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only_daughter (only_daughter) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-06-11 18:14:00

Entry tags:

character_development, ella_wexley, patience_hurst, tobias_hurst

Patience Hurst: Tea Party
Subject: Tea party
Who: Patience Hurst
Where: The Hurst’s townhouse, London
Warnings: N/A
Open to: The Hurst’s, Patience’s friends, young ladies.

Patience had been looking forward to this little tea party for quite some time. It would give her a chance to show off just how well she would host when she herself was lady of a house. She had planned a light lunch of sandwiches, tea and some little cakes to be followed by a musical recital in which she would provide the accompaniment on piano.

She hoped then that her brother Charles would favour them with some of his romantic poetry but if not then she had one of the new novels from which they could take it in turns to read allowed until it was time for the guests to leave for home.

Patience would have preferred to host an afternoon tea outside in the gardens of Bailston Abby but the town house was very fine still, and it did make it easier for everyone to meet.

She settled herself on one of the chairs, brushing down the skirts of her new dress brought especially for the occasion and waited for the expected knock on the door.

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	lord_hurst 2008-06-11 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	It was her father who knocked, intent not to disturb his only daughter when her friends arrived, but if they have not yet reached the Abbey, he could speak to her for a moment. "Everything prepared to your satisfaction, Lady Patience?" He asked her, opening the door only wide enough to step inside. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	only_daughter 2008-06-11 07:31 pm UTC (link)
	Patience stood up, smiling at her father. "Yes, thank you, Daddy." She said, gesturing for him to sit down. "Would you like some tea?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lord_hurst 2008-06-11 07:39 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, I don't think I could turn down a cup offered by you, Patience." He smiled, thanking her as he sat down in the offered seat. "Who do you expect will be coming today, my lady?" He asked her, "Any young men of your acquaintance?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

only_daughter
2008-06-11 07:46 pm UTC (link)

Patience set about pouring a cup, carefully adding sugar and milk the way her father liked it, glancing back over his shoulder at him. "Ella, I hope and maybe Milie and Olivia. I was hoping Charles might favour us with some of his poetry as well." She said, putting down the pot and bringing over the little china cup. "Young men, Daddy? Only Charles and Joseph if he puts in an appearance."

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lord_hurst
2008-06-11 07:54 pm UTC (link)

"No other guests? No handsome young suitors?" He enquired with a good natured smile, even if he was teasing his daughter slightly. "Not one for me to turn away at the door?" He finished, taking the cup from her and taking a sip. "Lady Patience, you make the best tea in all of Devon. I tell a lie! In the whole of England. And the English make the best tea in all the world."

"Ella, Olivia and Milie, indeed? A society gathering! In that case, you better have something to show them, hadn't you?" He said to her, carefully setting down the tea cup and reaching into his pocket.

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	only_daughter 2008-06-11 08:05 pm UTC (link)
	Patience smiled, a blush rising to her cheeks and she shook her head. "No, not one that I know of." She sat down on the opposite side of him, glancing from his hand to his face. "Have you got me a present?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lord_hurst
2008-06-11 08:10 pm UTC (link)

"Maybe I have." Her father responded, although the smile of his face confirmed that he had, indeed, brought her a gift. He pulled the slim silk-covered box from his pocket, and handed it to her. "I think it will match your dress beautifully, Lady Patience." He told her as she took it. "I hope you will like it." He added, still smiling. "The stone was brought from a long way away. India, in fact. It's called the Tigress Stone. The chain is filigree silver, so you will have to be careful with it."

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	only_daughter 2008-06-11 08:13 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, daddy!" She gasped, opening the little box - the necklace more beautiful than he had described it and she touched it gently. "It is so very pretty. Did it cost much?" Patience asked, carefully lifting it from it's box. It would be the talk of the whole afternoon she could already tell. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lord_hurst
2008-06-11 08:20 pm UTC (link)

"More than all your brothers' schooling put together, my dear lady." He laughed, although he knew he should not encourage her to ask impolite questions such as that. "Would you like my help to put it on? I would not want it to catch in your hair. Which looks very stylish today, did I tell you?" He adds, holding out his hand to see if she requires his help.

"I thought you would like it. It suites you very highly." He says, still grinning at her, "You shall be the lady all other ladies are jealous of, and all the young men want to marry. Your mother believes that Charles will marry first, but I don't believe it. I think it will be you who marries first."

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	only_daughter 2008-06-11 08:26 pm UTC (link)
	Patience's smile grew wider at the compliment and she moved in her seat so her father could fasten the necklace, brushing her hair out of the way. "Charles marry first?" She said, rather surprised by the idea. "But he hasn't been courting anyone, except for maybe Abigail Mountford-Miles but she's the second daughter and you know the rumours about them." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lord_hurst
2008-06-11 08:39 pm UTC (link)

Tobias fastened the necklace carefully, before stepping away to admire it. "Beautiful, my lady. Simply beautiful." He smiled at her, moving back to finish off his cup of tea. "I hope you wouldn't find me rude, Lady Patience, if I asked for another cup?" He asked hopefully.

"Now now, Patience, Abigail is a very nice young lady and you should know better than to speak ill of her. She gets along very well with your brother, and he enjoys her company. I think, without upsetting either too much, she would be the most likely candidate." He taps her nose with one finger, "As for you, who shall we marry you off to, Lady Patience?"

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only_daughter
2008-06-11 09:15 pm UTC (link)

"Of course not." Patience said, collecting the cup from him and getting to her feet, moving to the little refreshments table she had set up and pouring another cup.

She sighed. Her father did not understand. Men never did, all they saw was a pretty face. She knew her father was friendly with Edward but really, Abigail would not make a suitable wife for a family as well-connected as the Hurst's, especially not with the unseemly rumours about her and her brother.
"Me, Daddy? I don't know. I've yet to meet a handsome young man who could tempt me. He'd have to be rich, and very clever, and oh so in love with me before I would be tempted."

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lord_hurst
2008-06-17 10:06 am UTC (link)

"I am sure it wouldn't be too hard to find a man head-over-heels for you, Patience." Tobias told her, taking the refilled cup when it was offered to him. "And of course he would have to be wealthy enough to look after my little girl properly and in the comfort she deserves. Now clever might be the trickiest part." He said with a smile to her, "But I'm suer you'll find a gentleman that matches all your criteria. Your mother no doubt already has a long list of suitable bachelors."

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	only_daughter 2008-06-17 11:18 am UTC (link)
	Patience smiled even wider. "Well, maybe not clever, daddy." She said, "But not a lay-about. I would like to be married to a man who believed in work." Work, of course, meant to Patience sitting in the House of Lords or investing in land and shipping. She was most certain that any man she married could do that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lord_hurst 2008-06-19 08:27 am UTC (link)
	"Of course not a lay-about!" Tobias agreed, "A lay-about would not look after you the way which you deserve. You need a man to take you to London and let you buy dresses and jewellery while he sits in the Lords. Do not worry, Patience, your mother and I will pick you a most suitable husband, I promise you." (Reply to this) (Parent)

missella
2008-06-11 08:14 pm UTC (link)

As soon as Ella received the invitation she knew she had to go to the party alone. No stuffy maids as chaperones for her! The ride had been achingly boring even though she'd taken along one of Miles Rochester's books to reread. The scandalous stories he wrote! They made her giggle, but even Miles's clever tales couldn't keep her from growing bored on her trip.

When she finally arrived she practically bounded out of the carriage and up to the door. She knocked quickly, then set about taking off her gloves and untying the wide ribbons holding her bonnet on.

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only_daughter
2008-06-11 08:18 pm UTC (link)

The Butler opened the door and escorted Ella into the drawing room where Patience had been waiting, lounging rather bored herself in a chair. As soon as she saw Ella she was up on her feet, smiling broadly.

"Ella! I was beginning to worry everyone had forgotten!" Patience said, taking care to brush back her hair so Ella might see the necklace daddy had given her for the occasion. "Won't you come and have some tea? How was the ride?"

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missella
2008-06-11 08:27 pm UTC (link)

"If it weren't for Miles's book I think I should have fallen asleep and been bounced right out of the carriage," Ella said, though her tone was amused instead of bitter. What fun would that have been? The driver might not have even noticed! She could have wandered around the country at her leisure. Certainly a search party would have been sent for her eventually.

She spied the lovely necklace Patience was wearing and her mouth fell open in a most ungainly fashion. Her hand covered her mouth instantly as she gasped. She'd certainly never seen her friend wear it before. It had to be new!

"Patience Hurst, have you got a wealthy suitor!?" Ella said loudly into her hand. It wasn't to her taste, but the necklace was undeniably gorgeous. "That necklace makes you even more beautiful!"

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only_daughter
2008-06-11 09:08 pm UTC (link)

Patience frowned a little, although she preened when Ella complimented her. "No, no suitor I'm afraid. Daddy gave it to me, but maybe it will attract a rich suitor who is worried someone else may be ready to snap me up?" She said, smiling widely. She linked arms with Ella, leading her to the table on which she had laid out the tea things.

"Miles Rochester's books? Aren't they dreadfully wicked?" She asked.

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missella
2008-06-11 09:22 pm UTC (link)

Ella tucked her gloves into her bonnet, after pulling it off of her head, and set the items on a side table as they passed it. She nodded once at the comment about Miles's books. "Absolutely dreadfully wicked! I feel scandalous just reading them! He is a genius, and I know that his sister Kat has done nothing but encourage him. He seems so coy about his writing, but he really should be praised to the highest degree!"

She patted the back of Patience's hand gently, a reassuring gesture.

"I have no doubts in my mind that you really will have plenty of rich suitors ready to whisk you away to your very own grand estate. And if the men have all gone blind to your beauty and charm, with or without your lovely accessory, then I may have to do something delightfully terrible... such as resort to blackmail! I cannot imagine you marrying anyone lowlier than a Marquess."

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only_daughter
2008-06-17 11:25 am UTC (link)

"Do you think so?" Patience asked. "I agree they're scandalous but all for the wrong reasons. Women sitting in the House of Lords? I do declare if I was ever given such an awful job I would be quite awful at it. I would change my mind in an instant. One day I would be a social reformer and the next a conservative. I would not know what I thought! And his latest one - that woman leaving her husband! What an awful notion that she thought she should take the children with her when she'd brought shame on her family."

Despite her dislike of the content Patience did still read Miles Rochester's books. After all, they were fashionable.

She smiled widely, and tossed her hair. "A Marquess? I should say. But only if he has a brother for you. For then we shall be sisters!"

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ex_joiedeviv804
2008-06-11 10:00 pm UTC (link)

Growing up with three brothers one could assume Olivia was starved for female companionship, but this simply wasn't the case. When she grew tired of her brothers, which had actually happened quite often as she was growing up, she turned to her many friends, most of them actually being female. So now, not that she was tired of her brothers by any means, they were all to be together again and that was exciting, but she had been excited by Patience's invitation just as much, and let nothing stand in her way when she decided to come. Her brothers could entertain themselves for an afternoon while she was busy with her friends.

Taking a moment to straighten her robin's egg-colored grown, she knocked at the door. As she waited for the door to open she started thinking about knocking. How hard was a lady to knock if she was to knock at all? Was a lady's knock supposed to have a different quality than that of someone lower born? Had she herself knocked correctly? What if she had not? She would have to ask Patience or Ella, they seemed so much more knowledgeable about proper behavior than she was.

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only_daughter
2008-06-17 11:29 am UTC (link)

"Olivia!" Patience cried, delighted to see her friend again after such a time. "How are your brothers?" She glanced slyly at Ella, "I hear Lucas and Demetri are still unmarried and unattached. How do you deal with a household full of boys? If Charles does not hurry and make a match then mother I am sure will make one for him and Joseph is more than old enough to begin courting himself."

She led Olivia to the table laid out with tea things. "Would you like a cake? Or one of the sandwiches. I'm afraid they are cold ham and chutney as it was all cook had left from dinner."

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ex_joiedeviv804
2008-06-17 02:39 pm UTC (link)

"Hello Patience, Ella, how lovely the two of you look this day. My brothers are very well, completely lost without me as you can imagine, but I do hope they shall be able to manage without me for a bit." As soon as her brothers began to be viewed as attractive, Olivia had an influx of friends and invitations. She never assumed it was because of her brothers, she was a friendly soul and thought people liked it, but more often than not it was because of the three boys. "Yes, yes, but I am hoping that once Christopher marries, the other two will think it a good idea and hurry to the alter, but you know his temperament and that he still pines for Helene, poor dear." But honestly she was not trying to get her brothers married off, she would miss them far too much.

That was always one of the questions Olivia was frequently asked, with three older brothers that each fancied themselves father and protector over her, many were curious as to how she got on. "They are actually rather entertaining. Oh but Lucas has become so talented with his sketches, he should come to visit Charles soon and when he does you must ask him to show you his book."

Her eyes scanned the table, "My, everyone always says your cook is the envy of all cooks, I can certainly believe it." she reached out and took a cake, biting into it in the most lady-like manner she was capable of. Once her mouth was empty she smiled to Patience. "Oh yes, now that is the proper way to make a cake."

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missella
2008-06-17 02:54 pm UTC (link)

"Olivia! It is good to hear your brothers are well. They're so very interesting, and I can only hope that Lucas would be kind enough to show us his book of sketches," Ella said after having a small cake herself. A thought struck her then and she grinned at both girls in turn, waving her hand excitedly for a moment. "Do you think Lucas would sketch us, the three of us together? We would be such a lovely subject for him to put in his book, don't you think? Patience, you would have to wear your new necklace if we were to sit for him. Have you seen it, Olivia? Isn't it gorgeous?"

Ella helped herself to some tea, adding a touch of honey as she always did. Lucas Blake was so very handsome, and being a talented artist made him intriguing.

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only_daughter
2008-06-17 03:08 pm UTC (link)

Patience smiled, more than dleighted Ella had brought up the necklace. She would hate to have had to draw attention to it herself. "Do you like it, Olivia?" She said, adjusting the chain a little so it would catch the light better. "Daddy had it brought from India."

She poured her own cup, only adding a little lemon to it as an after thought.
"I think it would be thrilling if Lucas were to sketch us all. It would be such a lovely gift to have a remembrance of our friendship." She said, taking a sip. "I'm sure Charles would want to see the sketches as well. Maybe we could all have a lovely day of poetry and art. We could do some watercolours, and the boy's could sketch us and read poetry?"

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ex_joiedeviv804
2008-06-17 03:25 pm UTC (link)

Her eyes fell to the necklace and they widened in admiration, "It is beautiful, truly I have never seen anything that could rival it. India you say? Well it must be a wonderful place to produce such lovely things." usually she did not care for jewelry, but she was quite taken with the necklace and she could tell how proud of it Patience was.

Nodding, Olivia agreed with her friends. "Excellent idea, I know Lucas would not say no, especially if he has the chance to see Charles."

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missella
2008-06-18 02:13 pm UTC (link)

"Poetry can be so delightful," Ella said and took a sip of her tea. What she was thinking, though, was how dreadfully boring Charles was and how she didn't understand why Lucas (who must have been at least three times more interesting) would be eager to see him. Political reasons, she decided. She turned her attention to Olivia then and smiled brightly. "If you are convinced Lucas would not deny us the chance to sit for him, then you must ask him the next time you see him. It will be fun!"

Tired of standing for the time being, Ella took a seat and sipped from her cup. She really did enjoy discussing men, no matter how interesting they were.

"Now, what are we going to do with ourselves? All of us beautiful, young, agreeable, and entirely unmarried," she said and giggled. With her father gone everything was going to change for her, and she hoped it would do so rapidly. Her mother, even in her mourning fits, had babbled on about Ella coming out, again, since she hadn't had any suitors in the last two years. Ella hadn't been phased by the fact that her young fiance, whom her father was going to force her to marry, running off had made her seem a bit less worthy of a suitor's interest. People running off seemed to be a sort of pattern in her life and why on earth would she have wanted to be tied down at thirteen anyway? Fifteen, on the other hand, was a much more agreeable marrying age in her eyes. "Mother is finally concerned at my lack of any suitors. I think it is good for her to put her mind on something other than Father's passing. Only I'm not sure that much will come of it."

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only_daughter
2008-06-18 02:25 pm UTC (link)

Patience stirred her tea thoughtfully with a little silver spoon, more for effect than anything. It kept her occupied when she was thinking.

"We must have some sort of ball, but only open to those who are looking for marriage." She said, sipping from her cup. "And invite only the most eligible young men and women. Naturally more young men so we shall be spoilt for choice on who to dance with."

"Ella, I am certain it shall. We shall find you a respectable man." She said, the implications quite plain in her tone. She had never liked the young man Lord Wexley had engaged Ella too, after all before her sister was even married. He had at least done the decent thing by disappearing. "Isn't Daphne courting?" She said, remembering seeing a man with her at the funeral. "I must say the family has kept that quite. I would think you'd want to say she'd settled after all that business."

She glanced at Olivia. "And haven't I heard that your brother Christopher has a young lady staying with him? A widow?"

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missella
2008-06-18 02:47 pm UTC (link)

Ella was still uncertain about whether or not she wanted to be stuck with a truly "respectable" man for the rest of her life. They all tended to be so... plain. But she did not want to lose her friends over a man either.

"She is! Or I think she is," Ella said quickly, her eyebrows raising. "Honestly, I do not know how serious she and Doctor Perkins are, but they are certainly fond of one another. I would like to see her settled, but I think Daphne could do much better than the dear doctor."

Of course her interest was immediately piqued at the mention of Olivia's eldest brother and a widow. She turned to Olivia, eyes truly wide with excitement at the new information and eager for it to be confirmed. "Oh Olivia, do tell!"

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ex_joiedeviv804
2008-06-18 02:57 pm UTC (link)

She said nothing about the ball idea as she fixed herself a cup of tea. She did not speak up because she was never one for a ball, but then she had never actually been to one. And the tea... Well, they both had one.

"Courting?" she turned her head to look at Ella. Daphne was closer to her age than her sister or Patience, but Olivia always had such a hard time keeping up with her so the extent of their friendship was just a little smile or nod when they saw each other. "That is sweet, they look adorable together. I don't see anything wrong with the good doctor, he can provide for her and as long as he makes her happy, what can be said about it?" or at least that's what she thought when she saw them together.

She tried not to sigh when they asked about Christopher and his 'guest'. "I have yet to see her, but I know there is a woman of high standing in the house. But he has many guests, none of which has he shared any information at all with me. I do hope there is something there though, he has been lonely for such a long time, poor fellow. Honestly, I do not know what to make of it all."

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only_daughter
2008-06-18 03:05 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sure she could do better, but with that scandal with her running off the way she did before..." Patience said, giving Ella a rather pointed look. "Marriage will be good for her. Do you know if they are formally engaged yet? Has she planned her bridesmaids?"

"Not met her? Oh, that is hardly fair of him but at least he seems happier." Patience said, smiling. "It is time he had a little happiness after that trouble."

She sighed, setting down her tea cup dramatically. "Of course, Charles has not made up his mind with anyone but I fear I shall end up with Abigail Mountford-Miles as my sister in law and lady of our estates. The stories one hears about her, but I never see Charles with any other young woman."

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missella
2008-06-19 12:07 pm UTC (link)

"There hasn't been an announcement, so they can hardly be engaged," Ella said with a flippant roll of her eyes. Sometimes Patience focused too much on the rules of propriety for Ella's tastes, but her friend had good sense. She pressed her lips together, nearly bursting with the idea that she'd hatched with Mr. Brinsley. She wanted to tell them both and hear them oo and ah over their cleverness. Something held her back though, and she sipped her tea instead. Perhaps talking about Daphne wasn't the best course of action just now. She wanted this to be a true surprise for Daphne, and of course she had the nagging doubt that Robert could not be found. There was always a chance the man really was dead.

"You should ask to meet her, Olivia, find out everything about her. If she is wonderful or bitter. If she's worthy of your brother," Ella said in encouraging tones. Clearly it was better to talk about her friends' siblings instead.

"Patience, I doubt those rumours would follow her into marriage. And there are many more rumours about her delightful sister, Edith, and by comparison I don't think your family would worry too much. I cannot imagine how such rumours get started, but I assure you that Edith, at least, is an agreeable woman. And I cannot doubt that Abigail is not at least as agreeable, though she does seem shy when I have seen her at gatherings.

"Of course if you find Miss Mountford-Miles to be less than perfect for your brother, then why not play matchmaker? Certainly a sister knows who would be best for her brother, even better than the brother himself."

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