"Somerset: A Time to Love", Ch. 22 (PG-13): A Bad Penny, or Two, November 27, 2017 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1119 &  Wattpad)

("Somerset: A Time to Love" is an original contemporary romance copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace, 2017; All rights reserved) [(1) story cover, left]

Additional Disclaimer: The Wiki and other reference links that I cite contain general information merely to allude to a place, person, concept/theory/belief, history, or artifact, etc. This story is a work of fiction, and people and their thoughts and actions are figments of my imagination and should not be taken as real or as fact. And though the general backgrounds of the characters and the story's contextual setting involve mentions of the Christian religion—with an Anglican/Episcopal focus—this story is a romance, not a religious tract.

[And from time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of: Richard Armitage as Prof. Benedict Somerset, Jennifer Ehle as Laura Leicester, Loretta Devine as Connie Velasquez, John Lithgow as Seminary President Maynard Casten, and Jane Alexander as his wife Portia Casten, Charles Dance as Benedict's father Edward Somerset, Helen Mirren as Benedict's Mother Elizabeth Somerset, Dawn French as Benedict's elder sister Alexandra Somerset Solsbury, James Nesbit as Benedict's elder brother Edmund Somerset, Chris Pine as Laura's younger brother Steve Leicester, and others as noted.]

Author's recap from the previous chapter: After Benedict's and Laura's siblings—respectively, Lexi and Steve—hop planes for Chicago and ultimately end up on the same connecting flight, they discover who each other are and eventually reach a truce/detente of sorts. And Lexi and Steve decide to visit Laura firs this Wednesday morning, surmising that if they are having sleepovers, they are occurring at Laura's apartment.

Ch. 22 (PG-13): A Bad Penny, or Two

After tendering their engagement and impending wedding news to their familys via email and not hearing back directly from their siblings by Tuesday April 23rd—though Benedict had had a civil phone conversation with his parents Tuesday--Laura and Benedict feel that they are experiencing a grace period of sorts. That will end this April 24th Wednesday morning soon enough.

With one week of school left for the last week of classes—with the following week for final exams and such--both Benedict's and Laura's teaching and meetings schedules at their respective campuses are slightly different. For example, there are no last week classes scheduled, just independent projects to be completed—and no final exams scheduled for particular courses because students are turning in their final semester project reports to their respective professor's department offices. Such that, Laura and Benedict each have Wednesday morning off—which they hope to spend leisurely, before meeting with their wedding planner again about food and flowers, etc., mid afternoon around 2pm.

Slowly awakening in her bed and finding herself cuddled from behind, Laura looks over her shoulder at her sleeping fiancé Benedict. This feeling of love and connectedness that she has with Benedict is a level of joy that she hasn't had before. And she treasures it and them together.

Laura: "Sleeping or faking it?" Laura purrs softly, lest Benedict really is on the cusp of sleep.

Benedict: "Hhhh! What gave me away?" Benedict pouts as he opens his eyes. His love Laura seems unnervingly astute at sensing his moods—and his waking or non-waking states.

Laura: "It's simple, really." Benedict waits patiently as Laura turns and lies on her other side, facing toward him as she caresses his cheek. "Well, Benedict, you snore when you are deeply asleep--like the vrrooom of a motorcycle engine." Laura imitates Benedict's said snoring pattern.

Benedict: Embarrassed, Benedict counters. "I do not!"

Laura: "I'm afraid so. And your snoring is astoundingly loud—so much so that I wonder that the neighbors don't complain that you're disturbing their sleep." She teases.

Benedict: "Oh!" He winces contritely. "I am sorry if I'm disturbing your sleep, Laura Darling."

Laura: "As long as I'm exhausted, I tend to fall asleep quite easily—with or without you snoring." Laura smiles minxishly and brushes her hand down the middle of Benedict's bare chest, then she marches her finger back up toward his neck—stopping to play with some of his sparse chest hairs, before wrapping her hand around his neck and tugging at the hair at the nape of his neck.

Benedict: "Ah! So might I presume that you are still getting your restful sleep?" I raise my eyebrow as I gaze smoulderingly at my beloved.

Laura: "Yes. Though I would say that rest is overrated, at the moment." I smile lovingly at Benedict. And I can tell that Benedict concurs.

Benedict: "Hmmmm." I growl as I lean in to kiss Laura senseless. But our lips have barely pressed together before we hear two swift knocks on Laura's apartment door. "Blast! Are you expecting anyone?"

Laura: Murmuring against Benedict's lips, I try to redirect his attention. "No. Hmmm." I purr. "Ignore it." But we hear another set of two swift knocks. "Hhh! Who could that be?" I whisper, thinking that if whomever that is can't hear us within, that they will go away. Unfortunately, no.

Steve: Rapping Laura's front door once more, he adds his salutation. "Laura! It's Steve! Please let me in!"

Laura: "Noooo. Drat!" Laura groans, then looks toward Benedict's puzzled face. "It's my brother."

Benedict: "Does he always show up unannounced? How rude." Benedict is clearly perturbed.

Lexi: "And I'm just a bad penny, Benedict and Laura Dear. This is Lexi—Benedict's sister. If he's in there with you, please ..."

Laura: "A bad penny?" Laura mouths to Benedict. She knows the American idiom's meaning of being inopportune at best [(2)], but Laura wonders if the phrase has a British twist to it.

Benedict: "Penelope is one of Lexi's birth names. So the soubriquet fits."

Laura: "Ah!" Is all Laura says as she bites her lip in embarrassment for this awkward timing of their siblings' arrivals. And that their siblings arriving at the same time is rather odd, she thinks.

Then Benedict flies out of bed at more insistent door pounding and yelping from their siblings. And grabbing the first covering he reaches and puts it on, Benedict dashes through the sitting area to Laura's apartment door and yanks it open. And Benedict finally feels quite the draft with his bare legs and feet on display—below Laura's much smaller and shorter peignoir robe than would normally fit his tall and muscular form. Not that Benedict actually wears pale pink silk peignoirs—except, it seems, for today. He's just glad that Laura's peignoir isn't trimmed with equally embarrassing maribou feathers, or faux fur.

Walking first into Laura's apartment, Lexi glances at her brother's morning attire and tries not to laugh—but fails.

Lexi: "Ha ha ha ha ha! Are we interrupting anything, Benedict? And I always knew that you liked the splendor of ecclesiastical robes, but I had no idea that ... But perhaps I should be silent now." She winks at her brother.

Benedict: Standing as straight and proud as he can in Laura's robe, Benedict sternly replies. "Yes, you should, Lexi." Then Benedict turns to the much younger man next to her. "You must be Steven, Laura's brother."

Then Steve walks into his sister Laura's apartment and the front door is finally shut. Benedict glares at him. Steve responds by looking Benedict up and down in a querying manner.

Laura: "Steve!" Laura now dressed in flannel pajamas and a fuzzy robe bolts for her brother Steve and gives him a hug. "I wasn't expecting you."

Steve: "That much is obvious." He says in a clipped tone that could rival a haughty Brit and directs his comment at Benedict. Then Steve softens and smiles down at his petite sister. "Sorry to just barge in, but Lady Bath and I here ..." He turns to Lexi. "That title sounds so odd. Is there anyone named Lady Shower?" He asks snarkily.

Laura swats at her brother Steve.

Laura: "Be nice!" Then Laura turns to Benedict and mouths the words, "I'm so sorry". Laura knows that Benedict greatly esteems his older sister Lexi.

Lexi: Narrowing her eyes, Lexi replies icily to Steve. "No. Bath is a famous city in the county of Somerset, England—Bath was named after the Roman baths that were built there over a thousand years ago, due to the natural warm water and other springs--and it has become a healing mecca ever since then." Lexi as the Countess of Bath is proud of the history of her adopted city [(3)].

Benedict beadily eyes Steve, then Benedict looks curiously at his sister Lexi, before rolling his eyes to the ceiling in general frustration and embarrassment about being caught--in delicto, if not in flagrante delicto. Then Benedict heads back to Laura's bedroom to quickly shower and then put on his own clothes. Laura blushes deeply for she and Benedict's level of intimacy being found out. By their siblings. And though Laura and Benedict are mature adults, some personal matters are still private.

Laura: However, Laura regroups--and she switches into hostess mode. "May I offer you some coffee and breakfast rolls? Lexi, is it?" Benedict only refers to his older sister Alexandra by her family nickname Lexi.

Lexi: "Yes Laura Dear. As soon to be family, we do not need to stand upon ceremony." Lexi smiles graciously at Laura. Then she mutters under her breath. "Not until we're in England, anyway."

Laura: Nodding, Laura asks. "Or would you prefer Hot Cocoa or Tea? I have Dar Jeeling and Earl Grey, Benedict's favorites." Laura's apartment kitchen has all the amenities—including an espresso machine.

Lexi: "Eee!" She squeals. "That is so thoughtful of you. However, coffee will be fine, and rolls wouldn't be amiss either. The air line's voucher for breakfast at New York's La Guardia airport was insufficient, and several hours ago."

Steve: He points to Lexi. "Lady B's non-stop red eye flight from London to Chicago made an unscheduled landing at NYC's LaGuardia Airport for mechanical problems, and she had to change flights to mine."

Lexi: "Thank goodness all I brought with me was a carryon bag, or my luggage would still be stuck in New York."

Steve: "No worries, Princess." He grins teasingly.

Lexi: "Countess." She counters while fluttering her eye lashes at him.

Steve: "Whatever." Steve waves his hand dismissively, but his eyes twinkle with his needling her.

Laura looks back and forth between her brother and Benedict's sister just as Benedict walks out of the bedroom now wearing dark day time chino trousers and a light blue oxford shirt, with a casual navy tie and knit light gray sweater—which Laura thinks makes Benedict look temptingly cozy [(4) below]. Benedict heads instantly for Laura in the kitchen and helps her arrange a light breakfast tray of various pastries and fruit.

Laura: "So you two met how?" Laura asks her brother Steve and Benedict's Lexi quizzically.

Benedict: "That is my question also." Benedict spears Steve and his sister Lexi with a piercing look.

Steve and Lexi say together: "In business class." Then they laugh together. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Lexi: "It was serendipitous, really. I pestered him for conversation—as my seatmate, and the only good looking man in our section." I wink at Steve, who blushes. But I am a very happily married woman and would never betray my husband. It is just so much fun disquieting these younger studs, like Steve.

Steve: "And I patronized Lady Bath here for interrupting my doing The Times crossword puzzle."

Benedict: "Ah!" I smile at Laura's brother's affinity for crossword puzzles.

Lexi: "Steve means the New York Times, Benedict. Not The London Times crossword puzzle."

Benedict: "Ah!" I respond more sanguinely this time. Perhaps Steve will work up to The Times crossword puzzle in the future.

Of course, for Lexi and Benedict The Times can only mean The London Times. Benedict sips his coffee that Laura just handed him.

Steve: "And here I thought that all that you Brits cared about was the page three girl." Steve snarks.

Benedict promptly coughs and spits out his coffee—to the side, happily not in anyone's, nor the pastries, directions. Then Laura quickly hands Benedict a napkin and he dabs at his hand and chin as she soothingly strokes his back.

Lexi: "Watch out for this one, Laura Dear. Until Bennie was 5 years old, I think, he would often spray his food and drink when he was excited."

Lexi's eyes twinkle with mirth. However Benedict grimaces at his detested childhood family nickname—bestowed upon him by Lexi since he was so much younger than his siblings.

Benedict: "I did not!" Benedict whines.

Steve: "Oh Bennie, you missed a spot." Steve touches his own shirt covered chest.

Laura: "Oh!" And Laura proceeds to use another napkin to wipe off Benedict's spittle from his shirt. Benedict submits stoically to Laura's slightly mothering grooming behavior of him.

Benedict: "And for your edification, Steve, only Lexi, as my sister, has the right to call me by my childhood nickname." Benedict grouses to Steve.

Laura: Leaning in to Benedict's side, she whispers into his ear. "Benedict Dear, don't let Steve bait you. He's just being his childish self."

Steve: "I heard that, Laura! And I am not being childish!" Now Steve whines.

Laura: "Well that is fortunate, Steve. Because with the Somersets as our guests, they should be treated with courtesy and respect." Laura intones chidingly as only an elder sister can.

Steve: Steve nods his head in acquiescence to his sister's wishes. "My apologies Benedict, and Lady Bath." Both Benedict and Lexi accept Steve's apology and nod to him in turn.

Laura: "On that happy note, I think that I'll go take my shower." Laura states in a jauntily sangfroid manner, as if she were born to smooth over awkward family social moments with ease and grace. "Benedict?" His head jerks to the side and looks at her as she walks toward the bedroom. "Please look after our guests." Laura smiles lovingly at him before heading toward her bedroom.

Benedict: "Of course, My Love." Benedict smiles wistfully as he watches her head to her bedroom. His memories of their loving evening last night will have to sustain him until tonight.

Lexi: "Ha ha ha ha ha! I like her! You've caught a good one, Benedict!"

Benedict: "As I indicated in my email to you & Edmund and Mama & Papa, Laura is a kind and gracious lady whom it is my great good fortune to have fallen in love with—and she has fallen in love with me."

Steve: "That is quite the testimonial! And you even used the proper grammar—whom." Steve needles Benedict.

At her bedroom door, Laura turns around to face Benedict and their siblings. And sensing that, Benedict looks up at Laura as she wrinkles her nose and shakes her head no at him. Benedict nods knowingly at Laura—about him not rising to Steve's baiting him.

Benedict: Returning to their guests, Benedict holds up the plate of mixed fruit and sweet rolls that he has arranged from the bakers box they brought home with them yesterday. And he asks dryly. "Can I tempt you with anything?"

Lexi's eyes sparkle with mirth. While Steve stifles a laugh at Benedict seeming so ... so British.

***

Benedict keeps a steady flow of coffee, fruit, and pastries going until thirty minutes later when Laura returns from taking her morning shower and doing her makeup. Laura's long hair was just washed yesterday. So after she brushes it out this morning, Laura styles her long silky auburn hair to lie loosely over her shoulders. Benedict takes note of Laura's loveliness when she returns to him and he gives her a private smile of his admiration—which makes Laura blush, charmingly so thinks Benedict.

Laura takes a moment to get herself a mug of hot cocoa from the espresso machine and a cinnamon cheesecake Danish from the breakfast tray—being sure to also add some fruit to balance out the sweets. Then she noshes happily for a few moments as they all sit on the bar stools at the raised kitchen counter—with Benedict, putting his arm around Laura's shoulders, squeezing them, then briefly kissing her forehead before returning to his own yummy treats. Blessedly for a few moments, there is silence while everyone's mouths are full.

Lexi: "Hmmm. You seem rather quiet, Laura Dear. I expected a chattering magpie of an American. Yet I find you quiet and reserved, just like Benedict." Lexi uses an austere aristocratic tone. However Lexi tends to become sleepy after eating—so her slow phrasing is sometimes mistakenly perceived as her being disdainful and haughty, rather than her merely being tired.

Benedict: "Laura, don't mind Lexi. She isn't warmed up yet. Ooof!" Benedict grunts as Laura pointedly elbows him in his side, her thinking that Benedict referred to her as not being warmed up yet. "No Laura, I meant Lexi isn't warmed up yet." And with another elbow or slap coming his way—this time from Lexi—Benedict takes a timely step out of the way.

Laura: "Then you must watch too much television, or 1930's screwball film comedies with a wise cracking Carole Lombard, My Lady." Laura raises an imperious eyebrow that she affected in the classroom for the rare university students who try to create a ruckus in the classroom.

Lexi: "Oh my! You'll do, Laura Dear!" Lexi claps her hands with fifty eight year old glee. Both Benedict and Laura look at her quizzically. "Mama and Papa had sent me ahead as the advance scout team, to ascertain the lay of the land and your character."

Benedict: "Lexi! Laura is beyond reproach. I could not have fallen in love with a more poised, loving, and gracious lady."

Laura: "Thankyou, Benedict." Having seen her fiance's earlier response to his nickname of Bennie,Laura emphasizes his full name. Lexinods at her in respect. "Oh, and in thespirit of transparency, I was divorced five years ago to a man who had cheatedon me with a mistress--and he is now married to the wench." Laura lays it all out there with a calmcontrolled demeanor [(5)below] that Lexi admires. 

Benedict: "Kkhhh!" Benedict coughs with Laura revealing her prior marital history so blithely. Yet he recovers. "Yes, well, that is all water under the bridge now. And I feel fortunate that Laura is free to marry me."

Lexi: "Yes, divorce can happen to the best of us, Laura Dear. Hhhh!" Lexi sighs while gazing at Laura in understanding.

Benedict: "Lexi?" Benedict raises a worried eyebrow. He has seen the flirting sparks back and forth between his sister Lexi and Laura's much younger brother Steve.

Lexi: Glancing at her concerned brother Benedict, Lexi assures him. "Not Ian and I--we're rock solid. But Ian's sister is not so fortunate, we have recently learned." Benedict nods compassionately.

After finishing their light breakfast--and much to Benedict's chagrin--his betrothed Laura is subsequently spirited away by his sister Lexi for a girls only shopping morning and lunch to get to know each other better—while Benedict is stuck with Laura's brother Steve. However, Benedict is sanguine about Laura's cheeky brother—resolving not to let Steve get the better of him. Benedict just hopes that Laura isn't too overwhelmed by his sister Lexi—who is a force of nature from his prospective of being her much younger brother, and Benedict having known Lexi for all of his 45 years.

To be continued with Chapter 23

References for "Somerset: A Time to Love", Ch. 22, November 27, 2017 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1119)

1) The Somerset: A Time to Love" story cover is a composite of two main images:
a) Background--Creative Commons-licensed photo by Flickr user AlicePopkorn2]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47283811@N06/ ;
b) Prof. Benedict Somerset image is of Richard Armitage (2012 Promo by Roberta Ascroft, pix35) found at richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Richard/Promos/2012Promo/album/RobertAscroft-35.jpg
c) a crucifix image is from MS Office Clip Art;

2) Meaning for the idiomatic phrase "a bad penny" is found at https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_bad_penny_always_turns_up

3) For more about the City of Bath in Somerset, England, please visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath,_Somerset

4) Benedict Somerset image is of Richard Armitage at the 2012 THAUJ Toronto Premiere Press wearing a grey sweater and exhibiting a quiet smoulder, Mar2716 via Laura Day

5) Laura Leicester image is of Jennifer Ehle in a still from "A Gifted Man" found at
http://img.poptower.com/pic-74447/jennifer-ehle.jpg?d=600

Something About Love Blog Ch. 22 story link, with embedded illustrations:
https://gratianads90.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/somerset-a-time-to-love-ch-22-pg-13-a-bad-penny-or-two-november-27-2017-gratiana-lovelace-post-1119

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