Myshuno: Crowsfeet
Myshuno Prompt: Asking a father's permission to marry regacylady
Characters: Lora and Roger Davies
Notes: *spoilers* behind the scenes in Guilford
Word Count: 635
Crowsfeet
"Preposterous!” Lora muttered as she gazed at her reflection in her vanity mirror. Was it her imagination or were those fine lines at the corners of her eyes growing more entrenched? “Raymond McFerren has asked for our Benet's hand? He can not be serious.”
“I believe he is.” Roger countered from where he stood by the fireplace, a tumbler of scotch balanced precariously between thumb and forefinger. “He was most ardent in his declaration.”
“The consummate bachelor has fallen in love and with our daughter no less. Humph.” Lora frowned at her reflection in dismay as she attempted to smooth the skin around her eyes. “I can't believe it. He must be in jest. Mr. McFerren has been making his objections against marriage plain for decades. What on earth can have changed his opinion so thoroughly?”
Roger sipped his drink. “I can only hazard a guess. I believe he's simply ready to settle in. A man as well traveled as he; he's seen and experienced it all. He's earned his fortune, toured the world many times over, to say nothing of the many oats he's sown...” a chuckle. “Marital bliss is the last great adventure afforded to him.”
Lora threw a disapprovingly look her husband's way before continuing to abuse her face. “I fail to find that amusing, my love. What can he possibly be thinking asking for Benet? She's but a child and with her face she can take her pick of suitors. What can an old man like himself hope to offer? Marriage and family are the province of the young.”
“Perhaps for women dearest.” Roger corrected. “But I think you'll find that few young men make very good husbands, longevity aside. Too little experience has them longing to taste the delights of the world. In no time at all they are bored with their domestic lives. Now McFerren is a good sort. Tried and true and a most loyal friend. He has tasted his fill and his longing for adventure has been satisfied. He may be older but he is hardly decrepit and someone of Benet's pleasant disposition is just what he needs now.
“She's certainly the fairest of her sisters and the most amiable. She'll make him both a good wife and mother to their children. And he in turn offers stability; a mature hand to counter her youth.”
“And he'll make her a lovely young widow as well.”
Roger laughed and rounded the divan as he approached his wife. “Come now. Raymond is three years my junior. Don't put me in the ground so very soon.”
Lora smirked and turned on her stool with a sigh. “Alright, so he's not at death's door quite yet. But don't you find it even the least bit absurd? Mr. McFerren and I have had a standing flirtation for over twenty years and now he asks for my child as his bride. I can't help but find it a little insulting.”
Finally understanding the root of his wife's objections, Roger gave Lora a soft look as he smoothed a line from her forehead with his thumb. “Perhaps he has finally seen his mistake in having let you slip through his fingers when he was but a foolish lad. And maybe after all these years of waiting for a second chance or my early death he's accepted his loss and chosen to make do with a beautiful girl who is but a pale imitation of the original.”
He leaned in a brushed a soft kiss to Lora's nose. “Whatever the reason, I can not regret it for his folly has been my gain.”
Lora blushed beautifully and gazed up at her husband in abject adoration. “Oh Mr. Davies. I suppose if I must grow older, I count myself most blessed to do so with you.”
Characters: Lora and Roger Davies
Notes: *spoilers* behind the scenes in Guilford
Word Count: 635
Crowsfeet
"Preposterous!” Lora muttered as she gazed at her reflection in her vanity mirror. Was it her imagination or were those fine lines at the corners of her eyes growing more entrenched? “Raymond McFerren has asked for our Benet's hand? He can not be serious.”
“I believe he is.” Roger countered from where he stood by the fireplace, a tumbler of scotch balanced precariously between thumb and forefinger. “He was most ardent in his declaration.”
“The consummate bachelor has fallen in love and with our daughter no less. Humph.” Lora frowned at her reflection in dismay as she attempted to smooth the skin around her eyes. “I can't believe it. He must be in jest. Mr. McFerren has been making his objections against marriage plain for decades. What on earth can have changed his opinion so thoroughly?”
Roger sipped his drink. “I can only hazard a guess. I believe he's simply ready to settle in. A man as well traveled as he; he's seen and experienced it all. He's earned his fortune, toured the world many times over, to say nothing of the many oats he's sown...” a chuckle. “Marital bliss is the last great adventure afforded to him.”
Lora threw a disapprovingly look her husband's way before continuing to abuse her face. “I fail to find that amusing, my love. What can he possibly be thinking asking for Benet? She's but a child and with her face she can take her pick of suitors. What can an old man like himself hope to offer? Marriage and family are the province of the young.”
“Perhaps for women dearest.” Roger corrected. “But I think you'll find that few young men make very good husbands, longevity aside. Too little experience has them longing to taste the delights of the world. In no time at all they are bored with their domestic lives. Now McFerren is a good sort. Tried and true and a most loyal friend. He has tasted his fill and his longing for adventure has been satisfied. He may be older but he is hardly decrepit and someone of Benet's pleasant disposition is just what he needs now.
“She's certainly the fairest of her sisters and the most amiable. She'll make him both a good wife and mother to their children. And he in turn offers stability; a mature hand to counter her youth.”
“And he'll make her a lovely young widow as well.”
Roger laughed and rounded the divan as he approached his wife. “Come now. Raymond is three years my junior. Don't put me in the ground so very soon.”
Lora smirked and turned on her stool with a sigh. “Alright, so he's not at death's door quite yet. But don't you find it even the least bit absurd? Mr. McFerren and I have had a standing flirtation for over twenty years and now he asks for my child as his bride. I can't help but find it a little insulting.”
Finally understanding the root of his wife's objections, Roger gave Lora a soft look as he smoothed a line from her forehead with his thumb. “Perhaps he has finally seen his mistake in having let you slip through his fingers when he was but a foolish lad. And maybe after all these years of waiting for a second chance or my early death he's accepted his loss and chosen to make do with a beautiful girl who is but a pale imitation of the original.”
He leaned in a brushed a soft kiss to Lora's nose. “Whatever the reason, I can not regret it for his folly has been my gain.”
Lora blushed beautifully and gazed up at her husband in abject adoration. “Oh Mr. Davies. I suppose if I must grow older, I count myself most blessed to do so with you.”