Lavinia's Window

by Michelle Weisen

  “Oh no, Annie. You must not let your temper get the better of you. You must be on your best behavior. This is going to be a very fancy tea; we must not embarrass Aunt Marjorie. Promise me that you will behave, Annie.”

  “I will, Lavinia.” Annie secretly crossed her fingers behind her back because she knew she could not promise to stand by and allow anyone to be cruel to Lavinia.

  “Good. Good night, Annie,” said Lavinia, and kissed her on the cheek.

  Annie turned over on her side. “If anyone says one mean thing, I’m going to let them know what’s what,” she thought. The General would understand the kind of loyalty that Annie felt towards Lavinia. “I am a good soldier,” she murmured before falling off to sleep.

  The day’s events had worn Lavinia out, and she slept late the following morning.

  She joined Marjorie at a small table by the window. “It’s just you and I, darling,” said Aunt Marjorie. “Everyone else has been up for hours. Take a look at the view of the city.”

  The day was clear and crisp. Lavinia felt like she was looking down from a mountain. “The people are as small as ants,” she said.

  Marjorie laughed. “It’s good to be on top of the world! Try some of these pastries, they are divine! Now, tell me about home. I want to know everything. Is Mrs. Lawson still making those wonderful oatmeal raisin cookies? I adore that woman, and I was absolutely heartbroken when I could not persuade her to come with me when I married.”

  “I don’t think she would have liked London,” said Lavinia, “but I know she misses you.” Lavinia told Aunt Marjorie all the news she could think of since her last visit. After about an hour, Annie and the Count arrived.

  “You will never guess what Uncle Cubby was able to do!” sAnnie said excitedly.

  “What?” asked Marjorie.

  Annie handed a large envelope to Lavinia. “Open it!” Lavinia opened the large manila envelope and took out a picture of her father.

  “Oh my goodness! Thank you, Uncle Cubby.”

  “He got it from the newspaper. Uncle Cubby can do anything!”

  “Looks like you have another admirer, dear,” said Marjorie smiling. “Where is Edward this morning?”

  “He is out walking. I am meeting him at the club for a late lunch. Ladies, enjoy your tea. I’ll want to hear all about it,” said the Count. He kissed Marjorie, waved to the girls, and went out.

  “Let me see the picture, darling,” said Marjorie. “My, he is handsome. Your mother was quite taken with him. Alex is one of those bold, take-charge types.”

  “Is that the type you like?” asked Annie, who sat next to Marjorie.

  “I prefer a gentler man, like Uncle Cubby. He is never too busy to make time for me, and he is such great fun!”

  “Oh, he is,” agreed Annie. “We ate chocolates, even though it was morning!”

  “That’s my darling Cubby! Girls, what shall we wear to tea today? We must look very royal indeed.”

  There was a great deal of fuss as the girls laid out their clothes for Marjorie’s inspection. Marjorie pulled out a few pieces and instructed Marie to have the items pressed.

  “Come along to my room, girls. I think I have a few things to add to your wardrobes.”

  Annie and Lavinia were astonished to find that Aunt Marjorie had an entire room filled with clothes, shoes, headpieces, and jewelry. Marjorie waded in and began tossing items of clothing about while Marie attempted to instill some kind of order.

  “No, not this. This will never do. This is perfect!” Marjorie pulled an elegant cream colored cashmere shawl out, and flung it across Lavinia’s shoulders.

  Lavinia touched the baby soft fabric. “I cannot wear this, Aunt Marjorie, it is too fine!”

  “Nonsense! Aha! Here it is. Look at this brooch, Lavinia. My father gave it to me when I was about your age. I always feel very confident when I wear it, and so shall you. Marie will pin it to your blouse.”

  “I expect there isn’t anything special for me,” said Annie, biting her lower lip.

  “Oh, I already have something for you, Annie. Come, sit at the dressing table and look in the mirror.”

  Annie did as she was told, and Marjorie placed a tiny tiara in her hair. Annie’s eyes lit up with amazement. For once, she was speechless.

  “Do you like it?”

  Annie nodded.

  Marjorie also placed a purple feather boa around Annie’s shoulders. Annie stroked the piece with reverence.

  “Do you think it might be a bit much?” asked Lavinia timidly.

  “Certainly not. People expect us to be eccentric, and we shall not disappoint! Also, it is better for you if our company focuses their visual attention on Annie, don’t you think?”

  “You are amazing. I would not have thought of that.”

  “Come, let us dress. Our guests will arrive within the hour.”

  Marie spent a busy hour getting the Countess ready. Another maid was called up to assist Annie and Lavinia. Annie kept hopping up and down with excitement so that the tiara had to be doubly reinforced with a multitude of hair pins. She also kept wrapping and rewrapping the feather boa about her neck. Marie pinned the brooch to Lavinia’s blouse, and Marjorie put a dab of blush on Lavinia’s pale cheeks. At Annie’s insistence, Marjorie dabbed a bit of blush on her checks too. Marie then spritzed all three with expensive perfume.

  “We are ravishing,” said the Countess, “don’t you think, Marie?”

  “Oui, madam.”

  They rode the elevator down to the lobby, and were shown into a small intimate salon that had been set up for tea. Charlotte Rexford and her two daughters were already there, as was Marjorie’s goddaughter and her daughter.

  “Delphina, I am delighted to see you. Do you know Charlotte Rexford?”

  “We have been getting acquainted. Here is my daughter, Vada. Do you remember the Countess, dear?”

  A plumpish girl of about thirteen shyly clasped Marjorie’s hand. “Mama says that you and my grandmama grew up together.”

  “That is true. We were wonderful friends. You remind me of your grandmama a little bit.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “Charlotte, who are these two precious girls?”

  “These are my daughters. Mina is nine and Olive is seven.”

  “I am sure they will get along well with my nieces. Shall we sit down?”

  Two separate tables were set with the finest china, and three waiters served the party. Once tea was poured and the finger sandwiches served, the Countess engaged in small talk. The ladies enjoyed themselves at one table, while the girls stared at each other at the other. Lavinia noted that Charlotte paid little attention to her two daughters, unlike Delphina, who fussed over Vada.

  “Don’t overeat, Vada, you know how sensitive your stomach is, and certainly no sweets today.”

  “Mama, how can you say such a thing when they have the dearest little cakes on the sideboard.”

  “Well, perhaps one. I find that I must watch over Vada day and night, she is such a delicate child.”

  Annie looked at Lavinia and puffed out her cheeks. Lavinia gave her a stern look.

  “What’s that thing around your neck?” asked Mina.

  “It’s a feather boa,” said Annie.

  “It looks ridiculous,” said Olive.

  “You’re just saying that because you don’t have one,” retorted Annie.

  “I don’t have one because it’s stupid,” replied Olive.

  “Why are you wearing that crown? Are you a princess?” asked Mina.

  “Yes, I am,” said Annie.

  “You are not. It’s just another stupid thing you have on,” said Olive nastily.

  “You are not very polite,” said Lavinia. “You owe Annie an apology.”

  “My sister is not going to apologize to that little liar,” said Mina. “I’m not surprised she lies. She’s Irish. My mama says they are dirty.”

  “Surely your mama didn’t say such a terrible thing,” said Lavinia.<
br />
  “Of course she did. She says that we are among the very best people, and must be careful with whom we associate,” replied Mina.

  “If you are not going to eat your cucumber sandwich, I’ll eat it,” said Vada.

  “Here, you can have it,” said Annie.

  “If I were as big as you are, I certainly wouldn’t ask for extra sandwiches,” snickered Olive.

  Vada, who was even more spoiled than the Rexford sisters, turned to Mina.

  “Your sister is going to get hurt if she doesn’t keep quiet and, for your information, my father is Irish, so I don’t want to hear any more of your comments.”

  Annie looked at Vada with new respect. “Do you want me to get a plate of cakes?”

  “That would be nice,” smiled Vada.

  Annie got up, and Olive stuck her foot out and tripped her.

  “Oh my dear,” cried Marjorie from the other table. “Are you all right?”

  “I am. I just tripped.” Annie got up and brushed herself off. She sat down next to Lavinia, who put her arm around her.

  “Please be careful, darling.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Vada leaned forward. “I saw that, you vile little creature. I’m going to tell my mother what you did.”

  Olive stuck her tongue out.

  “So that’s the way it’s going to be, is it?” said Vada as she picked up a spoonful of raspberry preserves and smeared it on Mina’s white dress.

  Mina gasped and poured tea on Vada. Olive threw a scone at Annie, who got up and pulled her ponytail, knocking her out of the chair.

  Vada punched Mina’s arm.

  Mina jumped up and pushed Vada to the floor.

  “Vada! My baby!” Delphina stood up and wrung her hands.

  Lavinia immediately backed away from the table, mindful of the borrowed shawl. She watched in shock as Mina rubbed buttered bread over Vada’s face, and Olive tore Annie’s tiara from her head.

  Delphina pointed to the head waiter, “Stop this immediately!”

  The waiters attempted to separate the girls, but not before Annie tackled Olive, who held on to the table, which overturned. The waiters picked up the soiled girls as their mothers watched in horror.

  The Countess winked at Lavinia.

  “Vada! What on earth possessed you?” admonished Delphina. “You could have been seriously hurt.”

  “Mina! Olive! What are you doing with that tiara? Return it at once,” demanded Charlotte.

  “They started it,” said Vada.

  “My poor baby,” fussed Delphina as she attempted to wipe Vada’s face with a napkin.

  “You disgust me,” hissed Charlotte to Mina and Olive. “I expect you to behave in public.” She turned to the Countess. “My daughters appear to be ill today. I hope you don’t mind if we leave.”

  “Not at all,” sympathized the Countess. “There does appear to be something going around.”

  “Marjorie, I don’t know whether I ought to be annoyed with you or not,” said Delphina after the Rexford family left. “Who were those people?”

  “Obnoxious people!” declared Vada.

  Marjorie laughed out loud. “You handled yourself well, Vada. Come, have some cake, and your mama will take you home later to clean up.”

  Lavinia readjusted Annie’s tiara while Delphina and the Countess continued to visit. Vada leaned over and put a piece of cake on a plate for Annie.

  “Thank you, Vada.”

  “You are welcome, Annie,” grinned Vada. “I haven’t had this much fun since I don’t know when. I also like your feather boa. I’m going to ask Papa to get one for me.”

  Vada and Annie visited like old friends while Lavinia sat in silence. Last night at the opera house, Papa appeared cold and distance. Lavinia was appalled at Mina and Olive’s behavior, and equally dismayed by Charlotte’s reaction. She appeared to detest her own daughters, which probably accounted for their lack of manners. “Something is terribly wrong there. Where is the love in that family?” she thought.

  “Well, we must be off,” said Delphina.

  “Already?” asked Annie.

  “I’ll come back to see you Annie,” said Vada who gave her a big messy hug.

  “I’m glad you are my friend, Vada,” replied little Annie.

  “We’ll see you out,” said Marjorie, and they stood in the lobby waiting for the carriage. Delphina kissed Marjorie on the cheek and took Vada by the hand. “Stay in touch, Marjorie.”

  Annie and Lavinia stood in the door of the hotel and waved to Vada as the carriage pulled away.

  “It’s snowing, Lavinia!” said Annie excitedly.

  “Lavinia! Annie!”

  Timothy and Kevin stood across the street. The snow came down in great clumps, and it was hard to see them. They waved, and the girls waved back.

  A commotion up the street diverted Lavinia’s attention. A team of horses reared up in front of a delivery wagon. The driver jerked the reins in a desperate attempt to regain control, but the horses continued to rise up, neighing and pawing at the air. The unmanageable team pulled off to the right and tipped the wagon over, severing the driving shaft. The horses surged ahead, galloping blindly down the street. Screams filled the air as they side¬swiped a coach and ran up onto the sidewalk, scattering pedestrians every which way before darting back out into the street. Lavinia turned to see Kevin crossing the road, directly in the path of the wild team bearing down upon him. Timothy ran out into the street, reaching out for him. The lead horse reared again, clipping Kevin’s forehead with his hoof, the force of which dropped Kevin to the ground. Timothy threw himself over Kevin to shield him. Both were caught by the shaft and dragged several yards until the horses were brought under control.

  Time moved in slow motion. Lavinia was vaguely aware of Annie screaming before she fainted and fell motionless into Lavinia’s arms. Lavinia turned to Marjorie, who was speaking to her, but Lavinia couldn’t understand what she was saying. The Count and the General appeared from nowhere, and took Annie from her arms. Lavinia backed away in disbelief, unwilling to accept the carnage that lay before her. She looked up at the towering buildings. As she spiraled down into darkness, she prayed for forgiveness.

  Foxglove -“Silence”

  Chapter 14

  Lavinia sat in her window seat reading a letter from Aunt Marjorie. She and Uncle Cubby had returned to London after New Year’s and wanted to know if Lavinia and Annie might like to visit next summer. They felt that the girls might benefit from a change of scenery. Lavinia glanced over at Annie, who was coloring on the bed with Sweet Pea. She was wearing her tiara from Aunt Marjorie.

  Annie had stopped speaking the day of the accident and only left their room if accompanied by Lavinia or the General. “She’s lost, Lavinia,” said Constance, who had arrived soon after in New York with Claire. Uncle Cubby made arrangements for a private railroad car, and the entire family returned to Millford Manor. Timothy had been buried in the church cemetery, and Kevin was still recuperating from his injuries. The General had settled into a deep depression, and his behavior had become even more unpredictable. He took to wandering off into the countryside, causing Constance a great deal of worry. Young Oliver had been hired to keep an eye on him.

  “I wish I knew how to make things right,” thought Lavinia desperately. She studied the picture of Papa that Aunt Marjorie had included with her letter. Apparently, it had gotten mixed up with their things. It was a formal photograph which had been taken for an article about his company, and Lavinia felt no connection. Papa seemed as distant to her as he had in the opera house.

  She noticed that Annie was looking over her shoulder. Annie pointed to the photograph.

  “Aunt Marjorie sent it.”

  Annie pointed to Lavinia and then back at the photograph.

  “No, Annie. I can never forgive myself for what happened in New York. If I hadn’t gone, Timothy would still be alive. We don’t even know if Kevin will walk again. The General acts as though he doesn’
t know anyone and you, my dearest Annie, how I miss your sweet voice,” sobbed Lavinia.

  Annie put her arms around Lavinia, and laid her head on Lavinia’s shoulder. “I feel too much, Annie. I am overwhelmed with sorrow.”

  Annie nodded in sympathy.

  Lavinia had changed. Anger, as well as despair, enveloped her. When Papa had sent his usual gift at Christmas, Lavinia refused to open it. Constance wanted to set it aside for another day, but Lavinia insisted that Constance return it with a note.

  28 December 1883

  Papa:

  I believe that I am getting too old for gifts, and I worry about those who are in greater need. I have decided to return the gift you sent this year, and I would be much happier if you donated to charity on my behalf.

  Lavinia

  Lavinia could no longer bear the thought of accepting a gift from someone who refused to acknowledge that she was his daughter.

  “I must try to move forward. The past is too painful. Kevin needs me to help take care of him, just as he cared for me. Mama gave me the best home that I could ever have wished for. My life is here, and here I will stay.”

  Lavinia tucked Marjorie’s letter and her father’s picture into an envelope and placed it in her bottom desk drawer.

  Sunflower -“Pride”

  Chapter 15

  17 January 1884

  Alex Rexford had returned from a trip to the Orient which had kept him away from home for several weeks. As he arrived at the office, his secretary told him that the package that had been sent to Lavinia at Christmas had been returned unopened. His first reaction had been annoyance, since he assumed that a mistake of some kind had occurred. However, upon reading the letter, it appeared that his daughter had returned the gift. Certainly, Lavinia worded her letter very carefully to him so as not to cause offence, but he found it difficult to believe that a twelve-year-old girl had grown too old for gifts of pretty dresses. He certainly could afford gifts for his daughter, and donate to charity if that is what she desired.

  Alex was outraged. “Constance is at the bottom of this, I’ll wager. First she turned my wife against me, and now my daughter. This is unacceptable!” Alex pounded his fist on his desk. “That woman has overstepped her bounds far too often. She should have been content to leave things as they were. Now I must act,” he thought.