Weekly Expression #8 ~ BK

Lawrence followed his uncle through the elaborate grounds of the Cole estate. The gardens and fields were spectacular to behold.

“Well, that is everything.” His uncle said as he stopped by a small stone wall that overlooked the hidden lake.

“Surely, Uncle, you could have found better ways to spend your money.”

His uncle sighed. “Sending you away wasn’t enough, was it? Oh, Lawrence.” He paused as he leaned over on his walking stick. “An old lonely man needs something to occupy his mind and time.”

Lawrence tightened his grip on his hat, beginning to crush it. “I am sorry, Uncle. This place...you...reminded me too much of them. I had to leave.”

“I know.”

A solemn silence hung over them as Lawrence's eyes wandered across the garden. A hidden giggle, not too far off caught his attention. he leaned his head to catch a sight.

The sight stole his breath and reason. he stopped over to see her more directly. A young woman sat at a table near the stone fountain. A small cat had run away from her as she pulled up her toes back to the cushion her feet laid on. He assumed the cat had licked her toes to produce such a giggle as what he heard. She was beautiful and he had no idea who she was or why she was in his Uncle’s garden.

His uncle must have seen him staring. He turned around and faced her direction. “Ah, that is Elizabeth Dunes.”

“Not the daughter of old man Dunes?”

“The one and only. He nodded as he spoke.

“But, she is beyond beauty.”

His uncle stifled a laugh. “Is that how they teach you to talk in those boarding schools?”

“No, it’s just how I speak.”

“Hmm, well, she might like that. Her father died three winters ago. She’s very lonely over the hill at the Dune estate. Not as comforting as here. I let her come and spend her days here while her mother is away. Her father left them very well off. Her mother is constantly taking trips to the big city. Not sure why Lizzy doesn’t go with her. But nevertheless, she spends many days here.”

Lawrence nodded as he listened, hardly paying attention. He soaked in the information with just enough focus while still staring at her.

“Go say hello!” His uncle prodded.

Lawrence quickly straightened his back and pulled himself together. “No, it is getting late and I really should unpack my things.”He walked past his uncle who looked up at the sky to see where the sun sat.

It wasn’t late but Lawrence wasn’t ready to speak with her. She was more beautiful than all the women across Europe. He couldn’t just walk up to her and speak with her. He needed a plan.

He tightened the strap on the saddle before mounting, despite his uncle’s insistence.

“Jack is not a good horse to ride, Lawrence! He is far too jumpy in his old age! You want to take Maximous! Now there is a fine riding steed!”

“No, Uncle. I will take Jack. It has been a long time since I last rode. I need to get my balance back before I master Maximous.” His uncle threw his hands in the air as he walked away. Lawrence smiled as he pulled the reins and led Jack out of the stables. Looking over the grounds was far different from this height. He nudged Jack onto the path that would take him beside the hidden garden where Elizabeth now sat, the same as yesterday, reading her book and playing with the cat. He brushed past the fact that yes, he had been spying on her. But how could he resist?

Suddenly Jack became nervous and thrust forward in a gallop. It was hard to think straight as the wild horse sped down the path.

“JACK, STOP!” He yelled over and over again but with no use. The horse wouldn’t stop.

He was going to die!

“HALT!” Instantly and without much warning because Lawrence did not think it would actually work, Jack stopped. And in that instant, Lawrence lost his grip on the reins and was thrown into the air. He managed to cover his face as he flew straight through the bushes. Luckily it slowed his fall. He still landed at her feet with a hard landing.

The world spinned for a moment before stopping at her. Her worried expression as she cradled his head in her lap made him smile. He wasn’t sure why he was smiling. He was hurting all over.

“Oh my dear goodness! Are you alright?” She exclaimed.

“What is all the fuss over here? Lawrence!” His uncle ran as fast as he could despite his bad leg. “My dear boy, what happened? I’ll call the doctor!”

Finally Lawrence was able to shake off the fall. “No, that isn’t necessary. I think I am okay. Help me up, would you?” His uncle offered his hand and slowly they pulled him up. Lawrence held out his hands to stop them from fussing over him too much. He stood on his own and thought about it. After a moment of mentally examining the minor aches and pains he announced, “All is well. Not much harm done. The jacket is ruined but nothing broken.”

Elizabeth smiled and his uncle sighed in relief. “I told you to take Maximous. That is it. Jack is not to be ridden any more!” With that, his uncle stormed off after the servants who were making a fuss over the broken branches strewn across the clean lawn and the loose horse needing to be found.

“My, how you managed a ride and fall like that is beyond me. And without injury no less!” Elizabeth smiled as she sat back down at her seat and replaced her fallen book on the table.

“I hope my disturbance hasn’t made you lose your place.”

“Oh, I have read this too many times. It wouldn’t take me but a minute to find it again. No worries,” She paused for a moment. “I do apologize. We have not been properly introduced and I have quite forgotten your name!”

“So my uncle speaks of me to you?”

“I know a little.”

Lawrence smiled. “My name is Lawrence.”

“My name is Elizabeth.”

“Or Lizzy, as he likes to call you.”

“So he speaks of me as well?” She let out a small giggle.

“Only the good.”

“Then I have no need to fear. So tell me, Lawrence, how long do you plan on staying? I know you travel often.”

“Indeed, I have traveled quite a bit. I am not sure, honestly, I think I might stay a long while.”

She tried to hide her blushing cheeks but failed. Lawrence looked away and smiled. Was this flirting? He had never honestly flirted with a girl before. He had been too focused on his schooling and travel to ever think about women.

“How I wish I could have traveled! Tell me, where all have you gone?”

Lawrence locked his hands together behind his back as he began walking around her in circles, slowly. “I think the better question is not where have I gone but where have I not been?” He winked at her. “I have been to France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Poland, Germany, Africa and even as far east as India!”

“Oh my that is quite a full life you have lived!”

“Indeed.” He nodded in agreement as he thought back through those beautiful countries.

“My only traveling has been through the numerous books I have poured into over the years. Answer me this, Lawrence. Where was the most peaceful place you have visited? For that is where I wish to go!”

Lawrence paced back and forth with pursed lips as he thought back again. Minutes went by when he finally stopped.

“To be quite honest?” She nodded. “Here.” He extended his arms out and moved about in a circle. “This place has been the most peaceful place for me. Even through all my travels, I never stopped missing home. I guess that is why I finally came home. I missed it. Traveling is glorious but the best part about it is that it makes you miss home and makes you grateful for what you have.”

“That is the best part? I want to travel to get away from home. Not to miss it.” She sighed.

“Well, that only happens I guess when you are gone as long as me. So, where all have you been?” He asked as he leaned against a tree and folded his arms.

Her shoulder sank and he realized his question had been the wrong one to ask.
“I have never been outside of Peddlestone.”

“But your mother travels at least as far as London.”

“She does not take me and I do not care to go. She once held a party in our home, then in her drunken stupor accused me of ruining her party. From then on, she only goes away to them. Never holds them in our home. Not that I would want that, mind you. I passionately despise large parties and drinking. In fact, I abhor it.”

He couldn’t help but smile at her anger. “I quite agree with you. Happy parties are all that I ever wish to hold. For birthdays and marriages and so forth. They tend to be happier and gayer than the wild drinking. To be fair, let me rephrase my question. Where is it that you would wish to go?

She didn’t have to think long about her answer.

“France.” She said as she leaned back in a dreamy state.

“France?” He couldn’t help but ask. “With all those stinky frenchies.” He plugged his nose and put on his french accent. She laughed. “Oh,” he waved his hand. “I am just being silly. I love France. Beautiful country. Wonderful people they are.”

“You know, France is just across the street.” He stuck out his thumb and pointed behind him with a coy smile. “Why haven’t you gone before?”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“Yes you do. Tell me.” He stepped away from the tree, intrigued.

“Well, I am afraid to go alone.”

An idea popped into his head, one of madness and chaos but full of adventure.

“Why don’t we go?” He bounced up, extremely excited.

“Haha what?”

“I am serious. I’ll take you home, you spend the rest of the day packing and making arrangements. I will pick you up first thing in the morning and we will spend a few days in France! Uncle can accompany us as your chaperon, along with me of course.”

“Oh, I don’t know…”

“You won’t be any safer with us than you are right here in this garden. Come on, don’t tell me you would rather spend the next three days sitting in the same garden reading the same book while playing with the same cat, now do you?”

She hesitated. He jumped forward and held out his hand for her to take.

“Let’s go.” It was all he said. It was simple enough. He prayed and hoped her fear would not keep her here.

She contemplated it for a long while, and he stood there patiently waiting with his hand out for her to take.

She placed her hand in his and smiled.

He couldn’t hold back the large grin that played over his face.