Susan Barnett was beyond excited as she, Jenny, and Claudia worked all afternoon preparing dinner. To think, two of her daughters were having young men as guests to dinner. It had only recently been announced that Jenny was to bring her new friend, Evan, to dinner as well as Claudia’s Jeremiah.
The young Robert had been assigned the job of peeling potatoes and the youngest sister, Sally, was carefully slicing scallions. Mother was basting the lamb roast and Jenny was in charge of making the layered, jellied desert which she was now packing in ice to make it set. Claudia was trimming Brussels sprouts and placing them in a pan of water.
“And who is this young man, Evan?” Mother asked as she slipped the roast toward the back of the wood-fired oven.
“A son of one of the farmers who provide the fruit for my pies,” Jenny said, turning the jelly mold in the bucket of ice.
“Is it serious?” she asked, not wanting to intrude too much in her independent daughter’s life.
“Oh, Mother, I have no idea. I just wanted him to meet the family. Please do not read too much into it.”
Mother now knew to keep her mouth shut.
“I am done with the scallions, Mama,” Sally said. “What can I do now?”
“Hmm. Let me think. Why not start setting the table. And use the good china and the little salt and pepper bowls with the silver spoons—ever so much more elegant than shakers.”
Sally scooted off.
Claudia turned to Jenny and said, “You promised to do my hair, remember.”
“I do. But you will need to dress first and then come to my room, and I will make you look like a princess.”
Claudia blushed. “Oh, Jenny…”
* * *
Jenny and Claudia went down the stairs to the front door when they heard the bell ringing. It had to be either Jeremiah or Evan. It was Jeremiah with a large bouquet of flowers.
“Hello, Miss Claudia,” he said with a nervous break in his voice. “These are from our garden.” He handed the flowers to Claudia, as Jenny stood aside to let Claudia escort her beau up the stairs to the sitting room.
Jenny was just about to follow when the bell rang again, and she opened the door.
“Evan. So happy you could come to dinner,” Jenny welcomed.
“Thank you for inviting me. It means a lot to me,” he said coming inside. “I hope you like red wine. I did not know what else to bring. You do take wine from time to time, do you not?”
“I do. We do. And thank you.”
They went upstairs, and Mother and Father were peering from the dining room door to see the new arrivals.
“How lovely you look,” Jeremiah was saying to Claudia. “What a beautiful dress. Now I feel shabby in my grey coat and black breeches.”
“You look just fine, Jeremiah Wisdom. Just like a vicar’s son.”
He laughed. “Oh, faint praise, indeed.”
“Hello, I am Evan Drake,” he said going over to Mother and Father and presenting them with the bottle of wine, followed by Jenny.
“Mother, Father, this is the young man I told you about. His family provides the very best berries for our pies.”
“Very nice to meet you, young Evan,” Mama said, shaking his hand, as Father took the bottle and looked at the label.
“Thank you, lad,” Father said, I usually drink ale, but a spot of vino now and then is always welcomed.”
Evan nodded to the parents, and then Jenny introduced the two young men to each other and the rest of the family who were all gathered together now.
Jenny and Claudia were excused from serving the dinner because they needed to entertain their guests. And the two younger children brought in the serving dishes, although Sally almost dropped the bowl of roasted potatoes.
