1890s: Josephine is born and Ida is introduced to society

 

Summer started with drama as Abigail woke in the middle of the night from her baby wanting to be born. Perhaps it is that she is now older and wiser, perhaps that this is her third child, but while Joseph panicked she took things in stride. She told Joseph to wake up Ida and let her know she'd be responsible for her younger sisters this morning, then went downstairs to get something to eat, before returning to her bedroom to finish the labour. 

She gave birth to another beautiful girl, who they named Josephine after her father. Abigail is pretending that she's not at all disappointed that she has not been able to give Joseph another son. Joseph, however, is enamoured with his little girl and couldn't care less. Anna and Alice was a bit more hesitant in greeting this new member of the family. Why do they need another girl anyway? They have us! Still, Alice cannot help but to be curious. 

Josephine is a sensitive little girl, a bit poorly, perhaps, Abigail thinks, because she is a bit too old to be having children? Of course she does not voice these thoughts with anyone, but there is a significant drop in bedroom activity this week.

Meanwhile, Frank still hasn't found what he's looking for. His fun-meter is constantly in the yellow or red, and nothing seems to strike his fancy. He is let into his father's study and allowed to use the typewriter, but writing is boring too. As is painting when Abigail takes him to the museum. Joseph is at a loss at what to do with his son. What does he want to be?

For Ida, this is a big week. Independence day is coming up and with it the Independence Day Debutante Ball! She is to be introduced into polite society, be presented for possible suitors and be eligible for proposals and romance. She cannot wait! Abigail takes her to find the perfect dress for the occasion. 

For the charity comity, these are busy times. They meet at Abigail's house this time, but get off track as Viviana Sinclair decides to light a fire in the middle of summer, and botches up the job so badly that she lights herself on fire instead!

Why she lit the fire on a hot summer's day in the first place? Who knows, but as everyone panics no one thinks to extinguish her. Abigail thinks of her girls first, and take Alice and run outside to get her safe. Finally, Valeria Godeau, the woman they all look down on a bit for being so very young and clearly a trophy wife (though she has manage to do her duty and give Matthew a son, Rhett, less than a year after marriage), is the only one who has enough sense to go and help the poor burning woman and save her life.

Viviana is not so impressed by her sister who ran outside instead of helping her. But she does have a newfound respect for Valeria, and the two become instant friends.

As the women gather back inside to continue their meeting, and Viviana is offered a bath to take care of her burns, Joseph returns home to find Alice telling him all about the fire and needing to be entertained. Soon he is playing with her right there on the street. She is quickly wrapping her father around her little finger. She is also a little singing bird, who loves to sing to him, to mummy and to her sisters, first chance she gets.

In spite of the mishap at the meeting, the ball goes off without a hitch. Ida is a bit nervous as she approaches the door in her new white dress.

But once inside things are magical. Well a bit too many young women spread too thin over the few young men, but while Mattias Bradshaw seem utterly uninterested in meeting all the young women and stay where the food is (perhaps because so many of them are his wild sisters), James is ever the gentleman and talks and dances with the young ladies as he's supposed do. Ida is enthralled, by the music, the food, the dancing...

The Bradshaw sisters manages to dance just fine on their own, but isn't their dancing a bit...weird?

The night is ended with fireworks, a perfect end to a perfect ball, and Ida returns home with so much to tell daddy, it's almost as if she forgot he too was there.

As the weekend comes around, and Joseph has a meeting at work, Abigail decides to take the family to the park on this beautiful summer's day. They of course bring Emily for Frank to spend time with, which ensures that he has eyes for no one else. Anna asks her older sister to teach her how to ride her bike (funny since Ida never mastered it as a child and is not that good at riding the bike in the first place). She does her best however. Near the lake, Abigail has some tummy time with Josephine before she falls asleep and sleep soundly in the gentle breeze. Alice plays in the sand, sings, talks and plays with her mother.

Anna, on the other hand, having gotten tired of the bike, goes exploring. Frogs, treasure maps and look who is the queen of the world! Who said you cannot climb because you're wearing a skirt? (Although pants would make it easier).

When it's time to return home, they're all waiting for Anna to come back before they can start their journey home.

For once, everyone's fun-meter, was in the green at the days end, even Frank's.