Pool did not miss the fact that the doctor had said he was, mostly splendid.
Mostly, splendid, sir? A concerned look now claimed the features of his countenance, as he gave the doctor a questioning look.
He continued assisting Henry, all the while listening with greatest attention to what he was saying.
A most valid, understandable concern, sir, he replied, although, I simply cannot believe that anyone completely in his?right mind would even think to attack either you, or your practice. To do so would show indeed that, they are most in need of help from you, as I’m certain that it would place their sanity highly in question.
He watched Henry, studying his expression and movements for any sign of agreement, or disapproval before continuing.
I’m certain that surely someone possessing his, or her, complete mental prowess, would take note of your services toward our country, and would realize there is no way they could occupy your place, therefore being content to?simply take their own place as it were. ?Nevertheless, please rest assured that I will be increasingly on the alert, while not giving so much as an appearance of being so.
Poole nodded, his expression looking decisively more relieved when Henry spoke of Rena.
You deserve nothing but the best, sir; for that matter, so does she, and I am most delighted with your choice of one another.
God loves you.
On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 9:38 PM, Ishamael Moridin <ishamael13@...> wrote:
"I am mostly splendid," Henry happily declared, still revelling in the
uncharacteristic feelings of early morning satisfaction.
"My one unexpected concern is how low my competitors would sink, to try
and disparage my efforts to succeed. If you recall my earlier
mention of
a surprising note, I started wondering if they were the ones sending
the
threat, considering that may be the first step towards launching an
attack against my successful medical practice and my very person.
After all, if false rumors are spread, appearance is everything, and
not
knowing who spread them, I might not have sufficient weapons to counter
them. Though I do have some plans, my opponents might not be aware of
such and consider me an easy prey," Henry speculated.
Though in truth he could not think of a London doctor willing to
challenge him, he suspected that planting the idea in Poole's head
might
encourage him to be even more watchful, to be at the ready, when the
true enemy finally struck. Getting into the mind set of caution may
allow his butler to see other things he could have missed otherwise. At
least things needing his notice.
"You know how you read about those brides from a distance, the kind our
monarchs had to procure before, and then their reputation does not do
them justice? Well needless to say, Rena is everything I expected
her to
be, and more. I am very pleased with my choice," Henry spoke
conversationally, deciding the right idea has been planted and there
was
currently no more reason to dwell on it. He could be simply social with
his trusty staff once more.
On 8/22/2023 7:28 AM, Sandy Hargrove via groups.io wrote:
> As Lety was helping Rena dress in the master bedroom, Pool was
helping
> Henry in the other room.
>
> What a lovely morning, he observed, helping the doctor get into his
> dress shirt, so, how are things with you this day, Doctor?
>
> Being a man of relatively few words, Poool said nothing else, but he
> would give the occasional nod of agreement to whatever the doctor
said.
>
> Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mary had been putting the finishing
touches
> on breakfast, when some thing caught her eye. She glanced around,
only
> to see Rena pouring coffee.
>
> I’ll get that for you mistress, if you please, she told her,
having made
> a couple rather long strides to be near the coffee pot, where
Rena was.
> Then, seeing that she was already pouring the coffee, Mary quickly
> hurried back, grabbing cream and sugar, and placing
them?dutifully on
> the table.
>
> There you are, good ladies, she told the two women, hurriedly
placing
> plates, bowls, and other such items on the breakfast table. When
this
> was all done, she stood back, and asked, will there be anything
else?
> She also remembered to set a place for the doctor, thinking
to?herself
> how?strangely curious it had been that the doctor had come to her
mind
> almost as an afterthought. She hadn’t thought of him quite in the
same
> way, at least since that fellow had come by and talked with her. It
> wasn’t that she didn’t still care for the doctor, but it just
seemed her
> thoughts toward?him?were very subtly?changing.
>
> God loves you.
>
> On Friday, August 18, 2023, 4:10 AM, Hugin
<blaisegellert@... <mailto:blaisegellert@...>> wrote:
>
>? ? Leti entered after Henry had followed Poole into his dressing
room.
>? ? "This is rubbish," Leti grumbled with a dark scowl."I ain't no
>? ? lady's maid. I won't do something' right, I just know it."
>
>? ? "You're grumpy because you need coffee," Rena observed around a
>? ? yawn. "I don't care what you get wrong as I will get more
wrong and
>? ? I'd rather not have a stranger up in here considering everything.
>? ? Please consider it a friendly favor, and not your job. I'll owe u
>? ? one or whatever."
>
>? ? She had slipped into the under slip thing as she spoke and Leti
>? ? frowned, helping her with the dress without a word, then
yanking the
>? ? corset strings tight wrathfully. Rena let out a breath and
scowled.
>
>? ? "I hate this. These clothes are stupid and I want pants."
>
>? ? "Yes, well we all want things that are impossible," Leti replied.
>? ? "For example, I"d prefer not to do this. Are you still insisting
>? ? upon not putting up your hair?" Rena nodded as she allowed Leti to
>? ? help her into the dress.
>
>? ? "Yep. It's stupid and I refuse. I'm doing enough."
>
>? ? Leti sighed and shrugged.
>
>? ? "You look nice," Rena said. "That new dress matches your eyes."
>
>? ? "Thanks," Leti said, clearly not mollified.
>
>? ? After a moment of hesitation she added. "You look nice too even if
>? ? you hate it. Now let's go down to breakfast and meet the doctor."
>
>? ? In the dining room, they'd arrived first somehow, and Rena eagerly
>? ? pored coffee for both without waiting on any servant to do it.
"I'm
>? ? so relieved that he's still the same," she whispered to Leti.
>? ? "Hopefully that means that everything will be alright."
>
>? ? Leti arched her brows. "Same. Big and green but same."
>
>? ? Rena chuckled. "Sure."
>
>

"No, we will wait for Henry," Rena told Mary politely. When the maid withdrew Leti grinned.

"You look as uncomfortable with servants as I do. But you're rich. So... How does that happen?"

Rena gave an uncomfortable laugh. "Honestly, my family is rather introverted so Grandfather pays the servants to do their jobs mostly while we sleep or are out, and things are sort of in place for us when we need them. Food in the oven, things arranged, whatever." she shrugged. "We don't interact. I don't know their names."

Leti chuckled appreciatively. "Brilliant. Unrealistic for here, though," she warned and Rena nodded, sighing.

Meanwhile Finn arranged for another dozen roses to be sent to Mary, and they would arrive via the local florist soon after she'd pored coffee for the ladies.

"I am mostly splendid," Henry happily declared, still revelling in the
uncharacteristic feelings of early morning satisfaction.

"My one unexpected concern is how low my competitors would sink, to try
and disparage my efforts to succeed. If you recall my earlier mention of
a surprising note, I started wondering if they were the ones sending the
threat, considering that may be the first step towards launching an
attack against my successful medical practice and my very person.

After all, if false rumors are spread, appearance is everything, and not
knowing who spread them, I might not have sufficient weapons to counter
them. Though I do have some plans, my opponents might not be aware of
such and consider me an easy prey," Henry speculated.

Though in truth he could not think of a London doctor willing to
challenge him, he suspected that planting the idea in Poole's head might
encourage him to be even more watchful, to be at the ready, when the
true enemy finally struck. Getting into the mind set of caution may
allow his butler to see other things he could have missed otherwise. At
least things needing his notice.

"You know how you read about those brides from a distance, the kind our
monarchs had to procure before, and then their reputation does not do
them justice? Well needless to say, Rena is everything I expected her to
be, and more. I am very pleased with my choice," Henry spoke
conversationally, deciding the right idea has been planted and there was
currently no more reason to dwell on it. He could be simply social with
his trusty staff once more.





On 8/22/2023 7:28 AM, Sandy Hargrove via groups.io wrote:
> As Lety was helping Rena dress in the master bedroom, Pool was helping
> Henry in the other room.
>
> What a lovely morning, he observed, helping the doctor get into his
> dress shirt, so, how are things with you this day, Doctor?
>
> Being a man of relatively few words, Poool said nothing else, but he
> would give the occasional nod of agreement to whatever the doctor said.
>
> Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mary had been putting the finishing touches
> on breakfast, when some thing caught her eye. She glanced around, only
> to see Rena pouring coffee.
>
> I’ll get that for you mistress, if you please, she told her, having made
> a couple rather long strides to be near the coffee pot, where Rena was.
> Then, seeing that she was already pouring the coffee, Mary quickly
> hurried back, grabbing cream and sugar, and placing them?dutifully on
> the table.
>
> There you are, good ladies, she told the two women, hurriedly placing
> plates, bowls, and other such items on the breakfast table. When this
> was all done, she stood back, and asked, will there be anything else?
> She also remembered to set a place for the doctor, thinking to?herself
> how?strangely curious it had been that the doctor had come to her mind
> almost as an afterthought. She hadn’t thought of him quite in the same
> way, at least since that fellow had come by and talked with her. It
> wasn’t that she didn’t still care for the doctor, but it just seemed her
> thoughts toward?him?were very subtly?changing.
>
> God loves you.
>
> On Friday, August 18, 2023, 4:10 AM, Hugin <blaisegellert@...> wrote:
>
>? ? Leti entered after Henry had followed Poole into his dressing room.
>? ? "This is rubbish," Leti grumbled with a dark scowl."I ain't no
>? ? lady's maid. I won't do something' right, I just know it."
>
>? ? "You're grumpy because you need coffee," Rena observed around a
>? ? yawn. "I don't care what you get wrong as I will get more wrong and
>? ? I'd rather not have a stranger up in here considering everything.
>? ? Please consider it a friendly favor, and not your job. I'll owe u
>? ? one or whatever."
>
>? ? She had slipped into the under slip thing as she spoke and Leti
>? ? frowned, helping her with the dress without a word, then yanking the
>? ? corset strings tight wrathfully. Rena let out a breath and scowled.
>
>? ? "I hate this. These clothes are stupid and I want pants."
>
>? ? "Yes, well we all want things that are impossible," Leti replied.
>? ? "For example, I"d prefer not to do this. Are you still insisting
>? ? upon not putting up your hair?" Rena nodded as she allowed Leti to
>? ? help her into the dress.
>
>? ? "Yep. It's stupid and I refuse. I'm doing enough."
>
>? ? Leti sighed and shrugged.
>
>? ? "You look nice," Rena said. "That new dress matches your eyes."
>
>? ? "Thanks," Leti said, clearly not mollified.
>
>? ? After a moment of hesitation she added. "You look nice too even if
>? ? you hate it. Now let's go down to breakfast and meet the doctor."
>
>? ? In the dining room, they'd arrived first somehow, and Rena eagerly
>? ? pored coffee for both without waiting on any servant to do it. "I'm
>? ? so relieved that he's still the same," she whispered to Leti.
>? ? "Hopefully that means that everything will be alright."
>
>? ? Leti arched her brows. "Same. Big and green but same."
>
>? ? Rena chuckled. "Sure."
>
>

As Lety was helping Rena dress in the master bedroom, Pool was helping Henry in the other room.
What a lovely morning, he observed, helping the doctor get into his dress shirt, so, how are things with you this day, Doctor?
Being a man of relatively few words, Poool said nothing else, but he would give the occasional nod of agreement to whatever the doctor said.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mary had been putting the finishing touches on breakfast, when some thing caught her eye. She glanced around, only to see Rena pouring coffee.
I’ll get that for you mistress, if you please, she told her, having made a couple rather long strides to be near the coffee pot, where Rena was. Then, seeing that she was already pouring the coffee, Mary quickly hurried back, grabbing cream and sugar, and placing them?dutifully on the table.
There you are, good ladies, she told the two women, hurriedly placing plates, bowls, and other such items on the breakfast table. When this was all done, she stood back, and asked, will there be anything else? She also remembered to set a place for the doctor, thinking to?herself how?strangely curious it had been that the doctor had come to her mind almost as an afterthought. She hadn’t thought of him quite in the same way, at least since that fellow had come by and talked with her. It wasn’t that she didn’t still care for the doctor, but it just seemed her thoughts toward?him?were very subtly?changing.
God loves you.
On Friday, August 18, 2023, 4:10 AM, Hugin <blaisegellert@...> wrote:
Leti entered after Henry had followed Poole into his dressing room.
"This is rubbish," Leti grumbled with a dark scowl."I ain't no
lady's maid. I won't do something' right, I just know it."
"You're grumpy because you need coffee," Rena observed around a
yawn. "I don't care what you get wrong as I will get more wrong and
I'd rather not have a stranger up in here considering everything.
Please consider it a friendly favor, and not your job. I'll owe u
one or whatever."
She had slipped into the under slip thing as she spoke and Leti
frowned, helping her with the dress without a word, then yanking the
corset strings tight wrathfully. Rena let out a breath and scowled.
"I hate this. These clothes are stupid and I want pants."
"Yes, well we all want things that are impossible," Leti replied.
"For example, I"d prefer not to do this. Are you still insisting
upon not putting up your hair?" Rena nodded as she allowed Leti to
help her into the dress.
"Yep. It's stupid and I refuse. I'm doing enough."
Leti sighed and shrugged.
"You look nice," Rena said. "That new dress matches your eyes."
"Thanks," Leti said, clearly not mollified.
After a moment of hesitation she added. "You look nice too even if
you hate it. Now let's go down to breakfast and meet the doctor."
In the dining room, they'd arrived first somehow, and Rena eagerly
pored coffee for both without waiting on any servant to do it. "I'm
so relieved that he's still the same," she whispered to Leti.
"Hopefully that means that everything will be alright."
Leti arched her brows. "Same. Big and green but same."
Rena chuckled. "Sure."

Leti entered after Henry had followed Poole into his dressing room. "This is rubbish," Leti grumbled with a dark scowl."I ain't no lady's maid. I won't do something' right, I just know it."

"You're grumpy because you need coffee," Rena observed around a yawn. "I don't care what you get wrong as I will get more wrong and I'd rather not have a stranger up in here considering everything. Please consider it a friendly favor, and not your job. I'll owe u one or whatever."

She had slipped into the under slip thing as she spoke and Leti frowned, helping her with the dress without a word, then yanking the corset strings tight wrathfully. Rena let out a breath and scowled.

"I hate this. These clothes are stupid and I want pants."

"Yes, well we all want things that are impossible," Leti replied. "For example, I"d prefer not to do this. Are you still insisting upon not putting up your hair?" Rena nodded as she allowed Leti to help her into the dress.

"Yep. It's stupid and I refuse. I'm doing enough."

Leti sighed and shrugged.

"You look nice," Rena said. "That new dress matches your eyes."

"Thanks," Leti said, clearly not mollified.

After a moment of hesitation she added. "You look nice too even if you hate it. Now let's go down to breakfast and meet the doctor."

In the dining room, they'd arrived first somehow, and Rena eagerly pored coffee for both without waiting on any servant to do it. "I'm so relieved that he's still the same," she whispered to Leti. "Hopefully that means that everything will be alright."

Leti arched her brows. "Same. Big and green but same."

Rena chuckled. "Sure."

My sincerest apologies, Poole told Letty when she said she had no made to help her. He was all about making things as convenient as he could for those who employed him, but he also enjoyed helping others as well.
He ran back to the master bedroom, knocked on the door, waited a few seconds, then slowly entered.
Begging both your pardons, but, Letty is coming to assist you, mistress Rena. Master Doctor, if you would be so kind as to please follow me into your dressing room, we can get you dressed post haste.
God loves you.
On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 4:45 AM, Hugin <blaisegellert@...> wrote:
Leti groaned and began to sleepily scramble into her clothes. "I
ain't got no maid to help me," she grumbled not quite under her
breath. "Yes, comin'," she told Poole. "If you would, take Dr. 'Enry
into his dressin' room, and I'll just get Rena... Ur Miss Rena ready
in the bedroom proper. Then we'll both have privacy, you and I for
getting things sorted." They should've talked that out last night
likely, but she was here to assist the doctor, and she knew nothing
about proper lady's maid rubbish. They really needed to attend to that.

Leti groaned and began to sleepily scramble into her clothes. "I ain't got no maid to help me," she grumbled not quite under her breath. "Yes, comin'," she told Poole. "If you would, take Dr. 'Enry into his dressin' room, and I'll just get Rena... Ur Miss Rena ready in the bedroom proper. Then we'll both have privacy, you and I for getting things sorted." They should've talked that out last night likely, but she was here to assist the doctor, and she knew nothing about proper lady's maid rubbish. They really needed to attend to that.

"He'll need you to get him dressed, and I need Leti to assist me," Rena told Poole. She bit her lip, struggling not to flush and to keep her dignity. She was covered in a dressing gown after bloody all. "We'll have things better arranged after today," she added apologetically. She wanted to tell him that if he felt things were disorganized, chaotic and a little insane, so did they and more so. She opened her mouth then closed it again. Then opened it. "Leti is next door. You're probably aware," she added hastily, embarrassed. Well at home they never had to speak to the servants. she struggled not to turn her head to give Henry an apologetic look because that would only make it worse. she could apologize to him later.

"I can dream normally, just not here, so I can't really prove anything past my phone and I can't talk to my family to figure out what's actually happening," Rena explained. She sighed, biting her lip and struggling not to cry. She wasn't the sort to cry. Had she ever cried? No. In fact not, but she'd always been in her element, never in a situation that made her feel insane with no backing or support. But she did have backing. She had Henry, who unlike what he'd previously said of himself as Jekyll, supported her, was much like himself far more than expected, and wasn't difficult at all. And she had Leti, and even Oliver she supposed. They'd get through this. For now, though, there was the matter of getting dressed. When Poole arrived, she'd have to ask him to bang on Leti's door so she could help her dress. Dressing in so many layers was enough to make one wish to cry as well, she thought darkly.

"I can't dream." Rena wanted to cry and she never cried. "Clothes for you, yes. I... How does this work, we share room, but must dress separately, which would be fine, were these stupid clothes not so difficult to put on." She sighed. "Don't you ring for Poole to dress you or something? I can get some clothes and go to Leti's room so she can help me if that works?" She hesitated, awaiting instructions for fear of doing the wrong in this extremely different society in which she found herself navigating. No wonder it had pushed Jekyll. The thought of that had her reaching out to squeeze his arm. "I get it. And I am trying to be careful. Not to cause trouble until we want to." She chuckled, knowing that that time would eventually come."

Henry's words served to put Rena even more at ease, as did his kindly helping her out of her clothes. Eventually, hours later when they at last slept, she was once again unable to dream. She woke feeling, rightfully, that something had been taken from her.
***
When Leti woke, she relished her? morning bath, never having had one with running water until she came here. No heating water over the stove. That was something she was getting used to fast.She tried not to take too long, though, in case doctor Henry needed her for something. Or Rena...She may require help getting herself dressed. She didn't feel it proper to knock and ask, though, so decided to go downstairs and wait in the dining room for instructions.

Rena relaxed visible, and chuckled when Henry spoke of punching problems in the face.
"I don' think the potion changes you, though you eventually come to see it otherwise unless things change. You'd have said that in my day as well. I don't know that I am providing the best example, but generally I am not very emotional. I prefer the happier emotions or peaceful ones. My uncle describes me as focused at work or even play until you...when I became more active." she chuckled again. "The women in my family aren't so emotional I don't think. I hate feeling stupid emotions here...but it's a matter of being out of control...too much in the unknown, too much at risk here from so my fronts, including how we live our personal lives."
She approached him, sighing and leaning into his chest, winding her arms around his waist. "I don't want to bring trouble down onto you, so we must be careful. At least at home or behind closed doors, we never had to do that, so I am concerned that I will misstep over something I don't even know would be wrong...But hopefully if such arises I can just punch it in the face." She laughed.
"Now will you help me out of these dreadful clothes?"She supposed she should've thought to ask Leti, but she'd never needed bloody help undressing before. She muttered as much to Henry as she began tugging at the laces at the back of her dress.