Lechance

The mixer was very well chaperoned, hosted at the hotel by Ms. Sheedy. There was a piano player for music, a buffet against one wall. There were tables for eating and talking, and a space set aside for dancing. Under Ms. Sheedy's beady eye.

Some of the Beloveds at the hotel had arrived early to help set up the room so even by the time it officially 'opened' at 6 pm there was a bit of a crowd of unmarried people.

Patrick turned up at the Beloveds' hotel with an armful of lilies (arranged in a long boquet and adorned with a huge white bow) and the bookish Mr Wilkins in tow as chaperone.

He was looking a lot smarter than he had when he'd bumped into Amy on the street in his work clothes. He'd made enough money now, with the incredible wealth of early-blooming flowers in LeChance, to buy a new suit, in pale ochre, and his cravat and the handkerchief in his pocket were a dull green. The colours of the earth. They suited him, and he knew it.

He sent up his card to Amy and waited in the parlour he was shown into, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He'd liked Amy - a little timid, maybe, but surely a man could coax her into a little more courage if he tried? He was, he had to admit, excited and looking forward to this.

Amy was hoping the new year would bring more luck to her than the last but, despite the lingering thought that it was another year gone, another year without getting matched, she was hopeful. She was out enjoying the weather, walking along the street and looking at the displays still lingering in the window when she almost bumped into someone and had to step aside quickly to avoid them - and step again to avoid walking into her escort.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry," she said, blushing bright.

The main gathering hall had been decorated with swags of greens and candles, lending a soft, romantic glow to the space. Tables were scattered throughout the hall and along one side there was an elborate buffett spread. Musicians had set up unobstrusively next to the large space left open for dancing.

In one corner there was a large evergreen tree decorated with more candles, preserved flowers and fruits, strings of cranberries, small paper doilies, and ribbons and tied to tree branches. But the center of attraction was the yule log burning in the huge fireplace at the end of the hall.

Before the festivities began, Leroy made a short speech thanking the residents of LeChance for the hard work over many months, congratulating the newly married and affianced, wishing everyone happy holidays and set the party in motion.

Thursday morning, and Effie had a pair of gloves completed, lifted, laundered and stitched, and packaged ready to go. Her first expedition to the post office without a chaperon - without needing one.

A fine, bracing morning, and she tugged her shawl snugly around her shoulders, head held high and parcel held close as she turned the corner, bobbing a curtsy of greeting to the person approaching from the opposite direction. "Good morning to ye."

Late in the afternoon, a small crowd gathered in a field to participate in the gathering of the final harvest of the season. They loaded it into a decorated horse-drawn wagon and followed it into town, singing songs and waving sheafs of hay.

More people followed along as the parade passed them by, leading them into the square that normally held the merchants but had been cleared earlier for the celebration. There were still a few booths set up but they'd been converted to homes for games. The growing crowd was invited to march to the cathedral for a short service or to stay at the square to help set up for a feast.

Lanterns were lit all around the buildings and the square, casting a warm glow. There was just the slightest nip in the air but that would be dispelled when the dancing started later. Enormous amounts of food were heaped on a banquet table and long tables were set with glittering china and strewn with bouquets of late-blooming flowers.

Amy was more than a little nervous. She had absolutely no reason to be, she supposed, considering that it wasn't anything big or anything. They were just going to discuss her book and...God, she couldn't believe Ms Lenoy had actually read her book and wanted to talk to her about it. The nerves must have been from that; except the kids, she'd never had much face-to-face feedback.

She smoothed down her skirt as she spotted Cathy, lips tugging up into a smile - and trying not to make it so obvious that she was thinking so much about this.

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Contains a book and the following note.

I hope this isn't too forward but I thought to send you a copy of my book. This was the sort of thing I was writing in the park.

It was a pleasure to talk to you, Ms. Lenoy, and if you have time, I would love to do it again.

Yours sincerely,
Amy Mias

Paul called at the sheriff's house on the way to the Beloveds' hotel. His suit was still a little creased from being folded in his traveling trunk, which annoyed him, but he hadn't had time to let it hang any longer to allow the creases to drop out. It was, at least, smart and clean.

It was his first courting call in nearly eighteen years.

Arriving at the hotel, he took a deep breath, summoned a smile for Jonas, and went to the desk, requesting that his card should be delivered to Ms. Mias to announce his arrival, then turned back to Jonas. "It's really terribly kind of you to do this," he said, quite sincerely. "For a newcomer, as well."

Delivered to the hotel for the careful attention of Ms. Amy Mias, along with Dr. Roberts' card:

Dear Ms. Mias,

Mayor Lechance tells me that you have been informed to expect my note, but please rest assured that the decision to entertain my company or not lies entirely at your discretion. Should you be gracious enough to receive me, I would beg your indulgence for a visit on Monday afternoon at 4, at the hotel, for afternoon tea.

Please inform me of your decision and availability.

Hoping that this note finds you in health,

Sincerely, at your service,

Dr. Paul Roberts

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Amy was settled under a tree just outside the hotel. There was a book by her side, but her notebook was open in her lap and she was twirling a pen around her fingers, occasionally scribbling something down before going back to fidgeting again.

She finally let out a small breath and looked up, offering the person close by a smile. "Hello there. We're having such wonderful weather, aren't we?"

Edward wandered around the shop, looking at the vegetable selection that was in the general store. In his head, he was making a list in his head, and creating a recipe for dinner that night.

He wandered over and picked up a tomato, turning it a little in his hand. It wasn't until a moment later that he noticed someone was standing close by. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, blushing a little. "Did you want to get past?"

Thomas arrived at the hotel promptly at 3:25, in the company of a young married lady by the name of Ms. Peters who had become a regular customer in his shop and been delighted to agree to his rather hesitant request for her chaperoning services.

He sent his card up to Ms. Mias to announce his arrival, and waited in the salon, conversing amiably with Ms. Peters about the remarkable happenings in Mr. Collins' latest novel.

Delivered to Ms. Sheedy's hotel, for the attention of Ms. Amy Mias:

Mr. Thos. Murray requests the pleasure of Ms. Mias' company to take tea on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30pm, and begs the indulgence of her response.

A suitable chaperone will be arranged.

Jonathan polished himself up, brushed his hair, put on nice clothing, before going to the hotel with a Mr. Eddington, a beloved barber who'd trimmed Jonathan's hair for him earlier in the day.

They arrived promptly at three, sending word, then waiting for Amy in a sitting room.

Ms. Mais,
I would be honored to call on you at 3 pm on Friday afternoon, if you would be able to receive me.
Thank you,
Jonathan Ibis

( Letters to Ascendants )

( Beloved )

Jon's office was set up to his standards now, not that they were high, just exacting. Now it was time for him to choose a house. He walked slowly through the streets, looking avidly at the houses available. As the sun climbed higher, he found a bench under a bit of shade and watched the people walking by. Business was set up, house next and then perhaps a visit to the Yenta.

He'd never admit it, but he was anxious about being matched. Nervous and excited and worried. At his age, he'd never even had one due to the circumstances of his family. What if it wasn't his family though, what if it was him. Something about him that made him innately difficult to match?

He worried quietly until someone joined him on the bench. "Lovely afternoon isn't it?"