When the Hydrangea Flowers Bloom

Chapter Fifteen: The City

Knock knock. "Come in!" I said from the vanity in my room. It was morning, I was still in my nightgown, brushing my hair.

The door opened, Richard walking in. "Good morning, dear," he leaned down and planted a kiss on my cheek. "Since today is our only full day together, I thought we could do something special."

"Oh yeah? Like what?" I looked at him through the mirror.

"Well, I talked to my father, and I've got something special planned."

"You do?" I looked up at him.

"Yes. You'll love it. I'll see you at breakfast?"

"Of course." He gave me one last kiss before closing the door behind him.

I walked out of my room twenty minutes later, leaving for breakfast. I heard another door close and turned to see Flora glance at me and quickly leave. For the first time in weeks, all of us were having breakfast at the same time, upon the request of Professor Fawcett.

"Thank you all for coming down for breakfast," Richard said when we had all arrived. "I wanted to share a favorite breakfast of mine that a friend from college, Jéan Pierre, shared with me." He clapped his hands and the waiters rolled in carts with covered plates and placed one in front of each of us. With another clap, they uncapped our meals. "Crépes!"

"Ooh." We all looked at the flatbread folded up and stuffed with chocolate, bananas, and strawberries."

"There is also whipping cream for those of you who want it." He pointed to a few Petri dishes of whipping cream and mini spoons. "Dig in!"

No one talked, each and every one of us moaning as the dessert melted in our mouths. In a few minutes, everyone's plates were licked clean.

"Who's ready for round two?"

...

After breakfast, everyone was too full to do anything but sit around. We didn't have a lot of time to settle, though, because soon Richard was herding us to the foyer.

"I've got one more surprise for you today! We're going on a little field trip!"

We murmured amongst ourselves, confused. "Where are we going?" Martin asked.

"To... London!"

"What?" We looked around at each other, surprised and confused.

"But London is over an hour away," Gertrude chipped in.

"I know, but I want to show you all around. Maybe introduce you all to my college mates!"

The rest of the group excitedly walked out the doors and to the cars that were waiting for us. I stayed behind.

"Is everything alright, darling?"

"Of course. I was just expecting something more private, more romantic. Just for us."

"This is for us. You'll love it there, I promise."

"Okay..." I took Richard's hand and walked apprehensively to the cars. "At least we'll get to ride toget-"

"Richard!" Simon and Martin called from the first car. "Let's ride together, mate!"

"You don't mind do you?" Richard looked at me.

"Oh, no, I just -"

"Ah, thanks a bunch!" He said as he ran and hopped in the car with the other boys. As soon as he walked in, the car took off.

I walked toward the girls' car, but before I could step in, it took off as well. "Sorry, Hydrangea!" Winnifred called from the car. "You can ride with us on the way back!"