite said smoothly, as she stepped past him. "Especially when your idea of a decision is choosing which tie to drape over your shoulder after the mirror reminds you you've already lost the argument."
William snorted, quickly covering his mouth.
"And you," Marguerite said, turning to her son, "should remember that it's my impeccable sense of timing that ensures you don't go out the door mismatched. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to dress like your father on laundry day."
William didn't say a word, knowing too well that it was impossible to win an argument against his mother. Instead, as Marguerite walked ahead, he fell back to walk beside his father, leaned in and whispered, "Why are ladies so complicated?"
John tried to stifle a laugh. "That, my boy, is one of life's great mysteries—and you'll spend the rest of your days trying to figure it out."
But Marguerite heard their exchange. Without looking back, she said, "Go on, William. I'd love to hear you elaborate on that."
"Well… I just mean… you take so long to get ready, and you always seem to have a lot of opinions about everything."
Marguerite suddenly stopped, turning to face him. "Oh, I see. And what would the alternative be, hmm? That we rush out the door looking disheveled and unprepared, or that we remain silent and let the world pass us by?"
William blinked, unsure how to respond.
John, enjoying himself, added, "Careful, son. You might want to dig yourself out of this hole before it gets any deeper."
Marguerite shot John a warning look before returning her attention to William. "Let me give you some advice, young man. A lady's complexity is not a flaw, it's a strength. And one day, when you're older and wiser, you'll thank me for teaching you how to properly appreciate it."
"Yes, Mother."
"Good answer. Now, into the car with you."
John chuckled as he opened the car door. "You'll learn, son. Slowly but surely, you'll learn."
The drive from Avebury to Oxford was not long, but today, it seemed to stretch. John had insisted on driving himself, in their family's Bently. Marguerite occasionally turned in her seat to glance at William. He was unusually quiet now, gazing out the window, his young face contemplative. At one point, he seemed to sense her eyes on him. Turning to meet her gaze, he offered a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine, really. I'm not nervous the way you think I am. I'm just eager to get through all the formalities."
Upon arriving at the school, a handsome stone building with ivy growing up its old walls welcomed them. It was a striking example of Gothic architecture, with tall, pointed arches that framed windows of dark, mysterious glass. The lawns were neatly trimmed and paths were elegantly cobbled. As they parked their car, uniformed porters approached and immediately began unloading William's trunks and cases.
"Welcome to the Dragon School," one of them said.
The family followed the porter's lead and marched towards the Reception Hall. Inside, they were welcomed by the school Registrar and his young assistant who stepped forward.
"May I present Lord and Lady Avebury, and their son, Master William Roxton," the assistant announced.
The Registrar greeted them and gestured toward a desk, where a stack of paperwork awaited. Marguerite and John moved to the desk as William lingered, his eyes wandering to the portraits on the walls. The register reviewed the documents, occasionally addressing John and Marguerite with a question.
"Everything seems to be in order," the Register confirmed. "However, it appears the young gentleman will be following a special curriculum. The Headmaster has instructed me to direct you to him immediately upon your arrival. We rarely encounter cases like this. As such, there's no standard protocol. But rest assured, everything will be explained to you shortly. It's my pleasure to officially welcome you to the Dragon School. And, of course, to Oxford."
The register gestured them toward a set of grand double doors leading deeper into the building. The assistant went ahead, guiding them toward the Headmaster's office.
The Headmaster's office was as impressive as the rest of the school. A large mahogany desk dominated the room, behind which sat the Headmaster himself. He was a portly man, with a round face framed by snow-white hair, a short beard and matching mustache.
As the family entered, he rose from his seat. "Ah, Lord and Lady Avebury. Master William. Welcome. I am Professor Walter Kingsley, Headmaster of the Dragon School. Please, have a seat. It's a pleasure to finally meet you all. William, I've heard much about you, and I must say, I'm very impressed."
"Thank you, sir," William replied politely as he sat down.
The Headmaster settled back into his chair, folding his hands on the desk. "Now, I'm sure you're curious about the special arrangement we've prepared, although you're already familiar with the general outline, I believe."
Marguerite smiled faintly. "Yes, we've been briefed, but of course, we're eager to hear directly from you, Professor Kingsley."
"Naturally. William's tailored program will build on the core curriculum but with added focus on mathematics and science. He will spend half of his lessons with his age group, ensuring he remains socially integrated. The other half, however, will be conducted with older students, particularly in subjects where his aptitude calls for advanced material."
"That sounds like a thoughtful arrangement." John said.
"It's our goal to bring out the best in every student." the Headmaster replied. "William is clearly an exceptional young man, and we're eager to see him thrive."
Kingsley then turned to William. "Young man, this is an opportunity that few students receive. I trust you're ready to meet the challenges ahead?"
"Yes." William replied simply, and a bit cheekily.
"And are you prepared to part from your Mother and Father? No homesickness? No letters pleading for them to take you home? You will carry yourself as the mature young gentleman, I expect?"
William raised an eyebrow. "Are those serious questions?"
Marguerite gave him a subtle nudge with an elbow, for there was a clear undertone in his voice.
Kingsley looked at John and Marguerite. "You'd be surprised how often we encounter young gentlemen who struggle with their first weeks away from home. It's not uncommon for them to feel a little overwhelmed. But rest assured, we address it very quickly, and most find their footing before long."
"I don't imagine that will be an issue for William." Marguerite replied. "I think you'll find he is quite resilient."
Kingsley rose from his chair, clearing his throat. "Well then, I'll hand you over to Mrs. Appleton. She's our Matron. She'll explain the dormitory arrangements and provide you with your schedule. Afterwards, we'll meet again in the Assembly Hall. There, you'll have the chance to meet your future classmates, while your parents can mingle with their families."
The Assembly Hall was filled with parents and students. Rows of chairs were arranged, but people stood in small circles, getting to know each other. John and Marguerite exchanged smiles and handshakes with several parents they recognized from London society and various social functions.
After the Headmaster's speech, the children were divided into their respective houses, each group called forward by their housemaster. While the boys were taken on a tour of the school—through the library, dining hall, and eventually their dormitories—the parents were escorted through the campus. Their guide led them first to the chapel, then to the gymnasium and playing fields, where a few older students practiced sports. Finally, they were shown the boarding houses and the tour concluded in the House Common Room. Soon the boys showed up as well, now dressed in their school uniforms.
John placed a steady hand on William's shoulder. "Well, son, this is it. I have no doubt you'll settle in quickly and enjoy your time here. Take every opportunity to learn and grow."
Marguerite pulled William into a tight embrace. She resisted the urge to cover him with kisses, mindful of the curious gazes of his new classmates, but she lingered just a moment longer.
"It's okay, Mum," William said gently, sensing her emotions. "I'll be fine."
Just then, a chubby but cheerful boy appeared. "Hi! I'm Charlie!" the boy announced. "I'll be your new roommate."
"Just in time, Charlie. I'm Will."
"Come on, Will! Let's go check out the grounds!"
William cast a quick, wistful glance back at his parents. John met his gaze with a small nod and a reassuring smile. "Go on, we'll be fine here."
When the boys dashed off, Marguerite and John turned to the waiting Lord and Lady Carlisle, Charlie's parents. They were acquaintances from various events, but they'd never had the chance to truly connect, untill now. They agreed to go to lunch together.
As they walked back to the car after lunch, Marguerite quietly slipped her arm around John's. She said nothing, but he sensed her thoughts. "He's going to do great, you know." John said. "You've prepared him well, better than most. And Oxford is just the place for him to flourish."
"I know that... But I'm going to miss him anyway."
"So will I," he admitted. "But that just means we've done our job right."
"We have, haven't we? Can you believe it, though? Can you believe that once, we were running for our lives in a jungle filled with dinosaurs… and now, here we are, sending our son off to boarding school?"
"Yes, it does feel surreal." John said. "Life has a strange way of evolving."
"Well then, let's not waste any time. The mystery of Captain John Roxton is waiting for me, and I plan to throw myself into it. It'll make the week pass quicker—and give me something exciting to share with William when we pick him up next week."
John rolled his eyes but said nothing. Instead he stepped ahead and opened the car door for his wife like a perfect gentleman.