Delightful Dalliances

St. Margaret?s Vicarage, Stratton-Over-Wye, Spring 1784What bliss, thought Lucy Whitmore as she listened to the birdsong in the slightly unkempt vicarage garden. Even if she racked her brains, she couldn?t remember the last time she had a quiet minute to herself. What with a growing family and a clerical husband whose door was always open for the needy or just plain talkative, together with an eternally hopeless housekeeper, her life was at a constant sprint.This morning though, as it had dawned bright and sunny, Matilda, the family?s eminently capable nursery maid, decided to take all three Whitmore children out for a walk. She colluded with one of their efficient daily maids, and Lucy found herself bustled out into the garden with a pot of tea. And miracle of miracles, it was still hot.Not that she didn?t count her blessings. Even if they all seemed to need her attention at the top of their voices, she adored her offspring and was thankful for their robust good health. Then there was her darling husband Tobias, she thought affectionately, frequently absent-minded, occasionally infuriating but always loyal and loving.Holding her teacup, her mind drifted back to her heartbroken state seven years previously, following her fiancé?s death in battle. If Tobias had not come along at the right time with his gift of friendship that soon blossomed into love, she could only guess at her lot.No doubt, as an ageing spinster*she would suffer her mother?s increasingly desperate attempts to marry her off to anyone who would have her. Lucy shuddered at the prospect and comforted herself with another sip of hot tea.Life is good, she thought contentedly. She had her own home to manage, pleasingly ramshackle compared to her mother?s stringent standards, her beloved family and dear, true friends with whom to share her contentment. She smiled, thinking of Meg, their closest family friend who lived in Titterington, the next town along. As her spouse Alex was in the Merchant Navy, Meg often brought their one-year-old daughter Elizabeth Lucy, Lizzie to the family, to play with the Whitmore children while the ladies exchanged gossip.Lizzie was inevitably monopolised by strong-minded Rose, now three, and attempts by her six-year-old brother, Jamie to gain Lizzie?s attention were met by a stern, ?Go away. That?s my baby!?Tobias frequently said that Rose?s bossy streak might be amusing if it didn?t remind him so much of his mother, in which case she?d probably be running the household with an iron rule by the time she was five.The closeness of the two little girls was sweet, but as they were half-sisters by blood, Lucy was always anxious that someone outside their extended family circle might notice the distinct resemblance. Thank heavens Lizzie has inherited Meg?s dark curls, Lucy mused.Given Alex was born female but had chosen to live her life as a man, Tobias (due to his premarital connection with Meg) was selected to do the necessary to give the couple the hope of a child together, with Lucy?s prior blessing, of course.Lucy would not only trust Meg with her life, but also her husband. To sweeten the deal, Meg had confided Alex?s skill with a certain china pleasure toy so that any amorous benefits of the arrangement would not be for Meg and Tobias alone.Tobias was not only willing to fulfil this unorthodox pastoral duty but was transported by the notion of his wife and Alex intimately together. Once his mission was deemed successful, when in the privacy of their bed at night, he virtually begged Lucy to recount every moment of the erotic encounter. Tobias was so overcome with repeated enthusiasm that the inevitable result was six-month-old Theo.Lucy took another sip of tea as she reflected on another potential dilemma. A couple of weeks ago, the two women and all four children were in the vicarage parlour one wet afternoon. Above the chaos, Meg recounted that as Alex was again on board ship, her good friend Betty had asked her to visit her in Bath, where she was currently employed as an actress.?I haven?t seen Betty for ages and would love to go, but I?m hampered with that nuisance,? she said, with a nod of her head towards Lizzie, such maternal fondness in her voice that no one could take her dismissive words seriously.?It?s not that Betty would mind,? she added, ?but her place isn?t set up for children. Can you imagine grubby hands all over the silk curtains and baby sick on the cushions?? Meg rolled her eyes at the thought of the damage one small girl could do to her friend?s elegant terraced residence in The Circus.Without pausing for thought, Lucy said, ?But we could take Lizzie for Anadolu Yakası Escort a short while. After all, Rose would want her here every day if she was allowed.?Meg?s eyes lit up at this suggestion, but after mulling it over, she slowly shook her head. ?Lucy, you are the soul of kindness, but that would be too much to ask. You have more than enough to handle with your three, plus Tobias,? she said with a grin. ?I appreciate your offer, but it wouldn?t be fair.? Although she stated this firmly, Lucy could see the disappointment in her face.Lucy impulsively mentioned the idea to her husband later, catching him alone in this study, and wasn?t altogether surprised when he echoed Meg?s sentiments.?My love,? he said, mildly concerned, ?such an offer only reflects your good heart. But you have numerous household burdens on your shoulders already.? To emphasise his point, they both winced at a crash somewhere in the building, either a result of Jamie trying to reach for something too high for him or yet another china serving dish added to the housekeeper?s score.Recalling this advice, Lucy frowned. She would dearly like to help Meg with a few welcome days away with Betty. Enjoying the sun on her face and the still-warm beverage, Lucy felt she could take on the world, let alone little Lizzie. However, with experience, she knew she might feel differently by early evening when she would be more than glad to chivvy her protesting brood into their beds.*Three months later...Tobias sat at the desk in his study, devising his Sunday sermon from several scraps of scribbled notes. Meg had called around shortly after dinner, and their combined offspring were playing together. As he wrote, he smiled at the sound of the children?s voices and shrieks of joy coming from the parlour, then frowned as he heard a repetitive cough punctuating the happy clamour.He hesitated, his quill pen hovering over the half-filled page. Despite warm summer days, Lucy was under the weather, which concerned him.In his mind, the cause had started in late spring when Lucy prevailed on taking little Lizzie for a week to give Meg a chance to visit her friend Betty in Bath.He had observed since their three children ran them ragged, then a fourth might founder them altogether. Lucy had protested that Lizzie would be no trouble, and indeed, during the child?s stay, he didn?t notice a disruption. However, he suspected this was because Lucy shouldered the main burden of care.Then came a particularly wet and miserable June, where the whole neighbourhood, including the vicarage household, came down with a summer cold. He and the children had thrown it off quite quickly, but Lucy was still off-colour by the time Tobias? mother arrived, using as her excuse that she was not yet introduced to her youngest grandchild.Tobias sighed and set down the pen before a drip of ink could blot the page. His mother, although well-meaning, was set in her ways and tried to impose what she felt was correct order on a shockingly relaxed household. This attitude inevitably caused a sense of strain.During the elder Mrs Whitmore?s stay, Meg wisely kept her distance. Although they missed their friend, Tobias agreed with Lucy that of all people, his mother might spot the Whitmore stamp on young Lizzie?s features. This was a conversation best avoided permanently.However, during an outing to Titterington, Lucy and Mrs Whitmore senior had met Meg on the High Street. Polite niceties were unavoidable under the circumstances, and Lucy reported later to Tobias that Meg had been the personification of demure charm. Unsurprisingly, this display didn?t fool Mrs Whitmore in the slightest. When the three adults sat down to dinner and Meg?s name was mentioned, his mama had frowned and said, ?I know that she?s a frequent visitor to the vicarage, but I have to say there?s something not quite right about that young woman.?Tobias froze in guilty terror, but to his relief, Lucy smoothly picked up the conversational baton. ?But mama,? she protested with wide-eyed innocence, ?She?s a friend of my family!?Tobias silently congratulated his wife on the clever if erroneous implication that Meg had the approval of the Holbournes, Lucy?s entirely respectable parents.?I suppose if your mother tolerates her, then I must too,? his mama had said slightly doubtfully, and the subject was thankfully dropped.As a roar of laughter from Jamie interrupted his musings, Tobias picked up his pen to continue his sermon before the ink dried up altogether. He had only written a few more lines before there was a tap at the door.Expecting Lucy, Anadolu Yakası Escort Bayan he was almost as pleased that it was the comely figure of Meg who entered the room, shutting the door behind her.?Am I disturbing you?? She asked with a smile?Yes, you are, thank goodness,? Tobias said, putting down his pen again. ?I only hope that congregation won?t find this as dull as I do.?Meg sat opposite him, saying, ?As we?re just about to leave, I wanted a quick word. I have to say that I?m concerned about Lucy.??I?m worried she hasn?t shaken off that wretched cold as yet,? Tobias agreed.?And I still feel guilty that I loaded Lizzie on her in May,? Meg said.?Lucy insisted,? Tobias replied honestly. ?In her own way, she can be as stubborn as Rose.?Meg laughed, ?Well, as we are agreed, I wonder what you might make of this scheme? Since Lucy was so kind to leave me unencumbered to visit Betty, why don?t I return the favour? Betty would love to see her and, as Alex will be home in two weeks, we will gladly take Rose for a while, if that would help???I think it?s a splendid design!? declared Tobias with a broad smile. ?A rest and a change of scene are just what Lucy needs.?He rapidly thought aloud, saying, ?Lucy?s mother would gladly have Theo, especially with a whole heap of maids to help and make a fuss of him. Jamie can stay here as it?s a quiet time of year in the parish. All the elderly ladies find him far more charming than me, so I can take him on my rounds.??That all sounds very manageable. I?ll write to Betty straightaway to put things in place,? Meg said, rising. ?Then I?ll leave it up to you to persuade Lucy to our plan.?~~~Tobias felt that preparation was the best way to deal with his wife?s inevitable objections. So, he scribbled more notes on the back of those containing fragments of his sermon and prayed he did not get them confused when standing at the pulpit.However, once Lucy was convinced and a date had been set for her departure, an obstacle arose from an unexpected source. One afternoon, Lucy entered her husband?s study clutching a letter.?My love,? she said with considerable agitation, rushing to his side. ?I think that Betty has a mistaken impression about my visit.?Obligingly, Tobias set aside his Biblical reading to take the missive.Dear Lucy, he read,I am looking forward to having you staying here in Bath. With just us two girls together, we can have such fun. Tobias noted this last word was emphasised by being underscored three times.As my dear Denny will be at his estate, we can kick up all kinds of larks without our men objecting to our pleasures! To add to that, there is a pick of handsome young players for you to play with, should the fancy take you. Such adventures we shall have!Anticipating your arrival on the 3rd of the month,Yrs,