black_wolf (black_wolf) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-06-30 09:03:00 |
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Entry tags: | lucien swinton, maggie stanbury |
Who: Lucien Black, Maggie Stanbury, Matthew Hill (NPC)
What: Lucien, Maggie, and Maggie's sister in law come to Black Park for a visit
When: 30th June, 1888
Where: Matthew's cottage
Rating: G
Lucien could feel his heart getting lighter as the carriage finally broke out of London proper and entered the rolling countryside, the sun dappling through the curtains and the country breeze blowing fresh and light through the open windows of the carriage.
It’d taken some doing, but between his polite invitation and Maggie’s behind the scenes maneuvering, they’d managed (miraculously) to convince the Baron and Baronness that a short visit to Black Park would be just the thing to raise Maggie’s spirits, to inject some novelty and sunlight into her otherwise isolated existence, and that as Lucien was such a close family friend, it wouldn’t entirely be improper -- a casual visit, not a formal social call. It was another miracle that only her sister-in-law, Rebecca, was coming along for the trip, with the detestable Cousin Robert nowhere in sight.
He managed to get back to Black Park whenever possible -- he was there for nearly every full moon, of course, and when the House of Shadows wasn’t in session, but whenever he was in London he missed the place something fierce, a string tugging at his breastbone that didn’t loosen until he was back on familiar ground. His ground.
Normally, he’d be riding there -- it took far less time to take his own horse -- but this was a rather special occasion -- he’d be showing Maggie his home, his heart, the place he held most dear, and he wanted to be with her for every moment of it.
Oh, he had his doubts -- how could he not? He wondered whether someone as young and vibrant as Maggie could be happy spending so much time stuck in the countryside, tied to the land, when she could be traveling the world with a partner who had far fewer responsibilities -- he also wondered whether he could trust his instincts, whether this was what it felt like to be with one’s soulmate… and whether he could bear it if she chose another life, another partner.
But right now, the sun was shining, and the world seemed a little brighter with her in it, and he caught himself looking over at her with a gaze that was no doubt inappropriately fond, but he couldn’t give a damn.
Maggie returned the look as her sister-in-law’s gaze was firmly out the window. She suspected that Rebecca had a very good idea that she and Luce had feelings that went rather beyond friendship for each other, but the other woman hadn’t said anything confirming that either. Perhaps it was because Rebecca detested Robert as much as she did, or maybe she just felt Maggie deserved some happiness. Either way Maggie wasn’t looking this gift horse in the mouth.
She loved the countryside. It was one of the things that had made her fall in love with England in the first place. The rolling hills with their fields, pastures and woodlands punctuated by ancient villages that dated back to far before America was even a thought in explorers’ heads. She wanted to explore every nook and cranny, see what discoveries could be made.
And now she was seeing it with new eyes. The past two years she’d been more or less trapped in London, tied to the portal leading from Hyde Park to a safe place for Wolves to change and run with the moon without fear of hurting anyone. It had been immensely frustrating for her, and for her in-laws who wanted her back at the country estate. But for all that they’d treated her like a minor child or ward, she’d been a widow with her own rights and property, and that had let her put her foot down on certain occasions and get her way.
And she was getting to see it with Lucien. See his home. It was a huge step and Maggie didn’t bother hiding the bit of anxiety she felt at the move. What would his people think of her? The strange American widow not even a quarter century old, a newly made wolf at that, coming onto their turf and making eyes at their Alpha. It could go very badly in any number of ways.
“I was thinking,” Lucien said, breaking the silence in the carriage, “that is, if you’re amenable, we might stop by Matthew’s on the way to the house, and walk the rest of the way. I’m sure he’d love to meet you both.” He looked over at Maggie. “That, or we might walk over once we get settled?”
Matthew was more than Luce’s close childhood friend and beta, he was at the center of the pack at Black Park, and Luce depended on him to provide regular updates in order to keep him connected to the goings-on in his absence. Matthew balanced Lucien -- he was loud and friendly and never knew a stranger, able to maintain a comfortable and easy-going relationship with the members of the pack, and while Lucien could tend to worry over-much, Matthew provided his steady, solid support and a healthy dash of optimism Lucien sorely needed at times. When Lucien had lost his parents at a young age, and had taken on a heavy mantle, Matthew’d been a lifeline -- he trusted the man explicitly, bone-deep, and he’d needed that trust to know Black Park would be in good hands while he was away in London.
“I think a walk would be lovely, don’t you Rebecca?” Maggie looked over at her sister in law, who tore herself away from looking out at the countryside. She blinked, as if not quite sure she’d understood, then her expression cleared and she nodded.
“Yes, I think after a long carriage ride a good walk would be just what we need. And you’ve spoken so much of Matthew it feels like we’ve all known him for years, it would be good to meet him in person finally.”
Lucien nodded, pleased, and when they drew close to the blacksmith’s, rapped on the wall of the carriage to signal the driver to stop.
The blacksmith’s cottage was small, but nicely appointed -- he lived there with his sister, who kept the place neat, and his Mate, a man by name of Neddie who did odd jobs around the village. The workshop was nestled behind the cottage, the fires usually kept hot even at the height of summer, and as they pulled up, Matthew emerged from the shop, wiping his hands on a spare piece of cloth and removing his thick leather apron.
Lucien could see Matthew’s ear-splitting grin through the carriage curtains, and his smile in return was wide and immediate. Once he’d made sure both ladies were safely disembarked, he approached his friend with a glad step and a light heart.
“Lucky,” Matthew called out heartily, clasping his hand and clapping his other on Luce’s shoulder blades before laughing and ruffling his hair affectionately. Lucien laughed along with him and rested his hand briefly on the back of Matthew’s neck, breathing in the familiar smell of him happily.
“Matthew,” he said, his hand moving to his friend’s wide shoulder, “I have the greatest pleasure of introducing you to my dear friends, Lady Rebecca Stanbury, and Lady Marguerite Stanbury.”
Matthew immediately gave a short bow, and extended a broad, work-scarred hand. “An honor, Ma’am,” he said, to Rebecca, before turning to Maggie, his gaze steady. “And th’ Lady Maggie,” he said, quietly, his expansive voice a low rumble as he extended his hand to her. “An honor indeed.”
“Please, call me Maggie.” She took his hand and shook it (she was certain he’d expected to kiss it but she didn’t have time for that nonsense today), knowing Rebecca was rolling her eyes at both the words and the gesture. “I was only a Lady because my husband was in line for a Barony. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you Matthew, Luce has been singing your praises almost as long as I’ve known him.”
She’d watched the interaction between the two wolves and couldn’t help but see the easy familiarity between them, so unlike the relationship she’d seen between her father-in-law and his tenants around the same age. Clearly Black Park was a different sort of estate even beyond the supernatural.
Matthew flushed with obvious pleasure, giving her hand a firm shake. “Maggie, then,” he said, grinning. “And I might say likewise about you,” he added with a nod.
Sarah, his sister, soon came out of the house to join them, and, once the second round of introductions had been made, managed to whisk Rebecca away to the garden with a tempting offer of introducing her to some prize winning rosebushes, as “The Comte de Chambord was showin’ off somethin’ lovely,” and Luce, Maggie, and Matthew soon settled in Matthew’s small kitchen with mugs of tea.
“Tell you what,” Matthew said, as he passed around the mugs. “It’s beyond good, your comin’ here. High time, too,” he said, with a wide smile. He sat expansively, nudging Lucien with a shoulder, nearly making him slop his tea over the side of the mug. “M’ sure it’s a far cry from London, but we manage to make do alright.”
“Young Simon’s still got a spot of colic, but is doin’ well,” he added, “and the haying’s going as it ought, and everyone’s well into the shearin’. Missus Edwards’s been poorly again, but Martha n’ Miss Foster’s been keepin’ an eye on her, and don’t believe she needs a doctor. Bonfires were tended proper for Saint John’s, and no mischief beyond t’usual as far’s we can tell.”
Lucien nodded. “I’ll be sure to pay Mrs Edwards a visit while we’re here,” he said, before pausing and resting a hand on Maggie’s, looking over at her. “Ah. That is, we might?” He said, not wanting to presume.
Matthew snorted, leaning his chin on his broad hand. “Saints preserve us,” he drawled with a teasing rumble, and Lucien could feel his ears turning pink under his friend’s gaze. “I c’n read between the lines well enough, and b’lieve me,” he said as an aside to Maggie, “he’s written a bloody novel’s worth, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen ‘im this far gone.” He grinned. “Not that I blame ‘im, mind.”
Maggie blushed at the compliment, but was pleased at the obvious approval from Luce’s beta. “I’m pretty far gone myself I’m afraid. Head over heels.” She’d liked Luce a great deal before Charles’ death and her turning, but since that like had turned into something much deeper and stronger than she’d ever imagined. As far as she was concerned she was done mourning, as evidenced by the bright color of her outfit without a speck of black, and the sooner they were wed and together the better.
She put her other hand on top of his. “I’d be delighted to come visit Mrs. Edwards with you. I want to get to know everyone, be a part of life here.”
Lucien could feel his heart leap in his chest, a bright, nearly painful, giddy sort of incandescent happiness that was very nearly ridiculous -- the sort he hadn’t felt for decades, really. But sitting here, in the warmth of Matthew’s kitchen, with Maggie’s hands in his, the world made sense, and he was quite nearly overcome with it.
Leaning over, he kissed her on the cheek, and rested his forehead briefly against her for a moment to take a breath in, the smell of her centering and wonderful, before straightening and taking a sip of his tea.
He cleared his throat. “Well,” he said, quietly. “Let’s make certain you do, then.”
Matthew sighed, shaking his head, and this time, Maggie was the one who was clapped firmly on the back. “Good,” he said, simply, his eyes a little overly bright. “S’ good you’re here.”