When the Hydrangea Flowers Bloom

Chapter Six: The Market

The next morning, I went back to the parlor room to get the painting. I took it back to my room and sat down at my desk. Pietro jumped up and lay down next to my hand. I pulled out a sheet of paper and started to write.

Dear Family,

Can you believe it? Eugene Fulton painted that! Who knew he was secretly taking painting lessons? He needed practice painting portraits, so I posed for him, but I don't think I looked that good. Things are going very well here, and I couldn't be happier. I have good friends and endless things to do. The food is incredible and the manor is something out of a fairytale. But I do miss you all dearly. I can't wait to read your letters!

Lovingly,

Hortence Langdon

I placed the letter in an envelope and wrote "Open package first" on it. Pietro and I left the room to get some paper to wrap the painting in, and as it was early there was no one around. I went to the parlor room to see if there was any wrapping paper in there. When there wasn't any, I checked the kitchenette on the side.

"Aha!" I said as pulled out a roll from a lower cabinet. Pietro and I walked back to our room, and as we came closer, I heard arguing from the room on the end opposite of mine.

The door was open a crack, so I crept up and put my ear to the door. Pietro looked at me with condescending eyes, but I ignored him. It was quiet, but I could hear what the people were saying.

"...you're such a flapdoodle*." I winced. I realized that it was Flora and Eugene bickering.

"If I am a flapdoodle, then you are surely a wagtail**." Eugene retorted. I had heard enough. I ran over to my room, and not a moment too soon because as I closed my door, I heard Eugene stop at his room and slam his door shut.

"I suppose his breakup didn't go very well," I said to Pietro.

...

"Good morning!" Richard smiled. "You've all been here for a week, so to commemorate that, we will be doing a very exciting activity!"

Winnifred and I stood next to each other on the back lawn while Richard stood in front of us with his hands wide open. Eugene stood with Simon and Martin on our right and Flora and Gertie were giggling on our left.

"You will all be going to a local market and choosing one item that you will use to decorate your room! You'll have five pounds that you can spend. We'll depart in one hour. Be at the front of the manor then."

"Wow!" Winnifred exclaimed. "What do you think you'll buy?"

"I don't know. Maybe a painting. Or a dress!" I said. "And you?"

"I want an antique dresser. I like the one I have now, but it could use some more character." She said.

We walked back inside and went to our rooms. It was starting to get colder, so I wore a long-sleeved overcoat, but a shorter skirt that fell down to my mid-calf. The overcoat was yellow with black trim, but the skirt was white with light blue pinstripes. I thought I might try something new by wearing pink stockings, but decided to wear plain white ones. I brought a little bag to carry my item in.

I walked down to the front of the manor and saw Eugene and Simon standing on the steps. Eugene wore a casual cream-colored suit and Simon wore one with tan pants and a blue blazer.

"I like the color, Simon," I said. "It suits you."

"Thanks. Thought I might try something new." He said back.

"It works," I said as Martin and Winnifred walked out of the house, ready to go. They approached us and joined the circle we were talking in. As they settled in, Richard walked out.

"Everybody ready?" He asked.

"I don't think Fiona and Gertie are here," Winnie said.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course Fiona's late," I mumbled. Eugene looked at me.

"Well, I suppose we can get started without them." He sighed. "The cars can fit three people at most, and there are seven of you, so I will sort you into three cars."

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'll be riding in my own. Thank you for asking." He looked at me.

"We're here!" Fiona called as she and Gertie pushed the front doors open.

"Right..." Richard said. "As I was saying, I will assign you cars. Please try and stay with your car group during your shopping. It can get quite aggressive." As four cars pulled up into the driveway, Richard started naming people. "Let's have Martin and Gertrude, Winnifred and Simon." He pointed to the people he was naming. "That leaves Eugene, Flora, and Hydrangea in the last car. I'll see you all there!"

He walked down the stairs and into the first car which drove away.

"I guess we should go," Winnie said. She, Martin, Gertie, and Simon walked to the second car and got in.

Eugene looked at Flora, then at me. I gave him an "I guess we have to" look and shrug and he got into the car. I went in after him, which left Flora. She looked disgusted but walked in anyway.

The car started to drive, and for the first time in a week, we left the estate. It was both cramped and roomy inside. There were two rows, one for the driver and one for the guests. The three of us sat in a row, Flora and Eugene on either side of me. Flora glared at Eugene who cleared his throat and looked out the window.

As the car puttered on, we sat in awkward silence. Houses flew by, turning into small cottages from big manors. They came closer together until they were side by side. We slowed down as we approached a bustling market in the middle of the street. The car pulled over and we stepped out onto a cobblestone street.

People were running around, trading, selling, bargaining. Little boys ran by, holding their paperboy hats down. Tents were set up with all kinds of shops underneath. Furniture, clothes, art, food. We passed a tent that was cooking up sausages. The smell wafted over everything, making my stomach rumble.

Richard was standing in the middle of the market with the four others. Eugene, Flora and I walked up to join them.

"Welcome, everyone!" he said. "You'll have three hours to find your special item, which means we'll be wrapping up at four o'clock. Make sure to stick with your group, spend your money wisely and have a blast! Now go forth!" He gestured outward.

We all looked at each other and walked off.

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*A man who is too scared to have intercourse 

**A loose woman