Angeline decided to wear pink, a sprigged muslin to the party, and put up her hair in a knot with curls at her face. Once done, she bid her sisters a good day, and they wished her a good time at the party.

Markham Hall was a lovely place, and she got out of the carriage, and knocked at the door.

Robert would soon knock on the heavy door of the manor. He had dressed in a royal blue coat, as he had wanted to look dignified but not over-the-top.

In reply to Angeline Walsh (msg # 15):

Since Sally was busy attending to the wine, Sir John's second maid, Doris, a plainer young woman but equally well fitted out in her best livery for the party, answered Angeline's knock.
She seemed awed by the lady's elegant attire, keeping her admiring eyes on it as she gave a deep curtsey and said, "Please be welcome to Markham Hall, m'am. Sir John will be happy to receive you."

Seeing Robert approaching the door, she did not wait for him to knock, but turned to him and curtseyed again, less deeply, and addressed him as well, saying "Pray be welcome, sir. The master will be glad of your company as well." She leads them both into the room where the guests are already gathering.

The party was beginning to take off and when Sir John brought over the Major it brought a smile to Earl Harald Darenvern and his wife Countess Margret.

"Sir John, thank you for hosting this gathering."  The Earl spoke, "Major William, it is good to see you, it has been far too long."  He smiled even wider to Sir John, "I use to do business with Major Hood's father."  He moved slightly and nodded toward his wife and daughter.  "Major William, you remember my wife, the Countess Margret and my youngest daughter Lady Victoria?"

Harald introduced the two woman with him and Victoria smiled at the Major.  Last she saw him well it was a while ago.  She curtsied, "You have a beautiful home Sir John, thank you for inviting us and Major William it has been far too long."

After Sir John made his introduction to the Darenverns, William bowed low - he had wondered if they had remembered him, he was so young and it was a long time ago.  He looked at Lady Victoria: could this truly be the same lovely creature he'd known as a slip of a very young girl?  It had to to be true!

"My Lord", William said as he bowed, "I am very pleased that you remember me; it has been far too long.  Of course, I do remember the Countess, My Lady", he bowed again.  And finally, his eyes met Lady Victoria's, and he bowed a third time.  "Lady Victoria, time has worked its wonders.  The Darenvern garden has produced yet another astonishing English rose.  Who might have guessed that from such a tiny seedling such a beautiful bloom might grow?"

He blushed; the flowery talk of the Ton was not his forte, and he feared he may have over-stepped his bounds.

"Forgive me, life in the Army has made me ill-favored for genteel company; sometimes I speak too much".

He was pleased, and somewhat surprised, that she seemed to remember him from such an age.  He smiled at her pleasantly.

"Well, I can only imagine what you might think of me", he continued, "at that age I was either continuously in trouble with my father, or was busy cleaning horse manure out of my hair: neither image, I fear, is particularly flattering."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:39, Mon 29 Nov 2021.

In reply to Lady Victoria Darenvern (msg # 18):

Sir John smiled and said, "I am honored to receive such distinguished guests."
Leaving William and the Darenverns to continue their conversation, he moved on to welcome me the new guests.

Seeing Angeline and Robert entering escorted by Doris, Sur John came to welcome them, saying, "As always I am glad to have your company, Miss Walsh, and it is also a pleasure to welcome you to Allton, Mr. Wnitford; I hope you will enjoy your stay here."

Glass of wine in had, the Vicar approached Lady Victoria Darenvern.

"Lady Victoria, what a pleasure to see you again. May I say, you are looking quite resplendant this evening."

Victoria blushed as he spoke, blushed and thrilled all at the same time.  That William remembered her was pleasing.  As for why it was Victoria couldn't actually say.  Her blush and smile was not lost on her parents and Harald smiled in turn.

"Major William, no apology necessary.  You've not spoken ill, in fact I say why don't you two go and catch up?  You and I can discuss business another day, we are her to make merry are we not?" 

The Earl did not wait for an answer, he took Margret's hand and guide her away as quickly as decorum allowed.  Margret whispered when they were well away, "now that went rather well I say." Both smiled as they began to mingle with the other guests, not out of sight of course.

When her parents departed she turned to William, "you do not give yourself enough credit Major William as I recall you were always smiling or laughing with my brother.  It was the smile I remember."  She dared to flirt back.  "Come, I want to hear all your news Major William, are you to stay in Alton?  Or do you plan to return to London, which would be rather mean if I do say so."

As she spoke with William the Vicar came over and was quite the gentleman.  "Hello Vicar Arabin, thank you."  She smiled back and stepped a little to the right to give the Vicar room to join their discussion, "have you two met?" She asked but much like her father just plowed ahead without hearing the reply, "may I introduce Major William Hood," she said to David and then to William she did the same, "and Major William may I introduce you to Vicar David Arabin, he is an Oxford man and is also new to Alton."

The Vicar extended a hand.

"Major Hood. Welcome to Alton. I trust your visit will be a pleasant one."

William was surprised, and rather happily, when the Darenverns quickly made their exit and left him alone with Ms. Victoria - if only for a moment, as he was just then introduced to the new Vicar of Alton.  William smiled and extended his hand in greeting.

"Mr. Arabin, a pleasure to meet you.  I see that you are new to Alton as well; have you found the air to be pleasant?"

He smiled, but inside he chaffed at the chance to get Ms. Victoria alone to speak with her - she seemed most friendly indeed!  But duty, even social ones, always came before pleasure.

"I am finding it a most pleasant place, thank you. The church is a little gem and the people are friendly. The Vicarage even has the makings of a garden - horticulture being a passion that I share with Lady Victoria here. We have already managed to visit each other's gardens. Her cornflowers are a sight to behold."

The Vicar smiled, reining in his enthusiasm. A soldier might not be interested in the likes of cornflowers, after all!

"I trust you'll be around long enough to attend service. I am discovering the history of the church and of those who have served there before me. I'd be happy to show you around if that appeals."

Lady Victoria remained smiling as the Vicar spoke of their gardens.  She did have a love of the cornflower, it was a favorite.  She took a moment to look around and noticed quite a few familiar faces.

When the Vicar spoke of services she brightened, "oh Major William do say you'll attend?  If you've not a pew to sit in I am sure father will be obliging to let you share ours.  It is a beautiful church, nothing like to ones in London, this one is..." she paused trying to think of the right word to describe to church, "...well for lack of a better word I'd say it is comfortable, warm and just...oh do say you'll come?"

He was after all a friend of her family.

William stiffened considerably; this as not a conversation he'd expected to have so early on, and he hated disappointing people, especially someone whom he very much wanted to oblige.  But he also had a duty to remain true to himself.

"I'm...afraid the war on the Peninsula has left me something of a realist, in matters where faith are concerned.  I saw a lot of brave young men lie on the battlefield, crying out to god for his grace and intervention, and they received none of it.  It has left me questioning a great many things, things which ought not be brought up at a happy time such as this.  Suffice to say...it may be some time before I return to the arms of the church, no offense Vicar."

He looked down at his feet, hoping he did not commit a faux pas which he could never recover.

"Cornflowers...yes, I recall seeing a lovely field of cornflowers in France, le bleuets, I believe they are called, just south of Arles, where I was confined.  I couldn't be certain that they are the same species as our English cornflowers, but they looked the same from where I was..."

He trailed off, wondering where the conversation would go next.

"Oh, no offense taken, Major Hood, although there may be time for discussion in the future... Cornflowers are indeed rather splendid. Lady Victoria has some very fine specimens in her gardens, and my predecessor in the Vicarage was not backwards in cultivating his own either."

Ah, dear poor lost soul. Never having seen a battlefield - and hoping never to do so - the Vicar could but imagine the effect of one on a man's faith, his relationship with his Maker. He moved the conversation to less contentious matters.

After hearing him confess his feelings on faith she felt quite bad for the memories they must have brought to the surface and hoped she hadn't insulted him.  When he mentioned confinement her heart and stomach plummeted.  Victoria's eyebrows furrowed wishing the floor would open up and sallow her up.

Taking up some courage she thought to turn the conversation over to horses.  A fail safe of hers, "mmm, gardens bring such joy, yes, but..." A small smile appeared on her face, "a good ride through the meadows never ceases to bring happiness.  When I am having a bad go of it I always have my spirited chestnut mare, she has the perfect set of neat ears and a dainty head. She carries herself with a lively presence and possess a good depth of girth, she has well-sprung ribs and her slope is just right.  You'd be hard pressed to find another like her, she has a fire and when she sprints, well my Fiona is a vision of beauty."

She stopped suddenly and a color spread from her neck to the top of her head, "do pardon me, I got a little lost there.  Fiona was a gift from my father and well I get a little carried away.  Please forgive me."  She looked up with an apological smile for the two gentlemen.

"My Marcus is nowhere as good looking, but he is a good steady animal nevertheless," contributed the Vicar, "Although I doubt that his as fast as Fiona either. Maybe we should hold a cross-country race someday, ride out on our horses together. With a picnic afterwards, of course."

In reply to Sir John Marke (msg # 17):

"Thank you, " Robert said with a smile. He would make his way to meet with the guests. He wasn't one to start a conversation necessarily, but enjoyed talking with others regardless.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Thu 02 Dec 2021.

William returned to the conversation with a smile.

"There is nothing like a good horse; a bracing gallop in fine weather in the lovely countryside, with the wind blowing across your face is all anyone ever needs from time to time, although the more time the better.  And while I am sure you both possess excellent horses, I for one would not trade my Sirocco for the sunset, nor for the entire world and its contents.  Sometimes I feel like I am only really free when I am riding him.  And that's why I've come here, really: I want to start a horse farm, with Sirocco as the main sire, and breed horses.  Seeing the number of men killed in battle was bad enough, but the number of horses I saw - "

He paused for a moment.

"...anyway, the world could certainly use more fine horses, but not for battle, but for riding in the countryside; not a pet, but a true companion.  Treat a horse well, and you have a friend for life."

Sir John remarked, "Like the vicar, I cannot claim my horse would keep up with Sirocco in a race, but he is a very good companion in a ride about the countryside --one of my favorite recreations since childhood. I think I can say I have explored every country lane within a day's ride of Markham Hall, and a good number of those beyond that distance. I should be most happy to share any of them with those who choose to go --with a picnic afterwards, as Dr. Arabin said."

In reply to Sir John Marke (msg # 17):

Angeline nodded  at the maid, and went inside, removing her spencer jacket and handing it to said maid.

 "Thank you" she said when Sir John greeted her and Mr Whitford. "A pleasure to be here."

"A very great pleasure to have you with us, Miss Walsh. Please join the company and take what you may wish to drink." Sir John replies.

"A horserace would indeed be most fun and we could bring the entire town together.  Make it a town picnic and the fun that could be had, why father would surely be supportive of this idea Vicar Arabin, what a marvelous idea."

It was good to speak of horses, seemed to bring a bit of happiness if only for a few minutes to the majors eyes.  For a moment she was saddened by what she'd remembered of him and what the war had done.  Oddly she wished to know more of his time there but not for ghoulish reasons but to understand who he now was.

"Breed horses you say Major Hood?  well then you must come to our home, father will want to speak with you for he has retired you see, Harry has taken over for my father in London and he has been trying to find interested parties to partner with.  You would do well to speak with him.  And Will..."  She stopped herself turning a bit for speaking his first name so casually.  How rude of her.  "Yes, Major Hood you must come to tea next chance you have for father would want to speak further."

Victoria was a little nervous still, hoping she'd not displeased the Major, with their families history she did not want to ruin a valued friendship over her foolishness.

"May I ask you both when you arrived in Alton?  I know Vicar you are new but when did you arrive?  And Major Hood, have you only just come to our little hamlet?  I say that like I've lived here my entire life but this has only ever been a country retreat really.  Father always enjoyed the country."

"I have been here but a month or so. Still meeting parishoners and getting to know my way around," said the Vicar.

"It is my first real parish, so very exciting. Previously I was a college chaplain in Oxford, quite different. A bunch of young men to care for, they have other needs from a village."

William smiled at the radiant young lady; so far she hadn't seemed put off by his statements, unless she was being extraordinarily polite.

"About a fortnight, Lady", William replied, "I bumped into an old friend while in hospital in London, Sir Charles Grey, and he told me much about Alton while we both recovered.  he told me so much, in fact, that it did not take long for me to desire to see the area for myself.  I was looking for a place to call my own after my recovery, and after everything that happened on the Peninsula I was ready for a slower, quieter place, a greener place with flowers and hedgerows; I wanted to become a gentleman of the countryside.  And so here I am, at the gracious thanks of Sir John and his family.  As you may recall, Lady, I am from the Midlands, originally, Warwickshire.  Having no desire to return there after my service was concluded, nor any to remain in London, Alton seemed like an expedient, and ultimately rewarding choice.  There is a small, unoccupied manor house called Langley, not far from town proper; my intention is to buy that property, and possibly some of the surrounding land, and turn it into a horse farm.  I would certainly enjoy to speak with your father, the Earl, with regards to this task, at the very least to ask him his opinion, something I have always valued."

To go from the son of landed gentry to a working gentleman farmer was not an 'upwardly mobile' profile, to borrow a coarse American phrase, but it nonetheless accurately and honestly described his intentions.  In many ways, he would be committing social suicide, at least in the eyes of his father and the pole climbers at Court, but William had no interest in such things, only the peace and quiet and happy life heretofore denied him due to his station and family.  Now, what the Darenverns thought of that, who could say, but William could imagined exactly what the Earl might think of that.

"I suppose there are some who would think me foolish for such a scheme, given my family and their status, but if I might lead a life of otherwise quiet contentment it seems a small price to pay.  My father, of course, is adamantly against the idea, as are the rest of my family, which is why we are...estranged.  Well, all the best families fight, from time to time..."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 07 Dec 2021.