Mellow Fruitfulness (3)

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Hester was about to open the matter of where one might send did one require embroidery silks &C, when Mason came in and said, Sir Toby Madden has come call.

Damnation! – excuse my swearing, my love. I should have expected this. He appoints himself quite the Mercury of the neighbourhood, going about gathering up the news and the gossip and distributing it again. Well, Mason, show him in.

Mason ushered in a fellow that was well-named Toby for he was short and squab and very much like unto those vessels called Toby-jugs.

How now, Fairleigh, I hear you have gone and married yourself a wife? and this – it was perhaps an understandable mistake, to suppose that the lady that was taking charge of the tea-table must be the lady in question, and perchance he had not noticed Hester in her chair by the window – I apprehend must be the new Lady Fairleigh?

Had Milly not served some several years as governess to the riotous Merrett children she might have been more discomposed than she was, and even, perchance, have gone poured tea into a saucer or even onto the table. She put the teapot down and said, fie, by no means.

My dear fellow, cried Charles, conducting him over to the window, this is Lady Fairleigh. Hester, permit me to introduce Sir Toby Madden, that is our nearest neighbour and a JP. Sir Toby, my wife, late the Countess of Nuttenford.

Sir Toby blinked. Doubtless the quite sensational news of the Earl’s demise – eaten by a bear in the American wilderness – had penetrated even to these rural parts.

Sir Toby, permit me to introduce Miss Millick, my wife’s companion. Sir Toby bowed. Miss Millick,  our neighbour, Sir Toby Madden. 

Tea, Sir Toby? asked Milly, with that aplomb gained from maintaining a calm face during years of Em and Geoff’s wilder freaks.

Why, thank you, Miss Millick. He accepted a cup but remained standing.

‘Twas somewhat of a precipitate marriage, said Sir Charles with a smile, but here was my godson Undersedge, that is now Nuttenford, has all the responsibilities of the rank fall upon him –

And, said Hester, sure my dear eldest girl, that is Lady Offgrange, would have given me hospitality at Dambert Chase, but only lately lay-in of a fine daughter, and I did not wish to be a burden upon her at such a time.

So, said Charles, we determined to defy gossip and go wed now rather than wait out the conventional time, so that I might take care of my dear lady.

They looked at one another with affection.

Why, ‘tis exceeding pretty, quite like unto a play, remarked Sir Toby, and went to sit down in the most comfortable chair.

Where he sat on and on, talking of local matters and conveying country gossip, occasionally minding that he should ask some question of the ladies, that was mostly along the lines of had they yet been to some local sight, had they called upon such and such a country neighbour –

Charles said that they were but lately arrived back from Town, but sure they would in due course be about such matters –

It became alas entire obvious that Sir Toby was angling to be asked to remain to dine, and indeed ‘twould have been uncivil to send him upon his ways, so there he was, at table, still prosing on with some matter about the vicar and tithes and then the business there had lately been at Quarter Sessions – sure, Lady Fairleigh, mayhap you may persuade Sir Charles to join us upon the bench, sound fellows are ever required – and in very little disposition to quit the company.

Hester caught Milly’s eye and said, Miss Millick, sure ‘tis time we left the gentlemen – though I pray you, Sir Toby, not to keep my husband too long over port and pipes –

Milly had got the chair into the drawing-room before they both burst into giggles, only sobering up when Hettie came with the tea-tray.

I daresay, said Milly, the poor fellow is lonely, does he hang out to be invited stay to dine.

O, I confide you are right! I fancy he is a fellow would allude to a wife, did he have one, and say we must call upon her, and tell us of what good works she favoured, and whether she had any feuds upon hand with other ladies in the neighbourhood. And were there any offspring would tell us a deal about ‘em. But I hope he does not keep poor Sir Charles too long in masculine converse over the port.

So they sipped their tea, and Hester remarked upon the matter of embroidery silks, and whether there might be a circulating library in the locality, and whether ‘twas like Sir Toby would know aught of a piano-tuner. Then they fell to wondering how the family got on, and were just expatiating upon what a fine child Nan’s little Di was when the gentlemen came in.

Hester offered tea, but Sir Toby said, sure ‘twas getting late, should be riding off before got too dark. Bowed over her hand and Milly’s, hoped to see ‘em about in local society, shook hands with Charles and departed.

After they had heard Mason showing him out they all looked about at one another and laughed. Why, said Charles, ‘twas not the evening I had planned, but he is a good-hearted fellow even if a somewhat tedious one – long a widower, no children, I daresay gossiping upon his neighbours provides him an interest in life. My fear is that he will go spread the news about and we shall have a deal of callers.

He looked at Hester. I hope his babble did not tire you, my dear?

Not in the least – sure I feel myself a deal better-informed about matters in the locality now!

Charles chuckled. Better than a newspaper, he conceded.

Milly stood up and said, unless Lady Fairleigh had any further need of her, still had matters of her own unpacking &C to be about, and had been exceeding prepossessed by young Livvy’s capacities, was sure she might do all that was needful –

Of course, Milly (for Milly looked somewhat embarrassed, and Hester confided that she was in some desire to leave the newly-weds together in solitude).

Milly left them.

Charles looked down at Hester, bent down, and kissed her. My darling, he said, I know this is all new and strange to you, and perchance you are tired after the day you have had, but, might I join you this night?

Hester clasped his hand in hers. Dearest Charles, she said, indeed you may. If you take me to my dressing-room and summon Livvy, I will be about preparing for bed.

At least the unexpected advent of Sir Toby had meant that she had been distracted and had not had the entire evening to get into a fret at the prospect of this wedding night. Indeed she loved and trusted dearest Charles. She had sought and received reassurances that she did not need to anticipate an ordeal from her dearest friend, and most knowledgeable authority upon all matters pertaining to man and woman, Clorinda Bexbury. But, even so – might there not be some flinching, some sign that might convey to Charles that – o, she would do all she might to convey him what gratification was possible, in her sad state, but –

But here was Livvy, ready to help undress her and ready her for bed.

When she was finally there, in the fine nightgown she had chosen, she reached to the nightstand when she had, earlier in the day, placed a little vial of perfume. Dear Clorinda had pressed it into her hand. I daresay the savants have some scientific explanation for it, but scents are most exceeding soothing to the spirits: do you sprinkle a few drops upon your pillow, I fancy ‘twill calm any frets you are in.

Indeed the scent was agreeable, and to her relief she did not have to lie there very long before came in Sir Charles in his nightshirt.

My dearest love, he said, climbing into bed beside her, may I say that gives me quite the extremest pleasure just to lie alongside you, after so long? Would not wish to do aught that would give you pain – so you must tell me at once if anything does so – or that you mislike. I know that there are consummations that should not be undertook –

Indeed, said Hester, finding herself cuddling up against her husband, Mr Hacker gave me to understand that he very much doubted that the usual act could be contrived without injury, and he had quite the direst warnings about the peril that increase was like to bring –

He was entire fierce with me upon the matter! – but, might I just hold you in my arms, as I have longed to do these very many years –

Of course, said Hester, nestling in to him, and finding this more agreeable than she had anticipated. The warmth of his body – the tender way his arm curved about her – the faint scent of tobacco and good soap that lingered about him –

The kisses planted upon her face and neck: she turned her head a little so that she might kiss him back. So sweet, so gentle. The hand that stroked her shoulder, and then went to caress her hair, trail down her cheek, trace her lips. Dearest Hester –

They lay thus for a little while and then Charles gave a sudden groan –

My dear?

Forgive me, dearest: I really did not anticipate such an impetuosity of passion, in a fellow of my years. But indeed, was overcome by the entirest gratification, my love, simply from your presence. But must just go cleanse myself a little –

He leant over to kiss her. ‘Twill take but a moment.

Indeed ‘twas not much more than a moment before he came back to bed and put his arms about her again. Dear love. Are you quite comfortable?

Hester considered. Indeed, she was quite remarkable comfortable. Yes, dearest Charles, she said, turning to kiss him, dear husband.

Somehow, in time, she must have drifted into sleep, for was waked by the sound of birdsong and a little sunlight creeping through the curtains.

How do you the morn, my darling?

Why, she said, turning to look at him, most endearingly tousled from sleep, very well, I find.

(Oh, how very far from an ordeal she would endure for the sake of dear Charles it had been.)

Comments

[sharpiefan]

(May I beg leave to point out at that, as the companion, Miss Millick would be introduced to Sir Toby first "Sir Toby, I beg leave to present Miss Millick that is Lady Fairleigh's companion. Miss Millick, Sir Toby, a neighbour of ours.

One is always introduced to the higher-ranking person present first, with a brief side-note of who the lower-ranked person is...If the higher-ranked personage allows the introduction. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, when calling at Longbourne, does not at first allow Elizabeth to introduce Mrs Bennet to her, forcing the lady of the house into an uncomfortable silence in her own parlour.)

You might like < href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Austens-Guide-Good-Manners-ebook/dp/B0081V4984/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524217941&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=compliments%2C+charades+and+horrible+blinders" target="_blank">this delightful little book.

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Point taken and correction made.

[sharpiefan]

...I forgot to close the HTML tags. Bummer.

*hugs*

[rymenhild]

I see Clorinda is reusing the contrivance that proved so helpful to Biffle and Viola!

[aedifica]

Although there, wasn't it more that they needed a scent that Biffle would associate with sexytimes and not with death by pregnancy?

(So sweet to see this scene!)

[nineveh_uk]

I'm wondering what's in this one! Though knowing Clorinda's amateur psychology, quite possibly just something that smells nice as a placebo seems likely.

[kathmandu]

Awwwwwwwwww. He loves her so much!

And I am glad that Mr. H. took such a strong stance for Hester's safety.

[nenya_kanadka]

"Impetuosity of passion"!

:D