[Author Note 📝: Sorry it's been awhile for an update on this story. I am enjoying writing it. I want to do well on it! I had sometime to sit down and write a full chapter today! It was fun to do!]

Chapter 9, Courtship

Summer had gone so fast and now it had become fall. The rain finally stopped. I went out to for a walk when it was nice. Meg went along with me. We stopped by an orchard in town. We got apples. We picked berries. We also got a few pumpkins. Soon Halloween was going to be here. I did not really take part in Halloween celebrations. But I did believe there are spirits. And we went some place once we were dead.

I liked to believe that our loved ones passed on to heaven. But there was no way of knowing. Not unless you were dead, they you would know. I always enjoyed carving pumpkin's as a child.

As well as an adult. I did not like wasting the pumpkin parts. So, we often cooked the guts into pies. As well as washed, salted and cooked the seeds. They made a yummy treat. I liked to press leaves into books as well. And find them the next fall.

Then make a craft out of them. I liked to find the perfect colorful leaf. A big one. Some small ones as well. From all different trees.

Leaves came in all shapes colors and sizes. The house smelled so nice. Auntie and Meg were baking jams and pies on the stove. The sun peaked out in the trees. I loathed winter weather.

Going out in blistery weather was not my cup of tea. I did enjoy Christmas as well as Christmas festivities'. I also enjoyed Thanksgiving.

With large family meals. I often tended to overlook Thanksgiving. Because it was a family event. My family was gone. I was not sure how I felt about that. I am sure it would come when Thanksgiving came here.

I was busy going through items for fall in my belongings from Paris. Meg was coming up the stairs. She was coming to see what I was doing. I had a feeling she was missing her sisters. I sure missed Amy and Jo. I knew if I had known Beth that I would miss her as well.

•✿︎︎•

"My what a beautiful dress you have! You are so blessed to have so many of them" gushes Meg with admiration when she spots the dresses on my bed I had been going through.

"I used to own more than this back home. But they were for parties. Events. I do not go to many events now" I say wistfully.

"Sally Moffat always hosts a Christmas gala. You can come with me and my husband" she offers.

"I shall like that. Would you like one of my dresses? I believe we are around the same size. If not I can alter the dress" I mention to her. "I can sew some"

"I know you had many dresses but not quite so many" chuckles Meg with envy.

"Would you like one?" I offer.

"Me? Oh no I cannot take one" she worries as she shakes her head.

"Come on Meg. I cannot wear all these. I would love to give you one" I reply.

"I don't know" she muddles as she admires the dresses.

"You know I do think this one is your color" I say to her. I point over to the green satin one.

"It is beautiful" she admires the dress wistfully.

"Our house maiden Beatrice overseas she used to make all these dresses for me. I got them for Christmas or my birthday. Father did like to spoil me" I chuckle.

"She did lovely work on them" says Meg.

"The green one what do you say? And the yellow?" I ask her. I actually did not care for them to much any more.

"Are you sure?" she worries. I nod.

I gift her the dresses.

I hear the horse from the mail truck clip clop for the week by the box. I wondered if we got another letter from Jo. She was good about writing back. Letters took so long to get back. We had not heard from Amy in sometime as well.

"Meg? Fiona? You have letters down here from Amy!" calls out Aunt March.

"AMY!" Meg joyfully cries with happiness.

We scrambled down the stairs.

"What a grand day! We get pies. And Fiona gifted me the most beautiful dresses from Paris. Wait until Sally Moffat sees them Marmee! And a letter from Amy!!" gushes a joyful Meg.

"So, you have decided to go to the Christmas gala after all good for you" says Marmee.

"Fiona agreed to go to the gala this year with me!" brags Meg.

"But what about John?" says a confused Marmee.

"John is coming. And I believe Laurie is coming to" speaks up Meg.

"You did not mention Laurie was coming!" I squeak.

"He always comes to big events. The Moffats tried to land Mr. Laurence but he had fancied our Jo" chuckles Meg. "Sally was furious but now she is married"

"I knew a Richard Moffat over in Paris are they any relation to them?" I wonder. "They used to live in the states. When he retired, he moved overseas" I tell her.

"Richard was Sally's grandfather yes" says Marmee.

She handed us our letters from Amy. There was a knock on the door. I see Laurie at the kitchen door. Waving and smiling. I force a smile his way to be nice.

Why he here!

•✿︎︎•

"I told Laurie that we would give his grandfather a jar of jam once they cooled off. His grandfather loves jam" mentions Marmee. She goes and welcomes Laurie into the house.

"Hello Laurie! I got a letter from Amy today! As did Fiona!" brags Meg with happiness.

"I did as well" Laurie admits with a nod.

"Here are four jams. Different kinds. Two for you and two for your grandfather" explains Marmee

She hands Laurie a bag to carry the jams in.

"Thank you kindly" says Laurie. He smiles at me.

"Hello" I reply.

"Hello!" he answers.

"I better go write a reply before it grows dark out" I mention to the others.

"Fiona, grandfather would like you to come over and join us for tea. Are you free this week?" he asks me before I leave.

"I shall like that. Yes, I am free" I agree. For his grandfather not really for him.

Laurie leaves. I go to my room to read my letter from Amy. I sit at my little desk. I open her letter. She had beautiful hand writing. No ink stains as Jo often left on the paper. The paper was very pretty as well.

Dear Fiona,

Thank you for writing me back so soon. I do find myself to be home sick. Though I am enjoying the sights of being here. Learning about this place. I am grateful every day to be here. I hope everyone is well back home. Please do keep watch over Meg and Marmee for me. It must be hard on Marmee with me being gone and Jo being away. Then Beth can no longer return to us again. It is so warm here. I am sure by now it is getting chilly back home. I shall not miss that at all. They do celebrate Halloween over here as well. I attended my first party here. With one of Laurie's handsome friends. Aunt March thinks we may make a splendid match for each other. We may start courtship. I hope to hear back from you very soon. Tell me everything please. Do not leave a single thing out. Tell me how Marmee is and Meg. Hug and kiss them and tell them that I love them. Even though I told them I loved them to. Tell them everyday for me. Because I do miss them with all my heart. AS I miss you, Jo as well as my beloved Beth.

Warmest Regards,

Amy

I smile then begin to write Amy back.

•✿︎︎•

Dear Amy,

Letters do take forever to arrive here. But when we do, we all get so excited to hear from you all. I am sure Jo is missing you. I know that Marmee and Meg do. They talk about you both all the time. Marmee is so proud of you. We are busy prepping for winter. It has grown a tad chilly here. Winter will be here soon. We are making pies. As well as jam. Too bad we cannot send you some over the mail. Marmee did give some to Laurie as well as his grandfather. They were happy to get it. We roasted pumpkin seeds in the oven. It smells very lovely here. Tell me more in the next letter. If you do begin courtship! How exciting and romantic for you! We love you. And yes, we miss you everyday Miss Amy. I shall tell them you miss them!

Yours,

Fiona

I use a wax seal over a warm candle make sure the letter sticks shut on its way to Amy. Then I write her address and name on it. I add the stamp. I head to the mail box to mail it off. And see if I can spot some pretty leaves. I bundle up so I did not catch cold before I head outside. And the leaves blow in the breeze.

•✿︎︎•

"Fiona! Writing Amy back so soon?" I hear Laurie behind me.

I whirl around to see him there.

He had a letter in his hands as well.

"You have to" I remark.

"I have!" he agrees with a smile. "I told grandfather you will come for tea. Will Tuesday work for you? For a noon tea?" he asks me.

"Certainly" I say. "tell him thank you for inviting me" I answer him.

"I will" he says.

"Anything else Mr. Laurence," I question. I put the letter to Amy in the box.

He grabs my hand lightly.

"Please, do not call me that" he winces as I look him in the eye. "Call me Laurie"

"In time" I answer.

I go to walk away after freeing my hand. I find a beautiful bright red leaf. Perfect for pressing. I bend down to get it for later.

"I wish to court you...."

Did I hear that right??

My heart is racing.

"Excuse me?" I answer.
I bend up and meet his gaze.

"I know now why things did not work out for Jo and I. Because you came into my life. I know there is a reason and I want to find out more about that reason" he rambles on.

He moves closer to me.

•✿︎︎•

"I wish to court you" he softly asks me again.

"May, I think on it?" I reply. My heart hammering in my chest.

He nods.

"Could you give me answer at tea?" he requests.

"I can" I say with a nod.

"Alright, very well. Have a good afternoon, Miss March" he says before leaving.

No man had requested a courtship from me before. This was a first. Was Laurie really over the idea of courting Jo? And was Jo over Laurie? Did he really want to court me?

I smile a bit as my heart calmed down as I walked back into the house. I lean on the front door. I had some serious thinking to do. Courtships lead to marriages. Marriages could last a life time. Was this right for me? Was Laurie whom I should be courting?!

Bonus Craft:

Imagine receiving a handwritten letter sealed with a delicate wax seal stamp. You carefully open the envelope, trying your hardest to keep the stamp impression intact, inside there is a letter from your dearest friend. Wax seals are beautiful and add a personal touch to your letters.

The main concept to make a wax seal is to:
melt the wax and pour it where you want the seal to be press the wax seal stamp into the hot wax allow the wax to cool and remove the stamp.

There are two main types of wax used for wax sealing: traditional wax and supple wax. Traditional wax is the same type of sealing wax used by Kings and Queens in bygone days. The main downside of this type of wax is that it is brittle and therefore not suitable for mailing.

Supple wax is more flexible and can withstand the rough handling of the postage system. It comes in a variety of different forms, such as wax sticks with or without wicks, wax sticks for glue guns and wax sealing beads.

Since we almost always use supple wax, this is what this guide will focus on in particular wicked wax sticks and sealing beads. Later we will add a section for wickless wax sticks and wax for glue guns.

Beginner's Tips

• If you want to use the wax seal for later, pour the wax onto a piece of parchment paper, a stone coaster or any heatproof non-stick surface. Once it has cooled you can easily remove it and stick it down for next time.

• To make a wax seal faster, first chill the wax stamp before use. A chilled wax stamp will cool the wax faster and will help prevent the wax from sticking to the stamp!!

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Thanks for reading!

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

нσρє уσυ αℓℓ єиʝσує∂ тнє cнαρтєя!
           мσяє тσ cσмє!!
           ------∂αℓαιиα

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