Intro To My Novel (2) “Oh! My dearest niece! I am sorry, I truly apologize. I did not at all mean to be so nosy, I---” Mrs. Broadson was unable to finish the sentence before the sound of tramping footsteps down the staircase was heard by both ladies. “Miss Celina?!” “Oh, Miss Dae, forgive me for not introducing you to my little nephew, that one I told you about?” “Yes, of course…pleased to meet you….Thomas?” “Yes! She knows my name Aunt Annie!” “Certainly she does, child. I told her of you and William and George. Where are William and George? For the dear life of me I can never place where they are this time of day!” “Somewhere far outside killing another rabbit I wager, Aunt. How they caught the last one, the day before yesterday! You should have seen it! What a chase! Miss Celina, you should see it!” “Thomas! Miss Celina does not care to see the gruesome sight, and I want you to speak no more of it! Be off with you now, find the dogs.” “Miss Celina, do you like dogs?” “Yes, I like dogs very much.” “Don’t you care to see them with a rabbit?” “Thomas! Silly boy!” “Unfortunately, Thomas,” Miss Dae smiled, “I care for rabbits nearly as much as I care for dogs.” “Oh…fine,” Thomas left sighing. “Thomas, Thomas….silly boy. How could I expect you, Miss Dae, to enjoy the sight of dogs, with pieces of a poor little rabbit in their mouths?” Celina only made a slight frown. “At any rate, my dear niece, I meant by no means to poke my nose into your affairs at all, but how horrific it is what you tell me! Being in a family of the most talented singers in world, and you claim you cannot sing a lyric! Have you had any training?” “I have had no training, I refused it from my father….I vowed never to sing again, after humiliating myself in the public.” “Oh you poor little thing, but it is so very fortunate that you are handsome! My, I had heard of your family from all around, and that you were a reputed beauty, but I couldn’t have imagined you so very pretty! Do you play any instruments?” “I play the pianoforte, ma’am.” “Wonderful! You are very fortunate my dear, that I have a pianoforte. It is in plain view right in that corner, if you happen to see. My husband played it a little, but I play it none at all! Or perhaps a little….but very poorly! Yes, I have never been very musical. Oh, but dearest, it must be so hard not to go to Paris with your family…very heartbreaking! You must be alone in your house?” “With the servants,” Celina added. “Oh, come now, you mustn’t stay alone. You must stay with me while your family is gone! I cannot possibly take no for an answer. I like you very much already, why should you stay alone?” “Mrs. Broadson, you are too kind, I thank you. However, my family will be gone for more than two months, and that is a very long time to take advantage of your kindness.” “No, no, that is no problem at all! I would take you in for a year if I could, my dear! I will have a servant go for your clothing and belongings so that you may bring them up here!” “Oh, Mrs. Broadson, really you are so very sweet to me! I thank you but I---” “You will stay my dear, you must. I could never allow a young lady to stay all alone for months in a house….all alone! Here at least you have a couple people to keep you just a bit of company. Oh, and you mustn’t mind me too much, I shall not be in your way or bother you too much. I may seem like a bothersome old woman but I truly do mean well!” “Why, Mrs. Broadson, you do not seem bothersome. I thank you for all your kindness, and if I have no argument, than I cannot refuse to stay.” “Splendid! Splendid! By the way, it will not at all be that boring; I invite company here very often, so you will not be lonely all the time! Sometimes for balls, sometimes for dinners, I enjoy young people very much. Perhaps you may meet a handsome beau? I know not a bachelor in Devonshire who could think to refuse a girl as pretty as you!” Celina thanked Mrs. Broadson for the compliment. Mrs. Broadson, a short, but stalky woman, was a woman who not only enjoyed company, but cherished it. Throughout Devonshire Annie Broadson was known for making matches among the young people of the town. She delighted in embarrassment, romance, young people, handsome people, and the sound of her own voice. Therefore be certain, Mrs. Broadson would waste no time in inviting many amiable bachelors and friends to her “humble abode.” The funeral was a short procession, done with a small assembly of people that were well acquainted, or very close with Mr. Edward Brendan. This day slowly passed for Miss Dae. Mrs. Broadson, Miss Dae, Thomas, and Mr. Brendan, a young hunting friend of Mr. Broadson, attended dinner at Mrs. Broadson’s residence. He was kind and amiable, but none so handsome, and was shy and lacking articulacy. Mrs. Broadson liked him, Miss Dae esteemed him, but Thomas was none so impressed. “Pray, how long do you plan to stay in Devonshire Mr. Brendan?” asked Miss Dae. “Two…. or, perhaps three weeks, my brother and I are staying with my widowed mother.” “Good heavens! Your mother is living all alone? How lonely, how very lonely! How long has the lady been widowed?” “Over twenty years, ma’am, you are…you are correct that she is lonely, her house is very…quite large. My father was a rich or….considerably wealthy man, and my brother and I have…..quite a fortune in our hands.” “Ay, you are rich, my dear boy! That will do you much good with the young ladies. Oh sir, do not attempt to deny you are blushing!” Mrs. Broadson chuckled now fixing two eyes on Celina, who did not blush, but looked down from her companions. After Mr. Brendan departed, Mrs. Broadson smiled at Celina. “I will find you a good beau, Miss Dae, you must count on it.” Celina did not smile or thank her for her concern, but only said, “You needn’t do such things Mrs. Broadson.” The old lady only chuckled as Miss Dae left to her room. A Disagreeable Bachelor “Hum, ho, hum! La-di-da-la-di-da-la-di-da! The ball is this evening, Miss Dae! Oh, you certainly mustn’t display your talents on the pianoforte the entire ball, you must converse….mingle. My dear, it is the only way that you may meet many friends in this town.” “Perhaps, I shall not play the pianoforte too long at all,” said Miss Dae at the breakfast table that morning, after young Thomas had left the table. “Capital…..splendid! I shall tell you of the people I have invited! The Jennings residence, an old mother, four daughters, and a boring old man; the Willingtons, four sons, one daughter, and two lovely parents; the Tritons, a widowed woman with two daughters and one son; the Harnets, a family with nine children, six boys, three girls, and only a father. The poor mother died of childbirth to the youngest, Mary. The Waringtons, I know not much of them, they are new to this town…oh yes they are relatives of Mrs. Harington! She is their Aunt I believe. All I know is they have eleven people in their family, total. Mr. Brendan, of course, along with his brother and mother, I believe he will bring a few gentleman friends. The Darsons, the mother in that family is a delightful good friend of mine, she has three sons only, and a somewhat droll husband. The Blanets, one young girl, and two boys, and a pair of kind parents; I also invited a few of my good friends, Mrs. Harington, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Angales, and Mrs. Bendson. Oh, I know there must have been a few more individuals I invited….yes there certainly were. People about the town, you know….and I told all these people to bring whoever they wanted to bring…..even if they had not been invited directly.” “That is quite a ball indeed, Mrs. Broadson!” exclaimed her young friend. “I have been preparing this for quite some time. The kitchen is quite hectic already with servants running about…..preparing things! I find it all delightful! You should certainly have the first few songs on the pianoforte before other ladies display their talents…you will. Thank heavens my house is large enough for all these people! Oh, but Miss Dae, you must miss your family very much.” “Indeed I do, but I would no rather be in anyone else’s company than you, Mrs. Broadson,” Celina smile as she poured cream into her tea. “Child, you flatter me too much! I care for you, my good relative. You are muck like the daughter I never had. Well, I shall not babble on like this….I will visit my good friend Mrs. Harington today, she is a terribly lonely old widow! Will you come?” “I mustn’t….Thomas begged me this morning that I would promise to take him about the town today, he would like to spend a small bit of money getting….oh what was it…I cannot quite remember! That is, if you will permit it, my lady.” “Oh, yes, certainly, certainly. Thomas is a lively boy of nine, be on your guard, my good dear!” Mrs. Broadson gave her usual merry chuckle. Celina left the breakfast table and got ready to take leave with Thomas, anxiously waiting by the door. Thomas and Miss Dae set off that afternoon, a fine and sunny day it was, as they walked to town. Miss Dae talked of simple things at first, the weather, Mrs. Broadson’s estate, the town, yet Thomas wanted to converse otherwise. “Miss Celina?” “Yes?” “Why…sometimes….do you….get very sad?” The young woman was slightly confused by this inquiry, but forcedly made a hasty responsive inquiry. “When have I gotten sad?” “When you play the piano sometimes….I see this very….painful sort of look on your face….like you just sat on a pin or something.” “Sometimes….when you play the piano…the music….makes you sad.” “Also…..sometimes in your room I see you start to cry…just a little. Sometimes….when you go for walks I see a very miserable sort of look on your face.” Miss Dae was trying to think of a quick answer to excuse her occasional melancholy feelings. “Was it because your family left you?” Miss Dae sighed. “Perhaps….perhaps when I think of that it makes me often sad…yes.” “You cry because you miss your family?” “Thomas….say you were born into a family….and they were all very, very good at something….something that amazed people extraordinarily. They were so very talented…and you were not so talented at all, and you believed in something…..you believed in something that you were sure was going to help you…..but it never came. Would you be sad?” “Well….I do not know….that’s an odd sort of situation.” “Indeed, indeed, it’s a very odd situation!” she moaned. They walked faster, and in silence for the next few minutes, until reaching the town. “What were you looking to buy Thomas?” “A handkerchief.” “Why on earth would you want to buy a handkerchief for? Did you lose yours?” “No! Why would I buy a stupid little thing like that for?! It is for Aunt Annie.” “She needs a handkerchief?” “Yes, it is a present, I feel sorry that Uncle died.” “Actually Thomas…it seems you have quite read my mind, for I have lost mine as well! How odd! I know I brought it with me to Devonshire, yet today I was searching all over the house and it did not seem to appear.” “You probably lost it out-” “Look here, Thomas. This store seems like it would have handkerchiefs.” The shop was small and tidy, none like any of the ones Miss Dae had ever been in. Thomas went to the handkerchiefs, and Miss Dae planned on doing so as well, if her eye had not caught a certain gentleman she knew. His eye caught hers and he gave a warm smile. “Why Mr. Brendan, what a pleasure!” “My…..Miss…..Dae! No, no…the pleasure is all mine. I would have never expected….oh, wait, forgive me. I must introduce you to this man, my elder brother, Robert Brendan. Mr. Brendan made a gesture toward the elder Mr. Brendan, of seven and twenty. “How do you do Mr. Brendan?” Miss Dae smiled kindly to him. The elder Mr. Brendan courteously nodded, but was grave. He was a tall man with brown hair, and looked quite handsome, but did not seem, to Celina, extremely friendly. “I have heard you both will be attending Mrs. Broadson’s ball with friends?” “Indeed, yes! I find balls extremely enjoyable! In fact, I am quite looking forward to seeing you this evening.” “Why, thank you.” “I have heard from Mrs. Broadson, that you are an exceptional pianist.” “I love playing the pianoforte very much. What brings you into town Mr. Brendan?” “I live very close to here, and we were just taking a bit of a walk, and decidedly stopped her. What brings you into town Miss Dae?” “I have taken Thomas into town to buy a present for his aunt.” “Miss Celina! Come here!” the voice was now Thomas. “You must excuse me,” Miss Dae told the Brendans, and went to Thomas. “You pick it out! I cannot do this!” “Very well, Thomas, give me the money please. Perhaps I will by a handkerchief of my own…did I bring money? Oh, yes…indeed.” Thomas did so and went off to look at objects in the store that caught his interest. Once the handkerchiefs were chosen and bought, Miss Dae left with Thomas, realizing the Brendans had left the store. As Thomas and Miss Celina walked back home Thomas talked of how he wondered what use handkerchiefs were when one had sleeves. “A handkerchief is a much more polite alternative to a sleeve,” laughed Miss Dae. “I do not like Mr. Brendan very much, at all,” groaned Thomas, known to often change the subject of a conversation quickly. “Why Thomas! I find him quite agreeable!” “I meant the elder Mr. Brendan.” The young woman gave the matter a few seconds of thought. “Well, perhaps he does not converse easily with strangers…..yet I do not find him disagreeable.” “I do….he’s terribly bothersome! I do not like him!” “Why Thomas! Why on earth would you speak of him in such a way?” “He is just…bad.” “Bad? Why?” “He just is!” “Very well, Thomas, if you will talk of him so unreasonably without a reason in the world of disliking him aside from the fact that he does not talk incredibly much---” “That is not why!” “Then why?” “He spoke unjustly of you!” “Unjustly….of me? Well….what did he say?” Thomas only gave another groan. “Oh, Thomas! Can’t you see I’m anxious!” Miss Dae cried like a young child. “When you were picking a handkerchief, and I passed by the two, I heard the younger one say, ‘Well, isn’t she an agreeable woman?’ And stupid elder Mr. Brendan said, ‘I find her to be nothing extraordinary.’ And the younger said, ‘Why? Do you find her to be disagreeable? You must admit she is remarkably pretty!’ Mr. Impudence said, ‘I find her agreeable only in the sense that she is tolerable. She is not elegant, refined, or to anything of my taste. I will say nothing of her looks aside from that charm can be easily surpassed when you look into her and see a silly girl intrigued with the pianoforte.’ And the younger said something like, ‘You are too cruel!’ I then passed by.” Miss Dae collected this information, smiling. “Perhaps, to him, I am a silly girl intrigued with the pianoforte, but I care not of what he thinks. He is not agreeable or charming, so it can not matter in the least to me, what he thinks.” “He thinks wrongly!” “Let him think what he may, give no special attention to the elder Mr. Brendan.” Both continued to the house with a decided dislike for Mr. Brendan, yet more preoccupied with reaching their destination quickly, it being a humid day. Once at the house Thomas presented the present to a delighted Mrs. Broadson, who had changed her mind about leaving to talk to her friend, saving her energy for mingling at the ball. Miss Dae sat at the pianoforte as Mrs. Broadson talked spoke with Thomas. Hours went by before Miss Dae freshened up and changed before the ball that evening, and walked out of her room as lovely as one could imagine a beautiful lady could look. “Miss Dae! I say! You are such an attractive girl! What a beautiful dress!” was the exclamation of Mrs. Broadson. “Thank you Mrs. Broadson.” “I really do hope you have a splendid time….despite….unwanted company. What an insolent and distasteful young man!” The harsh words directed to Miss Dae from Mr. Robert Brendan were relayed to Mrs. Broadson through Thomas. Mrs. Broadson was shocked at these repugnant words, and thought only of what a pity it was that he must have been invited to her ball! The crowd slowly filled with people, young ladies in pretty dresses, woman in elegant attire, young and old men, some younger children. Miss Dae sat at the pianoforte and played three songs for three dances, all cheerful and lively, and she was highly applauded after finishing the final song. Then another young lady, smiling at Celina, sat down at the pianoforte.
Copyright © 2006 Jenelle Marie Dayton |