|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 21, 2009 21:40:34 GMT -5
"My name is Catherine."
"Catherine..." He repeated. "Pretty. s' very pretty name."
He was quite surprised when she linked arms with him, but it was nice at the same time. He had never ever been treated courteous by the rich, this was a completely new experience for Reeves.
When she brought him to a long table just piled with food, he swore he could have fainted. "There's more food on this table than I've ever seen in my whole entire life!" He whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at all the food.
"Take what ever you would like, Sir Reeves."
He didn't want to look like a big old pig so he started with two, nifty little finger sandwiches. he was sure this had to be a dream, but for certain he surely hoped it wasn't.
"What is your age?"
"I'm 15 years old," He replied, eying the crow around them, seeing the big business men staring their way.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 21, 2009 23:21:25 GMT -5
Catherine took a small sandwich as well and reached for the tea in the back, but was stopped by one of her servants who took it and served it to her.
"Would you be liking anything else, Miss Woodruff?"
Catherine smiled politely and shook her head. "That will be all, Elliot."
Taking a sip of her tea she turned back to Seth, brows raising when he gave his age. "As am I, though, only for a short while now." Her birthday was but a few days earlier. Noticing the gentlemen looking at the two, she leaned over to Seth, speaking quietly. "They are your elders. You are expected to greet them."
She smiled at the two men and gave them a small curtsey. "How do you do?"
The two men smiled and nodded to her as they lifted their glass and returned the greeting.
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 21, 2009 23:57:50 GMT -5
"They are your elders. You are expected to greet them."
Reeves gave her a look as if she was speaking French, his blue eyes wide. He turned to the men and just nodded, hoping that was enough.
"Oh yeah, my birthday was bout a month ago, the day I got here actually," He recalled.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 0:12:51 GMT -5
Catherine smiled softly at Reeves' attempt that somehow seemed to satisfy the gentlemen.
"Then that makes you one month my elder." She stepped back and gave Reeves a small curtsy. Smiling, she regained her upright posture and with great interest shining through her green eyes asked, "Oh? And from where do you origionally hail?"
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 8:52:39 GMT -5
"Then that makes you one month my elder."
A lopsided grin spread across his face when she curtsied. Catherine really wasn't a stiff, she had a nice humor, in a rich sort of way.
"Oh? And from where do you origionally hail?"
"Oh, My homeland is England. Jersey to be exact," He said softly but proudly. He said for only Catherine to hear. Here in America, not all were so keen of poor Jersey lads, or any Jersians for the matter. They thought all Jersey was was dairy cows.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 13:49:00 GMT -5
Catherine grinned at the boy's cleverness and gave a nod as she sipped more of her tea. Just then a young fellow, looking to be older than she, but younger than the rest in the approached the two, confusion on his face.
"Catherine," said the voice, "who is this you are with?"
Catherine looked to see her eldest brother Henry standind before her. Keeping a cool head, she smiled softly. "Henry, this is my friend, Mister Seth Reeves."
Henry looked down at Reeves over his cup with an unreadable expression. He tilted her head up slightly as if he had just recognized an old friend. "Ah, Seth Reeves, grandson of the late John Reeves."
Though it sounded as if Henry was stating a fact, he was asking a question. He looked down at Reeves expectantly.
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 13:56:42 GMT -5
"Catherine," said the voice, "who is this you are with?"
When Reeves looked up to see one of the gentlemen, a younger one approaching them, he just about choked on his finger sandwhich, but regained himself, coughing slightly. He realized he was slouching and quickly straightened, trying to imitate the richs' posture as well as possible.
Reeves looked back at Catherin's brother, Henry as she had called him, as he studied Reeves. Reeves felt a little uncormfortable but stared back as if unphased and sending a small glance at Catherine.
"Ah, Seth Reeves, grandson of the late John Reeves."
Reeves' father's name was Francis, his grandfather Harry, but of course he wasn't going to go against Henry. He nodded with all the courage he could muster and cleared his throat once more.
"Yeah-Yes. You are correct. John Reeves..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 14:11:53 GMT -5
Catherine glanced sidewise at Reeves and then back at Henry who seemed to be pleased by Reeves answer. Henry nodded. "Fine gentlemen. I believe our father knew yours," he said more to himself than anyone else. Looking back at Reeves, he asked, "Is he here with you or are you alone?"
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 14:18:00 GMT -5
"Fine gentlemen. I believe our father knew yours,"
Reeves nodded numbly, inwardly snorting. Yeah, like Lietenant Woodruff knew his drunken Jersey father.
"Is he here with you or are you alone?"
"I'm alone. He was much too busy with business matters, but he is deeply sorry he couldn't come," Reeves said, amazed at the words coming out of his mouth. He sounded like a hoity toity!
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 14:26:51 GMT -5
Henry nodded. A man of few words, Henry was just like his father and would probably take his place once he got older. He was called away by another gentlemen and nodded his farewell. Catherine turned to Reeves and smiled. "You handled yourself quite well, Sir Reeves."
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 14:32:18 GMT -5
"You handled yourself quite well, Sir Reeves."
"Yeah? Well it didn't mean I wasn't quaking on the inside," He said softly back, that cute lopsided grin on his face again.
"So, this is what life is like everyday? Finger sandwhiches and businessmen?" Reeves asked, looking around the room again, the room was like a miniture great hall, bigger than Reeves' entire apartment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 14:40:28 GMT -5
Catherine smiled, watching him. She liked him. She liked having him around. It was a nice change from all the boring lads she was normally introduced to.
"Often. My father's ill, which is why there are so many people here, but normally it is just as any other home." Catherine sighed. "It gets rather old after a while. I usually just sit around. What is your home like?"
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 14:48:58 GMT -5
Reeves returned his gaze back to her and smiled back. He had to be careful though, he was quickly falling accustomed to Catherine's sweet smile, and graceful way of doing things. He liked her. She was kind to him, she showed more kindness to him than he had been shown in a long time.
"Often. My father's ill, which is why there are so many people here, but normally it is just as any other home."
He nodded and listened to her sigh. The way she spoke, it was as if she wasn't quite satisfied, as if she was inwardly yearning for something else.
It gets rather old after a while. I usually just sit around. What is your home like?"
"Well, its small, only two bedrooms. One bedroom is a kitchen and living room. There's a small old stove but it don't always work. There's a couple little wooden cabinets, and a table to sit at. Then the other room belongs to my sister, its her study sleeping room. She can go in there for some quiet and study or take a nice nap. She got a scholarship, she's going to school to be a teacher. I sleep on the couch. It's not too bad really. I usually come home from work, eat supper, and then go to sleep pretty much."
He explained. His life was just like all the common people who worked all day and slept in crammed apartments. He sighed slightly and then managed a small smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catherine Woodruff on Mar 22, 2009 15:03:00 GMT -5
Catherine listened as he spoke of his home and sister. She thought of her own family. They were all relatively close, though sometimes she felt she was favored being the only girl and the youngest. Most children would love the attention, but she felt that it was too much. She was always being watched no matter where she went or what she did, so she had to always be daddy's girl, mother's pearl, and sister dearest. It was a lot for someone so young to live up to and yet she managed.
Reeves life sounded glamorous to her. It was something exciting and not so primped and planned out. She never had to work a day in her life aside from her daily lessons. "I have Latin every Monday and Wednesday. After Latin is Piano and then violin. Then I have my elocution lessons in the event that I might need to speak. We dine, have conversation in the family room and then I am put to bed no later than 9:30."
Compared to him, Catherine saw her life as boring and routine.
|
|
|
|
Post by reeves on Mar 22, 2009 15:12:52 GMT -5
"I have Latin every Monday and Wednesday. After Latin is Piano and then violin. Then I have my elocution lessons in the event that I might need to speak. We dine, have conversation in the room we were just in and then I am put to bed no later than 9:30."
Reeves' eyes widened. Now he completely understood where Catherine's dissatisfaction was coming from. To be on such a routine, the same thing every single day. He managed a smile for her, wanting to comfort her.
"Really? That sounds...fun." He shook his head and winked at her. "Really though, my life ain't that fun, sure it ain't routine, but I work everyday, the same routes, I go to the store at seven o' clock every morning, and if I'm late, my pay gets lowered. I have a long route every day, over the whole entire city, lugging hat boxes and packages."
He wasn't complaining, just trying to make it sound worse so that Catherine wouldn't think his life was all glamorous. But he did have more freedom than she. He wished he could bring her somewhere exciting, like the Brooklyn bridge or Sheepshead Races, or the Polo Grounds in Harlem where the Giants played baseball. That would satisfy her boredom for a day.
|
|
