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Commander Makepeace Avery (make_war) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-07-22 15:32:00

Entry tags:

louisa_beeton, makepeace_avery, plot

Makepeace Avery : Arrival
Item: Letter Detailing the Arrival of Makepeace Avery
Warning: Large Consumptions of tea
Open to: Louisa Beeton

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lost_romance
2008-07-22 11:13 am UTC (link)

It had been three days past the date Mr. Makepeace Avery had given for his arrival and Louisa was becoming agitated. Laying out the tea service and making a fresh tray of cakes only to wait until the fire was low in the grate.

There was little news in the papers about the storms in Nepal, they were more interested in the situation in France. She knew it was silly of her to continue to lay out tea every afternoon but she didn't want to be caught unaware or make Mr. Makepeace think she ran an undisciplined household. He had been so kind to her, sending her gifts of tea from his out posts while they wrote one and another about his lodgings. She did not want him to think she'd forgotten about that kindness.

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make_war
2008-07-22 11:44 am UTC (link)

London had not been this big, he was sure, when he had last ventured into the city, almost twenty decades ago now. He was sure, however, it should not take more than five minutes, he was sure, to go from the docks to Miss Louisa's house. But aparently it took longer, much longer. But they finally arrived, and while the driver unloaded his trunk from the roof, Makepeace went to the front door and knocked, hoping that mid-afternoon was not too late to meet Miss Louisa, or that she would have given away his room in his absence.

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lost_romance
2008-07-22 01:14 pm UTC (link)

Louisa stood at the sound of knocking at the door and smoothed down the skirts of her dress, checking her reflection in the mirror in the hallway as she went to answer it.
"Hello?" She said, opening the door - quite surprised by the man she saw standing there. Well turned out, dressed in a navy uniform that seemed as if it could have been newly tailored and younger than she would have thought from the letters. "Mr. Makepeace?" She asked, unsure now. The navy often sent men newly in port to her lodgings and she kept rooms open for them at all times.

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make_war
2008-07-22 03:39 pm UTC (link)

Makepeace smiled, tired but pleased that he had come to the right place. "Miss Louisa Beeton, at last!" He said, "I was terribly worried that you had given up on me." He turned to the driver briefly then, paying the man and then dragging his trunk a little closer to the door. "Forgive me lateness, but the storm held us longer than we had estimated." He explained, "But I assure you your tea is safe and sound. And I, for one, would very much like a cup, if I may impose on you?"

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lost_romance
2008-07-22 03:55 pm UTC (link)

"No imposition," Louisa said, a little flustered and she opened the door wider to help Mr. Makepeace bring his trunk inside. "I'm afraid I can't help you to take that upstairs. I only have myself and my maid, but if you'll wait I'm sure one of the young men can help you when they return home from work." She said, shutting the door behind them.

"Tea? Oh yes. I have everything laid out. Do you like cream cakes or scones?”

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make_war
2008-07-22 04:50 pm UTC (link)

"Tea and a scone would be possibly the most delightful thing I have ever come across." He said to her with a relieved and glad expression, unable to look anything be relieved. "The scones one finds in the Caribbean and in Cairo are not the sort one finds in England." He said to her, taking the handle of the trunk and dragging it over the threshold. "May I leave this here, Miss Beeton?" He asked, gesturing to the patch of floor by the stairs. "I may have to request a little help to move it to my rooms later this evening, but I doubt it is necessary to move it just yet." He said, pausing and opening it and taking out a small wooden keg. "This is the gift I promised you."

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lost_romance
2008-07-23 04:27 am UTC (link)

"Yes, there will be fine." She said, waiting for Makepeace to finish setting his trunk down. "Oh, Mr. Makepeace. That really is too kind." Louisa said, taking the little wooden keg from him and holding it to her. She could almost smell the sea and the spices of the Caribbean.

Leading him into the sitting room Louisa set the keg down on the table and gestured to the little plate of scones. "I have cream and jam. Which type of Jam would you like? Apricot, Plum or Strawberry?"

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make_war
2008-07-23 03:34 pm UTC (link)

"Hardly too kind, Miss Louisa. You were kind enough to guarantee me a place to stay." He tells her, smiling at her. "Perhaps a cup now and one of your lovely scones? I must admit to you I am tempted to indulge myself in all three flavours of your jam, if you would not think me awfully wicked for doing so. Strawberries and plums are in terribly short supply in Cairo, and I have missed jam. And good scones. I am sure I shall be quite spoilt here."

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lost_romance
2008-07-23 03:41 pm UTC (link)

Louisa opened the keg, taking a deep breath of the strong smelling tea and she took a tablespoon from the tea set, spooning a few tablespoons into her tea pot, before taking the kettle of boiled water and filling it up, leaving it to stew. "Tea should be ready in a few minutes."

"Oh, have as much as you like. It's always good to know your cooking is appreciated. We had quite a crop of plums last year and I have always enjoyed a good jam."

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	make_war 2008-07-23 04:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Miss Louisa." He says, moving to settle down in a chair at the table stacked with baked cakes and scones. "I will certainly help myself to this delightful spread. But I do hope you did not go to all his trouble just on my account, my dear Miss Louisa. I am nothing but a plain and simple man." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lost_romance
2008-07-24 04:34 am UTC (link)

Louisa smiled softly. In truth she had been baking solidly for the past three days, but the household had eaten well and enjoyed the treats. She wished to make the very best impression and one could do that so more easily when one had forward planning.

"Oh, no trouble at all. I think scones and cakes are the least one should have with tea. There would be sandwiches but I didn't know what you'd be allowed to have as a filling so I thought better of it."

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	make_war 2008-07-24 02:30 pm UTC (link)
	"I assure you, Miss Louisa, I would be unable to eat sandwiches as well as scones and cakes. You have, I'm sure, out done yourself." He told her, taking a side plate and a scone from the table, carefully cutting it in half and spreading it with plum jam. "But I shan't be able to eat such a feast every night." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lost_romance 2008-07-24 03:14 pm UTC (link)
	Louisa set to pouring two cups of tea for them both. "Oh yes, I have made provisions for your needs, Mr. Makepeace." She said. "I hope though, you don't mind if the rest of the household eat differently. I don't want to cause upset or offence to any of my renters." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	make_war 2008-07-24 03:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course, Miss Louisa. I don't wish to make myself a nuisance to your other guests." He says, taking the tea-cup from her and smiling thankfully. "Thank you. Please, tell me what you think. Your taste in tea is something I am rather jealous of." (Reply to this) (Parent)