"Love is a Choice" by Gratiana Lovelace, 3/15/13 (Completed)

Ch. 13 (PG): Picnic Celebrating Anna Joining the Wingate Family

 “Love is a Choice”, Ch. 13 (PG):  Picnic Celebrating Anna Joining the Wingate Family, 4/08/13 Gratiana Lovelace

(An original story by Gratiana Lovelace; All Rights Reserved)

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Lord Rafe Wingate, Carla Gugino as Lady Katharine Wingate, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Plunkett, Emilie Francois as Anna, Mark Strong as Sir Collin MacGregor, Alan Bates as Lord Charles Wingate, and Christian Bale as Stuart MacGregor, and others, etc.]     [Story Logo 1abcd]

Author’s Mature Content Note:  “Love is a Choice” is a story of love and romance set in the early to mid 1800’s.  I like Regency sensibilities with regard to comedy of manners, but Romantic period modes of dress.   Ha!  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes (perhaps some R rated) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments.  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to some mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read the chapters with those labels.  This is my disclaimer.

Author’s Recap from the previous installment:   Anna met her cousins, three year old Charlotte called Lottie and five years old Henry when they followed the dog Kelly into her bed chamber this morning--after her Aunt Louisa, their mother, made the introductions.  They all walk to Grandmama’s bed chamber where they find Grandpapa who greets them all warmly before setting off hunting with the men.  Then the  grandchildren and Lady Louisa all had breakfast in Grandmama’s bed chamber.  Afterward, Anna gave her Mama Fanny’s note to her Grandmama and found that there was a note inside if for her as well.  Anna took the note back to her room and read it after the maid helped her dress for today’s picnic.  Meanwhile, Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine had enjoyed a loving morning tryst--their third as husband and wife.  But who is counting?  Well, maybe the love struck and eager bridegroom, Lord Rafe.  But today, the Wingate family looks forward to a picnic to celebrate Lord Rafe’s daughter Anna joining  their family.

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 13 (PG):  Picnic Celebrating Anna Joining the Wingate Family

The men--Lord Charles Wingate, Sir John Throckmorton, Sir Collin MacGregor--return from their brief morning hunting expedition quite pleased with themselves.  Between them they bagged three pheasants that they instruct the servants to prepare for the evening meal later.  Though Lord Wingate was not among the successful hunters this morn, due to his slightly age diminished eye sight.  Lord Rafe Wingate was excused from their hunting, because as a bridegroom he had other responsibilities. 

It is now about 11:00am as Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine ride up the long drive to Dearing Manor in the open gig carriage.  Lord Rafe is testing his newly paired horses at rather a fast gallop and he and his wife are laughing and giggling as she holds tightly to his arm so she does not fall out.  As his father and the other men walk up to them, Lord Rafe brings the carriage to a screeching stop near the stables--as much as horses and wheels can screech.  Lord Rafe assists Lady Katharine from stepping down from the carriage as he hoists her up in the air by her holding her under her arms to her squeals.

Lady Katharine:  “Rafe!  You fiend!  Put me down.   Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Lord Rafe:  Twirling her around in his arms, he says.  “Never!  Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Lord Wingate:  Gazing upon his son and daughter-in-law with unabashed amusement, he jests.  “I would say we missed you in our hunting party, but clearly you do not regret abandoning us.”  He pouts in mock indignation.