I am doing something we were told was not a very good or easy thing to do  in our novel writing class. I'm switching first person narrative to Horatio for the next 3 chapters, and then I will switch it back to Hannah after that for awhile.

Chapter 3 - Horatio

I was home early from work on June 20th. I was anxious about the party I had organised for the following Sunday.

“Hello, darling,” said my wife, Louisa, “and how lovely it is to have you home early. How was work today?”

“Much as usual, but I decided to come home early to see if you have had any reactions from the neighbours about our party.

“Blanche, come in here will you?” I shouted.  

Our local maid, to distinguish her from my mother-in-law's French maid,  came into the room. She is a bonny girl, with rosy cheeks and dimples, curly hair, and a beautiful figure. I enjoyed just being in her company after spending time with my straight as a stick wife. “Blanche,” I said, “did you take out all the invitations as I asked you to?”

“Oh, yes sir,” she said, bobbing a curtsy as she replied. “I took them to all the neighbours as you said.”

“And did any of them open them while you were still there? Did you get any idea of their response?”

“Well, not really sir. Some of them were right curious as to why I was giving them an envelope. Some of them started to open it but I didn’t feel I should wait around and watch.”

“No, of course not,” I said. “But did they seem excited and pleased at the idea?”

“Well, if I had to say as to what they thought, it would have been curious. I don’t think they could understand why you, and they must have known the envelope which I was delivering was from you, should want to say anything to them.”

“Well, I guess I must just bide my time. I can’t remember, Louisa. Did we put in the invitation that they should RSVP?”

“No, dear, as we didn’t think they would understand what it meant.”

“So we won’t know if they are coming until Sunday when they arrive or don’t, is that it?”

“Well, we shall see tomorrow whether any of them have the manners to reply, which of course they should do, whether they are coming or not. But I don’t hold high hopes for them cottening on to doing the right thing.”

“How many did we invite in the end?”

“I think it was 67, counting the children but not the babies. But of course, they won’t all come. And we wouldn’t be able to cope with them all if they did. I am only praying it will be a mild sunny day so we can have them in the garden. The thought of all those dirty noisy children in my house is enough to make me cringe.”

“Well, Louisa, you know that in order for our plan to work, we must make sure we have the locals on our side. They have to feel that we like them and trust them and want them to go along with our plans. If we tell them they can’t bring their children, then most won’t come. If we tell them they are only welcome if the sun is shining, they will really wonder if we are to be believed.”

“Well, I am in charge of organising the catering, and I would very much appreciate knowing if I am to order 100 cakes, or 50 or what. It does make a difference, you know.”

“We must think positively. If we have invited 60, we must provide cakes for all - even though some of them might not come, and others might not want to eat cake. In fact, I think we should provide 75, and then we can offer second helpings.”

“And you really expect me to produce my china cups for all and sundry? They won’t know how to handle them. And they might well break them - and certainly their children will be into breaking anything and everything.”

“Now Louisa, you are getting agitated again. Please try to see this positively. We might lose the odd cup - but they can easily be replaced. What we need to do is convince these people that we want to be their friends - that they can trust us. That we like them and hope that they will like us, even though we don’t really mean it, of course.”

“Well, Horatio, I hope you know what you are doing. It seems to me that you might be emptying a can of worms with all your grand plans.”

“I have thought this through, dear, and I do think that I have things under control. Anyway, changing the subject, how is Mother Hayes feeling today? Any better?”

“She does seem a triffle better, but she is so missing daddy still. It was the anniversary of his death not long ago. You can’t expect her to not become depressed when she thinks back on it. But luckily she has her maid who is devoted to her, and she takes care of the situation most admirably. I hardly need do a thing when Alice is around.”

“You sound as if you wish you had the job. I thought that when we agreed that your mother could come here to live with us, it was only on the understanding that she would have her own maid, and that the care of her would not disrupt me or you, for that matter.”

“Yes, of course, dear. That was the understanding, and I do value Alice being here with her. But it does often seem that mother cares more for her than she does for me.”

“You have to remember her background, my dear. She has spent her entire married life going around the world with her husband. She has had only the best in everything - her every wish has been granted. Then for her suddenly to lose the man who provided all for her, and to find herself not only unable to make decisions for herself but incapable of doing so. She needed to come to us, and as much as she resents being under our guidance, she had really no alternative. But surely, once she has regained her self control, after this anniversary is over, she will be back to her normal self. I do hope she will not put us to shame on Sunday.”

“Well, it is my thought that she will stay the day in her room, Horatio. She is not very convincing when it comes to dealing with the peasantry. She would probably do more harm than good if she came to the party.”

“Well, if you think so, of course we will abide by your wishes. Will Alice be available to help with the festivities?”

“Not if mother needs her. She is employed by mother, you know, not us, and I think she would not be happy with handing around drinks of tea to those she considers beneath her, even though she is a servant, and they for the most part are a cut above her, at least from their point of view.”

“But you will have some help for the proceedings, will you not, my love? Blanche will of course be here but you will need more than that.”

“I have asked the bar girls from the Travellers’ Call pub to come and help, and they have agreed, as long as they are finished by five. That will make three serving, which I think should suffice. I would expect that they would help with the washing up afterwards but if the group is coming at three, and we have tea straight away, and you do your speech to them at 3.30, surely most of them will have left by four.”

“And what have you planned to give the children?”

“Well, the older ones can have cakes as well, but I thought lemonade would do nicely, and be easy to fix. I have ordered the cakes from the Cooperative bakery, and Mr. James Arden,  the manager himself who just lives down Glossop Road, will be delivering on Saturday, as of course they are not open on Sundays. Blanche can make the lemonade on Sunday morning. It shouldn’t need more than six lemons and 10 ounces of sugar. I’m sure she said she had a recipe somewhere. And we will have glasses for them to drink out of, which hopefully they will treat with care.”

“You won’t give them the cut glass?”

“Of course, not, Horatio. I have quite a supply of glasses of a lesser quality which will do perfectly well for the occasion.”

“What about seating? What will we do if it rains?”

“We cannot seat 60 inside, don’t be ridiculous. I was thinking to put blankets down on the lawn, and assume that they would sit there in family groups. We must put a few chairs outside for the more elderly who are coming. I am thinking particularly of Mr. Dawson. It is very important that we have him on our side.”

“Yes, of course. How many elderly have we invited?”

“Well, he is the oldest. And then there is John Howard, he is nearly as old. Most of them are in their thirties and forties, with their children of course, but Mr. and Mrs. Howell of Lane Ends are older - in their early 60’s I would say.”

“Do you think they will come? They will have an eye to passing trade.”

“I would be very surprised if at least one of them didn’t show up. They like to know what is happening locally.”

“Let me see your list again. Do you think any of these are anything but ignorant farmers and mill workers?"

I quickly scanned the list.

Mr and Mrs. Joseph Thornley - 5 children ( 1 baby)
Mrs. Hannah Harrison - 1 child

“Wait a minute, I think I might know this woman from the church choir. At least the name sounds familiar. I didn’t know she lived around here. Let’s see who else there is."

Mr. and Mrs. Simpson - 7 children (1 baby)
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Howell
Mr and Mrs. Allsop
Mr. and Mrs. WIlliam Potts
Mr. Dawson
Mrs. Margaret Hammersley
Fred Hodgkinson
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Goodwin
William Goodwin - 1 child
John Wornall, Sarah
Harriet Wornall
Margaret Wornall
Squire Higgenbottom and Magaret  1 child plus baby
Joseph Jackson and wife Clary, one son
Mary Aice Jackson,
Thomas Jackson
Jack Salt and his wife Catharine
Lydia Salt

John Lively and Ellen 3 children
John Howard - aged 73
Charles Oldfield - Mary plus 4 children
John Driver, servant
Jomes Bromiley and Sarah - 2 children
Annie Worsley
Herbert Steward, Elizabeth and 1 baby.

“I think Horatio, that that makes 40 adults, 23 children, and 4 babies.”

“Well, I have written out my speech, and I think there will be no problems when it comes to convincing them that I have their best interests at heart.”

“I’m sure you’re right, my love. Now let’s settle down and have a drink before dinner. Would you like your usual?”

“Yes, of course. Thank you, darling.”