Loving You

Chapter 5 | The meeting in Oxyberry

"Good afternoon Sir William Benwick. We are pleased to have your company. Your absence was the most talked about subject in the ball."

"My lord. I was unable to come due to the storm. How unlikely it is to rain in the winter. I gravely apologize for that. But I am looking forward to come to the main ball of Christmas."

William was at Oxyberry to meet his friend James. He was the organizer of the ball, but many people didn't show up on time due the Storm last night. The young lord was a friendly man, and he had a lovely family. Married to the second daughter of the lord of Galaw, Gretta, he was the happiest husband ever. The two had a pretty daughter, Hannah, who was three years old.

"Surely, you will have to attend it William. I would not take any excuses from you anymore. After all, it has been a long time, my friend, since I have seen you. Last time, I saw you, it was in Italy. And that was a year and a half ago. You wrote letters to me when I moved to England. But your lazy bum stopped writing letters to me after a month or so."

William felt as if he was being accused of crimes that he was uncertain of. He could clearly hear the hurt in his friend's voice, masked by the curtain of laughter and amusement.

"I had been wrapped up with some work of my own," said William. "So many things were happening in Italy. It was so difficult for me to even go outside my house. Every time I thought of telling you about my situation something or the other came up. I thought that maybe I should give you a visit. But back then, I couldn't afford to afford a ticket to London. That's when i received your invitation for your wedding. But alas! I couldn't attend it. Sometimes I would curse you for moving to London. But I would be quick enough to realize that it wasn't your fault. It was just fate." He sighed.

"I understand. Please make yourself comfortable. My family is so eager to meet you William. Gretta remembers how you used to imagine me and her together. Uff. If only childhood lasted a little longer."

"If only it did," William said softly.

The two made their way to the Oxyberry villa, where the lord lived with his family. The lord was only eighteen when he had left Italy. His father took back his title as the lord and continued serving the needy. Their family had always helped the impoverished.

A little girl ran to greet James. She hugged his legs. He giggled and left her up in his arms. "Good afternoon Mary. See who is here. This is uncle William. Greet him."

The girl looked at him with her innocent eyes. "Good afternoon uncle William," she said enthusiastically.

"Oh kids and their energy ," thought William. He bowed to her. "Good afternoon ma'am."

Mary giggled. "Papa, did you know? Billy was being a naughty boy. He tried to scare my friends away. But later i scolded him and now he is being a good boy, and playing with Jenna."

"Oh my little girl, acting like a grown up," cooed her father.
Billy was their pet dog. Mary got down of his arms and ran towards their garden.

"William please make yourself comfortable," said James, as the two entered the mansion.

"Oh William! It's such a pleasure to see you after such a long time," Gretta exclaimed with joy.
Gretta was a pretty woman. Her brown hair was in a neat updo. Her brown eyes always shined with affection. And a smile was always etched on her face. She had not changed since William had last seen her.

"Congratulations to you two. I am gravely apologetic for being unable to attend your matrimonial ceremony..."

"Oh stop this formal nonsense William," she interrupted. "We know that you were unable to attend it due to unavoidable circumstances. Please cut it short and enjoy this week before Christmas. I have written to May as well. She will be joining us in a few days! Oh how lovely it would to have a reunion and celebrate Christmas and the new year!"

James nudged at William. "Honey, you mean May Jannette?
Oh she is a pretty girl. I saw her at the last ball. Oh how pretty she has turned out to be. Poor thing, she has not married till now. She says that she will marry the person she loves."

Both him and his wife looked at William. He knew what their looks meant. He cleared his throat. "I have no affection for her other than that of a friend. I do not intend to marry in this life."

"You speak nonsense again. We understand that this is a sensitive topic for you."

"Oh dear Gretta, do not tease Mr Benwick like that. Poor lad is blushing, see."

If only William could tell them that his cheeks had turned red due to the embarrassment. He had never felt any connections with May. It was her who fawned over him since their childhood.

"James, could you kindly change this topic. I intend on going back, to the downtown before dark. I have so much paperwork to complete."

"William Benwick, the most busy youth and bachelor of London," taunted James.

"No I am serious. I do have a lot of paperwork. I have been assigned with the duty of imports of goods from India. Mostly fabrics. I have to sign certain orders and receipts."

The couple nodded. William had always been like that. It was so difficult for them to understand him sometimes. One moment he would laugh and the very next moment he would become all serious and quiet. They were used to that.

"William, you should try some cake. My wife baked it for us. She has improved so much in baking. I am sure you would not complain about it."

"Yes, I have learnt so much about baking from one of my former friends. I don't know where she lives now. Met her back in Galaw. Such a polite girl! I owe her so much."

William took a bite from the cake. It indeed was delicious!
"Gretta, this is the most delicious cake I have ever had in my life. The sweetness and the freshness of vanilla accompanied by the chocolate! Never had something this good. What was the name of that lady?"

"Oh, Miss Catherine Shaw..."

"Miss Shaw?! What does she look like?"

"What is with the excitement? She has brown hair with blue eyes. She was a pretty woman. But her parents died in an accident. Poor thing. How she used to cry. Sometimes she would even tell me about the things they had taught her."

"Gretta, you won't believe this, but this Catherine happens to be my very neighbour! Your description matches her perfectly."

"Oh! Is that so? Please bring her here, the next time you visit us. I owe her so much. She has taught me a lot. Please do bring her."

"I will," said William.

He got up on the carriage and bid farewell to the Wickley family. A long journey lay ahead of him. All he wanted was to reach home before it was dark.