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

Ch. 14: Heartfelt Farewells

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 14:  Heartfelt Farewells, April 12, 2013 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:   The Wingate family picnic yesterday celebrating  Anna joining their family was a great success.  Lady Katharine is developing a good rapport with both her mother-in-law Lady Wingate and her husband Lord Rafe’s child, Anna.  And Anna is finding the Wingate family dynamics of loving, caring, and fun, to be very comforting as she begins her transition to a new life with her grandparents while still mourning her Mama’s death.  Lord Rafe’s fourteen year old godson, Stuart MacGregor, has developed a shy interest in eleven year old Anna.  But at fourteen years and eleven years, respectively, Stuart and Anna are far too young to court.  But for now, Lord Rafe has told Stuart that he may send any messages he has for Anna through him, and Lord Rafe will convey Anna’s replies to Stuart in a letter of reply.  Today, Thursday, the MacGregor’s return home and Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine leave to visit her parents in London.  So, there will be several farewells occurring.

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 14:  Heartfelt Farewells

Stuart MacGregor has a private breakfast with his family in his parents’ guest bed chamber this early Thursday morning before they travel home to Oxford in Oxfordshire.   It will take them half a day’s carriage ride from Dearing Manor near Warwick in Warwickshire.  They will spend some of their Summer time in London for the season and to exchange visits with their relatives--with Sir Collin commuting back and forth due to his magistrate responsibilities in Oxford. Then, back home to Oxford in August for a brief idyll before the September term begins at Eton.

But today, Stuart’s leave taking from Dearing Manor will be particularly wrenching for him--to leave his new friend Miss Anna Wingate.  The MacGregor Family is set to depart for home around nine o’clock.  Their hosts Lord and Lady Wingate, and best friend Lord Rafe and his new wife Lady Katharine will see them off--even as Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine depart to undertake the all day journey to London.  But Stuart does not know if he will see Miss Anna again before they leave or not.  With the three families assembled in the courtyard--including Sir John Throckmorton alone, since his wife Lady Louisa and their children are sleeping in--but still no Anna, Stuart’s hopes seem unhopeful.

Lord Rafe:  With his arm around his wife’s waist, Lord Rafe [(2) right] says his grateful thanks and warm farewells.  “Mama, Papa, on behalf of Kate and I we want to thank you again for hosting us and our wedding.”  Lady Katharine nods and smiles her thanks.

Lord Wingate:  Clasping his son’s hand and clapping him on the shoulder, he smiles broadly.  “I have waited many a long year to see you happily wed, Rafe.” Lord Rafe smiles impishly.   “And Katharine, we are delighted to welcome you into our family.”