Mr. Cridlington and Miss Morris- an Elvny Fanfic

Chapter 1

London, 1801...

Jack Morris was a well-known and respected man of 51 years of age under his belt. He was not the tallest, nor the most handsome, but carried himself with great importance. With his brownish-golden hair and green eyes, one could almost consider him handsome, except for his oddly-shaped nose that seemed too big for his face. He was around average height, if not smaller, and was a businessman. He had made a lot of money on several well-known cases, such as the case in which Virginia Mayton, a poor mother of 4, had been accused of poisoning her husband, which had killed him. Morris had argued that the type of poison that was used was never recorded by visitors as being used in the house, since the children could be killed, and Martha loved her children too much, and that it had been placed high up, and since Virginia was only 5'1, it would have been almost impossible for her to reach it. It was ruled that Mr. Mayton had committed suicide, and the case was dismissed. Jack had profited well from the case, and at that time he was hardly 30 years of age. He was younger and therefore handsome, but not nearly handsome enough to earn himself a wife. He preferred books over women.

But Virginia had been oh so grateful, and had allowed Mr. Morris to dine with her and her children. She had received much money from winning the case, and now she and her children lived lavishly. Poverty, which had once been atop them, was now a distant figure of the past.

Mrs. Virginia Mayton had 4 children: the eldest was Martha Mayton, who was only 16 years of age yet beautiful with her golden locks. Jack was instantly drawn to her, despite the age gap. The next two were twins: Ivan and Edward. Annoying little brats of 11 years of age. The youngest, Clarice, was only 6 years old. Jack did not care for the other 3 children, he only was interested in Martha.

The next summer, Martha Mayton became Mrs. Morris when she married Mr. Jack Morris. They moved into Jack's splendid mansion. Mr. Morris was quite proud of it, and was quite proud of his wife, mostly because she was so young and beautiful. He himself was already balding and gaining a bit of weight.

Martha at this time was hardly 17 as of last May, and Jack was 31 years of age. But despite this, they loved each other dearly and vowed to always be by each other's side no matter what.

A year passed, and then another. Martha was now 19 and Jack was 33 years of age. Martha at this time became pregnant with a child. She and Jack were overjoyed. They had been hoping for a child for the longest time, and now finally they were going to receive one.

Martha went into labor early. Not quite so early as her little sister Clarice, a sickly child that went to live in a nunnery later in life, but soon enough to worry Jack enough to call a doctor.

Their daughter, Penelope Martha Morris, was born at around midnight in June of 1783. Jack was a little disappointed at it not being a son, but was a proud papa, nonetheless. He held his little child, and she looked up at him with uncommonly beautiful blue eyes. She had inherited them from her mother, as well as the striking little golden hair that lay upon her tiny head.

Martha had been weakened by the difficult birth, and it was only a week afterwards that she sadly passed away at the tender age of 19. Jack was heartbroken. Left alone with a tiny daughter who was uncommonly beautiful, even more so than her mother. 

Jack refused to remarry. He instead focused most of his time on taking care of his pride and joy, his only child, beautiful Penelope, who went by Penny for short.

Penny only became more beautiful as the years passed. She was a slim yet healthily-colored young thing, with flowing, cascading, richly golden locks that went halfway down her back, and which she always brushed and combed with great care. Her face was small and elegantly shaped, and her eyes were big and blue and full of innocence. Her nose was perfect, just like her mother's. Indeed, she had inherited most of these beautiful traits from her mother.

Jack was very proud of his one and only child, and would have loved nothing better than to see her married as soon as possible. And when Penny turned 18 in June of 1801, Jack was determined for her to find the best partner of them all.