Everybody was around the kitchen table at Persimmon Heights - partially because Hortensia's elderflower fritters were a moment of seasonal culinary ecstasy and secondly because Stephanotis had invited Isabel as his guest. Gnomes are of course, very curious by nature and the chance for the family to see the young couple together was too much to resist.
Aunt Mildred presided over the table in front of the enormous platter with it's layers of crisp yellow fritters. Uncle Humperdinck was silent and eating slowly as his teeth were not what they had been and elderflower fritters, luscious as they are, can easily become stuck between one's teeth. Everyone else was in a delightfully playful mood and talking animatedly about the Revels and the mostly about the Rodeo. The rabbits had become so accustomed to extra supplies of lettuce, carrots and parsley that they had taken to coming to Aunt Mildred's gate and asking for more. Several of the older bunnies had even asked for more camomile as they had found nibbling a bit before bedtime rather helpful for a a sound night's sleep. Aunt Mildred of course cultivated the best camomile in the area, she was particularly pleased to be supplying the bunnies as they had been so agreeable to her Grand Idea for the Rodeo.
'Really Darlings, do you think that you come around to my old lady's garden early tomorrow - she has been a bit under the weather lately and if we spruced up her garden outside the patio doors - well I am sure that it would be a real lift to her spirits.' Archibold thought it a splendid mission and he hastily arranged for his sons (Horatio and Lupin) and Stephanotis to be up and ready for an early morning Cheer Up Mission. 'You could come too Isabel, what a difference your singing would make to the garden and all the birds and animals'. Isabel blushed at Stephanotis's suggestion and at the resultant wink and nudge that she saw Aunt Mildred give Uncle Humperdinck. "What an excellent idea, Isabel you will be our secret envoy of encouragement ' and with that Hortensia settled the matter.
She had taken pity on poor Uncle Humperdinck and was busy frying up some apple rings so that he could have a treat without worrying about his teeth. 'Tomorrow is the day then, my old lady will be so pleased, after all I first entertained the idea of the Bunny Rodeo after watching her television through the patio doors, so we really owe her a treat or two!'
Isabel and Stephanotis were holding hands under the table and blissfully leaning into each other, they thought they were being discreet but everyone present was feeling all rosy and emotional at just how lovely they looked together.
No comments:
Post a Comment