(Untitled)

[bennet_beauty]

It seemed that no matter what period that the island did connive to throw upon her, Jane never did find herself feeling at home. It was the future or some version of it and though Jane always did her best to adjust without a word of complaint, she found herself quietly disappointed that it was always her that must change and never the other way

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[bennet_beauty]

Jane's relief was utterly palpable as the man caught her daughter before a terrible accident could occur. She hurried as quickly as she dared -- careful in her step as Richard was still swathed completely in her arms, not a sign of him peeking out from the heavy blanket keeping him from the cold. "Oh! Thank you," she breathed out in a hurry, reaching out her hand. "Lydia," she chided.

"I'm okay, Mama," Lydia replied with a wide-eyed look in her direction before turning it on the man. "I had a hero!"

"I apologise," Jane said, directly to the man. "She's been reading a great deal about princes and soldiers and the like lately before bedtime. Princes and heroes and knights are her favourite thing, now."

[bennet_beauty]

Jane's heartrate was yet erratic, for she had entertained all manner of disbelieving and dark thoughts as soon as Lydia's feet let their grip of the ice loosen. She thought of all the terrible things that might occur, but now she did her best to shake them from her mind. Her daughter was safe, as was Richard -- tucked softly and tightly away. "I like the one about the prince best," Lydia said cautiously -- reserved and shy, yet somehow trusting of her savior. "The one who has to give a kiss to his princess," she finished with a delighted trill of triumph at recalling the story exactly.

[bennet_beauty]

"I do not like to force others to help me, but..." Jane trailed off, affording a brisk nod of her head. Perhaps if she'd only had Richard under her blanket, but Lydia was a touch too hyperactive for her. "We're on our way to the stables to check on the animals. I'm afraid the change in both weather and geography has not taken away such duties," Jane said.

Lydia was quite enamoured, it seemed, with the new man. Jane thought it best, perhaps, to perform introductions. "I am Jane Lipton. That young princess is Miss Lydia Lipton Redman and this young fellow is Richard Lipton. We're all very pleased to meet you, sir."

[bennet_beauty]

"I think you have earned a paramour for life," Jane warned with a fond smile, grateful to see that her children weren't simply a burden on anyone who might come across them. "And she does have quite the mind for activity," Jane warned as she leaned in, smiling warmly. "Where were you off to when you became our helpful prince?" she asked, eyes wide with interest.

[bennet_beauty]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister Wayne," Jane remarked in polite and dutiful greeting in return, glad for his behaviour both with herself and with her children -- something that was more than she could have ever asked. "And I do hope you will not mind if we accompany you. I believe my husband will be glad for the meat and my daughter will be glad for the company." Richard, meanwhile, was still sleeping and Jane hoped that he would continue to do so.

After all, her son in such a peaceful state was a rarity and she found it happened most often when she kept him moving.

[bennet_beauty]

"How old are they?" she asked with great and open curiosity, a pleased look on her face at the very thought of talking about children. "Lydia here is four," she said, while Lydia let out a pleased sound of agreement and held up four fingers, "and Richard is only a few months old," she said with great adoration. "He is still learning about all the things that make the world what it is."

[bennet_beauty]

"That, or you must have been quite the busy man." Such humour was new to Jane and she enjoyed the freedom to be so frank, even at the same time as she found that it scandalized her and brought a blush to her cheeks. "And you do sound as though you love them all, regardless of how you came to be responsible for them," she said, of a far more serious manner. "I am sorry you missed their formative years. I know the later years will be every bit as wonderful, but I find great joy in everything they do upon each of their days."

[bennet_beauty]

"Her first word was a shock of delight. Her first steps," Jane spoke, her eyes wide with the memory and the hope that she would get to see Duckie take the same path. "The firsts. I know she will have many more, but it is something entirely else to look at your child and know that soon they will grow from the infant they are into a child and then an adult. I witnessed it with my younger sisters and I am all too eager to do it again," she spoke, most pragmatically.