I just finished unloading the motor carriage of our order and just in time. The tea time rush has begun. We are working like crazy, turning and spinning, boiling water, setting up cookies and tea cakes, cucumber sandwiches, that by the time it's finally over, we all feel dizzy. We just finished cleaning the dining area when the tube starts to ring.
"Elaine, can you get that? I need to return the motor carriage." I ask her, heading towards the door.
"Ms. Langridge! It's Mr. Wellsew! He says that the large order for the ladies is ready to be picked up!" She says loud enough to have me pause.
Sighing, "Very well, I will be there in a little while. Good thing I did not return the motor carriage."
.....
"You know Rakara, you just missed Mr. Fairchild by about an hour. He came and picked up some items he ordered a week ago. He was in a rush and seemed to be anxious about something. Do you know what that may have been about?" Mr. Wellsew asks as we are saying goodbye.
"No, I have not yet seen him today. I should probably get going so I can return this motor carriage though. I'll shall see you another time, Mr. Wellsew." I inform him, ready to be on my way.
"Very well my dear, bye."
'He is back and has not come to see me yet? I wonder if something went wrong and that is why he is so anxious? I do not know. I hope everything is alright.'
I'm so into my thoughts that I soon realize, I have unloaded everything from Mr. Wellsew and am already heading to return the motor carriage.
By the time I make it back to the shop, Etty and Elaine are closing up the shop front for the day.
"I'm so sorry you two. I do not where my day even went." I run around and start helping them clean up and change out the table cloths, when I notice that they are giggling at me.
I turn to give them a puzzled, UN-amused glare. "What is so funny?"
"Nothing!" They say in unison and get back to work.
I get the last table done and turn to see a large vase of gorgeous flowers on the counter, next to a couple of different size boxes.
"What is this? When did this arrive? Who is this for?" I ask startled that I did not see it sooner.
The girls break out into a fit of laughter, clutching their sides and crying in their hysterics.
"Really? Is that necessary?" I ask, which only makes them cry harder as they can barely control their laughter.
I walk over and see my name on the card attached to the flowers. I pull out the card and see Bav's handwriting on it.
-Kara,
Please accept these flowers and other gifts as the beginning of my apology for not coming to see you sooner. I did not get back until after noon today. In the boxes is something for you to wear tonight. I will be here at seven thirty to whisk you off for the evening. I can hardly control myself to wait that long to hold you in my arms. You are worth every second though.
Yours,
B.F.-
'Oh my goodness! That man sure knows how to make a woman feel cared for.'
Straightening my posture I turn to the girls, "Come on, let's work. I have to get ready quickly ladies!"
Etty and Elaine pull themselves together and go grab their coats and bags.
Etty says in a sweet tone, winking as she closes the door behind her. "Work is done, the tables were all that was left. Enjoy, tell us about it tomorrow."
I lock the door and take the boxes upstairs and come back down for the flowers. Hurrying upstairs, I take a quick bath and then open the boxes.
Inside is a ivory and periwinkle blue evening gown. The white lace ruffles were wide at the bottom layered over the silk periwinkle fabric that cinched at the waist into the same fabric on the bodice. The bodice was embroidered with ivory flowers and vines, with a thin ivory chiffon that flowed over the décolletage and over the shoulders. It was gorgeous and my jaw dropped looking at myself in the mirror.
He even bought ivory boots, hat and periwinkle gloves. In another box was diamond earrings that hung like chandeliers from my ears, and a matching necklace. Gazing at my self in the mirror, I was stunned. Saying to myself out loud,
"I'm be.."
"Beautiful, as I knew you would be."
I start turning around and seeing Bav before me, I clutch my heart from the fright he gave me.
"Bav..." I utter his name breathlessly and swiftly move to be in his arms.
His lips find mine in a fervor, holding me close. We break free of each others lips, panting for oxygen, as we stare into one another eyes.
Drinking each other in, caressing where our hands are, Bav whispers, "I've missed you." He leans his forehead to mine, and my heart swells and becomes heavy with all that I feel for him at this moment.
"I missed you too. A simple apology and explanation would have sufficed, you know." I whisper, blushing at the opulent gifts that reflect light onto him.
He pulls back from me, a large smile breaking through his handsome, other worldly, face. "I know, but that is besides the point. I wanted to, so I did."
He takes my hand and tugs me gently, "Shall we?"
"Where are we going?" I inquire, when I see his fingers raise to snap us away.
I look around and we are in the lamp lighted park of the Gilded district. The soft glow of the lamps and light of the full moons light up the lush green landscape. A light breeze glides through, sending a shiver down my back and my hair to raise on end on my exposed arms.
"My shawl..." I mutter. I forgot my shawl that came with the dress is all I can think at that moment.
I close my eyes as Bav lets go of my hand. Confused, I open my eyes as my shawl to the dress comes to lay around my shoulders.
"There you go, I apologize. I was in such a rush to start our evening I did not inquire whether you were even ready to go." Bav looks lightly abashed as he runs his hand through his long inky hair.
"You should not feel obliged to apologize, Bav. The shawl is all that was left behind. Now, what is on our itinerary tonight?" I take his hand, noticing I missed the warmth it brought me.
He slides it up to the crook of his arm, as we begin to stroll out of the park.
"I'm taking you to my home here. I was advised to have a small celebratory dinner, from the success of establishing a safe and steady supply system between our two worlds. There are a few of my business partners you met before that will be present with their wives, while Mrs. Sawyer will also be joining the table tonight since you seemed to get along with her and Mrs. Stargo. Mr. Porter will be bringing Mrs. Porter, but wants to reassure you that she is to be on her best behavior. It will just be dinner and then they will be leaving. My excuse to have them immediately leave is that I must return you home. Once they leave, we may do what ever you wish too." Bav explains calmly.
I had been hoping for it to be just us, but I knew better than to complain about something so trivial. It was just dinner, the rest of the time would be ours.
"I'm sure we can entertain ourselves. I have a million questions I want to ask and discuss with you." I give him a playful grin, one that he returns with a twinkle in his eye.
"I have a few to ask you too, later though."
He directs me through a large black cast iron gate, decorated in fanciful filigree and the guards outside merely nod wishing us a good night as we walk through.
The maintained gardens are full of plant life, with night blooming flowers and fountains that look like miniature water falls that flow through out. Little bridges span over the water as the stream intersects with the path. I can see part of his home, but the trees cover and hide it, not revealing it entirely yet.
Once it was revealed, I paused in awe, stunned speechless at its' unique but beautiful architecture. Giant marble columns that rose up to the third story balcony. Multiple verandas and balconies could be seen at different levels and different sections, some nestled in between enclosed sections of the mansion. A turret with a domed glass observation roof jutted out on one end, the other end had a glass enclosed arboretum.
"Kara? Everything alright?" Bav tugs my hand gently and notices my gaze as I shake my head to clear my astonishment.
"Yes, this ,... this is your home?" I ask humbled that he could even consider me worthy of his interest. I knew he had money, but this was .... wow.
"It is, I had the builders do it in what is called a Tuscan Villa style, with some of my own personal additions and style preferences. I'll give you the tour after dinner. I am rather happy with how it turned out. Come, let us get dinner over with so I can have you all to myself." Bav purrs the last sentence out to me, making me blush and feel the quivering roll through my core, anxious as to what he intended by that.
There is a butler who waits out side the ornate, double doors that stretch up to the middle of the second floor.
"Good evening, Master Bavarthos. Lady Langridge. Your guests are awaiting your arrival in the music hall. Shall I summon them to the dining area to await you and the ladies arrival?" The butler asked as he arose from a deep bow to us both.
"Yes, thank you, Gerald."
With that confirmed, the butler turns and quickly walks away, taking a left turn as he walks past and under the double staircase with iron railings that mimicked the roots of trees and plants growing up from the floor to the top. Following the railings, my eyes instinctively went to the roof and what I saw made me gasp.
The gorgeous designs of stained glass, made a masterpiece of the ceiling lit up by a chandelier that resembled something that would grow out of nature.
"Oh Bav! It's beautiful...." I compliment his home honestly. It truly was beautiful and mesmerizing to look at.
"Thank you. I'm so glad you like it." He says smiling, pulling me to him closer, "This is only the foyer though darling, same some of your compliments for when the tour is over later." His eyes twinkle and one brow rises, giving him a cocky grin.
I giggle at his antics when ...
"Ech hmm. Your guests are awaiting your arrival, Master Bavarthos, Lady Langridge." The butler interrupts the moment and bows, motioning to direct us to the dining room.
"Thank you, Gerald." Bav and me walk past him, making our way down the long hall. Bav mutters out the side of his mouth, "Let's get this part over with, shall we?"
I scoff at his playful annoyance of the shared dinner, "Oh, stop. Don't be rude, it's just dinner."
Chuckling, Bav agrees, his tone indicating something is up, "Yes, THIS is just dinner."