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

Ch. 22 (R rated): A Visit to the Seaside at Essex Part 1

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 22 (R rated):  A  Visit to the Seaside at  Essex Brings Soothing Calm and Reflection Part 1,May 26, 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 Southwick Wingate, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Plunkett, Emilie Francois as Anna Wingate, Mark Strong as Sir Collin MacGregor, Alan Bates as Lord Charles Wingate, Christian Bale as Stuart MacGregor, Daniel Day-Lewis as Sir Antony Southwick, Michelle Pfeiffer as Lady Charmaine Southwick, Catherine Deneuve as Lady Esmѐ Sinclair, Julian Sands as Sir Percival Southwick, Samantha Morton as Lady Lucinda Southwick, Raymond Coulthard as David Harriott, 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:  After a whirlwind week and a half in London, Lord Rafe can see that his eleven year old Anna’s nerves were fraying from meeting so many new people and having new social obligations.  Afterall, the young girl had just suffered the death of her mother just two weeks ago.  And with Lady Katharine’s Mama, Lady Charmaine’s health continuing to recover, Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine feel that they can continue their wedding trip.  So they decide not to wait until August and they bring Anna with them to Lady Katharine’s seaside estate in Essex now.  The calm of the country side will give Anna time to grieve properly and also to get to know her father Lord Rafe and his wife Lady Katharine better.

“Love is a Choice”, Ch. 22 (R rated):  A Visit to the Seaside at Essex Brings Soothing Calm and Reflection

At the end of their third week of marriage--their second week in London--Lady Katharine and Lord Rafe are assured that Lady Charmaine is well on her way to recovery.  So Lord Rafe and Lady Katharine decide to visit Lady Katharine’s seaside estate in Essex to continue their wedding trip--and take Lord Rafe’s daughter Anna with them for her to have a less hurried place without social engagements so Anna can mourn her Mama in peace and tranquility.

Lady Katharine’s Essex County seaside estate Sea Grove Cottage [(2) right]--located near the peninsular coast in the middle of the county near the village of Maylandsea [(3)]--is a lovely cottage nestled within the trees of a small 200 acre estate that includes a short 100 metres [(4)] walk to the small hill crest overlooking the beach of their private inlet bay.   There are 20 graduated wooden stair steps built to access the beach from the hill.  Once at beach level one can wade into the shallow area of the bay or walk upon a small boat dock that extends 50 meters into the bay.  Due to the relatively  shallow depth of the small inlet bay, only small excursion craft can safely maneuver its shoals--and then only at high tide.  But, the small inlet bay’s shallowness makes it excellent for sea bathing, row boats, and such. Sea Grove Cottage and its surrounding lands are their private refuge of peace and calm.

Lady Katharine:  “We are here!”  Lady Katharine [(5) right] calls out cheerfully as they all look out their carriage windows.

As their carriage pulls up to Sea Grove Cottage’s front entrance circle drive [(6) right]--with its center garden of red roses flanking a three quarter life size bronze statue of the winged footed god Mercury (decorously clothed in leaves in strategic places)--Lady Katharine is eager to show her husband Lord Rafe and Anna around the cottage and the estate.  It is late afternoon and they have been traveling all day from London to Essex County and then to her estate on England’s Eastern shore.