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Very Fawnedly Yours
© 2013 by Walter Reimer
(All characters courtesy of
EOCostello, 
MercMarten and 
Major Matt Mason. Any resemblance between characters depicted herein and any real person, living or dead, is too bad for them.)
The setting is Spontoon Island, in the story section Let's Doe It (Let's Fall In Love).
Art by
Fluffball
__________________________________________________
Part 44.
Willow:
I think Gwladys sensed it, and guided me into a chair before I fell off my hooves. The beagle femme came up and I said, “I’m honored, Lady Mosley – “
“Diana,” she said firmly. “The only person who cares a fig about the family title is Tom, anyway. You must be Willow.”
I nodded, and managed a “Yes.”
“And don’t worry. We won’t talk politics here,” and she gave Violet a wink. “The Peace of York is in effect,” and the others giggled as the Duchess smiled, “so we’ll leave that to the men.”
“I’m glad,” I said. “I haven’t been here long enough to really think about politics.”
“Excellent, my dear!”
Tea was served, with little sweetened seed cakes for the herbivores, and equally small goodies for the two meat-eaters in the group. Several more women showed up, some from the trendier bits of Society and others who had mates on both sides of the aisles in the Commons and the Lords. After everyone (there must have been twenty of us by this point) had drinks and a bite to eat, the presents were brought out.
With appropriate appreciative noises.
“This is your first fawn, Willow?” Violet asked.
“Yes,” and the girl talk about kids started. Gwladys had deliberately chosen as many mothers as possible for this shindig.
It was fun!
***
Reggie:
I was in the Harrods toy department when I saw a collection of toy boats, and a bit of the old inspiration struck me about what to get the Sire.
I think he might appreciate it.
The Grand-Sire might like what I’ve picked out for him.
That left . . . hmm . . .
Aha!
***
Gwladys:
My daughter-in-law isn’t the type to fluster easily, but I think I managed to almost pull it off with this little gathering.
It wasn’t until we were back in the car and after dropping Arabella off at her and Albert’s digs that she finally said “Oof!” and sat back in the seat. “You might have warned a girl, Gwladys.”
I laughed, which caused her to glare at me. “You needed to get out and meet people.”
“Some people.”
“Willow, look. You and Reggie will very likely be presented at Court – “
“Oh, good Lord.”
“You should see your face right now.”
“I’ll bet. Now, what’s this about Court? There won’t be any wisenheimer ducks there, will there?”
“Hopefully not, although David and Wallis – “
My daughter-in-law sat up and stared. “You’re on a first-name basis?”
“They’re very informal when the newsreel cameras aren’t rolling. Anyway, Josslyn and I were presented at Court shortly after he became a viscount. Since you and Reggie are related – “
“I figured that out – about Reggie being the heir and all.”
“Exactly. This is a way of getting you to meet certain key people right out of the gate.” I sighed. “I wish Wallis had been there. She has a knack for putting people at ease.”
“I’ll have to send her a thank you note for the gift.”
I nodded. We were bringing back to their house almost an acre of white lace taffeta baby clothes. The Queen’s offering was a gown and matching cap that was simply dazzling. Her sister-in-law had provided a bassinet.
Willow still looked a bit dizzy, and I patted her paw consolingly. “That was another reason for this – get you ready for things.”
“I – well, I knew intellectually what was going to happen eventually – “
“But you hadn’t really thought of it.”
“No.” She glanced out the window, and sighed.
After a moment she started speaking, and my ears flicked. Her accent sounded a bit flat.
“I think what’s wrong,” Willow said, “is something Rosie told me a while back.”
“Which was?”
“That what with everything that’s happened in my life, you know, since 1931 – “
I placed my paw on her shoulder and drew her into a hug. She held onto me briefly.
“And well, she said that after all that’s happened, I still haven’t quite gotten used to people being nice to me.”
I gave my daughter-in-law another hug, and a peck on the cheek. “Do me a favor, Willow.”
She looked at me.
“Get used to it.”
***
Willow:
I had to laugh at Gwladys for that, and we both shared the chuckle.
I did sort of wonder what Mother, Helen and Margaret would think of it all. Mother would very likely tell me to not let it go to my head, while Helen would probably tease me about getting flustered about it.
Margaret, bless her, would have lots of questions about what a real princess is like.
And I remembered a conversation I had with Da on one of the few occasions when he opened up about his wartime experiences.
“Grace, my dear, when royalty are not wearing their uniforms, they are like any other fur.”
“The Emperor has no clothes?”
“On occasion, literally, Grace.”
***
Reggie:
“What ho, Lodge!”
“Sir.”
“I need you to help me and Apollo get this loot stashed and safely undercover before Willow gets back.”
“Indeed, Sir.”
“Er . . . she’s not back already, is she?”
“Mrs. Buckhorn has not returned, Sir.”
“Splendid, Lodge! All right, let’s get the car unloaded.”
Luckily all of the things were wrapped, and we managed to get the plunder stashed away (trusting Lodge to keep the treasure map in his head; best place for it, really) and everything back to normal by the time Willow got home.
She had a budget of news, and no mistake! Mummy had taken her around for her baby shower, and Willow had met a few of the movers and shakers.
She told me all about it as we looked over the baby things she’d gotten for our fawn. “I’m a bit green about the ears, my dear.”
“Oh? Why, Reggie?”
“I haven’t met any of your hosts’ worser halves. Well, yet, at any rate. I daresay the Sire’ll introduce me around someday.”
She looked at me. “Do you think so?”
I considered. “No, not really.”
We both laughed. “I suppose I could drop by the Public Gallery the next time the Sire goes to the Lords.”
She grinned. “Want to see who he yells at when he’s not yelling at you?”
“He has to have someone. Y’know, Willow, when you mention it, something’s a bit off about the Sire lately.”
“Oh?”
I explained that he hadn’t insulted me in almost a month.
“Well, perhaps he’s starting to get over that, Reggie. After all, you’re not what he recalls.”
“You might be right.”
But the guest list for Willow’s shower turned us back to the subject of who was who and what was what in politics. Actually, it was ‘what was what,’ as some politicos might be less than completely anthrop.
I think a few MPs subsist by eating their own young.
Over dinner, I told Willow that the office would be largely shutting down a few days before Christmas, and reopening the Monday after.
“That’ll be wonderful. Are you having a Christmas party at the office?”
I scratched at the old banjolele scars on my pate. “I’ll have to ask. The Sire might leave before then, I guess to get the boiling oil ready to drop on me from the roof of the house.”
“He’d be perfect to play Father Christmas.”
“Don’t you mean ‘Fodder Christmas?’” And that started us both laughing again.
After dessert Willow went upstairs to do some reading and get ready for bed. It had been a bit of a wearying day for her, after all.
“You know something, Lodge? Wait; no need to answer. That’s another of those rhetorical things.”
“Indeed, Sir.”
“I know you Know All. And that’s put an idea into my head.”
<PREVIOUS><FIRST><NEXT>
© 2013 by Walter Reimer
(All characters courtesy of
EOCostello, 
MercMarten and 
Major Matt Mason. Any resemblance between characters depicted herein and any real person, living or dead, is too bad for them.)The setting is Spontoon Island, in the story section Let's Doe It (Let's Fall In Love).
Art by
Fluffball__________________________________________________
Part 44.
Willow:
I think Gwladys sensed it, and guided me into a chair before I fell off my hooves. The beagle femme came up and I said, “I’m honored, Lady Mosley – “
“Diana,” she said firmly. “The only person who cares a fig about the family title is Tom, anyway. You must be Willow.”
I nodded, and managed a “Yes.”
“And don’t worry. We won’t talk politics here,” and she gave Violet a wink. “The Peace of York is in effect,” and the others giggled as the Duchess smiled, “so we’ll leave that to the men.”
“I’m glad,” I said. “I haven’t been here long enough to really think about politics.”
“Excellent, my dear!”
Tea was served, with little sweetened seed cakes for the herbivores, and equally small goodies for the two meat-eaters in the group. Several more women showed up, some from the trendier bits of Society and others who had mates on both sides of the aisles in the Commons and the Lords. After everyone (there must have been twenty of us by this point) had drinks and a bite to eat, the presents were brought out.
With appropriate appreciative noises.
“This is your first fawn, Willow?” Violet asked.
“Yes,” and the girl talk about kids started. Gwladys had deliberately chosen as many mothers as possible for this shindig.
It was fun!
***
Reggie:
I was in the Harrods toy department when I saw a collection of toy boats, and a bit of the old inspiration struck me about what to get the Sire.
I think he might appreciate it.
The Grand-Sire might like what I’ve picked out for him.
That left . . . hmm . . .
Aha!
***
Gwladys:
My daughter-in-law isn’t the type to fluster easily, but I think I managed to almost pull it off with this little gathering.
It wasn’t until we were back in the car and after dropping Arabella off at her and Albert’s digs that she finally said “Oof!” and sat back in the seat. “You might have warned a girl, Gwladys.”
I laughed, which caused her to glare at me. “You needed to get out and meet people.”
“Some people.”
“Willow, look. You and Reggie will very likely be presented at Court – “
“Oh, good Lord.”
“You should see your face right now.”
“I’ll bet. Now, what’s this about Court? There won’t be any wisenheimer ducks there, will there?”
“Hopefully not, although David and Wallis – “
My daughter-in-law sat up and stared. “You’re on a first-name basis?”
“They’re very informal when the newsreel cameras aren’t rolling. Anyway, Josslyn and I were presented at Court shortly after he became a viscount. Since you and Reggie are related – “
“I figured that out – about Reggie being the heir and all.”
“Exactly. This is a way of getting you to meet certain key people right out of the gate.” I sighed. “I wish Wallis had been there. She has a knack for putting people at ease.”
“I’ll have to send her a thank you note for the gift.”
I nodded. We were bringing back to their house almost an acre of white lace taffeta baby clothes. The Queen’s offering was a gown and matching cap that was simply dazzling. Her sister-in-law had provided a bassinet.
Willow still looked a bit dizzy, and I patted her paw consolingly. “That was another reason for this – get you ready for things.”
“I – well, I knew intellectually what was going to happen eventually – “
“But you hadn’t really thought of it.”
“No.” She glanced out the window, and sighed.
After a moment she started speaking, and my ears flicked. Her accent sounded a bit flat.
“I think what’s wrong,” Willow said, “is something Rosie told me a while back.”
“Which was?”
“That what with everything that’s happened in my life, you know, since 1931 – “
I placed my paw on her shoulder and drew her into a hug. She held onto me briefly.
“And well, she said that after all that’s happened, I still haven’t quite gotten used to people being nice to me.”
I gave my daughter-in-law another hug, and a peck on the cheek. “Do me a favor, Willow.”
She looked at me.
“Get used to it.”
***
Willow:
I had to laugh at Gwladys for that, and we both shared the chuckle.
I did sort of wonder what Mother, Helen and Margaret would think of it all. Mother would very likely tell me to not let it go to my head, while Helen would probably tease me about getting flustered about it.
Margaret, bless her, would have lots of questions about what a real princess is like.
And I remembered a conversation I had with Da on one of the few occasions when he opened up about his wartime experiences.
“Grace, my dear, when royalty are not wearing their uniforms, they are like any other fur.”
“The Emperor has no clothes?”
“On occasion, literally, Grace.”
***
Reggie:
“What ho, Lodge!”
“Sir.”
“I need you to help me and Apollo get this loot stashed and safely undercover before Willow gets back.”
“Indeed, Sir.”
“Er . . . she’s not back already, is she?”
“Mrs. Buckhorn has not returned, Sir.”
“Splendid, Lodge! All right, let’s get the car unloaded.”
Luckily all of the things were wrapped, and we managed to get the plunder stashed away (trusting Lodge to keep the treasure map in his head; best place for it, really) and everything back to normal by the time Willow got home.
She had a budget of news, and no mistake! Mummy had taken her around for her baby shower, and Willow had met a few of the movers and shakers.
She told me all about it as we looked over the baby things she’d gotten for our fawn. “I’m a bit green about the ears, my dear.”
“Oh? Why, Reggie?”
“I haven’t met any of your hosts’ worser halves. Well, yet, at any rate. I daresay the Sire’ll introduce me around someday.”
She looked at me. “Do you think so?”
I considered. “No, not really.”
We both laughed. “I suppose I could drop by the Public Gallery the next time the Sire goes to the Lords.”
She grinned. “Want to see who he yells at when he’s not yelling at you?”
“He has to have someone. Y’know, Willow, when you mention it, something’s a bit off about the Sire lately.”
“Oh?”
I explained that he hadn’t insulted me in almost a month.
“Well, perhaps he’s starting to get over that, Reggie. After all, you’re not what he recalls.”
“You might be right.”
But the guest list for Willow’s shower turned us back to the subject of who was who and what was what in politics. Actually, it was ‘what was what,’ as some politicos might be less than completely anthrop.
I think a few MPs subsist by eating their own young.
Over dinner, I told Willow that the office would be largely shutting down a few days before Christmas, and reopening the Monday after.
“That’ll be wonderful. Are you having a Christmas party at the office?”
I scratched at the old banjolele scars on my pate. “I’ll have to ask. The Sire might leave before then, I guess to get the boiling oil ready to drop on me from the roof of the house.”
“He’d be perfect to play Father Christmas.”
“Don’t you mean ‘Fodder Christmas?’” And that started us both laughing again.
After dessert Willow went upstairs to do some reading and get ready for bed. It had been a bit of a wearying day for her, after all.
“You know something, Lodge? Wait; no need to answer. That’s another of those rhetorical things.”
“Indeed, Sir.”
“I know you Know All. And that’s put an idea into my head.”
<PREVIOUS><FIRST><NEXT>
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Cervine (Other)
Size 500 x 669px
File Size 486.1 kB
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