(no subject)
Title: Bluebells and roses.
Chapter 21.
This is the last part of an AU/AU, a tribute to a great short story and a marvellous film. I’m very happy because I was able to finish this story, but…more ideas to come!
Timeline: before the introduction chapter, we’re swimming between end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.
Thanks as usual to all of you who read and posted a review. It is so important for me.
Disclaimer: intellectual property of Ms. Proulx, no commercial use, no copyright infringement.
Special thanks also this time to my dear Beta Sam, her help and support is really precious for me.
When Thomas Alcott settled everything, Ennis returned home from London with a copy of the final divorce agreement, written and signed in his lawyer’s office.
He had been generous and assured Alma both the promised estates and the servants. Thomas Alcott pointed out that he could have reduced his original offer, but Ennis didn’t want to further increase his wife’s resentment, both for the sake of his daughters and for him and Jack.
In the end, Lord Thompson had agreed to only 50,000 pounds, and Ennis swore to use the greatest part of the difference from the first amount to create two funds, one for Bobby, the other for the local orphanage.
During the previous meeting with Alma, he had refused at first to know what his lawyer had prepared as proofs against his wife. But seeing Lord Thompson’s face becoming more and more pale while reading Alcott’s report, Ennis’ curiosity increased and later he asked for a copy, swearing to open it only when alone with Jack.
Just before the final agreements were signed, Michael Alcott informed his counterpart he could provide documents describing Jack’s concern, care and deep love for his late wife, if Alma would dare to insist on her “nasty” theory in the future.
Ennis was eager to tell Jack that his lawyer spoke with him briefly after the papers were signed, stating that no matter what Alma said, Jack’s behaviour toward the Delmars, Lureen and Bobby was nothing than perfect.
“Ennis, I don’t care about your or Jack’s feelings, but I believe that the past is over now and that you both deserve some happiness.”
Ennis was deeply moved by those words, he wanted to properly show his appreciation to Thomas Alcott but he was at a loss for words.
He blurted out a simple “thanks” and was unable to say more.
Ennis was coming home, the carriage turning around the pine bush and bringing him into full sight of his beloved house. He looked at it like never before; it was his real home now, with his real family.
He saw his daughters playing with a light brown labrador puppy, Jack’s present, in the field in front of the conservatory.
The housekeeper was walking with a basket in her arms toward the stone table in the garden, followed by two maids carrying a couple of chairs.
Somebody was speaking with the butler at the front door, a black car was outside the entrance.
Bobby was riding his pony in the field around the horse stable, watched over by the old horseman.
Ennis entered quietly through the library window, the room was warm from the late afternoon light and the fire burning scented pine woods. He sat for a few minutes in one of the large armchairs and closed his eyes; he was tired but happy.
He felt happiness inside the house as well as he moved on; hearing joyful voices coming from the staff’s dining room when he passed near the kitchen.
The atmosphere had changed a lot, since first his father and now Alma weren’t there anymore.
The only part of the past Ennis missed was Lureen.
Outside, the sunset was lingering on the western hills; inside the stable, the young horseman was giving hay to the horses and Ennis patted the back of his and Jack’s.
Now all the lights were on and the house shone in the incoming darkness.
Ennis found Jack in the sitting room like he used to do before dinner, reading a newspaper.
“Ennis, you’re here. You were due tomorrow.” Jack abandoned his lecture and stood up.
“I was anxious to come home.”
“How did the meeting was?”
“Better than I imagined, Thompson agreed everything a week ago. It’s really over now.”
“So Alcott did a real good job, didn’t he?”
“You bet. I’m a married man no more.”
Suddenly, Ennis embraced Jack; a spontaneous gesture that wasn’t typical for him. Ennis had often restrained himself from showing his feelings toward Jack, unless they were alone in a safe place.
Jack was more than happy to return the embrace and leaned his head on Ennis’ shoulder.
Later, after they had put their children to bed, Jack and Ennis had dinner together in the drawing room. They talked a lot and Ennis commented on the meetings with the lawyers and his previous confrontation with Alma.
He took from his bag the still folded report Thomas Alcott had given him, opened it and read aloud.
And so Ennis and Jack discovered that Alma was a regular member of a group of young and very rich people who were addicted to particular pleasures. The group, equally divided between men and women, met as secretly as possible, mostly in a London house belonging to young William Monroe’s family. The cadet son of Lord Monroe had spent some years of his youth in France and was in contact with some French poets devoted to drugs. Monroe could be described as an amoral, whose purpose in life was to satisfy his vices.
So the group enjoyed all manner of strange sexual activities, both as couples and with all of them together.
Ennis wondered how could Alma tried to accuse him of making nasty things with Jack while herself took pleasure in the same things. He said it aloud and Jack nodded.
“It seems to me that the best way to defend is to attack first.”
“You’re right, I’m afraid Alma could have won if we hadn’t found this proof.”
“I think some of this proof could be useful.”
“Jack!”
“No, Ennis, I’m not suggesting we join this group…..but if this Monroe learned so many things in France, maybe it’s a place more free than this.”
“For people like us?”
“Why not, maybe we could be a little more open there.”
“You could be right. Next year, we could take a long holiday together. I remember Lady Alcott once said Paris was beautiful in the spring.”
“Every place is beautiful if we are together.”
“Jack, I swear…to be with you always.”
THE END
Thanks a lot for your patience in following this story.
Alex (Ar-men66)
Chapter 21.
This is the last part of an AU/AU, a tribute to a great short story and a marvellous film. I’m very happy because I was able to finish this story, but…more ideas to come!
Timeline: before the introduction chapter, we’re swimming between end of 19th and beginning of 20th century.
Thanks as usual to all of you who read and posted a review. It is so important for me.
Disclaimer: intellectual property of Ms. Proulx, no commercial use, no copyright infringement.
Special thanks also this time to my dear Beta Sam, her help and support is really precious for me.
When Thomas Alcott settled everything, Ennis returned home from London with a copy of the final divorce agreement, written and signed in his lawyer’s office.
He had been generous and assured Alma both the promised estates and the servants. Thomas Alcott pointed out that he could have reduced his original offer, but Ennis didn’t want to further increase his wife’s resentment, both for the sake of his daughters and for him and Jack.
In the end, Lord Thompson had agreed to only 50,000 pounds, and Ennis swore to use the greatest part of the difference from the first amount to create two funds, one for Bobby, the other for the local orphanage.
During the previous meeting with Alma, he had refused at first to know what his lawyer had prepared as proofs against his wife. But seeing Lord Thompson’s face becoming more and more pale while reading Alcott’s report, Ennis’ curiosity increased and later he asked for a copy, swearing to open it only when alone with Jack.
Just before the final agreements were signed, Michael Alcott informed his counterpart he could provide documents describing Jack’s concern, care and deep love for his late wife, if Alma would dare to insist on her “nasty” theory in the future.
Ennis was eager to tell Jack that his lawyer spoke with him briefly after the papers were signed, stating that no matter what Alma said, Jack’s behaviour toward the Delmars, Lureen and Bobby was nothing than perfect.
“Ennis, I don’t care about your or Jack’s feelings, but I believe that the past is over now and that you both deserve some happiness.”
Ennis was deeply moved by those words, he wanted to properly show his appreciation to Thomas Alcott but he was at a loss for words.
He blurted out a simple “thanks” and was unable to say more.
Ennis was coming home, the carriage turning around the pine bush and bringing him into full sight of his beloved house. He looked at it like never before; it was his real home now, with his real family.
He saw his daughters playing with a light brown labrador puppy, Jack’s present, in the field in front of the conservatory.
The housekeeper was walking with a basket in her arms toward the stone table in the garden, followed by two maids carrying a couple of chairs.
Somebody was speaking with the butler at the front door, a black car was outside the entrance.
Bobby was riding his pony in the field around the horse stable, watched over by the old horseman.
Ennis entered quietly through the library window, the room was warm from the late afternoon light and the fire burning scented pine woods. He sat for a few minutes in one of the large armchairs and closed his eyes; he was tired but happy.
He felt happiness inside the house as well as he moved on; hearing joyful voices coming from the staff’s dining room when he passed near the kitchen.
The atmosphere had changed a lot, since first his father and now Alma weren’t there anymore.
The only part of the past Ennis missed was Lureen.
Outside, the sunset was lingering on the western hills; inside the stable, the young horseman was giving hay to the horses and Ennis patted the back of his and Jack’s.
Now all the lights were on and the house shone in the incoming darkness.
Ennis found Jack in the sitting room like he used to do before dinner, reading a newspaper.
“Ennis, you’re here. You were due tomorrow.” Jack abandoned his lecture and stood up.
“I was anxious to come home.”
“How did the meeting was?”
“Better than I imagined, Thompson agreed everything a week ago. It’s really over now.”
“So Alcott did a real good job, didn’t he?”
“You bet. I’m a married man no more.”
Suddenly, Ennis embraced Jack; a spontaneous gesture that wasn’t typical for him. Ennis had often restrained himself from showing his feelings toward Jack, unless they were alone in a safe place.
Jack was more than happy to return the embrace and leaned his head on Ennis’ shoulder.
Later, after they had put their children to bed, Jack and Ennis had dinner together in the drawing room. They talked a lot and Ennis commented on the meetings with the lawyers and his previous confrontation with Alma.
He took from his bag the still folded report Thomas Alcott had given him, opened it and read aloud.
And so Ennis and Jack discovered that Alma was a regular member of a group of young and very rich people who were addicted to particular pleasures. The group, equally divided between men and women, met as secretly as possible, mostly in a London house belonging to young William Monroe’s family. The cadet son of Lord Monroe had spent some years of his youth in France and was in contact with some French poets devoted to drugs. Monroe could be described as an amoral, whose purpose in life was to satisfy his vices.
So the group enjoyed all manner of strange sexual activities, both as couples and with all of them together.
Ennis wondered how could Alma tried to accuse him of making nasty things with Jack while herself took pleasure in the same things. He said it aloud and Jack nodded.
“It seems to me that the best way to defend is to attack first.”
“You’re right, I’m afraid Alma could have won if we hadn’t found this proof.”
“I think some of this proof could be useful.”
“Jack!”
“No, Ennis, I’m not suggesting we join this group…..but if this Monroe learned so many things in France, maybe it’s a place more free than this.”
“For people like us?”
“Why not, maybe we could be a little more open there.”
“You could be right. Next year, we could take a long holiday together. I remember Lady Alcott once said Paris was beautiful in the spring.”
“Every place is beautiful if we are together.”
“Jack, I swear…to be with you always.”
THE END
Thanks a lot for your patience in following this story.
Alex (Ar-men66)