InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "They call it BOOGIE FEVER!"

Daphne Wexley (daphnelovering) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-06-06 20:44:00

Entry tags:

aime_laurent, amandine_devereux, charles_hurst, christopher_blake, daphne_wexley, demetri_blake, lucas_blake, lysander_mountford-miles, olivia_blake, tobias_hurst

THE FUNERAL
Subject: Lord John Wexley IV's memorial.
Where: The Wexley family home.
Who: Daphne Wexley
Warnings: N/A
Open to: everyone who would have attended the funeral.

"...Lord John Oliver Wexley IV was buried today, but his spirit will live on in the rest of us... Amen.." finished the priest as he crossed the grave and then there was silence for a few moments. The first noise came from Lady Wexley, letting out a bellow of sobs that was obviously for show but no one would dare confront her about it. Daphne stood in between her brother, Johnny, and Daniel Perkins, trying her best to hold in any emotions that were fighting their way to the surface. Tears streamed down her face, but she made no noise, simply stared straight ahead and made eye contact with no one.

The party moved to the Wexley's family home where the guests were able to meet, discuss, and remember the passing of a very important man. Refreshments had been set up next to a rather large painting of John Wexley IV. Plenty of chairs and sofa's and places for people to sit and converse. Though, the object of the after party was to uplift the deceased and speak about him, but like any other party, everyone had their own objectives as to being there.

Daphne stood at the picture of her father, holding the glass of wine that Daniel had given her, not moving. She didn't to move, show emotion, talk, eat or drink. Knowing, though, that her mother was pretending to be completely beside herself, it was up to Daphne to be the hostess. Thank God for Johnny, though. He took up most of the duties himself.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-12 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Robert nodded as if that entire exchange had made sense. "Of- of course Miss Ella. I am sorry to hear about your mother and especially your sister. Are you... close with them?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 01:16 am UTC (link)

Ella looked around, feeling very off-kilter as she did so, but it was necessary and Mr. Brinsley was there supporting her. They were safely out in the fresh air and away from anyone else overhearing their conversation as far as she could tell.

"I've never been close with my mother, I don't mind telling you," Ella said somewhat sadly. It was a fact, and one she'd grown used to over her fifteen years. "But Daphne and I, we've grown close recently. I always hated her... well hate is such a strong word. I found her entirely disagreeable. ...But then she wrote to me and told me everything! About why she'd run away from us. About how she'd fallen madly in love with a Revolutionary! She'd followed her own mind, her own heart... It's just what I would do, Mr. Brinsley. Wouldn't you?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-12 01:32 am UTC (link)
	"Whoa, careful!" Robert said, grabbing Ella's elbow. "You seem a little unsteady on your feet, Miss Ella. She'd fallen in love with a revolutionary, you say? What was this revolutionary like?" Vanity, thy name was Robert Lovering. And sometimes Richard Brinsley. It depended on who you asked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 01:39 am UTC (link)

Ella held onto Mr. Brinsley's arm with both hands now, she leaned her cheek against his arm and looked up at him with a dreamy expression.

"He was intelligent, charming, handsome... and passionate about, well about his passions! The Revolution and Daphne," she said softly. It was so utterly romantic. The perfect man, the perfect woman, a topsy-turvy world and they were thrown about in it like discarded dolls in a playhouse. "It's terribly sad, Mr. Brinsley... you see, the Revolutionary was killed. His name was Robert."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

loverofliberty
2008-06-12 03:49 am UTC (link)

Robert puffed up with pride. Well, he was rather awesome when she put it that way, wasn't he? This was so highly gratifiying.

However, he assumed a properly mournful expression. "Ah, yes, that is so terribly sad. To have loved so deeply and lost so much!" He bit his knuckle in a fit of histronic grief. "It is almost too much! I assume Daphne never recovered from such a blow to her happiness?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 03:58 am UTC (link)

"I should have to say... I'm not certain. I am completely afraid that she has fallen in love again, but this time with a man so dull he ought to be a priest! I do not find him handsome either. Nor passionate. ...He's more like a mouse, honestly, quiet and unassuming. Completely boring! She can do much better than Dr. Perkins," Ella spouted off. She rolled her eyes at how much time her sister had spent with the doctor, though much of that was embellished in her own mind based on letters they'd exchanged. It was true that she hadn't really seen her sister until the funeral. But Ella could guess easily enough! "But there cannot be a man to compare to her dear Robert! I hope she doesn't think she has to settle for a mouse of a man. I shall have to tell her of her mistake... that she must find a man of passion."

Ella wasn't certain if some of her words were slurring together or not, but everything sounded right in her head. She smiled up at Mr. Brinsley again.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-12 04:10 am UTC (link)
	Robert kept his smile, though something white and bright and shining in him began to crumble away, as painful as a broken bone or a beating. "In... in love with Dr. Perkins, you said?" Robert asked, his voice strangled. "So she... gave up on Robert? For this... this quiet, unasuming, passionless doctor?" He had suspected- but he still had hoped otherwise- (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 04:23 am UTC (link)

Ella frowned. Mr. Brinsley must have been a passionate man himself, as he was so moved by her sister's tale of woe! She stroked his arm gently and leaned her cheek against his arm again, closing her eyes.

"Dear Robert is gone... there is no bring him back from death. I do not believe in ghost stories, Mr. Brinsley. And... as much as I dislike Daphne's current taste in men, I cannot say I blame her for not waiting for a dead man," Ella said in a kind voice. She hated what had happened to Daphne and Robert. They should have been able to marry and have children and a happy life together!

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

loverofliberty
2008-06-12 01:10 pm UTC (link)

Robert scarcely noticed her touch. God, he should have brought some laudanum. It was such a common pain-killer no one would particularly mind if he slipped some into his drink.

"I... I suppose not," he stammered. He felt awful. "If, um... if Robert as actually alive, as in, only pretending to be dead for reasons of safety... if he came back, that is, do you think your sister would... would stay with the doctor?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 01:18 pm UTC (link)

"Wouldn't that be amazing!" Ella gasped, looking up at Mr. Brinsley with a wide grin. She giggled at the thought. What a lovely tale that would make! It would be absolutely perfect! "She's be a complete fool not to take dear Robert back into her life... into her arms... shower him with kisses. Oh! It would be brilliant if such a thing could truly happen!"

Ella hummed happily for a moment, a broken tune of several songs blended together. And then a wonderfully silly thought occurred to her.

"Mr. Brinsley! I've just had a delicious idea. What if you and I were to search for Robert? See if he really is still alive... bringing him back from the dead might very well ease Daphne's pain at Father's passing more quickly. ...After all, anything is possible in this lifetime. Lysander Mountford-Miles came back from the dead just this month!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

loverofliberty
2008-06-12 01:34 pm UTC (link)

"Amazing, yeah," Robert agreed vaguely. "Brilliant."

But all the same... if he was to reveal himself.... No. Let her be happy with the doctor. The Doctor was safe, if rather boring. What was he but an unnecessary irritation to further separate her from her family?

"Well, I think our circle extraordinarily lucky to be so shockingly lively. I have no doubt we'd find Robert as easily as it is to look into a mirror. He's probably alive somewhere." i.e. in the garden.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 01:44 pm UTC (link)

Ella was quite overtaken with a yawn just then and covered her mouth. She had no idea how she could be tired from taking a turn about the garden and having an exciting conversation. So she chose to ignore the yawn and instead revel in her still cozy state. Three glasses, she tried to remember, was the perfect amount of wine!

"Do you think so? I would love to think such a happy thought! I dislike imagining a wonderful man as Daphne described ...rotting somewhere," Ella said and wrinkled her nose in distaste. "But I also fear that stories like Lysander's are rare indeed." --she paused and looked up at him through her eyelashes again-- "I am torn, Mr. Brinsley. I've no idea what to think!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-12 10:30 pm UTC (link)
	"I think you ought not to give up hope," Robert said, rather wryly. "Stranger things have happened than Robert Lovering coming back from the dead. You know, the name seems very familiar for some reason. I'd give you odds that, two to one, Robert Lovering's alive. We ought to look for him." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-12 10:39 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, he could be anywhere!" Ella said, delighted at the thought of searching for her sister's lost love. She giggled again. "Why, he could be in London, even. Or, do you suppose, he could even be someone you've met Mr. Brinsley! If his name is so familiar to you, perhaps you've been acquainted with him and merely forgot! I think it's a fabulous idea. We ought to seek him out and reunite two lovers who thought they'd been parted forever!"

It was a better idea than the plot of any novel she'd read or play she'd seen! Daphne would love her even more so than she did now! And everyone would praise Ella, and Mr. Brinsley of course, for finding the not-so-dead Robert and bringing him back into Daphne's life.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-13 05:55 am UTC (link)
	"I probably know him," Robert said, amused in a detached sort of fashion. "I think we ought to unite him and your elder sister. It might be good for both of them, though...." He trailed off, frowning. "Only- only it would be very cruel to do so if your sister moved on from poor Mr. Lovering." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-13 02:11 pm UTC (link)

"I don't see why it would be cruel. Except for poor Doctor Perkins, I suppose. But who really wants to be in love with a bore? I would happily live in poverty with the most exciting man in the world than be rich beyond all measure and stuck with ...someone utterly droll," Ella said with a wave of her hand. She felt that she was being kind in not naming names.

And she didn't even notice that Mr. Brinsley seemed to magically know the surname of her sister's lost love. She was much too focused on their plan and the most agreeable company that was Mr. Brinsley himself.

"We will rescue my sister before our dear doctor has a chance to ruin her life by falling in love with her. I cannot imagine she would be able to have eyes for anyone else once her dear Robert was returned to her. We shall be celebrated heroes, Mr. Brinsley!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

loverofliberty
2008-06-13 10:04 pm UTC (link)

"Well, even dull men need to love and be loved in return," Robert said, with a passing attempt at levity. "True, an exciting man could make the best of any circumstance, rich or poor, but with enough money, one could create enough excitement to make up for a boring husband."

He was experiencing a degree of unhappiness hithero unexperienced. True, there had been that time he was beaten within an inch of his life, but there really wasn't much room for emotion when wandering on that knife's edge of pain that killed all thought except "Oh God, make it stop."

"That- that's right," Robert said, with a sudden, insiduous sweep of hope. "She won't, will she? And... well, she could just... be in love with him and he could not be very in love with her?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

missella
2008-06-13 10:28 pm UTC (link)

"I can tell you have a very kind heart," Ella said with a demure smile. She tried to think on whether or not Daphne might really love Doctor Perkins and vice versa. Really she wasn't sure, especially with the wine still working wonders on her. "And the dear doctor might very well be deserving of love... but Daphne deserves better. She deserves Robert! So it's decided. We'll find him and reunite them both!"

Ella was completely delighted! If they were successful, and now they simply had to be, then Daphne and Robert would be married. That meant Ella could really start to look for her own future husband. She would even get a coming out party! Her mother wouldn't dare deny her that.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	loverofliberty 2008-06-14 03:38 am UTC (link)
	"Why thank you," Robert replied, equinimity quite restored. "And I can tell you have a very romantic disposition. I always like to see that in ladies. It makes everything much more fun. I think we must do so, Miss Ella. We must find Robert Lovering." Which would actually be quite easy, as she already had. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -