Willa and Elizabeth Part 1 By Joy Rajan

 Willa and Elizabeth Part 1

By Joy Rajan

Unable to bear the silence, Lady Bingham was ready to jump out of her chair. She could no longer hide her frustration. Questions ran through her mind as she pondered and wondered where her beloved daughter could be. She looked at her watch: 4:20pm. “Oh! Could she hurry?” She said anxiously under her breath. She looked at the pond and then watched the gardeners at work. Giving up all hope, she stood up from her chair and began to walk down to her garden. Frantic as she was she decided to see her roses. It was the only thing she could do to calm her nerves.

A smile came across her face as she continued to walk through her favourite part of the garden. A gentle wind brushed by her side. She let out a soft sigh. Just as she was about to turn, the gate creaked open and a gentle voice was heard, “Mother?” Came a soft voice. Lady Bingham turned around and quickly hid the smile on her face.

“Elizabeth is that you?” She asked pretending not to notice her daughter. “Yes Mother, it is I.” Her daughter replied. “Where have you been, may I ask?” Lady Bingham asked scoffingly. “As usual, out for a ride. I rode a fine mare by the name of – ” “I really wish that you would stop riding and spend more time on your piano.” “But Mother, I do those things, every day. Why can I not ride my favourite horse every Saturday?” Lady Bingham ignored her question and continued on,

“Well I am sure glad you came home in time.” Her mother continued ignoring the expression on her daughter’s face. She stopped and looked at her watch: 4:29pm. 

“My dear Mother, could you stop with that innocent act of yours. I am very aware that you have something on your mind. Do tell me what it is?” Elizabeth paused and waited for her mother to respond. There, hiding was a slight grin on her mother’s face. She was convinced that her darling mother was up to some mischief . 

“You had a horse show didn’t you?” Elizabeth nodded. “Did you come in first?” Elizabeth nodded again. Studying her mother’s face, she could see that she was pleased. 

“Follow me. We are late for tea." Elizabeth obeyed. "Sit. Julia? Tea!” Lady Bingham ordered. Elizabeth sat in front her mother. Within seconds a maid came in carrying a silver tray with a teapot, sugar, milk and two teacups. Trying her best not to spill it, Julia placed the tray on the table. Carefully she poured out the tea added the sugar and milk. “Anything else Ma’am?” Lady Bingham shook her head. Julia smiled, curtsied and hurried off. 

As we leave Lady Bingham and her daughter, Elizabeth we follow Julia into the kitchen. Usually we would find the chef screaming and cooking up a storm and servants running around doing his bidding but no, not today. In fact, all that seamed to spew out of the kitchen was the latest gossip.

“Did you see Lady Elizabeth?” Julia nodded. “Oh Mary! She is even more beautiful then when I last saw her. She has just come back from her horse show. I admit that is why I took awhile. I just had to watch her and her horse, Buttercups. They won! I dare say she is one brave girl. 

“And guess who else I saw.” She giggled. Mary looked up at her. “Who?” She asked now sounding a little irritated. “Little Jimmy.” “You mean Master Jimmy?” Julia stopped laughing and picked up the knife that she dropped. “Well for one thing he is not as little as he used to be.” Mary and Julia looked at each other with blank faces and then at their head maid. “What do you mean Anne?” They both asked. “Well for one thing, he’s twenty-four. A young man he is. However, I will admit that he is very handsome.” Julia giggled. “Do you remember when he proposed to you, Julia? He was only eight then. But I dare say very bold and adorable.” Julia blushed. “And I was seven.” She added. “It’s wonderful though, that he has the same adorable face.” Mary added ignoring Julia. 

The maids continued to talk and laugh about the wonderful experiences they had shared with the Bingham family. Well, we now leave them and go back to where we started off. 

“My dear Elizabeth tonight is a very special night. Your brother is returning from America and your father from France. And the daughter of your father’s dear friend will also be accompanying your father. She’s a lovely young lady by the name of Willa. She is handsome, her skills on the piano are unmatched! I dare say the Evans family has always been the top of everything. And of course such stupendous manners. Complete unmatched.” 

“Mother!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Do you mean for us to marry?” Lady Bingham nodded. “Of course! You are not a little girl Eliza. After all it is time for you to think about marriage. Look at it any way you like. But just remember just like everyone you deserve a beautiful home and a better life. Even the maids do. It is all a part of life.” Elizabeth remained silent as she thought to herself. Slowly, she finished her tea. Hearing her mother sigh she knew that she had to reply. 

“Mother, I will meet Willa. But I have every right to lay down a condition. Or more.” Elizabeth placed her cup of tea down and began before her mother could say anything. “You must not under any circumstance talk about me to anyone. Do not talk for me. Note that I would not tolerate any interference on your part unless it is an emergency. Thus giving us privacy when we wished for it. Mother? I mean it!” Her mother remained quiet. “Is that all?” Lady Bingham asked irritated. She always did love to meddle. Unfortunately, despite her hope, she knew her daughter very well. Once her Elizabeth made up her mind, there was not stopping her. Without a doubt that stubbornness came from her father. 

During the moment of silence, Lady Bingham had no choice but to submit to her daughter’s wishes. “Is that all?” She asked asked. “That is all Mother.” Elizabeth replied firmly. A smile came across Elizabeth’s face even though she was quite confused. For at that very moment she was relieved that an argument did not arise between her mother and herself. Yet she was overwhelmed with thoughts about tonight. She could not help but wonder about Willa. What would she be like. 

Elizabeth took off her helmet, her gloves and placed it on the table along with her crop and got up from a chair. Slowly she knelt before her mother, but Lady Bingham looked away. “Mother. Please do not be angry with me. I do not wish to do away with this with such haste for I may regret it. I wish to know someone and their character before I can form any relationship with them. Try to understand.” Elizabeth watched her mother in hopes of an answer. Lady Bingham replied, “My dear Eliza you have proven yourself. Indeed you have. You are a woman now. Such maturity!” Lady Bingham smiled and continued, “Your father and I will respect your decision. All we ask in return is that you consider our views.” Overwhelmed with delight, Eliza kissed her mother gently on her cheek. “Excellent,” she commented, “and another thing mother, no ease dropping.” Eliza excused herself. Lady Bingham watched her daughter leave, she sighed, “O! My daughter knows me too well! I was so close. So close.”

Elizabeth made her way to her bathroom where she prepared her bath. Feeling refreshed, she put on the new white silk dress that her father bought for her from France. Knock! Knock! “Yes? What is it?” ask Elizabeth. A soft voice replied, “It is only me Miss Elizabeth. I have come to do your hair” Elizabeth called her in, the door opened and Marie entered the room. Smiling, Elizabeth feeling strangely happy sat herself in front of her mirror. 

To Elizabeth the silence between them was unbearable. Questions began to burn in her mind. She could take it no longer, “Marie, have you ever fell in love?” Stunned Marie made no answer. Yet, as soon as she saw her Mistress’ eyes she replied that she had not though she wished that she had. “What is your opinion on true love, Marie?” Marie paused and thought for a moment. 

“Well,” she began, “for one thing, if a someone truly loved you they would do anything to make you happy and would not hurt you. But most importantly they would not care for your physical beauty but for who you are as a person and,” she stopped, thought, and continued, “and they will do anything for you even if they didn’t enjoy it himself.” Marie smiled, contented. 

“That is odd,” commented Elizabeth. “Why should they want to do something for someone that they himself don’t enjoy?” Marie shrugged. Satisfied at her the way she did Eliza’s hair, she went about cleaning her room. 

Elizabeth, being anxious as she was begged her to continue. Marie refused gently but seeing that Eliza was only eager she obliged, “I’ll tell you one thing Ma’am when you are in love, you won’t be able to sleep let alone get that person out of your head.” Eliza shot her head back, she was uneasy about the thought of her being unable to sleep and continuously thinking about the person whom she will “love”. 

“Anyway Miss, I should be going now. I have many a things to get done. Relax is all I can say. I suppose being around them will make you excitable and do very strange things. I’ve seen it happen.” Marie excused herself.       

Elizabeth stood up and walked around the room. She began practising how she would address Willa. 

And at last it was time for the dinner party. The Evans family along with two other families were invited. All close friends of the Bingham family. The William's family -Lady Bingham's brother and Lord Bingham's cousins -the Watsons. It was to be a grand celebration to have Lord Bingham home at last after an extensive business trip. And to everyone's delight it was a fine success. 

   She greeted her father and her brother just before the guests had arrived. Elizabeth squealed with delight when her father handed her a new blue gown that he purchased from Paris. Marie came in and helped her dress. 

   Elizabeth retreated upstairs and hid behind the pillar as the guests arrived. She waited for the Evans family to arrive. And as soon as she saw Willa she took a deep breath and made her way down the stairs to make an entrance. She couldn't believe her mother was right. Willa was handsome -by far the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.  

“Is that your sister Jim?” Jim looked up to see Eliza walking down the stairs try her hardest to hide her nervousness. 

“Yes, she is.” He replied. “She seems nervous.” Asked Willa curiously. Jim smiled faintly and thought of a smart reply. He got it. “Give her time my dear Willa. You will find her quite charming I dear say. A sweet girl she is. Take my word for it.” Willa smiled, satisfied. “Can she sing and play?” Jim rolled his eyes. He looked at Willa who seemed genuinely interested in his sister. He face changed and he smiled nodded approvingly. Willa was relieved. She was astounded to hear that Elizabeth could not only play the piano but sing. She listened to James attentively as he continued to tastefully brag about his youngster sister. She couldn’t help but be in awe -as she hadn’t met many women who shared her love of music.

James introduced the two of them. The moment Elizabeth laid hey eyes of Willa -she felt her nervousness dissipate. The two women struck up a conversation first about music and then about other hobbies. Elizabeth couldn’t help but brag about winning her horse show. She could see Willa was quite taken with her. 

One could only sense from watching the two women that a relationship was only natural. Perhaps such an arrangement would not be so awful. As they spoke, James made his way to his father’s side and watching him was Mary and Julia their faces glowing. James looking over his father’s shoulder to the two maids and waved. They waved back but scurried off as soon as they saw the housekeeper glaring at them. 

Lady Bingham was watching Elizabeth and Willa with delight. She could not help herself but start planning. Her husband who was watching her knew where her mind was wondering of to. He quickly held out our his arm and pulled his wife away from his daughter. The bell rang for dinner. He whispered in his wife’s ear, “leave them be. It’ll happen with it does.” “Well I for one will not stand in their way. Look at the two of them. How exciting. I must confess it was a struggle excepting our daughter when she came out to us. But truth be told this is much better. Think two wedding gowns to shop for. Much more of an excitement then dressing a groom.” She said laughed. Lord Bingham looked at his wife and looked at the way Willa was dressed. "Some how my dear wife I don't think Willa is the type to wear a dress." Lady Bingham ignored her husband.

When dinner concluded, it came time for the evening to end. Elizabeth watched unable to hide her disappointment as Willa left. Slowly, she returned back to her room and got her self ready for bed. And as she laid there she received a phone call. It was Willa.

“Eliza?” Willa?” “Just wanted to say good night. Can’t wait to see you soon.” “Great!” Elizabeth squealed with delight. “I have a horse show coming up two weeks.” She quickly added. “I wouldn’t miss it!” There was silence. “Yes?” Elizabeth asked with slight hint of concern. “It’s just I don’t want to wait two weeks to see you again.” “O! Well then you can come and take tea with me then.” “Or something more fun. I’ll see you after lunch tomorrow and then I’ll stay and take tea with you.”

Elizabeth couldn’t sleep that night. What would tomorrow bring? She laid in bed felling absolutely beside herself with delight and joy.

To be continued...