Shipment In, Open

[Daniel Windsor (Meg)]

Daniel rolled up his sleeves as he looked at the wagon that was heavily stocked with crates of vegetables and fruit. The Carlyles were expecting guests throughout the season, making this one of the many large shipments that would be supplying the cook with ingredients for meals. "Hey, you need someone to sign for that?" He nodded slightly as he called up to the carriage driver as he revealed some paperwork. Taking a small lead pencil and the paper in hand, he quickly put down his signature and reviewed the order. It was a lot of food, much more than usual. Something more that just a few house guests must have been planned.

He stretched before moving towards the card to find something heavy to pick up. He had only just arrived from Cambridge that late morning and he was already trying to put himself to work, but Dan saw no problem in that. Work was always what made him think best, it got his blood pumping, and his body moving. Unfortunately, school had slowed him down in the physical activities he had been used to here at the manor, his muscles weren't as toned as they had been before he had left, but no worries. It wouldn't take long to whip him back into shape.

He took a bag of potatoes and slung it over his shoulder before catching the eye of a very skeptical eye. One of the maids , a young woman Daniel had grown up with waged her finger. "You know you shouldn't be do that," she scolded as she too walked up to the cart to yank up a crate of carrots. "You're Mr. College Man now, too good for us lowly hands," she teased and as she walked passed him to the kitchen.

Daniel rolled his eyes, knowing full well that she didn't mean what she said. Daniel was by no means higher in rank than they were. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing, in fact, and didn't have a cent to his name. Just some generous beneficiaries that didn't know the meaning of "No, thank you." In the end, it didn't matter what kind of education Dan had, he would be hard pressed to find a woman of good standing to not see him as anything but a poor man.

Stepping into the kitchen he he set the potatoes down on the large wooden table in the center. He knew the cook was going to need some for stew that evening, and taking two trips was silly when all you needed was one. Before long the entire shipment had been put away, leaving him with little to do again. He leaned back against the cool stone of the kitchen wall and watched as the busy bees swarmed around the hot room and the light of mid day filtered in through the windows. He would wait for something to happen, like he had as a boy.

Watching as maids ran in and out through the doors and was surprised at the amount of new faces he didn't recognize.

[Jane Carlyle (Bella)]

"Jane, time to wake up."

Without a moment's warning, the thick curtains shutting out all the morning's light were thrust open, casting a wide ray of sun across the bed of the little miss who slept in that room. There was a bit of a stir from beneath the feather down blankets bedecking the bed. A silent refusal. Underneath them was a little girl who refused to go to bed at night, but then also refused to wake in the morning. The nanny tugged the blankets away, watching the petite, thin frame of a ten year old girl shrink into a ball.

"Ten minutes more," she groaned, burying her face deep within the fluff of her pillows.

"No. You've slept long enough. Come now, let's get you dressed."

The little one called Jane was tugged by her wrist out of bed and over to a wardrobe. She yawned and stretched as her nanny picked out a little pile of clothing--undergarments, stockings, a white linen dress, and of course the same black shoes she wore almost every day. It was a bit of a chore to get her dressed, as the girl refused to let her nightdress be pulled over her head, but when she was finally through the torturous routine, she was told to sit in a chair while the thin locks of her blonde hair were tucked away in a black bow.

Now sufficiently awake, Jane took to the halls at a skip. The staff members along the way were greeted with polite 'hello's and a bold smile, but she never did stop for conversation. There was time for that later, but now Jane's stomach was crying out for a source of nourishment, so she sought the kitchens.

"Good morning everyone!" Jane said cheerfully. She bounced herself into a chair and sat waiting for breakfast; usually toast and an egg. "Daniel!" she beamed brightly, noticing the young gent who had practically been her brother for as long as she had been alive. She liked his company and tried very hard to share intellectual conversations with him.

One of the women in the kitchen put a plate before her with the usual on it. "Daniel, you'll never guess what I dreamed last night," she said in a hushed mix of wonder and excitement. She smiled brightly at him, revealing the spaces in her mouth where teeth used to be, but a happy smile remained. Bubbling over with enthusiasm she began with her toast.

[Daniel Windsor (Meg)]

Daniel eyes shifted to the dust that gently floated about the room, which was only seen through the rays of light that had filtered in through the smeared glass window. Small droplets of water dripped down the panes as the frost from earlier in the morning melted away, as if it had never been there in the first place.

He thought of the large house he had spent his life in, and the servants he had seen come and go. Most who left did so to find better means of moving forward with their lives, but no one was ever fired. Some, those who stayed for the remainder of their days, stayed because they had no where to go, and this place was definitely one of the better places to be if you had no where else to call home. His parents, he assumed, were those kinds of people.

Home, the house had never really been his home. As much as he loved every single person who lived there, each and every brick that made up the walls, and grounds he had spent most of his child on this place had always made him feel like visitor. He was so close to being part of their world, a graduate of the life of an errand boy that became a lawyer, but still there seemed to be a sheet of glass separating himself from the world that invited him to better things. He knew, somewhere, there was something that could break that glass and allow him in, but he wasn't any closer to discovering what that something was than he was ten years ago, when this venture had begun.

The sounds of the kitchen suddenly seemed to come back to him as the familiar voice of a little girl rang in his ears. He looked at her for a second, as if completely surprised by her presence then smiled. Jane, one of the smallest people he knew who could bring him joy. She was the little sister he had never had, and he was glad that she, out of all the Carlyles was the first he was to meet upon arriving back from the university.

"Miss Jane, you completely surprised me. I didn't even see you come in. I should pay better attention," Daniel smiled and took a few steps forward to lean his forearms onto the kitchen table she sat at. He thought for a moment, there was absolutely no way he would be able to guess what she had dreamed about, but even so he would play her game; he always did. "You dreamed..." He leaned in closer to whisper to her, so that no one else would hear. "About your nanny getting her head stuck in a rabbit hole, while you tickled her feet with a feather," he smiled and put his finger gently to her nose, playfully.

[Jane Carlyle (Bella)]

She wrinkled her nose with a grin-- Jane was so delighted with his guess she almost fell out of her chair, giggling. She adored him so! He was a best friend when she needed it, a brother when she needed that, and she was closer to him, she thought, than her own father. Jane put her toast back on the plate swallowing her last bite before scooting so close only he would be able to hear.

"We've been learning about Mary Tudor. I dreamed she ordered me to have my head cut off and then I escaped!" Her eyes widen with emphasis and the rest of her face reflected it. For any other little girl, such a dream might've been a nightmare, but to Jane, these things were adventures. "I ran wild all over the countryside like a gypsy girl or a wild stallion-- it was magnificent!" wonderment overwhelmed her. In truth Jane wanted to write the dream into a story, but she wasn't sure Daniel or anyone else would approve of her doing such.

"But you've come home from school! How was it there? I bet it was magnificent!" Jane wished she could've gone. Her education would cease in the next four years and she would be left to books in her spare time. She knew this was to further study in how she was supposed to behave as a lady and future wife, but she couldn't help wanting to know things like how to read in Greek or Latin.

Silly aspirations for a little girl, especially one who daydreamed as much as Jane did. But she wanted to know things! Just on her own time...She wanted the freedom to learn as she pleased and dream the days away without being reprimanded for it! All of these foolish desires built up inside of her and they were dying to escape, but she would still be thought of as nothing more than a petty child who'd set her sights far too high

All the same she was happy to have Daniel here at Fledston Hall. Perhaps he could teach her some of what he had learned?

[Daniel Windsor (Meg)]

Daniel listened to the dream she had had. Of course, that was just like Jane, a little adventurer stuck in the body of a 10 year old girl. Maybe one day she would have the opportunity to experience such adventures. After all, though it was incredibly uncommon, it wasn't unheard of for a woman to graduate from college; and though some may disapprove, Daniel couldn't judge anyone, man or woman, that wanted to learn everything they could possibly learn.

"A gypsy girl on the back of a wild stallion, you say?" His eyes smiles and he leaned down and grossed and buried his head in his arms. "Well, you never know. Miss Jane Carlyle the greatest adventurer of all time." He popped up quickly and offered her the biggest smile he could muster.

Daniel's attention was suddenly caught by a passing maid that was struggling to hold both a pot and a large create of eggs. He rushed over to her and quickly took the eggs from her arm, all while swiftly avoiding the drop of one single thing.

"It was very magnificent, one of the most magnificent things I've ever done..." Daniel walked back towards the counter, grabbing a two cups and the jug of freshly squeezed orange juice, to only walk right back. He eyes her playfully and set one cup in front of her then one in front of him. Daniel carefully filled up his glass, then only gave her enough for a gulp then stuck his tongue out at the little girl. "I've learned about laws and rules of court. I did a mach trial where I put a murderer to the guillotine." He figured she would like that, as if it were a story out of one of her books.

[Jane Carlyle (Bella)]

Jane grinned back and helped herself to the rest of her breakfast while Daniel prevented the fiasco that almost was. "You missed so many adventures when you were gone. I thought of writing them down just for you, but I didn't want nanny to find them." She looked down at her hands in her lap. It would've been wrong anyway. Improper. She knew her place in the house, but also knew she wasn't exempt from trouble; if anything, she probably had more to look after to keep herself out of trouble than anyone else in the house. Or maybe it was different kinds...

She pushed her plate aside to listen as soon as he'd returned sitting on her knees and leaning forward with average interest. "A murderer?" she asked, completely mystified. "How many people did he kill before he was caught?" Fascinated by detail, she was completely at his mercy. Had her mother known they were talking about such things, she likely would've given immediate disapproval. However, Jane was still overwhelmed by curiosity.

"How does a mock trial work?" she asked, now totally interested. She was thinking this might be an interesting sort of thing to play out with puppets later, if she got the chance. She didn't want to get herself or Daniel in trouble. It would stay between them. She was smart enough to know there were certain things she ought not to speak of. This was one of them.

Something behind her hit the ground so hard it made her jump and turn to look around. The bawking of the chicken that would be sacrificed for a meal later today accompanied the scatter sounds of iron pots and pans hitting the floor. Jane jumped from her seat and ran around to the other side where Daniel stood, throwing her arms around his middle. "Take me out of here, I don't want to watch them kill it!" she pressed her eyes closed and buried her nose into his stomach.

Jane could still hear the screams of that pig at the house back in Bath right before it was killed--squealing for help, wriggling in the arms of the team of people that were about to bring it to its fate. Curiosity made Jane watch in horror. And now? Well, now she didn't care to be in the kitchens for too long.

[Daniel Windsor (Meg)]

Daniel smiled as her eyes widened in interest for her stories. Always so enthralled with the wonders of what had happened, what could have happened, or what would have happened. He missed being a kid, and not having any of the worries the real world presented. Forced to grow up at the age of 16, it felt as if his childhood had been cut short. Sure, he had always had tasks to do around the house, but at least he had had the wonderment while doing so.

"Now I wish you had written them down." He smiled winked at her. Jane was probably one of the only people, though she was a child, that he felt genuinely loved him. "I would have loved to read your stories. I would have treasured them." Biting his lip, he jumped as well as the chicken made a ruckus around the kitchen. Jane was right, it was time to go. He felt her pull on his trouser pant leg, forcing him to nod in agreement.

Daniel offered his hand to the little girl, then preceded out towards the back of the kitchen. Maybe they would go for a walk or something equally as entertaining. "A mock trial is like make believe for people who want to be lawyers," he explained carefully, glad there was something else they could talk about to get her mind off of the soon to be slaughtered chicken. "We need practice so that when we really become lawyers we don't make mistakes."

Daniel thought back to the trial and tried to remember the details. "Let's see," He knew he shouldn't be sharing these things with the young girl. Her mother, even if she was fond of him, would completely disapprove. "You promise to not tell anyone I told you this." He assumed that she would agree, since she always did and went on. "Well, his case file said he murdered three people. A sailor, a bartender, and a local... lady." Sure, he was willing to tell her the story, with maybe a few details left out. The local lady hadn't been a lady at all, but a prostitute. The ten year old didn't need that sort of information. "I shouldn't tell you anymore though, we'll get in trouble."

"Care to go on a walk?" he asked, seeing that no one else really needed his help around the kitchen. Truthfully, it wasn't a place for a man anyways. Usually he just got in the way and annoyed the ladies. "I need to know what I've missed while I've been gone."

[Jane Carlyle (Bella)]

In all eagerness, she tugged at his hands for the door that lead outside. She said a little prayer for the chicken in her head, in hopes it would go off to the heaven where sacrificed animals roamed free. Jane held Daniel's hand and looked up at him as he spoke of the trial. "So...it's like...a play?" she asked with great excitement. Jane liked plays, particularly those cousin Alfred aspired to write... But mock trials sounded interesting.

"He killed a lady?" she asked in a shocked whisper. She'd never really heard of such violence toward women. Unprovoked violence, that is. Despicable crime, she thought. "But why?" she had to ask. Her inquiring mind wanted to know just why this woman had been murdered. "Did he do it in cold blood? Or was he like Mary Tudor--he did it because he had the power to do it?" Jane found a spot on the grass to sit under a tree, far enough from house as not to be heard.

Her tutor would've been impressed that she was able to even recall historical figures. Sure, Jane didn't seem to pay a lot of attention, but really she dreamed in history gone by, imagining what it would be like in times of the past. History was particularly fascinating to her. More so than arithmetic or languages. It was interesting and kept her thinking.

Jane fixed her dress and leaned against the trunk of the tree. She thought about what it might be like if she were on trial for something. "Daniel, if a person steals something to support someone else, is it still wrong? I mean, if I were poor, and I stole bread to feed my brother, would I still be in trouble for it?" Jane was merely curious. It was only hypothetical of course, and Jane would never do such a thing, but she had to wonder. Could it still be a crime if the motives could be justified?

She wondered to herself.

[Daniel Windsor (Meg)]

"Yes, exactly like a play, except there aren't any lines. We have to think on out feet." He took her hand and led her towards a clearing. Taking her too far away from the manor without her mother's permission wasn't unacceptable, but as long as they stayed on the property there wasn't going to be a problem.

"I think it was more in cold blood, my dear." He answered, then decided this conversation was a little too racy for the ten year old. He could see them having equally controversial conversations much later, when she was of an age where her mother didn't have watchful eyes everywhere, but for now they would have to stop. "I think I've already told you too much, Miss Carlyle. Your mother wouldn't approve of this conversation."

Silence passed between the two for a few moments before he had an answer for her. Daniel had let go of her hand so that she could roam around the small clearing for a moment while he leaned against a tree to enjoy the coolness of the shade. Even though it was fall, the weather had proven to be quite agreeable in the last week or so; no rain, and the sun had kept things warm. His eyes closed as he listened for the wind blowing the leftover leaves about in the branches and on the ground. It sounded like rustling paper.

When another question was answered he only stopped for a moment. He hadn't thought of a question like it, ever, but he instantly had an answer. "Stealing is never acceptable, Miss Carlyle; no matter what the where the means meet the ends." He opened his eyes and smiled, not wanting her to think that the world was so bleak that there wasn't any hope for a poor girl and her starving brother. "But, one would hope that the rich man she could have stolen from would have a heart that would allow a little charity, and if he doesn't he has done the same dishonor as stealing. We're all meant here to take care of each other."

Daniel hadn't even associated the question with his own situation, but there was a lot to be compared. No, he had never needed to steal, but upon the death of his late father, Mr. Carlyle, Jane's father, could have easily thrown him out, leaving him no where to go. Instead, the man had had a little room in his heart for charity. He had taken the young 16 year old boy full of potential under his wing, got him an apprenticeship in a Judge's office, and financed his education. Daniel didn't know how he was going to repay the man who had rewritten his life, but some how he would.

[Jane Carlyle (Bella)]

"Think on your feet?" Jane asked and then fell into a fit of giggles, having never heard the figure of speech before. With a sigh she ceased just as he began to regard the topic as unsavory, she turned back around, away from him before stretching her arms out from her sides. She fell back with a dull thud as though she had fainted, blonde hair swimming through the grass like sunny colored water moccasins. She rolled onto her stomach to look at him better, still grinning. How wonderful it was to be carefree!

She listened intently as he spoke, nodding her head for confirmation a single time. "I wouldn't ever steal. I only wondered. Nanny was reading to me before bed once. Oliver Twist. I only thought of it just now." She lie on her back to consider what it might have been like if she were poor or an orphan. Would she feel sorry for herself? Would she have adventures? She was not altogether sure.

"It was a good story. Maybe I shall read it again?" She wondered aloud. "Have you ever read it, Daniel?" Jane thought about the book for a long time and thought he would probably enjoy it if he hadn't. And then she wondered whether or not it might be in the library inside and upstairs.

(Sorry for how short it is)