• Chapter One: Captain James Edwards

    Molly Macadam had 3 daughters and 1 son and she stayed at home while their father worked at a paper house in town. They did not have a lot of money, but they had enough to live decent lives. The girl’s names were Jane who I have previously mentioned who is 16, Mary, who was 19 and Olivia who was only 10. The boy, John was 20 and was enlisting for the army, despite his parents protest. Molly was currently trying to marry off her oldest daughter, who had several suitors after her. So when Cap. James Edwards came by one early Monday morning they were assuming it was for Mary.
    As Molly was chatting with him in the living room Jane and Mary were eavesdropping.
    “Yes she is quite wonderful.” they heard their mother say.
    “So Mary, what do you think of Captain Edwards?” Jane asked her sister smirking.
    Mary shrugged.
    “He’s…ok I guess. He’s a bit to serious and mature for my taste though.” she admitted..
    It was true, Edwards was considerably older then Mary’s other suitors who were young 20 something’s.. Edwards was nearing his forties and was a very serious yet kind man. He was tall and had slightly wavy russet hair. He had dark expressive eyes and a rather deep almost monotone voice.
    “Well I’ll go and get her.”, there mother said and the girls started scurrying up the stairs.
    “What are you two doing up here?”, she asked them eyes narrowed.
    “We were just going up to our room.”, Jane said innocently.
    There mother eyed them suspiciously but did not comment any further on the matter.
    The girls went to go up the rest of the stairs when there mother said.
    “Oh and Jane as I’m sure you know, there’s a guest downstairs for you.”, she said. Jane and Mary glanced at each other.
    “For me?”, she asked nervously.
    Molly nodded.
    “But I thought he was here for Mary.”, she said honestly.
    “Jane, your sixteen now, you should expect men to start courting you around this time.”, Molly said sighing.
    Mary giggled,
    “Awww Jane’s growing up.”, she teased..
    Jane glared at her sister and followed Molly down the stairs.
    “But mother I don’t even know what to say.”, she protested.
    “Just be yourself Jane and just chat with him.”, Molly told her nervous daughter.
    Jane nervously entered the sitting room, where the Captain was sitting, sipping a cup of tea.
    He stood up upon her arrival.
    “Good morning he said kneeling and kissing her hand gently.
    Jane blushed a deep shade of red and sat down; Edwards sat down next to her.
    “Good morning.”, Jane replied quietly.
    The Captain turned towards her and smiled fondly, yet nervously as well.
    “How are you this fine morning?” he asked her conversationally.
    “I am well. What about you sir?” she replied politely.
    “I am doing wonderful thank you.” he said chuckling.
    Hmm courting seemed to be a rather awkward experience so far. It always seemed so easy going and natural for Mary and the men that courted her. But these two were both nervous thus creating awkward tension in the room.
    “So sir, your in the army correct?”, Jane asked ,it seemed like a silly question because she knew that of course but she wanted to make an effort at this at least.
    “Yes I am in charge of the queen’s brigade.” said looking down at his cup of tea.
    “Well that’s very noble.” Jane said smiling, “Do you enjoy working for the queen so directly?” she asked... Ah that seemed like another stupid question.
    “I do yes. It has certain perks and benefits.” he replied looking at her quickly. Jane was starting to feel bad for thus guy. He was more nervous then she was! Yet she had no idea why a man as handsome as he is would be so nervous around an ordinary and plain girl like herself.
    “What kind of perks?” she asked. Wow she hoped it didn’t sound like she was prying or anything.
    “Oh just different events and things of that nature that would be very hard to get into otherwise.”, he replied.
    “For instance, I always get tickets to go to different balls and what not but I never go because quite frankly…..I have no one to take. Maybe you could attend one with me?””, he asked boldly.
    “Oh that would be…lovely.” Jane replied smiling.
    “I don’t think I have ever been to a formal ball.”, she admitted.
    “Oh there quite grand. The ones the queen throws at least. I had to go to certain mandatory ones. I think you might like It.”, he said, his confidence building at the topic at hand.
    Molly scurried into the room a tray of tea and biscuits in her hands.
    She set the platter down then hurried out of the room quickly.
    “What do you like to do in your spare time?” Jane asked him, taking a cup of tea from the tray.
    “I enjoy reading poetry.” he said simply.
    “Poetry?” she asked intrigued. She herself loved poetry.
    He nodded.
    “Yes I absolutely love reading Shakespeare.” he told her.
    Jane laughed.
    “Well then that seems to be something we have in common. I love Shakespeare myself, in fact I have several books of his poetry on the back shelf there.” she said waving at the bookshelf in the back of the room.
    “Do mind if I take one down?” he asked her.
    “Oh go ahead.” Was Jane’s reply.
    Captain Edwards stood up and briskly walked over to the bookshelf and took down a book. He then flipped through the pages until he found the poem he was looking for. He came back over next to her and gently sat down on the arm of the couch. He recited a love poem to her. (Insert Shakespeare poem here). His voice was soft and gentle and it swept Jane up into the poem. When he closed the book and smiled at her, Jane blushed furiously.
    “That was beautiful.” She replied breathlessly.
    Edwards smiled.
    “Yes, that poem was always my favorite.” He said still smiling sweetly at her.