The Letter at Breakfast

Miss Madelene Blackmore was in the habit of maintaining a prompt schedule. Every morning she rose at dawn, spent a half hour in prayer, brushed her long, auburn hair and braided it tightly, and was the first to join her father at the table for breakfast. Here, they would share in the latest news of the town and the family, discussing both literature and social standing.

It was on a morning such as this that Madelene received a letter that would lead her down a path that would alter her life forever.

Her father rustled the newspaper in his hands to be able to read it more clearly. “It appears that a one Mr. Kingston is leaving his estate to his youngest son.”

“Youngest?” Madelene replied, adding a lump of sugar to her steaming teacup. She gently stirred the leaves before pouring some milk in as well. “That seems a bit strange, does it not? I thought that Mr. Kingston had several sons, the oldest of whom was now an attorney.”

Her father nodded his head, lowering his paper as Mrs. Fields, the housekeeper, delivered his own fresh cup of tea. “Thank you, Mrs. Fields.”

“Are you all right, dear? Would you like me to leave you another?” Mrs. Fields asked Madelene, who smiled in reply.

“Thank you, Mrs. Fields.” She always enjoyed two cups of tea before breakfast.

“It appears that all of his older sons have married into more upstanding families and have no need for such an estate.”

“But it is so lovely there,” Madelene replied, admiring the glint of the sunshine on the saucer painted with little blue and red roses. “How could anyone not want to live in a place with a view such as that one?”

Her father smiled at her. “Ever the idealist, are we not?” He asked.

Footsteps sounded from the stairwell, and then grew louder from the hall. The door opened to the dining room, and a small, round face greeted them.

“Good morning, Lily,” Her father said. “Come and sit; breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Good morning,” Lily said from beneath the bounce of blonde curls. Not a fortnight older than seven, the dainty girl could not even touch the ground when she sat in her chair. She beamed at Madelene. “Good morning, dear sister.”

Madelene reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Good morning, little one. How did you sleep?”

The door to the room opened once more, and Lily’s governess, Mrs. Rose, very nearly stumbled in. “There you are, Miss Blackmore. I asked you to wait in your room this morning.” She bowed her head quickly. “Mr. Blackmore, my deepest apologies for barging in like this.”

“I couldn’t wait,” Lily replied. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Rose, I was simply too excited.”

“Excited for what?” her father asked, folding his newspaper and setting it down. “What’s gotten you so excited that you aren’t listening to your governess?”

Lily grinned and pulled something out from behind her back. “This! It’s for you, father!”

Mr. Blackmore took the parchment from her and unfolded it. Madelene watched his eyes scan the page, and as he did, his face grew tender, and his eyes welled with tears.

When he was finished, he lowered the letter and smiled at her. “Thank you, Lily. I love you, too.” He cleared his throat and looked more closely at her. “Mrs. Rose, you have done a fine job. Her handwriting is far better than it was even a few weeks ago.”

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Blackmore,” Mrs. Rose replied, her hands clasped in front of her.

“Your mother would have been very proud,” Mr. Blackmore said, his eyes bright.

Lily smiled even wider, and Madelene wondered which was more radiant: her face or the sunshine.

“Miss Blackmore?”

Madelene looked over to see Mrs. Fields had reappeared in the room.

“Yes?” Madelene asked.

“A letter has come for you.”

Surprise caused her cheeks to flush, and she lifted the sealed letter off of the tray that Mrs. Fields offered her.

“Do you know who it is from?” Madelene asked, holding the letter in her fingers.

“It’s from your aunt and uncle.”

Madelene gasped. “Aunt Edith?”

Mrs. Fields nodded and bowed herself from the room.

Madelene eagerly opened the letter, and she felt little Lily suddenly at her side, pressing herself as close to Madelene as she could in order to read the letter too.

“Our dearest Madelene,” Madelene read out loud, for she knew her father would wish to hear the letter as well, “We hope this letter finds you well and in good health. We have heard the weather had been rather warm this fall, and we know how much joy that must have brought you. Your uncle and I have missed your company dearly, as has your cousin, and we would like to invite you to come and stay with us for the some of the winter season, even Christmas if you would desire it. Discuss with your father, and if he is quite satisfied, then we hope you will come at your earliest convenience. They are welcome to join us for the week of Christmas! Say hello to that darling niece of ours, as well as to Mr. and Mrs. Fields. With greatest love, Aunt Edith and Uncle Matthew.”

Madelene looked up from the letter. Lily squeezed her arm.

“They mentioned me! They mentioned me!”

She looked at her father. “Can I go?” she asked.

“I don’t see why not,” her father replied, smiling at her. “It’s been some time since you went to stay with your cousins.”

“You both will be all right here without me?”

Her father smiled. “Of course. Perhaps I will take this chance to invite Mr. Trent and his family for a visit. Give Lily some friends to play with.”

“That sounds brilliant!” Lily said, hopping up and down excitedly, grasping the arm of Madelene’s chair.

“And then you will come for Christmas?” Madelene asked.

Her father considered her words. “Well, I would be far happier spending Christmas with both of my children, and I dearly love your mother’s sister. Yes, I think that Lily and I will come and join you there, and we can all have Christmas together.”

Lily squealed with happiness, crossing to her father and throwing her arms around him.

And they all laughed as Mrs. Fields brought in the first tray of breakfast.