InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "This isn't real, he isn't real"

Wilhelmina "Mina" Stockbridge (wihelmina_) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-28 00:46:00

Entry tags:

plot, wilhelmina_stockbridge

Subject: Getting some needed fresh air.
Where: Kensington Gardens
Who: Mina Stockbridge
Warnings: none
Open to: anyone!

Mina was supposed to be shopping with her cousin Katharine. She had been, for a while, but finally it had been too much for her. The weather was too nice and the Gardens had been calling to her. Growing up in Georgia, Mina was able to spend a great deal of time wandering the plantation and enjoying the outdoors. Here in London, she wasn't given as many opportunities to be outdoors, and she missed it greatly. Though she knew it was bad for her complexion, Mina adored the feel of the sun on her face and the wind against her skin. Nothing in London felt quite as sunny and breezy as her plantation home in Georgia had.

So when Katharine's shopping had taken them within the vicinity of Kensington Gardens, Mina could not resist. Leaving the ladies maid with Katharine, Mina took off on her own. Uncle Andrew had told Mina that she wasn't supposed to go off on her own, but she didn't understand why. Back in Georgia it was not at all unusual for a woman to go off on her own. As a result, there were times when Mina forgot Uncle Andrew's words.

Once she was away from Katharine and near some actual vegetation, Mina smiled. This was what she missed. The air may not be balmy and warm, and the sky may not be the same brilliant blue as it was back home, but she could pretend. Mina had an active imagination, and right now, she was imagining herself back home in Georgia, wandering through the peach tree orchard without a care in the world.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

lonely_boy
2008-08-28 09:37 am UTC (link)

It wasn’t often that Fabian was allowed outside, especially so far from home but Uncle Augustus was at court and could not refuse the request, mostly due to the fact that he had not been at home that morning to ask. Convincing his nurse, Mrs Ramsey, had been difficult but with promises to wear a scarf and gloves, and bring almost half the household along to escort him, Fabian had been allow a walk.

He noticed a young woman, walking alone in the gardens and recognised her from Lord Hurst’s party but he had been too shy to approach her then. Now, however, he felt he had won so many victories – this walk itself another one – that he could approach her.

“Miss.” He called, bowing to her. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Master Fabian Burnbridge. May I have the pleasure of your name and the honour of escorting you on your walk?”

(Reply to this) (Thread)

wihelmina_
2008-08-28 06:10 pm UTC (link)

"Oh!"

It took her a moment to realize that he was speaking to her. She'd been so swept away by the smell of peach trees and sunshine that she'd completely forgotten she was still in England and nowhere near an orchard. Once she came back to reality, it took her a moment to find her manners, and she was quite red in the face. It didn't help that there was a group of people around to witness her blunder. She did manage a curtsey, and used that time to find her tongue.

"Good day, Master Burnbridge," she said slowly, her southern drawl a bit more noticeable than usual. "I would be delighted to have you join me." He hardly looked menacing, and perhaps the company would be good for her. Patience always told her that she needed to socialize more, so perhaps it was time to take her friends advice.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lonely_boy
2008-08-29 07:36 am UTC (link)

Fabian beamed, delighted his first attempt had been such a success and he offered her his arm. “Thank you, Miss. Um…I’m sorry, I still don’t have your name.”

“Isn’t it a beautiful day?” He asked, gesturing around the park. He hoped she wouldn’t think his gloves strange, especially as it seemed so warm and pleasant out, he didn’t want to explain that, nor the strange servants hovering so close to them. He hoped he would get the chance to speak to his uncle tonight before they did and embellished the story so much so that Fabian would never be allowed outside, or near a young man, again.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wihelmina_
2008-08-30 12:59 am UTC (link)

Mina smiled shyly and took his arm. "My name is Miss Wilhelmina Stockbridge." His happiness was such that she could feel it radiating from his smile, and it was infectious. How wonderful it would be to enjoy the outdoors with pleasant company instead of her sour cousin!

"It is indeed a marvelous day," she responded, getting her soft drawl back under control. She'd been working hard to subdue it, and it now only got bad when she was surprised or nervous. Her nerves had eased a bit, but they were slowly starting to return as she noticed a group of strangers seeming to follow Master Burnbridge's every move. How very peculiar. But it certainly would be far too rude to mention it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lonely_boy 2008-08-30 09:17 am UTC (link)
	Fabian glanced at her, his smile still strong but he was curious now and although he knew it was rude to ask a young lady about herself he couldn't help but want to know. "Forgive me, Miss. But may I be so forward as to hazard a guess that you are not from around here?" He asked. "And then to ask where it is you are from?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wihelmina_
2008-08-31 03:45 am UTC (link)

Mina ducked her head and chuckled softly. "I suppose it wasn't a very hard thing to discern, since my accent was rather strong when I responded to you."

She lifted her head and tried to cool the heat in her cheeks, though it was rather hard to do so, since the weather was so nice, she was having to explain her accent and she was being watched by so many strangers.

"I'm from Georgia, which is in southern America. I'm living with my aunt and uncle because my father wanted me to get a taste of his homeland." That wasn't true at all, but it was something the English were willing to accept. Most of them thought of America as rather rustic and uncivilized, convinced that England was a much more civilized nation. She had learned that very quickly after her arrival, and found it was easier to just go along with it than it was to convince anyone otherwise.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lonely_boy
2008-08-31 05:46 am UTC (link)

“America? And they sent you here all by yourself?” Fabian said, most certainly interested in hearing more. “How lucky you are! What an adventure? How was the crossing? I’ve never been on a boat, was it terribly exciting?”

He felt a slight pang of disappointment. Here was this young woman who’d lived in America which, if the books Rueben had given him were any indication of the truth, was rife with gun fights and savages and had then made a perilous sea voyage and he had thought himself a grand adventurer for coming on a walk. Another, nastier part of him said it was unfair that she – a girl – was allowed such freedoms when he had to stay inside but that was simply bitterness.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

wihelmina_
2008-09-03 11:30 pm UTC (link)

Mina hated discussing her origins and travel. Mundane things like the weather and fashion were boring, but at least they were safe topics of conversation. She always had to be so careful to censor herself, and she had to pick and choose what to say when she was speaking about America. It was an awful lot of work, to be frank.

"Well, I wasn't alone. It would have been quite unseemly to send a young girl off on her own. Sadly, my escort was not much of a sea farer, and we spent most of our time below deck in our cabin. The seas were dreadfully rough, and it got really tiresome after the first few weeks on board. It isn't something I hope to repeat any time soon."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lonely_boy 2008-09-07 03:52 pm UTC (link)
	"No, I can imagine." Fabian agreed although he felt a little disappointed. He had hoped for an adventure story with pirates or something awful but dreadful seas were good enough. There were any number of terrible things that could happen in a storm. "Was the sea really that bad? Was anyone washed over bored? Did the ship nearly run aground?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	gah, sorry this took so long! wihelmina_ 2008-09-15 10:28 pm UTC (link)
	Mina laughed lightly and shook her head. "I'm afraid it was just a terribly long and boring trip, Mr. Burnbridge. Nothing went overboard aside from a few passengers midday meals. There was very little to see and very little to do. I was grateful to set my feet upon dry land. It is hardly a story worth telling, really." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	That's alright! lonely_boy 2008-09-16 04:31 am UTC (link)
	"Oh." Fabian said, disappointed that there had been so little of interest to note. He smiled at the young woman never the less. "As I said I've never been on a boat or anything quite like it, so I would say that was a very interesting story." (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -