Riverbreeze: Part 3 (19 page)

It wasn’t long, perhaps five minutes, before Maureen returned to announce that supper was ready. They all filed into the kitchen, Phillip and William Burcher carrying the bench and Robert and Jamie carrying the stools.

There was a short moment of panic when Robin remembered his accident and started to scream upon entering the kitchen, but warm hugs and soothing words from Robert, Elizabeth and finally Maureen’s children comforted him enough to calm him down. The children were settled on a blanket on the floor in the corner of the room farthest from the fireplace as if they were having a picnic and after the adults were settled at the table, supper was served by Sally and two other servants. And it was a splendid meal indeed. Roast suckling pig, soused pork, sherry mustard, roast turkey, oyster stew, the mince pies, cinnamon cabbage, gingered spinach salad, candied carrots, mashed turnips and pumpkin casserole. The raisin-studded bread was sliced and placed on the groaning table along with freshly churned butter and peach preserves. Phillip and Maureen really knew how to treat their guests right and after another toast by Phillip, Robert watched Elizabeth eat heartily with delight and satisfaction. No shortage of food here.

He still hadn’t forgotten that he wanted to talk with John about his plant collecting adventures, but this was the moment that Elizabeth and Evelyn took command of the conversation and finally made their announcement. Everyone went mad with happiness, especially Maureen! More toasts were made to the expectant mothers and a few jokes were directed at Robert and Jamie. Robert didn’t mind and neither did Jamie. They just sat there with silly grins on their faces, good-naturedly taking it all in.

Finally Robert had his chance to ask John about his adventures. Everyone was just as interested, including the twins and the governor. The governor had already known John for several years, meeting him at Oatlands when Sir William had been a gentleman of the privy chamber for King Charles and John Tradescant had been the royal gardener at that palace. John Tradescant the younger and his father, John the elder, were also known for their collection of plants from around the world and other rarities. Their collection was housed at their property in South Lambeth and had become quite famous and was known as Tradescant’s Rarities. John had inherited the collection when his father had died in 1638. He had also inherited the position of royal gardener at Oatlands where he maintained the gardens and oversaw the silk works. Unfortunately this position ended when the king fled London in January of last year and John decided he also better leave. It was not a favorable time to be in London as the twins also knew this. Luckily they had had the opportunity to visit the collection several times with their father and governess before the upheaval. And they were always fascinated with the beautiful, rare plants collected from all over Europe and Virginia, the natural treasures and man-made wonders.

So at that tumultuous and dangerous time, John, once a follower of the king, had decided to leave his wife, daughter and son at Lambeth to travel to Virginia once again.

John was eager to relate his adventures to the listeners. Since his arrival in the colony in late October of last year with his traveling companion, Bertram Hobert, he had stayed with Bertram only long enough to find a guide to take him all the way up the James River to the falls in Henrico county where he gathered seeds, roots and other objects such as shells, fossils, feathers, animal bones and skins. Through his guide he met with some local Indians and gathered assorted bows, arrows, quivers, darts and various pieces of deerskin clothing to add to his collection. He had done this once before during his first trip to Virginia, but he was always eager to gather more plants and artifacts that he may have missed the first time.

“I also visited with Captain Thomas Willoughby and his family in Lower Norfolk County.” He added. “They were most gracious and helpful and there I gathered seeds from the Cypress Tree, the tulip tree and the maidenhair fern. Thomas also showed me a bog full of strange carnivorous pitcher plants and of course, I had to dig several up and pack them in my barrels.”

“I wish I could’ve gone with you.” Robert said longingly. “I envy you your collection.”

John smiled magnanimously and spoke passionately. “You already have everything right outside your door. This land is so rich in wonderful and beautiful plants, and animals and birds and fish. And the Indians…collect everything they make. ‘Tis so fascinating. Start your own collection; your children…” Here he winked at Robert. “…and your grandchildren will appreciate you for it.”

“I will.” Robert promised, turning to Elizabeth and flashing her a smile. She smiled in return, liking the idea as well.

Another hour later, conversation started to die down and dessert was served. Everyone was so full from supper that they didn’t think they could eat any more, but when the gingerbread was served along with the small cakes and plum pudding made by Sally and Maureen, everyone managed to find the room to sample a small portion of each dessert.

There were plenty of leftovers from supper and dessert, enough to feed all the servants and the dogs.

Then before the evening was over, Maureen suggested they sing carols and dance in the wide hallway. The twins were more than agreeable and Sir William, John and even William Burcher were up for dancing. Three of Phillip’s servants who were skilled enough to play instruments: a recorder, a violin and a three-holed pipe and a small drum called a tabor were called in. The servant who played the pipe and tabor together was the one who accompanied the guests as they danced traditional Morris dances. The servant who played the recorder played his favorite carol, Greensleeves and everyone sang along. Even the children were included in the singing although the smaller ones were too sleepy to participate.

Finally, when the sun was low in the sky, Robert decided it was time to leave. He didn’t like traveling in the dark and if they left right at that moment, they might make it back to Riverbreeze before full dark. And he noticed Elizabeth and Evelyn hiding yawns behind their hands. The poor girls were exhausted.

He also didn’t like the idea of saying goodbye to John and the governor so surprising himself, he invited the two men to supper at their convenience. It would mean using up more of his food stores, but he and Jamie could hunt for venison or turkey or duck, enough to make a substantial meal.

So once again, everyone piled into the shallop and under a setting sun and a perfectly calm night, the four men, Robert, Jamie, Nathan and Dolnick, rowed them home while Elizabeth, Evelyn, Abigail, Robin and the dogs dozed peacefully, not a worry in their minds.

* * *

Hours later, as Robert and Elizabeth lay in bed, Robert asked her, “Did you enjoy today?”

“Oh yes, immensely.” She said, snuggling up to him. She had a serene smile on her face, making her look like an angel. “Did you?”

Robert nodded, holding her close and breathing in her lavender scent. “Are you happy?”

“Perfectly.” She murmured sleepily. “I couldn’t be any happier.”

“Me too.” He said, kissing the top of her head. “Sleep well, my dear Lily.”

“Good night, Robert.” She whispered, and in a second she was asleep.

He smiled to himself. He was happy. It had been a perfect day. He even thanked God for this perfect day. Just before he fell asleep, he thought, how could anything go wrong ever again?

Chapter Forty: Twelfth Night. January 6, 1644

This has been the best Christmas season ever
! Elizabeth thought to herself as she and her sister got ready for the final social event of the season. She had been looking forward to this grand party ever since the Bassetts had received the invitation from the Wentworth’s five weeks ago.

The brothers, along with Robin, had already bathed and dressed and were waiting downstairs. But just before they left the girls in Evelyn’s bedchamber, they had given them a fifteen minute warning. The party started at five and they didn’t want to be late!

Now it was nearing four o’clock. Evelyn was pinning up the last lock of Elizabeth’s hair as Elizabeth sat on a stool in front of the window. Then, as an ornament, she added one of the ivory combs that had been left to them from their aunt.

“I am so excited. This has been the best Christmas season ever!” Elizabeth declared, voicing her thoughts. She watched Evelyn behind her in the mirror. She had already done Evelyn’s hair in the same manner in preparation for the Wentworth’s twelfth night party.

“I do not disagree…” Evelyn said carefully. “…but we had many wonderful Christmas seasons in London.”

Elizabeth considered that. “All right, you may be correct, but we never had husbands during any of those seasons and we were never pregnant during any of those seasons. I still say this has been the best season ever.”

“The best season in Virginia, I’ll agree with that.” Evelyn said, fixing one last pin into her sister’s elegant hairstyle. “There, you’re all done.”

Elizabeth took one last look in the mirror, then stood up and turned around. “You’re just not going to agree with me, are you?” She wasn’t really angry, just frustrated.

Evelyn smiled sweetly at her sister. “No.” She said succinctly. “I can have a different opinion than you.”

“I know that! But…but…” She stammered.

Evelyn laughed. She grabbed Elizabeth’s shoulders and pulled her close for a kiss on the cheek. “Let’s agree that this is the best season in Virginia, although there may be many more to come, and let’s agree that there were wonderful seasons in London. We can’t really compare the two.”

Elizabeth let out a big sigh. “All right!” She finally conceded, slowly smiling. She studied herself in the mirror, turning her head back and forth. She patted her curls carefully “How do I look?”

“You look beautiful. Perfect. Robert is going to swoon when he sees you. How do I look?” Evelyn said, posing prettily.

Elizabeth tried to be serious, but she was on the verge of laughter. This was a silly routine that they would go through before each special event. “Exactly like me! Perfect…beautiful. Jamie is going to faint.”

“Oh no! If Robert swoons and Jamie faints, who will take us to the party?”

Elizabeth never got to answer because suddenly a loud call came from Robert downstairs. “Girls! Are you ready yet?”

Elizabeth jumped. “One more minute, please.” She yelled back.

“One minute, then!” Robert yelled back.

Anxiously, she looked back at Evelyn. “We need to put on our rings.”

“Here’s yours.” Evelyn said, holding the ends of the pale pink ribbon that Elizabeth’s ring was hanging on. Elizabeth once again turned her back on Evelyn and Evelyn hung the ring around Elizabeth’s neck, tying the ends into a little bow at the back of her neck. “Do you think we’ll ever get fat enough to wear these rings on our fingers?” She asked in a shameful whisper.

“Evelyn!” Elizabeth chided her, but then she started to titter. “I can’t ever imagine us being any heavier than we are now, except when we’re very large with child.” Elizabeth then tied Evelyn’s ribbon around her neck as Evelyn said, “Which will be in about seven months, I estimate.” She placed her hands on her now flat stomach and smiled contentedly.

Elizabeth felt the same way. She also placed her hands on her flat stomach and looked at her sister. “’Tis a miracle, isn’t it?”

Evelyn nodded and they shared a moment of peace and joy.

But that voice interrupted once again. “Elizabeth, if you do not come down right now, I will come up there and drag you downstairs!”

“Oh, what a boar!” Elizabeth complained.

Evelyn suddenly burst out laughing. “Does that mean you are going to have a piglet?”

Elizabeth opened her mouth in shock at first, then laughed along with her sister. “You tease!” But then she quickly sobered and whispered in horror. “Actually, I would die if I had a child that looked like that woman from Holland we saw displayed on the streets like a freak. Do you remember her?”

Evelyn nodded, shuddering. “Thank God our husbands are handsome.”

“You can say that again.” Elizabeth said. “And speaking of husbands, come on, let’s go.” She grabbed Evelyn’s hand and they rushed downstairs, only to stop short at the bottom of the steps.

Both Robert and Jamie were waiting for them in the hallway but instead of holding their cloaks like Elizabeth assumed they would be doing so they could leave immediately, Robert was standing there with a flat box in his hands.