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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 07:39 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)

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