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Post by blossom on May 1, 2007 11:04:14 GMT -5
"No problem. That's me job," Suzy replied, coming forward and holding out the glasses. She glanced at the cotton bandage around Orion's head. "How do you feel?"
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Post by twilightblade on May 1, 2007 11:14:03 GMT -5
"Much better," Orion replied lightly, taking one glass and helping Julia grasp the other. He smiled up at Suzy. "And you?"
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Post by blossom on May 1, 2007 11:17:43 GMT -5
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine," Suzy smiled, "I weren't shot today, fer one thing."
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Post by twilightblade on May 2, 2007 10:56:37 GMT -5
"Yes," Orion smiled. "That's good to hear."
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Post by blossom on May 2, 2007 11:10:54 GMT -5
Suzy smiled, blushed and gazed down at the floor, twirling her apron between her fingers. She was very aware of the black dust smudges on her clothes, and the flour on her face. Unlike Lady Jane or Miss Elizabeth she had to make do with a splash of cold water on her face in the mornings and evenings, and didn't have time to wash after every messy job. Goodness' knew what state she must be in.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. She wanted to talk, but didn't know what to say. In the end, she looked up and managed to stammer out "I - I'm glad you're okay," before flushing again and returning her gaze to the floor.
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Post by twilightblade on May 2, 2007 20:49:10 GMT -5
Orion chuckled. "I am too." He hesitated, then added, "Miss Higgins, would you mind not staring down at the floor so much? It hides your beautiful blue eyes."
Julia giggled. "But I can see them just fine, Uncle Orion!"
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Post by blossom on May 3, 2007 9:11:31 GMT -5
"Um, okay," Suzy whispered, looking up and flushing. Beautiful? No one had ever called her eyes beautiful before. Well, except her mother. She knew they were bright - that was where her nickname, Blue, had come from. But ... beautiful?
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Post by twilightblade on May 3, 2007 10:41:17 GMT -5
Orion smiled as she looked up. "Miss Higgins, do you have to go, or can you sit and talk with us for a while?"
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Post by blossom on May 3, 2007 11:13:03 GMT -5
"Oh ... um," Suzy glanced over at the door. There was no sign of Jane or anyone else, but if she wasn't mistake, the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps echoed down the stairs. Suzy smiled, and turned back to Orion, "I think I could stay fer a little while."
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Post by twilightblade on May 3, 2007 17:22:48 GMT -5
Orion nodded with pleasure, smiling. "Well then, tell me about the country you came from, if you would?"
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Post by blossom on May 4, 2007 4:02:41 GMT -5
"England? All right," Suzy agreed, "Well ... I spent most of my life in London, which is big and busy. Lots of buildings all close together. There are some really nice and pretty parts of London, but some really dodgy parts too. But most of the people there are friendly and kind."
She paused, then continued, describing for Orion all the sights and sounds of London as she'd experienced them, from Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament to Cheapside, where her mother had grown up.
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Post by twilightblade on May 4, 2007 14:57:09 GMT -5
Orion listened carefully, enjoying the sound of Suzy's voice, but soon, Julia broke in.
"Miss Suzy," Julia whispered, "Uncle Orion's falling asleep again." She looked anxiously up at Suzy. "Mama always did too, when she didn't want to."
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Post by blossom on May 5, 2007 11:32:04 GMT -5
Suzy looked at Orion, and sure enough his eyes had closed and his breathing was deeper. She almost smiled, until she realised exactly what it was Julia had said. That made her nervous. The doctor had said Orion needed rest, but what if he fell asleep and didn't wake up? She turned to Julia, and felt her heart twist at the little girl's worried expression.
"Don't worry, Julia," she whispered back with a smile that she hoped looked confident, "The doctor said yer uncle needed to rest. Silly me, I've been keepin' 'im up. Why don't we let 'im sleep fer now, and then wake 'im up in a couple of hours with some lunch, yeah?"
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Post by twilightblade on May 5, 2007 16:22:01 GMT -5
Julia smiled with relief and nodded. "Can I come with you?" she asked wistfully.
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Post by blossom on May 6, 2007 5:43:06 GMT -5
"'Course you can," Suzy smiled back.
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Post by twilightblade on May 7, 2007 10:51:54 GMT -5
Julia smiled happily and took Suzy's hand, running along beside her as they left Orion sleeping.
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Post by blossom on May 7, 2007 11:05:27 GMT -5
"Would you like something' to eat now, Julia?" Suzy asked as they walked down the stairs.
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Post by twilightblade on May 7, 2007 16:32:00 GMT -5
Julia nodded. "Yes, please, Miss Suzy."
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Post by blossom on May 8, 2007 11:08:04 GMT -5
Suzy smiled, "You can jus' call me Suzy." She led Julia down to the kitchen. Bessie hadn't appeared but Adam was still in there, his feet up by the fire and an apple in his hand. He looked round at they came in and waved.
"Adam, this 'ere's Julia, Mr. Talbot's niece. Julia, this is Adam. He works fer the Eddin's, like me," she explained, "Now, what would yer like to eat?"
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Post by twilightblade on May 8, 2007 13:13:57 GMT -5
"Bread and butter," Julia stated. "And could I have some jam?" She looked up at Suzy hopefully.
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Post by blossom on May 8, 2007 13:57:49 GMT -5
"Of course," Suzy replied, opening the bread bin and bringing out the loaf she and Bessie had baked the afternoon before. She reached into a drawer and brought out a long, serrated knife. Slicing firmly into the bread she asked, "Would you like strawberry jam? Or raspberry?"
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Post by twilightblade on May 8, 2007 14:19:47 GMT -5
Julia grinned with delight. "Strawberry, please!"
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Post by blossom on May 8, 2007 14:34:17 GMT -5
"No problem," Suzy said with a smile and wink. The butter, when fetched from the pantry, was soft and easily spread over the thick, white bread. A small pot of jam was reached down from the cupboard and slicked over the top. To finsh, Suzy cut the bread into triangular slices and arranged them neatly on a willow-patterened plate. She set them before Julia with a flourish, "Tuck in!"
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Post by twilightblade on May 8, 2007 14:38:32 GMT -5
Julia beamed at her, then happily went to work on the sandwiches, looking about the kitchen with wide eyes.
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Post by blossom on May 8, 2007 14:48:09 GMT -5
Satisfied that Julia was happy, Suzy cleared away the bread, butter and jam and brought out ingredients for icing the cake that was still warming in the oven. She rifled through cabinets, bringing out sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla and milk. She also needed bowls, a whisk and the scales.
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