CHAPTER 28

The Cotton family had finished their luncheon. Lily and Rose were clearing up the dishes, and the males of the family were having a brief smoke before going back out to their various chores when there was a knock on the door.

Rosie looked entreatingly at her mother, for she was sure it must be Sam, but she was up to her elbows in dirty water.

Jolly got up. “I’ll get it, sister. If it’s Sam he knows the way to the kitchen all too well.”

They heard him opening the door, and faint voices, then he called out “Da! Would you come here please?”

Tolman got up, wondering who it might be, for Jolly certainly would not have called him for just Sam. He went to the front hall, where his son stood with Sam, a lass, and a gentlehobbit who looked a bit familiar. It was the Thain! He’d not seen him often, but he’d met him once or twice in the way of Shire business. What could the Thain be wanting?

“Mr. Cotton?” Paladin greeted him politely. “This is my daughter Pearl. We’d like a word with you, your wife, and your daughter Rose, if you please.”

The farmer looked uncertainly at Sam, who gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s all right, Mr. Cotton. Really it is.”

Tolman led his visitors into the front room, and in a few moments they were joined by Lily and Rose, who had taken a brief time to get out of their aprons and straighten their hair.

“It’s very simple,” said the Took, “we are unfortunately having to steal Sam away to the Great Smials for a few days, and we would like to invite Miss Rose to accompany him. It would all be quite correct, as his sister Marigold is also going, and of course my wife, daughters and all my female relatives will also be there.”

Rose looked at Sam, her eyes bright. They’d been apart so much since the beginning of Rethe, here it was Astron already, and the wedding less than a month away. How kind it was of them to invite her to be with her Sam! But the Tooks? Would she know what to wear or how to behave among all those fine folk? But surely Mr. Frodo would be there too, and they were Mr. Pippin’s kin--he was fond of her, she knew. She glanced over at her parents, wondering what they would say; she was of age, but she still would not go against their wishes.

Tolman looked at his wife, and she nodded. He turned to his daughter. “Rosie, my lass, I will leave it up to you, for I know I can trust Samwise not to take you into anything that wouldn’t be proper.”

Sam winced. He couldn’t get away from the word even when he didn’t say it.

Pearl sat forward. “Do say you will come, my dear. We are all so fond of your Sam, and we would like the chance to get to know his bride-to-be.”

She looked at Sam one more time. He was smiling that special smile that was just for her. Still looking him in the eyes, she nodded. “Yes. Yes, I will go.”

He grinned. “Well, that’s my lass!”

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Eglantine had been marshalling her forces like any general. Meals planned, guest rooms readied, tradesmen notified and a spring cleaning to beat all spring cleanings. Now she was ready for the more difficult task.

She had summoned her two younger daughters, Pimpernel and Pervinca, and two of her husband’s sisters, Primrose and Peridot*, to her sitting room.

“This will be no ordinary gathering of guests, my dears,” she said. “We will have among us folk of other races: the Elf, the Dwarf, several Men, including a child.”

“Mother--” Pimpernel started to interrupt to say that they knew this already, but she was treated to a glare by her mother and aunts, and so she subsided.

“And there are a few,” continued her mother, “who are not under normal circumstances a part of our usual social circle, such as Samwise, his sister and his betrothed. That’s simply among those that are actually staying here at the Smials. As well, there will be others who will be staying in Tuckborough who will be in and out and underfoot all week and maybe longer.”

Primrose and Peridot nodded. They knew what Eglantine was getting at. Pimmie and Vinca looked a bit puzzled. This was the first time their mother had included them in this kind of planning for a large social gathering. Pearl was their mother’s usual lieutenant.

Aunt Peridot smiled, amused. “There are certain people who are less than gracious to anyone they consider too ‘different’ or who do not fit their own notions of ‘gentry’.”

“You know of whom we speak,” added Aunt Primrose.

Pimmie and Vinca looked at one another. “Uncle Reggie’s wife?” For though Reginard was Paladin’s cousin, his children had always awarded him the fond courtesy title. They adored him. His wife, on the other hand, they referred to as seldom as possible.

“Well, Hyacinth is certainly the first name that comes to mind when snobbery is the topic,” said Eglantine frankly. “Also, of course, their daughters Amethyst, Garnet and Opal. As well, we will probably have Rosamunda Bolger here at some point.” Eglantine’s lips tightened. “And then we have the Overhill Banks.” She’d had little contact with her brother’s family since Pippin was twenty. Her obnoxious nephews had gotten Peregrin drunk on a dare, and it had very nearly killed him.

Pimpernel and Pervinca looked alarmed. They had never before heard their mother speak so of others before. Eglantine hated gossip and spiteful tongues. She saw their faces.

“My dears, this is not gossip or backbiting. I do not expect a single word uttered here to *ever* be repeated. But it is necessary to take people like that into account when planning strategy. Now, early this morning I had another letter from your father, as well as one from your Aunt Esmeralda telling a great deal about these Men from the King and their mission. When I add to that some of the information we’ve had from Pippin, I think I have an idea that will pull the teeth from most of the people we have mentioned, and will give everyone something to think about. It may make Cousin Frodo a mite uncomfortable, but I do not think he will mind in a good cause.” She gave her daughters and sisters-in-law a wicked grin that reminded the girls of their brother about to make mischief.

“Now, here is what we are going to do…”

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Sam and Rosie walked down the lane together. Pearl was talking to Lily about what her daughter could expect at the gathering, and the Thain was sounding out Tolman’s opinions on the upcoming assembly. The Cottons were not one of the major families of the Shire, but they would have representation through their Cotman connections. Still, Tolman Cotton was a notable person in the Hobbiton-Bywater area, and Paladin respected his opinion.

“I’m nervous, Sam. I do want to go, and to be with you, but what will all those Tooks think to have a farmer’s daughter among them? I fear they will think I’m trying to get above myself.”

Sam locked his fingers with hers. It wouldn’t do to let her know he had many of the same fears himself. “They will think they have the prettiest lass in all Four Farthings and Buckland combined among them, and they will all be jealous as can be. But don’t you worry none. You won’t have only me watching out for you. Mr. Frodo will be there, and Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin. We’ll all be looking out for you and Marigold. And I know Mistress Eglantine also. She won’t think any such thing at all. You heard how kind Mistress Pearl was.”

“Oh Sam, I am so glad you came home.”

“So am I, my lass, so am I.” And they exchanged one of those looks that made everything and everyone else in the world disappear.

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* Primrose and Peridot are only partially original characters. According to the Took family tree, Paladin had three older sisters, unnamed, in addition to his younger sister Esmeralda. I just gave two of them names.