To Business

Posted on Tue Aug 20th, 2024 @ 10:23am by Lord Fredrick Battersly & Lady Catherine Battersly & Lady Felicity Battersly
Edited on on Mon Aug 26th, 2024 @ 8:40pm

2,608 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Death of a Monarch
Location: The Thrushstone Dower House
Timeline: February 6, 1901- 1000 Hours

Having lived in the Dower House for a little over 15 years, Katya had truly made the neoclassical manor her own. She enjoyed hosting and entertaining in the home's large drawing room, dining room, and even on the manicured lawns. The typical lively home was much quieter and more subdued now.

"Good morning My Lord, My Lady." Said Mr. Moore, the Dower House's butler, as he opened the large wooden door into the home's Entrance Hall to allow them in.

"Morning Moore," Fred said. He was sure the man knew already. News always travelled fast to his Grandmama's house but he found himself saying this anyway. "We are here to see our Grandmother." He indicated Lees enter first politely.

Felicity had barely wanted to get up that morning, if it wasn't for the promise to go and see her grandmother, she wasn't sure she'd have left her room that morning. It seemed cruel that time kept ticking by while their mother was gone. Her world had stopped but life for everyone else continued. She felt like she was merely just going through the motions. She let Fred speak for them as they arrived, giving a nod to Mr. Moore politely and then stepping forward into the house.

Moore offered to take their coats, knowing they'd be at the house for a while. The imposing figure of the man was something that made some visitors nervous. He was, after all, uncommonly tall and sturdily built. "The Dowager Marchioness is still in the dining room for breakfast. If you will follow me." He announced, his voice deep and masculine. He indicated for them to follow him towards the dining room. They passed a number of large cases stacked near the bottom of the Entrance Hall's ornate wooden staircase on their way.

The door to the dining room swing open with ease, providing a view of the Dowager Marchioness seated at the table, sipping from a coffee cup, while a footman stood nearby to attend to any needs she might have. Catherine was an enigma to many lady's of similar station, as she rebuked tradition and took her breakfast in the dining room always.

Mr. Moore cleared his throat and then declared. "Lord Fredrick Battersly and Lady Felicity Battersly, your Ladyship." He stepped aside to allow the two young people entry to the room after having been announced.

Felicity entered the dining room, seeing her grandmother having breakfast, remaining strong, it helped strengthen Felicity's resolve to be as helpful as possible, despite her grief.

"Grandmama," Fred said bowing his head slightly. She was sat drinking coffee so probably wouldn't welcome a kiss on the cheek right now. There was a whirr of activity suddenly. A blur of brown then some light pressure on his leg. Fred looked down. One of his Grandmother's 'Babies' had made a beeline for him. Somehow it managed to get its muzzle under his trousers and start licking what of his leg he could reach.

The Dowager looked up at the arrival of her youngest grandchildren and smiled as one of her canine companions rushed in to greet them as well. "Come now Pavel, breakfast." Catherine whistled delicately as she ripped a slice of bacon and held it low enough for the dog to retrieve it. "Now where is your sister, hmm." She said to the dog, who was now enjoying a fresh piece of his owner's breakfast.

The scent seemed to summon Mishka from the depths of the house. She made it past the legs of Fredrick and Felicity before stopping next to Pavel at Katya's side. "There we go." The elder woman said as two small, wet tongues cleaned the bacon grease from her fingers.

Finally, the Dowager's attention was on her grandchildren. "Shall we retire to the Morning Room?" She asked, rhetorically, pushing her chair back and standing from her spot. She reached for her coffee cup again and lifted it to her lips, allowing the warm liquid to fill her mouth once more. Setting the cup aside she set off past Fredrick and Felicity and across the Entrance Hall to the aforementioned Morning Room.

Felicity nodded and followed her grandmother out to the Morning Room. She wondered what kinds of flowers they would pick for her mama, if her mother had ever thought about what flowers she would want--though that seemed like a very morbid thing to plan for, your own funeral. She supposed no one ever thought that the day they were living might be their last.

Fred followed suit and didn't know whether to curse or be amused when Pavel set off following him sniffing at his leg. "There's no bacon in there," he told the dog. It responded by jumping up at his leg numerous times excitably clearly wanting his attention. Fred shrugged at it and kept on moving least he be reprimanded for lagging behind.

Once they were in the morning room, he waited to be offered a chair as the dog once again started sniffing around and trying to lick his leg. "Grandmama are your babies always this affectionate?" he asked.

"They know who's family and who's not." Katya said with a sly smirk. She settled into her usual spot on the settee in front of the window, and gestured for the twins to sit as well.

Felicity seemed pulled out of a daze as Mishka sniffed around her dress, looking for crumbs of breakfast, no doubt. She gave the dog a small smile and held it in her arms. Dogs seemed to know when people were upset, and Mishka licking her cheek seemed to help cheer her up, even if only for a moment. "I am glad they'll be coming with you to the house, Baba."

Catherine nodded. "I simply could not go without them." She'd rarely felt so passionately when it came to her biological children in their youth. "I hope they'll brighten up the house a bit, and bring comfort to everyone as well." Her accent peeked through as she spoke, as it did every so often.

The Dowager took a deep breath. "Now then," She took a beat, "to business." She rubbed the cushion of her settee with her long, slightly boney, hands. "If you had to choose particular blooms, that you knew your mother would like, what would you choose?" Her question seemed simple at surface level, but was rather deep given the circumstances they found themselves in. she reached for a small notebook that was resting on the table next to where she sat, along with the pen that sat atop it.

Fred settled in an armchair and predictably Pavel jumped up on his lap. "I guess you do," he said softly to the dog at his grandmothers statement about them knowing who were family. He rewarded the fur ball with some tickling behind his ears.

He groaned inwardly and locked eyes with the dog when the flower talk started. He had no idea about such things. Here he was a man of the house talking about things women were more adept at. He really was useless. Pavel cocked his little head as if to echo he had no clue either.

"Purple ones. I cannot tell you the name. There's some in the gardens at home and here too I believe. She liked those ones." he said, his eyes suddenly downcast at the dog that occupied his lap.

Catherine nodded, watching as Fred began to pet Pavel. "Purple was always her colour." She remarked, making a note in her notebook. She looked now to Felicity. The young woman looked like a morose oil painting, seated in a grand room wearing all black. It was truly a striking sight to behold.

Felicity did feel for her brother--she felt like he should be with Louis and her father at the church, and not here with her and her grandmama, though she was glad he was close, having him near her was like having a security blanket to hold onto. She sat down with them, still kind of in a fog, Mishka sitting in her lap giving something for her hands to do.

At first she hadn't realized Baba Katya had asked her a question, she seemed lost in thought, her mind sort of mush. She remembered when she and her mama had picked out flowers for a summer festival the year before, how lovely it was to spend time with her in the Orangery, which now that she thought of it, had been too many months--her mother had been in her rooms more often than not before their departure to London.

There was a silence for a little too long before Felicity realized they were both waiting for her to say something. "What? Oh...purple, yes. Maybe the primroses from the Orangery would do, along with the purple crocuses?" She wanted to be helpful. She just seemed like she would float away, if it weren't for Frederick and her grandmother keeping her distracted.

Fred could feel that Felicity wasn't fully in the moment. He reached to bridge the space between them and touched her shoulder delicately so as not to alarm her.

The elder, Russian, woman nodded. "Yes, I'm certain they can do something with that." She said, taking the record on her notepad. She scribbled a few extra words. As she finished folding the note, she reached to a velvet tasseled rope that hung near her spot. She pulled it, summoning a servant to her location.

Watching as she folded the paper and rang for a servant, Fred became acutely aware that they would not truly be meeting with anyone besides their grandmother. Their selections had been made and now their decision was to be handed to the estate gardener who would execute their vision. He shook his head, almost surprised.

Felicity watched as their grandmother wrote down their suggestions and was relieved when they wouldn't have to meet with anyone but her for the time being. She knew she couldn't think straight long enough for a very detailed conversation. "Thank you, Baba." She was glad that her grandmother had wanted their input and had taken it entirely into consideration.

After a few moments, the door to the Morning Room opened. Mr. Moore, the dowager's Butler, entered. "How may I help your Ladyship?" He asked, in his low voice

Katya waved the folded piece of paper in her hand. "Moore, will you see to it that this makes it to the estate office before lunch hour?" She asked, knowing he wouldn't (couldn't ?) refuse.

Moore crossed to the mistress of the house, and took the offered note. "I will ensure one of the footman leaves immediately to deliver it." He responded, he bowed slightly at the neck and turned to depart the room the same way he'd entered. His footsteps echoed, even behind the closed door.

She waited before Moore left to continue the other questions about the service she had on her mind. "Baba, what other details do we need to prepare for? What about the wake--will there be lots of people coming?" Felicity was the most outgoing when she was among family and close friends, but when there was a lot of people she didn't know, she tended to get anxious about it all. She didn't know if she could ever stop crying, it seemed tears just came at random moments, and she worried about being in public when she was in such a state.

Sighing, Katya rubbed knee through the layers of her skirt. "Given that the country is still mourning the loss of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, I don't believe it will end up being a grand affair. Likely, it will be our family, and the Eliots and some choice friends I'm sure." She regarded her granddaughter with a careful and watching eye.

Felicity nodded, relieved her grandmother thought there wouldn’t be too many coming. The Eliots were old friends, and had been there when they got the news, at the train station. Remembering the sadness on Mrs. Price’s face, the shock her father had been in, even momentarily. “Mama would want me to help organize everything. Thank you for involving me, and Fred.” She dabbed at the corner of her eyes with the already wet handkerchief. Her mother had trained her to be a good hostess, to know how to arrange seating so as not to offend anyone, to pick decorations and the menus. She knew her mama would want her to continue on with her Baba Katya’s guidance.

Fredrick reached over and touched his sister's shoulder. He was hurting as well, but he needed to be strong for her.

"When we get back to the house, you and I can work on plans for the wake. Perhaps that will help ease some of your father's burden." The older woman once again reached for the velvet tasseled rope and gave it quick tug. She picked up her notebook and set it on the nearby side table as Knight entered the room once again. "Ahh, Moore, We will be leaving directly. Will you have the carriage brought around and have my cases loaded." She shifted forward, and used the arm of the settee to stand. "And please ask Margaret to meet me upstairs, I'll need help with my hat and my coat." She paused a moment. "Do you know if Margaret is ready to leave as well?"

Mr. Moore nodded. "She is quite eager, your ladyship, although she wishes it were under better circumstances." The Butler said in his typical low voice. "The carriage is already at the front of the house. We will have your cases loaded soon ma'am."

"Thank you Moore." She said, dismissing the butler. She was going to miss having Moore around, but it wasn't forever. Catherine turned and took in the February sun through the room's large window. She'd miss this as well, spending her days in this room reading, or doing needle work. The days ahead were certainly going to busy , not to mention sorrow filled, but she needed to be with her family.

"Felicity, come. We're going upstairs to get me ready." Catherine reached out a hand.

Felicity did wish she could ease some of her father’s burden. She couldn’t imagine how upset he was, to have lost the love of his life so suddenly. She wanted to help him however she could. She watched as her Baba got up, she could tell her grandmama’s joints were bothering her. She hoped it was just the weather. She stood up with her, glad to have something to help with, to fix her mind on.

Katya turned to her grandson. "Fredrick dear, would you kindly oversee the loading? " She took a breath. " And wrangle Pavel and Mishka into the carriage for me?"

Fred sighed. "Of course grandmother. " He stood from his seat and placed Pavel on the floor. As he headed towards the room's door, the two Pomeranians continued to sniff and lick at this ankles.

Felicity grinned at her brother. “See you soon, brother.” She knew he secretly loved Baba’s dogs. He would have an interesting time with them. She followed her grandmother as they walked upstairs.

"When we get back to Thrushstone, we can start to work with Mrs. Price in organizing the reception for after the burial. I'm certain they'll have already begun preparations." The older woman said as she and Felicity crossed the hall and started to climb the ornate stairs. "I'm also certain, the servants will be looking for some guidance in this." Catharine gave her granddaughter a sideways glance as they disappeared upstairs.

 

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