"Oh my. An unexpected enlarging of the family is quite an occasion, certainly. I hope that everyone manages to adjust as well as possible." Jack smiles. "I have it on good authority that brothers can be terribly puzzling people, but nice to have around on many occasions."
"Well, I quite like him so far, and he's very useful to have around...I'm not so sure I like the strange power my grandparents have to make me feel guilty with a look, though."
"Ah. So that technique isn't explained in a pamphlet given to all parents?" He smiles. "I'm very well, thank you. My friend Mrs. Meddows recently recieved a small stockpile of delayed letters, which was a great relief to all concerned."
"Oh, I know how to do it to the goslings, but...I haven't seen my grandparents since I was four months old. I shouldn't care about their opinion enough for it to work." It's very confusing.
Still, she smiles at the good news. "I'm so glad!"
"Perhaps the extent of their own feeling adds slightly to the effect, as I'm sure the extreme interval has not made them forget the infant they knew." Jack shrugs a little. "I do hope things work out satisfactorily."
"Thank you, I am, too, of course." For one thing, Mrs. Meddows can't wear black; she's an Autumn.
"No, they've wasted no time in calling me Ailey and wondering how I ended up to be such an oddball." She fusses with her hair a bit, wrapping it around her fingers. "I suppose I should have expected it."
Jack reaches to take her other hand. "They might be initially confused, but I'm fairly certain that -- if they're not senile -- they'll be proud of what they eventually learn of you. Ailey's an interesting name; different, but similar." He says it simply, in a sort of way that conveys she can talk about her background or not as she prefers. "Have they met Alured?"
She curls her hand into his gratefully and gives him a tiny smile. "Thank you. Yes, they've met Alured. They adore him. They're in absolute love with him. I think they might even give my older brother a year or two of relief from the constant nitpicking about getting married and carrying on the family name, now...
"They're very, um, old-fashioned about these things. They want to make sure there'll be Moores running around forever and ever."
Jack smiles and nods. "I'm glad that Charles and Edward spared me any such pressure. And I should think it would be all the stronger for a gentleman, whose family probably have an estate to think about."
Jack smiles. "I have it on good authority that brothers can be terribly puzzling people, but nice to have around on many occasions."
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But she doesn't look entirely upset.
"How're you?"
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Still, she smiles at the good news. "I'm so glad!"
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"Thank you, I am, too, of course." For one thing, Mrs. Meddows can't wear black; she's an Autumn.
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"They're very, um, old-fashioned about these things. They want to make sure there'll be Moores running around forever and ever."
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