Between the Lines of Time

Chapter 30

"Darlin' Lord and Lady Tryon will be here this afternoon, as the Christmas party will be taking place this Friday. I want ye to be on yer best behavior. Those damn brothers will be in attendance and I shouldn't think ye'd want a repeat of last time." Stephen warned as they were finishing up their breakfast.

It had been 3 weeks since she saw them last, and she was excited to see her friend and her family. Though she didn't care much for the other company that would be in attendance. She only hoped her friend was doing okay since she last saw her, as Tryon did not seem to happy with her as they left.

"I promise I will do as you say." maddie said in a automatic tone, annoyed at his warnings he gives every time someone comes over. Which really is seldom as she thinks about it. It still bothers her nonetheless.

They continued the rest of the morning as usual. But as it got closer for their guest's arrivals, Stephen decided to take tea with Maddie instead of letting her have some time with her friend. "Comb now darlin', lets enjoy these lats moments of peace together." Stephen had prompted her, leading her out sit with him on their porch swing.

"Can we please ask the cook to get the other tea again next time?" Maddie asked, breaking the stare from stephen. She knew he was starting to get more on edge as the day was going on, and she knew that once the guests would start coming through the week, that his more relaxed demeanor would change. Maddie grew to like how he was when it was just the two of them as he was able to let loose more, and she found it easier to engage with him more. Or i am developing stockholm syndrome.

"Why?" Stephen asked, snapping out of his trance. He was hoping that Maddie would not figure out why the tea was switched.

"It tastes awful! Like you are lucky I hate wasting things!" Maddie joked with him, trying to ease some of his tension

"Is that so?" Stephen laughed back, happy to see Maddie was trying to laugh with him. He had been seeing more of this side of her after their conversation they had when the first got back home. He really loved her playful side.

"Yes! It is so so bad! I miss my earl gray!" she said dramatically

"Well darlin' I will see what I can do!" he said, though he had no intention of actually switching until she became pregnant.

"My savior!" Maddie joked with him, earning a real laugh to come from his lips. This caused Maddie to laugh as well.

They took turns with playful banter, Maddie getting so lost in the moment of actually having fun in her husband, she didn't see the three carriages approaching until she heard the hooves getting closer.

"Three?" she asked Stephen once they broke their laughter.

"Yes, I have a surprise fer ye, sweetheart." Stephen said, smiling and standing up. He offered his hand to her, which for once, Maddie had no hesitations taking.

"I invited yer family to come early too. I knew it would please ye!" Stephen said, smiling proudly at the shocked yet very happy expression he had earned from his wife.

"Maddie!!" Bree and Becca exclaimed as the stepped out of their carriages. Seeing that Stephen was not letting go of his grip of Maddie as usual, Bree took the initiative of running up to her sister, Becca following suit.

Coming out of the rest of the carriages was Tryon, Claire, Jamie, Fergus, Marsali, Ian, and Roger. Maddie was so excited to see the rest as well.

They brought everyone into the parlor, the men on one end of the room and the women on the other. They all exchanged greetings, and talked amongst themselves about all that had been going on since the last time they got to see each other.