~23~

Garin was hesitant about visiting Idleworth Manor one breezy morning of late October, where the sun played a gentle game of hide-and-seek among the airy clouds. Wade had cornered him on the night of the ball, declaring, with a newfound confidence (one which meant he was absolutely and unequivocally certain!), that he'd chosen his future wife! His confession did not surprise the doctor in the least, since he'd noticed the signs earlier and part of him was glad.

Part.

"She'll do him well."

This he said to himself as he prepared for the day ahead in his handsome apartments of masculine wood, rich velvets and poised silver trinkets. He scanned his surroundings, noting the greatcoat he'd thrown over the armchair from the late night stroll of the previous evening. The scent of brandy lingered in the air, coming from the near-empty decanter on the edge of the sideboard and the abandoned, half-consumed glass on the table near the cold fireplace. A pair of sturdy, mud-caked boots stood near the door and he already thought he heard Olga's scolding Russian tongue somewhere about the house.

Papers lay scattered across his writing desk and a selection of pens, quill and ink decorated a stack of books. He took a moment to pile his loose sheets, arrange his pens, and return a half-filled ink jar to a lower cabinet.

"She'll improve his character and help him discover unknown parts of himself. A trusted friend ought to have that which is best for him! And I shall be only too glad. Vosglasov!"

And he'd felt optimistic as he, assuring the dear housekeeper, Olga, that he wouldn't breakfast this morn, slipped outside into the refreshing dewy air, his heavy coat-tail billowing with abandon in the wind.

He'd tipped his hat at early stragglers and even purchased the morning edition from an upturned-nosed youth with the most cheerful set of blue eyes he'd ever seen, not to mention a dimpled smirk to match. He offered the boy a peppermint along with his pay, and the lad's awe-like look at the sweet made him smile.

The doctor went away with a satisfied feeling in his chest, his gaze sweeping over the familiar hills of Harwickshire, which he'd memorised as well as his mother's many looks.

However, something he daren't name irked him as the looming walls of Idleworth came into view and the fragrant caresses of the foxglove along the side path reached his nose. He caught sight of the upstairs window Wade had been glancing at on the night he wandered outside after dinner. The doctor, tipping his head back to view the estate in thought, held onto the brim of his hat, looking very much like a detective out of Mrs. Lambert's novels, Lori would have said. With a wry smile, he shook his head and took a breath..

"Wade asked me to come, and as a friend, I shall do just that."

The side door hung ajar and the doctor, out of habit, gave the siding a rap with his polished cane. Lori's freckled nose appeared almost instantly, her hair (to his surprise) set in a prim crown braid about her head giving her a soft regal look, he decided at last. She even wore a pair of delicate earrings!

"You're aglow with enthusiasm, Lori. I don't think I've ever seen you so peacefully happy."

Taking him by the hand and catching his top hat with the other, Lori led him through the hall with a soft sigh. Her voice came in almost a whisper.

"It is the day of all days, Garin. The first of all firsts and the beauty of all beauties."

With a snow-white hankie, she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a theatrical air, causing the doctor to raise an amused brow.

"For weeks I've kept this secret and at last—long last it shall all be known!"

"Am I allowed to know this important secret?" he said, adopting the same whispering tone.

She closed her eyes as if savouring the moment, then gave a peaceful nod. "Yes, yes, of course—"

Foster appeared round the hall. He looked almost too severe: his lips pinched at the corners and his thin, grey moustache made a straight horizontal line just above his mouth.

"Miss Lori, your mother is searching for you and if she should ask me straight where you are hiding, I shall be in no place to protect you. Please go to her at once."

He made a half-bow.

"Doctor Garin, sir."

Garin acknowledged the butler with a respectful nod.

"Foster. Lori, be a reasonable girl and go to your mother," said the doctor, giving her a gentle push.

She nodded and walked away with the crisp serenity of a nun. Foster watched her go, his face a mask of impassivity, though his wrinkled gaze held much affection for the wayward nymph who was often his charge.

"Allow me to take your coat, sir," he said, returning his attention to the doctor. "Master Wade has been expecting you. I shall inform him of your arrival," and then he too was gone.

Playful and enthusiastic giggles attracted Garin's attention. Curious, he followed the sounds and found four of the maids in the parlour peeping outside the curtains. Rose, spotting him, hissed at her companions, and they all dispersed with gleeful smiles.

Rose scuttled across the room, her heavy navy skirts making a whooshing sound as she moved, and curtsied before the doctor with a sheepish grin.

"G'day, Mister Garin, sir. Will yer be wanting something while yer wait for Master Wade?"

"Ah... no. Thank you, Rose."

The girl slapped both hands across her mouth when a startling hiccup-ish giggle erupted from her throat. Wide eyed and shocked with herself, she curtsied once more, her palms still covering her lips as though fearful something worse would escape them, and she hurried from the room under the doctor's puzzled gaze.

Shaking his head as though to clear his thoughts, Garin moved across the room towards the window. Using his cane, he drew aside the curtains.

There on the flowered terrace stood Wade in earnest conversation with Miss Brightley, who, for the first time in Garin's recollection, wore not a delicate white dress, but a soft gown of icy blue. They spoke in whispers and she appeared to be near tears, but happy ones at that. When Wade took her hands in his own with an unmistakable look of tenderness, Garin let the curtains fall back in place.

He nodded.

Good.

When Wade barged into the study, he found Garin browsing the philosophical category of the bookcase, his grandfather's polished cane making a rhythmic tap on the floor. The doctor turned and acknowledged his friend with a reserved smile

"I see I'm not too late on coming," said the doctor in a more agreeable tone than he felt. "You are simply aglow, my friend. Very much alive."

Wade, his usual lazy gaze alert and bright, clapped his hands with enthusiastic delight.

"Why, of course! Today's a day of successful triumphs, Garin! I must have a word with Father and I'll get right back to you in time to visit Flagons and Garters!"

Garin's smile fell flat. He blinked several times, his eyes widening.

"The tavern?"

"Yes, my dear man—don't look so stiff! Or is it the name that still bothers you? Never mind that, we must celebrate! Nonsense! Surely you can spare today. It's not as though old Creevey's going to die again today, is it? To think I've finally gotten my mother off my back, got my shares and oh, you wait till we run into Fred Burkes again!---ah, yes, there goes father—You'll be my best man, won't you Garin?"

The doctor could make no point in answering, for Wade had bolted from the room once more to chase down Mr. Lambert.

"He's confident in his choice," Garin said aloud. "How many can boast of that?"

Very few, he daresay.

The doctor sighed, staring at the gold snuffbox on the shelf above the fireplace before a commotion drew his attention to the window. Lori tumbled into the room with the grace of waddling duck and a limping elephant combined, her buckled shoes lost amidst her striped skirts. She sat up with a wide smile.

"Hello again, Garin!"

The doctor chuckled as he helped her to her feet.

"Running from your mother again, I see."

The child plopped onto the very sofa Wade had lounged on so many months prior. "I didn't run this time Garin, I simply walked out of the room when she was dabbing tears from her eyes."

"And then made a hasty dash for it as soon as you rounded the corner, I presume?"

She gave him a withering look before bursting into tinkling laughter.

"You always get it right, Garin. The best thing is you're not near so annoying as Wade!"

The doctor gave her a serious look.

"Who can possibly be as annoying as him?"

They both laughed, after which Lori jumped to her feet and began twirling about the room while the doctor moved ahead, putting aside everything she was likely to break in passing.

"Foster's giving orders to prepare Wade's horse," she said on her second rotation. "Mama says Wade plans to ride all the way to Curds and today! You know why, don't you?"

Garin blocked the three-foot ceramic cat that had come from the East.

"Pray tell, malysh."

The child beamed.

"He's going to see Mr. Brightley on the marriage business. Really, Garin, you ought to know these things!"

She gave him a scathing look (which he found most adorable).

"As best-man to the groom, you must be informed of the details, so no nonsense out of you, sir."

"Of course, Miss Lori."

She giggled at this, then, dizzy at last, dropped upon her bottom in the middle of the floor. Despite her body being motionless, she held her head as if it rotated upon her shoulders with a stubborn resolve.

"Mama wants me to practise my embroidery. Do you think she'll be very upset if I do it later?"

Garin, doing his best not to smile, offered his arm.

"Why don't we go to her and sort everything out?"

She sighed as he helped her up once more.

"You're always so reasonable, Garin. It's hard to disagree with you sometimes."

By which she meant most times, he mused.

"But we simply must visit the pantry first," she explained, slipping a little warm hand into his. "Ruth had some lovely little cakes cooling this morning and I'm almost certain there were a few tarts, too."

"Ah..., so we're nabbing goods from the pantry, are we? And I'm to be your accomplice in this?"

Lori crinkled her nose in a way that reminded him of the first time he'd glimpsed her as a baby. A flushed bundle with pink pouty lips, clenched fists and sun-kissed hair. He smiled then.

"We don't say nabbed Garin when it comes to pillaging the pantry. Looting is the more appropriate word."

She shook her head, turning big brown eyes to see his face.

"You obviously still need to learn your way around English talk. Maybe a few less trips to Russia might help?"

The doctor roared a merry laugh at that.

"You are intriguing, Lori. Very much like my Petr and Anton. I think the three of you would get on nicely."

Lori wrinkled her nose, casting the doctor a dubious look.

"I do not like boys, Garin. They're an annoying set of monsters that don't believe in fairies and don't possess an ounce of magic in them."

She tossed her head like a proud pony.

"I like you and Wade better..."

*  *  *

Entering the kitchen halls, they came across a few of the housemaids gathered in gleeful whispers and Lorie, (outraged that they should engross themselves in some tailored secret without her knowledge), stamped an impatient foot.

"What's the meaning of this? How rude of you not to let me in on the secret!"

"You'll be quite shocked, Miss Lori," said one girl.

"Didn't quite believe it misself, Miss," said Ruth, a dripping spoon in her hand.

"Well? Out with it then!" Lori had tightened her grip on Garin as she felt him slipping away.

"Mr. Wade's proposed!" Anne squealed.

"We all know that silly girl!" Lori was impatient now as she gave the traitorous Anne a wicked glare that'd frighten bats had they been nearby.

"But isn't it the finest thing?!"

And she thrusted out her left hand to flash the impressive chunk of diamond that gleamed on her finger.

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What a riotous load of tosh!!

We're making front pages for sure!!

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