In Beautiful Dreams

[Tim]

Her son Ptolemy of Mauritania was Governor after his dad so she might still have living descendants

Could be. 

[ladyfiaran22]

This chapter has adult scenes

Chapter 8

Olga felt a sense of satisfaction when she finished reading Diodorus, lying back on the bed with a satisfied smile on her face. She had picked up from before after supper and continued reading all through the night, wanting to finish it before starting on the Bhagavad Gita. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and realized it was 11:30 as she got up to put the book away.

Olga carefully stepped outside and went downstairs to the library. She was disappointed that the office was empty but she turned on the light to put the book away. She giggled nervously when she saw that the Kama Sutra was still missing her cheeks turning pink when she remembered the night before. 

Olga put the book away and turned off the light before leaving the office. Once she got upstairs, a little thrill went through her when she saw the light under Ian's door. Before she could knock, the door opened and Ian stood in the doorway in his pajama bottoms and smoking jacket. The light from the room made his hair glow like gold and for a moment Olga thought he resembled a Greek god. "Dobry wieczor, mara kamala", he murmured.

"Polish sounds a lot like Russian", she replied.

"They're both Slavic languages, I understand some Russian but not enough to make me a member of MI6", he chuckled.

Ian carefully closed the door behind them and Olga's gaze went to the Kama Sutra on his bed. A dull blush spread on her cheeks when she saw that red leather book and Ian put his arms around her waist. "Relax, Olivia. Just let me know if you're upset or don't want to do something", he murmured in her ear.

"How come you think I wouldn't want to do that?", she teased.

Ian chuckled as lips nuzzled her ear. "When I first met you, Olga Nicholaevna, I realized you were a brave woman. You weren't frightened being here and asked all sorts of questions. Then you went straight to our piano and played along to Brubeck", he replied.

"At that horrid house, the guards made us play ugly songs on the piano. But I heard such beautiful music and I knew I had to play along", she said.

"I would put on some Brubeck, or some older Chet Baker or some Roy Orbison but I don't want to wake up our siblings", he said ruefully.

Olga nodded. "Of course Skye knows we're dating, but I don't want to frighten her", he said.

"What does your religion say about that?", she asked.

"People are supposed to be married first, but not everyone follows that rule. I intend to marry you one day, Olivia Parker. But there's time for courtship", he teased.

Olga turned around in surprise. "But that is so sudden", she exclaimed.

"A lot of people have had happy marriages after short courtships. Your parents were only engaged for a short time but are a very happy couple. My parents got married after three months of dating and they're quite happy. Us Sutherlands tend to be lucky in love", he laughed.

"You have better speak with Mama and Papa", she chided.

"I know, my father had to speak with Babcia first just before he married Mum. Believe me, my proposal won't be like this", he teased.

Ian kissed her softly and led her over to the bed. He picked up the book and carefully opened it as he sat next to her and planted a kiss on her shoulder. "Turn the page", he whispered huskily.

Olga felt the heavy, glossy paper under her fingertips and slowly turned the page. The following page madder her cheeks turn bright red. The couple were both naked and the woman had his penis in her mouth with the man's eyes closed and his head thrown back in ecstasy. "Do people really do such things?", she asked in shock.

"Yes, there's all different ways", he laughed.

"Have you done this before?", she asked suspiciously.

"If you're asking if I've ever shagged girls, then yes. But it's been nearly five years and I was drunk that last time. But I haven't had a real girlfriend before, between my army service and studies, I didn't have the time. You're the first woman I've wanted to be my girlfriend, Olga Nicholaevna", he murmured.

Olga saw the sincerity and passion in his eyes and heard it in his voice, his green eyes glowing with golden highlights. "I, I, I don't know what to say, Ian. I thought any courtship or relationship I would have would be out of duty, but I wanted love as well, like Mama and Papa. I hope I find it with you", she whispered.

Ian gave her a quick kiss and went to get the incense. This time the sweet scent of roses came from the bowl as Olga smiled in delight. "I know, roses are your favorite", he teased.

Olga watched as Ian slipped off the jacket to reveal his chest, a blush forming on her cheeks. "You're cute when you blush, Olivia", he chuckled.

Ian kissed her again as his hands reached for the sash of her robe. His eyes widened momentarily and his eyes turned golden with desire when he saw she wore nothing underneath. "Naughty girl", he whispered against her lips.

Ian broke the kiss and his lips planted little kisses along her jawline. Olga moaned softly and tilted her neck towards him as his lips moved lower down her throat, feeling the pulse under his lips beat faster. She tensed slightly when she felt his hands on her breasts as her nipples hardened at his touch. "You have pretty little breasts", he whispered.

Olga gently slid his hands off her body and turned around to face him. "I want to do what was in the book", she said huskily.

Ian's eyes turned a vivid gold with lust as he laid back on the bed. "I'm all yours, mara kamala", he drawled.

Olga just laughed as she crawled up his body, her breasts pressed against his chest. She kissed him and his lips parted under hers as their tongues dueled, his fingers in her long blond hair. Her lips left his and placed little kisses along his jawline and down his neck, feeling his fingers in her hair. Ian sighed when Olga spread her hands on his chest and felt the taut muscles. "I work out a bit, but I'm no Adonis", he teased.

"You are good-looking and fit, Ian", she chuckled.

"I know, Olivia", he teased.

Olga giggled. Ian's humor turned into lust as she trailed kisses down his chest and licked his nipples. "Ugh, yes", he groaned.

She was surprised by his reaction. "Ours are sensitive too, but many men don't realize that. You're doing well", he said softly.

Olga blushed as she kissed his nipples again. She turned redder when she felt the bulge under his pajama bottoms as she reached for the waistband, and slide them down his legs. Ian's breathing grew heavy and his eyes were narrow slits of green-gold as he watched her hands on his hips and roll down the boxers over his legs. A pretty blush formed on her cheeks when she saw he was fully naked. "Take your time, Olga Nicholaevna", he murmured.

Olga carefully began to stroke him as Ian sighed. She grew bolder as she remembered the picture in the book and stroked him just a little bit harder, then leaned over and took him into her mouth. Ian was startled at first but he lay back on the bed with narrowed green eyes as he watched Olga suck on him. He brushed the hair away from her face and groaned at the view. Olga wore nothing but a pair of panties and her breasts were bare as she sucked on him, a surge of desire growing through him at the sight and the sensations. A slow tightening began in his lower belly and his heart started to pound as a pinprick of lust grew ever tighter, knowing he was close. "Olivia, watch out", he warned.

Olga had an idea of what he meant when she felt his muscles stiffen under her hands. Ian shut his eyes tightly and swore softly in Polish as the climax surged through him. To his surprise, Olga kept him in her mouth as she came, the sight easily one of the most erotic things he had ever seen. "There's tissues in the drawer", he whispered.

Olga blushed as she climbed off the bed and went to wipe her mouth. Ian reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently feeling between her legs. ""Let me help you with that", he said.

Olga was still as Ian slid the panties down her legs and she moaned softly when she felt his fingertips against her heated flesh. Ian kept his eyes trained on her face as he gently stroked her, watching as her cheeks flushed and her lips parted slightly. Olga moaned as he applied slightly more pressure which made a jolt of desire go through her body. "Touch your breasts", he told her.

Olga was surprised at the command but found that her pleasure was heightened by the sensation. Ian continued to toy with her and knew she was close by the harsh little gasps escaping her lips and how warm she felt. "Just let it go, Olivia", he whispered.

Olga whimpered and closed her eyes as her body shuddered and a wave of pleasure rolled over her. She snuggled into his embrace and Ian kissed the top of her head. "I could get used to this", he murmured.

"Me too, I wonder if this is how Mama and Papa felt after sharing a bed", she mused aloud.

"I suppose, our parents were all lucky. I won't let you go, mara kamala. Good night", he said, kissing her lips.

[Tim]

Thanks for the warning.  Not that it bothers me, mind you.

[ladyfiaran22]

This is where they go: North Moors

Chapter 9

"Be careful, Olivia", chided Alexandra.

"I will, Mama. We'll meet up at the hostel at Hawes, Skye and Pierre will be following behind us", said Olga reassuringly.

"I'm just concerned, Olivia. I know you've ridden with Ian before, but the Moors are more rugged", fretted Alexandra.

"I will be careful, Mama", Olga reassured her.

Ian handed her the helmet as she quickly strapped it on along with the sunglasses. Both of them wore water-proof leather jackets and trousers and gloves in addition to their helmets as Ian checked the saddlebags. "It can get rainy on the moors, but then the sun comes out and everything is beautiful again. The heather is in bloom and the sky is blue. The North Moors are stunning and the heather is even more beautiful", said Ian.

"Lucky our cameras are in the bags", said Olga.

"Of course", Ian agreed.

Olga got behind him on the motorcycle and he kicked the bike into gear. They only rode for a few minutes to the Crowned Lion where they met up with the rest of the Kingfishers, the riders all wearing black leather jackets with the club's Kingfisher emblem on the back. "Looks like everyone's here, Ian and his missus have arrived", teased Basil.

Ian dismounted and took her hand to introduce her to the rest of the group. Olga smiled and shook hands, seeing that many of them were teachers and professors just like Ian. "Looks like we're the only women who ride", said Tabitha, Basil's wife.

"I was a bit nervous at first but I liked it, it's a lovely feeling to ride", Olga agreed.

"I know, it's much better than riding in a car", replied Tabitha. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties with long straight dark brown hair in braids pinned atop her head and sharp hazel eyes, her full lips and high cheekbones hinting at Slavic heritage. In spite of here German birth, she had an accent that was a cross between a Lancashire drawl and Oxbridge, like Basil's.

"What uni did you attend?", asked Olga.

"Right here, the uni at Manchester. I teach Regency literature, Jane Austen is my favorite", replied Tabitha.

"I'm going to start at the uni in Liverpool in September. I'm studying history. I was a nurse for the last five years and I want to do something different", said Olga.

"Good for you, a lot of people just stick with their job even if they don't like it. Good luck", said Tabitha.

Olga nodded in thanks. Basil gave the signal and soon they were all on their bikes headed towards the motorway. She felt the familiar thrill when they entered the motorway as the bikes flocked together like birds. Other drivers on the motorway gave them curious looks while children in backseats waved and looked on in delight.

Once they were past Leeds and Bradford, the countryside grew more rugged and hilly with far fewer people. The road had now turned into a two-lane one as the bikes rode in single file around the hills as they carefully maneuvered the bike. Once they reached the border of North Moors, all traces of Leeds and Bradford and their suburbs had been left behind. In its place were vividly green hills with creamy white and tan limestone underneath, brilliant pure blue skies dotted by puffy white clouds overhead.

After riding for a few more kilometres and going up a hill, the group stopped momentarily to take in the view. The hills and hillsides were brilliantly and vividly alive with heather. The pink and purple blossoms provided a striking contrast to the greenery and stone and blue skies, the little flowers trembling gently in the soft breeze. Off in the distance by the horizon one could see the tiny sliver of the North Sea, gray-blue sea meeting brown rock and pink and purple heather.


"I know, it's the best view on Earth. After we get to the hostel and have lunch, we'll go hiking", said Ian.

Olga could only nod and get back on the bike behind Ian and the others took off again. She made sure to hold on tightly but the moors around them were the most beautiful landscapes she had ever seen. The hills wit their pink and purple blooms were so different from the green, pine-forested hills of the Urals or the semi-tropical hills of Crimea and Livadia. very English. She mused that perhaps this where Catherine and Heathcliff must have been at their happiest.

The riders arrived at the hostel in Helmsley as they parked their bikes in the motorcycle lot. Olga sighed with relief when she saw the other cars as the family came over and hugged her. "I'm so glad you got here safely, Olivia", said Alexandra.

"I'm fine, Mama. and did you enjoy the drive?", asked Olga.

"It's so beautiful here! Yorkshire is more beautiful than I remembered, we didn't see the heather in bloom last time", said Alexandra.

"It is pretty, especially the heather. They look like lilacs", said Maria.

"It's so pretty here, Miss Maria. I've been to the Lake District with Daddy and that's pretty too", said Nicole.

"Mummy-Chan and Daddy say the cherry blossoms in Japan are pretty, but I've only seen Uncle Pierre's. It's pretty", said Mollie.

"Girls, we have to find our bunks and get lunch", said Pierre.

"Okay, Daddy. Are we and Miss Maria going hiking too?", asked Nicole.

"Yes, after lunch", said Pierre as they all went inside.

Olga was happy that Nicole appeared to like Maria as her father's new partner, knowing her sister adored children and dreamed of having her own family. "It's like a large dormitory, everyone gets a bunk. There's a cafeteria where you can get meals and organized tours of the local ruins and towns", Ian explained.

"Oh, how big are these tours?", asked Nicholas.

"Depends on how many people get together, usually between 5-10 people. A guide will point out the highlights and make sure you don't get lost", said Ian.

"Ohh, what happens if you get lost?", asked Anastasia, a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes.

"You'd probably freeze, it gets cold out here at night. I'd not recommend wandering off, it's too cold and the hostels and towns are spread out", said Skye.

"Wow, that stinks. I thought you would get eaten by a bear", said Alexei.

"There's no bears around here, up in Scotland there's wolves", said Ian.

Ian led them towards the main room of the hostel. "We'll choose bunks close together. There's separate showers for men and women. The cafeteria is further down the corridor and you choose what you like, meals are included with your stay", he explained.

Olga was disappointed that she and Ian couldn't share a bunk, already missing the idea of sleeping with Ian. "I'm hungry", said Alexei. 

"Let's unpack and get lunch", said Ian.

[Tim]

I agree.  It is beautiful land.

[ladyfiaran22]

May 24, 2020 12:01:25 GMT -5 Tim said:

I agree.  It is beautiful land.

Glad you like, I’d love to visit one of the Northern English national parks one day. I chose the North Moors park because it’s less crowded than the Yorkshire Dales park nearby, that’s where All Creatures Big and Small is set. Plus the heather looks gorgeous, it’s also near Whitby and Haworth. Whitby was James Cook’s hometown and Haworth was home to the Brontes. Thanks for the feedback

[Tim]

Love to visit to, since my ancestors came from Britain. 

Of course, that will require money, and lots of it.

[ladyfiaran22]

May 24, 2020 23:35:27 GMT -5 Tim said:

Love to visit to, since my ancestors came from Britain. 

Of course, that will require money, and lots of it.

What part of Britain, my mother’s family originally came from the Canary Islans and Dad’s side is from Galicia in Spain.

[Tim]

We're from all over the place, England, Scotland, Ireland (which was part of Britain when my ancestors left).

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 10

"Are you sure you're going to be safe, Olivia? It's raining outside", said Alexandra worriedly.

"It's not raining that badly and I have my mac raincoat. You know in Northern England it rains a lot", teased Olga.

"Yeah Mama, I wish I could go on a motorbike with Ian and Olivia", said Alexei with a pout.

"You have to be 18 to ride a motorbike, Alex. And this rain stinks, I hope they're showing films in the auditorium", said Anastasia.

"They're playin a film by John Wayne, North to Alaska, and some cowboy films. There's also card games in the cafeteria and a small library", said Ian.

"Ohh, Papa likes John Wayne. We saw Donovan's Reef at the cinema last week, the Alamo was on the telly last week", said Anastasia.

"He's a typical Yank actor, the strong and silent type. No range, but then again he always seems to play soldiers or cowboys. Yanks sure do love their cowboys", Ian chuckled ruefully.

Olga made her sure her waterproof mackintosh was buttoned up and was glad that her boots had an extra layer of waterproofing wax as Ian handed her the helmet and shades. "It's only a few of us today, lots of folks don't like to ride in the rain", said Ian.

Olga nodded when she saw only Percy from their group as they went to fetch their bikes. "Glad your missus doesn't mind the rain, Ian. I don't swing in that way, I'd have a mister instead", laughed Percy Armstrong, his odd accent a mix of Geordie and Oxbridge.

"Of course, we all know you're queer and have as much interest in girls as I have in growing turnips", teased Ian as they laughed. Percy was tall and skinny with longish brown hair nearly to his collar and pale blue eyes, his skin nearly the color of chalk with a gray undertone from a lack of sun, his small hands with their long fingers very white and looking as though they belonged on a woman.

"Whitby is only 45 minutes from here, perhaps tomorrow if the weather is better we can go to Scarborough", said Ian.

"Your hometown", she said.

"Yes, even though Mum and Dad live in France and another family lives there now", said Ian.

They put on their helmets and sunglasses as she got behind him on the bike and he revved up the engine. Olga was careful to hold on tight as Ian followed Percy out of the parking lot. It was a soft steady rain as the duo of bikes made their way east out of the park, the road empty except for a few cars who did the exact speed limit. It was a different experience riding through the moors while raining, the skies soft gray and the asphalt shiny with rain. The pinks and purples of the heather seemed more subdued and the green darker but it was still lovely, just  not as vivid as yesterday. Still the scenery itself as a whole seemed more vivid under the rain and cloudy skies, the bare cliff faces with their limestone rocks looking above the heather like malevolent beasts.

They arrived in Whitby less than an hour later as the motorcycles parked in the town's public lot. "Before we leave, we ought to take a picture of the town from the heights, Whitby from that vantage point is stunning", said Ian.



"The first place to visit would be the Cook museum, the barmy lad went so far without knowing where he was going, but not for nowt", said Percy with a laugh. 

"Of course, you did write a biography of the man", teased Ian.

"Yeah, he was an amazing and very lucky bloke, except for the very end", Percy quipped.

Ian nodded as they locked their helmets to the handlebars with the chain. He took her hand and Olga was glad that her rain hat had been packed in their saddlebags. The streets of Whitby were quiet except for a few people with umbrellas and raincoats who hurried in and out of the shops The cobblestone streets glistened with the falling rain as it gently made a soft splashing sound hitting the stones with the North Sea visible in the distance. Under the gray skies and falling rain, the North Sea appeared as a flat expanse of still gunmetal gray water on the edge of town. Except for the occasional thin line of breaking waves, it appeared to be flat and opaque as a pane of smoky glass.

The Captain Cook museum from the outside appeared to be just a plain white building with a brick roof, with only a wooden sign hanging over the doorway. Inside a middle-aged woman looked up from her newspaper and smiled. "Three tickets, if you got questions just ask", she said with a Yorkshire accent.

"Now worries, we're from Yorkshire", said Ian.

"Good, always a pleasure", chuckled the lady.

"Why are Northerners so upset with Southerners?", Olga wondered aloud once they were out of earshot.

"It's cultural, the south of England has more wealth and better weather in addition to London being the capital. But although we got less money and crap weather, we got a lot of history. And we fought the Normans, the Tudors, and have the biggest factories and best national parks. Plus many up in Yorkshire got Viking heritage since this area was part of the Danelaw, Danish Vikings settled here. And the Normans tried to burn us out, Henry the wanker tried to put us down and the rich bastards down south tried to impoverish us. But we're stronger than them", Ian said.

Olga loved the passion in his voice, how his green eyes turned gold with intensity. "Ian, you're scaring your missus", teased Percy.

"Sorry, Olivia. But I'm proud to be from Yorkshire, even though I ended up on the wrong side of t'Pennines", he laughed.

The trio spent the rest of the morning in the little museum. Although the museum building was small, it had many exhibits pertaining to Captain James Cook and his voyages. Behind a glass case displayed a wooden replica of the HMS Endeavor, the model an exact copy of Cook's famous ship. Contemporary maps of the Pacific and of the Australian and New Zealand coasts hung in frames on the wall, the coastal outlines quite different from the ones in modern maps. Other cases had artifacts collected from Cook's travels, from his initial landing in Hawaii to the south Pacific around Tahiti to his penultimate journey to the Antipodes, a modern chart in a glass case showing how far the Endeavor had traveled.

"Of course, he had no idea that he'd discovered a continent. The closest equivalent would be finding another planet", said Ian.

"We need a stronger telescope, I think Pluto is as far as we can see so we'll need a stronger telescope to see more planets. Just hope the aliens are friendly", joked Percy.

Olga nodded, remembering an article in the newspaper which referred to Pluto as the newest and furthest planet in the solar system. "Pluto would be a better bet for having life, since it's solid", she said.

"I'm sure, but they could be microscopic bugs or something very different from humans. Or they could be green men like in the films", said Percy.

Olga nodded in agreement. She noticed that Ian didn't seem jealous of Percy joining them, or that Percy didn't mind her tagging along. "Percy's queer", Ian explained.

"I see, I had some idea. Do you have a partner, Percy?", she asked.

"Not at the moment, the queer scene up North is virtually nil and I don't like London. Plus the queer bars around Manchester keep getting busted by the coppers since they're owned by gangsters and sometimes they don't get their bribes. Perhaps in London it's different", said Percy with a shrug.

"I grew up hearing from our priest that queer men were disgusting and an abomination, but they're not like that at all. Clive and Gavin are good lads, why is it illegal then if it bothers no one?", Olga mused aloud.

"Because the coppers like to arrest folks and people cannot mind their own business. Luckily my parents accepted it, my older siblings have got children so I'm off the hook for grandchildren. And maybe if I moved to Brighton, I'll find someone. That's where the queers down south live", said Percy.

Olga was thoughtful as they left the museum and walked into a nearby pub for lunch. She mused that in nearly two months in England of 1963, she had met more interesting people and had seen more places than in her time as a Grand Duchess. As a child she had been confined in the nursery of their various palaces and then there was the ever-present security around them at Tsarkoe Selo and everywhere else. Until her nursing work during the war, she had no idea about how many of her fellow Russians lived and their captivity brought all that home.

Olga shook her head as she followed them to a booth inside the pub. "Try the Theakston beers, that's the local brew. I like the bitter but the Grouse Beater just came into season", said Ian.

"Grouse Beater?", she asked dubiously.

"It's a seasonal beer, it's released in the autumn", Ian explained.

Percy ordered them each a shot of Famous Grouse and a round of Grouse Beater. "Bagging double the Grouse", he quipped.

Olga laughed as she lifted the glass to her lips and swallowed. The whisky burned slightly on the way down but left a pleasant warmth afterwards. "Clever girl, most women can only drink whisky with something", teased Percy.

"Ian had me try Talisker, I quite liked it", she replied.

"That's good, my sisters only drink wine spritzers", said Percy in mock-horror while Ian made a face.

"Whatever you get, make sure it comes with Yorkshire pudding. This place makes the best, after Skye's of course", Ian laughed.

"How about mine, then?" asked Olga as she pretended to glare.

"And yours are tied for first, mara kamala", he replied gallantly as Olga blushed.

The trio ordered lunch, three chicken pies with a side of Yorkshire pudding. "Of course, no regular meat pies", teased Percy.

"I'm not eating my avatar, Percy. And chicken is better for you, I don't eat red meat or pork and last night's supper was trying", said Ian with a frown.

Olga took a sip of her beer and nodded. The hostel's supper last night had different meat pies with beef and lamb, fish and chips and bangers and mash with only a sad-looking vegetable lasagna as the non-meat option. "Hopefully tonight's supper will be better", she said.

"Yeah, tonight is Friday so they'll have fish since so many people up here are Catholics. Then again, hostels aren't known for their gourmet meals. You didn't have to have the veggie lasagna, Olivia", said Ian.

"It wouldn't be fair for me to have meat if you don't, Ian", she protested.

"You have a very good heart, Olivia", said Ian as their food arrived.

[Tim]

Ah yes, Pluto was still considered a planet at that point.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 11

"So what mischief did you and my brother get up to?", teased Skye.

Olga blushed as she took a sip of her Scotch and soda at the hostel bar. "Nothing, we rode into Whitby and saw the Captain Cook museum, then went to a pub for lunch", she replied.

"I'm just teasing you, Olivia. I'm glad that my brother has finally found himself a girlfriend, I set him up on dates with my coworkers and they never worked out", said Skye, squeezing the lime garnish from the glass into her vodka tonic.

"Ian is an unusual man, I suppose convention women aren't very attracted to him", Olga mused aloud.

"Yes, my brother is the quintessential English eccentric. We watched the John Wayne film North to Alaska today, your parents liked it. Tonight the cinema is showing The Searchers, I swear John Wayne must be related to the wankers who run this place", Skye joked.

Olga said nothing as she swirled the straw in her drink. She hoped that the hostel cinema would be dark so that her and Ian could make out undetected. She tried to control the blush rising up in her neck at the idea of making out with Ian with her family in the same room, missing those recent nights when they shared a bed. "You want to snog Ian, Olivia?", teased Skye.

Olga took a sip of her drink to cover up her blushing. "Skye, don't say that", she hissed.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Olivia. I'm glad my brother found a girlfriend, who's also one of my best friends. Just be careful if you shag, I'd rather not be an aunt before the wedding", she deadpanned.

Olga nearly choked on her drink. "Sorry about that, but I'm only taking the mickey out of you", she said.

"For a Sunday school teacher, you have a dirty mouth", teased Olga.

"I know, I'm not a saint. But seriously, I'm glad you two are together. We know each other and you're not a stranger", said Skye.

Olga nodded. She was glad her family had gone hiking on the moors and Ian was in the lounge playing billiards with the rest of the Kingfishers, not wanting them to listen in on their conversation. "When are you going to find someone, Skye?", she asked.

Skye ordered another round of drinks and watched the bartender as he prepared them. "I don't know, my job doesn't have many blokes except for the janitors and the security guards. At our meetings of the Ricardian Society, its older blokes. And men don't volunteer at our church, plus of course Father George is celibate", she chuckled ruefully.

Olga just shook her head as she sipped her drink and looked over at her friend. Skye was taller than her by several inches and slim, her long straight dark blond hair the color of honey. Her long legs were revealed by her knee-length skirt, her face very Slavic-looking with high cheekbones, full pink lips and hazel eyes tilted at the corners. "You're not ugly at all, Skye. Surely some bloke fancies you", she said.

Skye nodded in thanks as the bartender set down their drinks. "I know, but I work in a place with few men and they're old and married. Who knows, maybe I need a knight in shining armor", she laughed.

Olga sipped her drink and wondered if the Sol Duga could help Skye find a boyfriend, since Skye was too kind and pretty to be single forever. "You'll find someone, Skye", she said reassuringly.

Olga smiled when she saw Ian and Percy walk towards the bar. "Our lad here Ian won our little billiards tournament", laughed Percy as he clapped Ian on the back.

"It's a matter of precision where you aim the billiards cue at the cue ball, one has to be precise. You can't just aim blindly", he said, putting an arm around Olga and kissing her cheek.

"You ought to teach me someday, I've never played billiards before. Do you want a drink?", she asked.

"Thank you, Olivia. I'll have a Famous Grouse on the rocks", he told the bartender.

"Playing billiards is quite easy in the technical sense, hitting the cue balls with the stick at the other balls. But you have to aim properly, otherwise the balls will scatter everywhere. It's sort of like golf, but not as posh", said Percy.

Olga was surprised that Percy ordered something called a Three Wise Men, seeing the bartender pour a shot of Jim Beam bourbon, Johnnie Walker Black Scotch and Jameson whiskey into a glass with one ice cube. "My fave, I'm queer, not a poof", he joked as he drank it in two gulps.

She wasn't sure how to feel about that since the drink looked so strong. Olga was relieved when Percy then ordered a glass of water, not wanting him to pass out after drinking a few of those. "Hopefully tomorrow the weather will improve so we can go to Scarborough, I want to show you where we grew up", said Ian.

"Just the outside, another family lives there", Skye reminded him.

"I know, Mamucia", he teased.

Olga finished her drink and let Ian lead her by the hand towards the dining room. The rest of the family were waiting in line at the cafeteria as Alexei waved at them. "I can't wait to see the film, I love cowboy films", he said happily.

"The Searchers isn't a shoot 'em up cowboy film, it's more serious. It's still brilliant, just not a super heroic story", said Ian.

Olga was glad that tonight's menu had different kinds of fish, not just friend. "Goodness, no vegetarian lasagna", said Ian in mock-horror.

"I agree, I had it last night and it was ghastly", said Alexandra.

"I know, finding vegetarian food can be a bother so I stick to fish and chicken. I haven't had a steak in a long while and I don't miss it, it's for the best", said Ian.

After dinner many of the hostel's guests went into the auditorium for that evening's film. The staff hurried about setting up the screen and projector before dimming the lights. Olga was glad that she sat next to Ian as the lights dimmed and the projector started showing the film, feeling his arm around her waist. She did have to chuckle when she saw her parents sitting together while Maria and Pierre held hands, Mollie and Nicole in between Anastasia and Alexei.

Olga watched the film and became thoughtful. She understood why Ethan was so insistent on finding his niece, coming home from the war to find his whole family gone. She imagined that if her family had been destroyed, her father would have moved heaven and earth to find his remaining children. Olga wasn't quite sure what to think when Ethan had wanted to kill his niece after discovering her with the Comanche, but she knew that if she and her other siblings had joined the Bolsheviks, her father would have felt the same way.

"I quite like John Wayne's character in this film, he has such duty towards his family. I would do the same thing for mine", Nicholas mused aloud once the film was done.

"Those Indians were so vicious", said Alexandra with a shudder.

"One has to understand that they were in America before Europeans, many times the settlers weren't honorable towards them. It's a rather sordid tale, at least according to my Yank friends", said Pierre.

"Those poor girls", Maria said sadly.

"I know, bloody glad Britain hasn't been that wild since the Norman times. And are you girls tired?", he teased Mollie and Nicole.

"No!", they yelled.

"All right, we can play some checkers before bed", said Pierre as him and Maria led the girls towards the lounge.

"That was all right for a Yank film, too bad he had to kill the ugly buggers like that. It's a new moon out and the stars ought to be bright, you want to go outside for a spell?", asked Percy.

"All right, let's just get our jackets', said Ian.

Olga was glad that she wore jeans instead of a skirt as she buttoned up her leather jacket and followed Ian and Percy outside. Far from any major town or city, the sky was the deep black of India ink and the stars winked like the facets of cut diamonds against that black sky. The new moon was but a thin white silver in the sky, its light unable to compete with the stars. "I think the only place better for stargazing would be in the Highlands in Scotland or in the Hebrides. I have a telescope at my flat but this is much better", said Percy.

Olga had to agree, never having seen such brilliant stars. The nearest would have been in Tobolsk, but the family had not been allowed outside at night. "As long as you can find Polaris, you won't get lost. That's the North Star", Percy explained as he pointed it out in the sky.

"I learned that in t'Army, bloody useful to know. But I defer to our resident astronomer", teased Ian.

"Hah, I'm only an amateur. If I had my telescope, you would be able to see the planets and stars better. See that constellation there, that's Virgo. When a constellation in the zodiac is directly overhead, it means that we're in that sign's month. Virgo's actually my sign, since my birthday is September 7", said Percy.

"Oh, are you having a party?", asked Olga.

"Perhaps, my parents are taking me out for dinner. Which is right before the term starts, then we'll all be super busy. So you ought to spend more time with your missus", teased Percy.

Ian just laughed as he put an arm around her shoulder. "I know, Liverpool isn't that far", he said.

"It's for the best. After all, absence does make the heart grow fonder", said Olga.

Percy reached into his pocket and took out a shiny Bakelite pipe and a rolled up paper bag. "At least no one's around to see you", warned Ian.

Percy unrolled the bag and sprinkled what looked like dried leaves into the bowl of the pipe and lit it. A pungent aroma which smelled like burning grass emerged from the pipe as he took a puff, then exhaled a large cloud of smoke ten seconds later. "I bought some from a corner shop in the back from a Pakistani bloke", he said.

"What is that?", asked Olga as she wrinkled her nose.

Percy just shrugged and continued smoking his pipe. "I don't like it either, but there are worse things you can do. Like snort cocaine or inject heroin, weed at least isn't addictive or deadly", said Ian.

"It isn't, it's just something I do from time to time. English weed is rubbish, I get mine from the back of a Pakistani shop, the bloke has it shipped from Thailand", said Percy.

He finished the pipe and carefully dumped the ashes in a muddy lump of grass. "The mud will get rid of the smell", he explained.

Olga was quiet as Percy took the pipe and went inside. "That can't be good for him", she said.

Ian nodded. "I don't think his family accepts him totally for being queer, they're just being polite. The rest of the university doesn't know, they think he's just an odd bloke. Hopefully he'll find someone, and at least the Army never found out", he said with a sardonic laugh.

Olga shook her head. "I'm just concerned, Mama and Baba always said I had a tender heart", she said.

"That's good, there's enough heartless, evil bastards out there. We ought to spend as much time as possible together, next Monday you're off to Liverpool Uni", Ian sighed.

"I know, too bad there's that rule. But Liverpool isn't that far away, and I am coming home for the November bank holiday", she said.

"Which will only make the reunion sweeter", he teased as they both laughed and he led her back inside.

[ladyfiaran22]

I took a little hiatus from writing since I wasn't feeling any sort of inspiration, the muse has returned and here's some more.

Chapter 12

"Too bad we can't go inside our childhood home, but Scarborough is lovely. The views from the promenade are smashing and on a clear day you can see parts of the Dales", said Ian as Skye got in the driver's side of the Morris.

"Yes, we lived there until we got our jobs in Manchester and our parents moved to France. The Bronte sisters went there on holiday and Anne died there since she died of tuberculosis, you can see her grave in the cemetery", said Ian.

"How awful, I imagine in those days Yorkshire wasn't the healthiest place", said Olga.

"It wasn't, we have a rubbish climate and back then people didn't know if proper sanitation or germ theory. If you want, we could go to Haworth later, the Bronte's home. The road goes though the Dales", said Skye.

"Let's see how much time we have, hopefully it stays sunny all day so the family enjoys their walk", said Olga.

"And tomorrow's supposed to be sunny, we'll spend the morning hiking and Percy wants to take us to see Newcastle. He's proud to be a Geordie, but the city it really quite nice with the bridges on the Tyne", said Ian.

It was just after dawn as the drove out of the hostel. The sky was tinged orange and the dark blue-black of the night was rapidly giving way, the sun a big orange ball as the sky ranged from orangish-red to dark pink. "We'll get some brekky in Scarborough, the tea and biscuits should hold us until lunch", said Skye.

The darkness of the sky receded as they drove further east to Scarborough, the predawn shadows giving way to morning sun and then vivid blue skies. The heather seemed to burst with vivid pink and purple blooms with green grim as though waking from yesterday's ran as Skye drove the peed limit so they could look. "Scotland has got lovely heather and moors, Yorkshire and Scotland have got the best scenery in the kingdom. Down t'south there's nice places like Cornwall and the Welsh coast, but I prefer up north", said Skye.

"That's the Celtic areas of Britain, t'people are touchy if you call them English", teased Ian.

"I know that, our Dad is English after all", she retorted.

Olga just shook her head at their banter. "Then what do you consider yourself?", she asked.

"British with some pierogis", Skye quipped as Ian laughed.

"I know, we're both English and Polish. I ought to take you to a meeting of the Bialy Orzyl, at the White Eagle Hall. It's a Polish heritage group we get together to eat Polish food and drink vodka. Sometimes they put on dances", said Ian.

"Will they recognize me?" asked Olga.

"I doubt it, you don't look much like you did in the Imperial portraits. As long as you don't put up your hair or wear Edwardian clothes, and since you're supposed to be English, don't let on that you know Russian. Some of the older members know Russian and German, so if anyone speaks Russian don't act like you know any", said Ian.

"I think I'm losing my Russian, I haven't spoken it in months and I'm thinking in English", said Olga ruefully.

"It's for the best, knowing Russian attracts attention since there was a recent scandal where members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers were actually taking bribes from Soviet spies", said Skye.

"Yeah, and there were two call girls whose clients were Russian spies, the girls had no idea since the blokes spoke English and sounded British. Unfortunately the girls were dragged through the mud when they just had dodgy clients", said Ian.

"What's a call girl?", asked Olga.

"Uh, a nice name for a prostitute", Ian mumbled as Olga blushed and then nodded.

"Okay, I see. So they had bad clients and got in trouble, and none of this was their fault?", she asked.

"Correct. Parliament protects their own", said Skye with a cynical smile.



The clear blue skies continued as they approached Scarborough. From the approach to the town they could see the bay and the flat sandy beach by the bay and the wooden promenade, the waters of the bay and harbor surprisingly blue. Beyond the harbor they could see the gray waters of the North Sea and the stone jetty which protected the beach. Ian made a quick detour to drive past their childhood home on the cliffs overlooking the town. "It's not the biggest town, but there was only the four of us", he said as he stopped in front of the house. It was a modest two-story house made of sturdy gray stone with a brick roof, surrounded by well-kept white rosebushes.

"White roses of course", Olga chuckled.

"We're from Yorkshire, after all", laughed Skye.

Ian parked the car in the public lot and added a few coins to the meter. "We used to go to the promenade all the time as children, and if the weather cooperated we could walk on the beach. Of course up north one is mad to go in the water", laughed Skye.

Olga had to agree since the water looked cold as the spray hit their faces, not very inviting for swimming. The promenade was similar to the one in Morecambe with families and people walking their dogs, the surf crashing onto the flat sand. "There's a great caf near the promenade, let's get some brekky", said Skye.

Olga sipped her tea and immediately felt it chase away the coolness from outside. "Yanks don't know what they're missing, tea wakes you up mild instead of with a jolt like coffee", said Skye as she drank her tea.

"Well, they did dump the tea in their harbor", Ian teased.

"Yanks haven't drank tea since", laughed Skye.

"You're going to have a real Yorkshire coast breakfast, Olivia. North Sea kippers are the best, up in Scotland they're just as good and fresh but Yorkshire kippers are better", said Ian.

"I know, our cousin who's the head of the Sutherlands insists on everyone having kippers for breakfast whenever we visit. We visit our Scottish Sutherland relatives each year in December, they live all the way up in Sutherland county in the Highlands. It's beautiful country, but a long train ride", said Skye.

Olga said nothing. Ian chuckled as h e put an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "And since you're my girl, I'm taking you to Scotland to meet our Sutherland relatives", he said as her blue eyes lit up.

"Mama always said nice things about Scotland", she replied.

"I love Scotland, that's why we both have Scottish names. If we do go to Scotland next year for the bike trip, I want to visit Skye and the islands. It will be a challenge to ride our bikes on the islands, but it would be worth it", said Ian.

"Not in the winter", Skye protested.

"Of course not, Mamucia. When we go to Scotland for the holiday, we take the train, driving in Scotland in the winter is bloody crazy", said Ian.

Olga was surprised when she saw the smoked kipper on her plate. "Trust me, it's good. Much healthier than sausage and bacon", said Skye.

She had to admit the English girl was right as the smoked fish was quite tasty and not greasy like sausage. "I don't have sausages anymore for breakfast", said Skye.

"I don't eat pork or beef any more, pork isn't forbidden in Hinduism but it's frowned upon and of course beef is. It's frowned upon since neither Jews or Muslims eat pork, we figure that if two major religions ban it, something must be wrong with it", said Ian.

"Interesting", Olga mused aloud.

"This is not the time to talk about religion, we're on holiday", Skye reminded him.

"All right, Mamucia. We'll walk for a bit and then drive to Haworth. Hopefully there won't be so many coach tours there", said Ian.

"Haworth is popular with tourists who come by the coach-load. It's the whole idea of the sad, tragic, talented girls from the god-forsaken moors. Their dad was a poor Irish lad who got himself a scholarship to study in England and became a parson, so it wasn't as though the girls got their talent out of nowhere. Someone in the family must have been talented, but I feel bad for Parson Bronte. He outlived his wife and all his children", said Skye.

"I know you don't like the book, but Wuthering Heights is my favorite of the Bronte novels. Catherine should have married Heathcliff and not Edgar, they made everyone around them miserable", said Olga.

"Perhaps, but Catherine was too headstrong and Mr. Earnshaw should have been strict with her, have her raised as a proper lady. And she should have realized that Heathcliff wasn't an appropriate partner, too jealous and bad-tempered", replied Skye.

"You're a Jane and I am a Catherine, Skye. Maybe when you find a partner, you'll be a Catherine", said Olga.

"Perhaps, but I won't lose my mind", said Skye.

After an hour walking along the promenade, the group went back to the car as Ian got in the driver's seat. "Hopefully Haworth won't be overrun by the coaches", he muttered.

Olga was grateful to be riding shotgun in the front seat next to Ian as he drove west towards the West Riding of Yorkshire. They drove away from the coast and inland as they skirted the edge of the North Moors, bypassing York and the twin cities of Leeds and Bradford as the sky turned partially cloudy, blue and gray like patchwork quilt.


The town of Haworth was a wonderful surprise after passing through the dull suburbs of Leeds and Bradford, modern towns with the same sort of ugly, prefab council housing and high-rise buildings. Haworth was nestled in a dale surrounded by moorside cliffs bursting with heather and grass under a mackerel sky, one main street surrounded by buildings of local gray stone. The high street and surrounding gate lanes looked as though they hadn't change since the Victorian era but that was only skin-deep. A large car park held several tour buses and the shops all sold souvenirs or tea and cake, a manicured version of the Brontes' hometown.

"The coach tours only stay at the Parsonage for a bit, the tourists prefer to visit the souvenir shops", said Skye.

"The parsonage itself is rather small and dark, the real thrill is to walk on the nearby moors. The kids would explore the moors and write about it, that's the best part of Wuthering Heights", said Skye.



Ian parked the car in the lot away from the buses. The Bronte parsonage was a short walk uphill as Olga was glad she had worn her hiking boots. The parsonage itself was a two-story yellow stone house with a gray slate roof, cleaned up from its previous neglect. Ian bought them tickets as a tour guide smiled at them. "You can explore on your own, or would you rather wait?", she asked.

"We're good, madam", said Ian.

"I'll show you around, we're very proud of the Bronte sisters since they were Yorkshire lasses, even if their father was Irish and their Mum was from Cornwall. Charlotte was my favorite writer", said Skye.

Ian just shrugged and gave Olga a pretend-helpless look as Skye acted as their tour guide. Olga nodded in understanding as she squeezed his hand as Skye led them on a tour of the house. "It's rather small, but they views are lovely", said Olga as they all went upstairs.

"Yes, I suppose having this sort of view would inspire one to write. The parsonage itself is rather dull, but the moorland is stunning, let's go', said Skye.

"All right, Mamucia", teased Ian.

Olga tried not to laugh. "You're just like Tessa, I suppose every family needs a bossy sister", she said.

"Yes, because someone has to make some things get done", Skye retorted cheerfully.

The sky had turned more blue than gray now as it was almost noon and the sun was overhead. "The Bronte Walk is signposted so you don't get lost, it's easy to get lost out here", said Skye.

There were only a handful of other hikers on the trail as the trio hiked the path. The sky remained as a vivid blue and gray checked sky as they walked the trail, the aroma of heather and grass in the air. Once they climbed the side of the moor cliffs, the views became more stunning, the cliffs of limestone with the grass and heather adding color to the bare stone. Some of the rock formations had odd features and resembled some mythological beasts, especially if one was a child.

"These are nice but the rock formation in the Dales are better. Perhaps another time", said Skye.

"You are so proud of Yorkshire", teased Olga.

"Aye, even if I work on the wrong side of the Pennines I'll always be proud to be from Yorkshire. When I go back to work, I'll have to speak t'Queen's English. Since it's a posh girls school, I have to. But since I'm here in Yorkshire on holiday, I speak Yorkshire", said Skye.

"Same here, especially since many of my students are from other parts of the country. They might not understand me if I spoke with a Yorkshire accent, so I speak the Queen's English during lectures", said Ian.

"Let's go over the next hill and take pictures", said Skye.



Skye was correct since the top of the next hill had a stunning view of Haworth and the surrounding moors and dales. The moorside had heather in bloom with the pink and purple flowers nestled among the green grass and pale buff limestone, the sky above a mix of azure blue and the soft gray of dandelion fluff. A gentle but steady breeze cooled the air and made the flowers and grass sway in the wind, the only sound in the area.

Olga was quiet as she looked down on Haworth from the moorside. The last area where she had seen hillsides and a valley was on the approach from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg through the Urals. While she did find the route through the Urals to be pretty, the uncertainty of that trip and then the nightmarish scene at the train station soured whatever appreciation of the area, along with being cooped up in that horrid house. But this stunning view of the Yorkshire moors and dales with the town below was absolutely stunning, without the fear and uncertainty of just months earlier.

"It's the best view in England, on t'moors. The area around our Scottish family's castle in Sutherland is just as lovely", said Ian as he put his arms around her waist.

Olga relaxed in his embrace and she sighed when he kissed the top of her head. "It is, the area around Ekaterinburg was pretty and so was much of Siberia, but we were all unsure and scared. I feel at peace here", she whispered.

"You are", he replied simply.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 13

"This is the last day here at North Moors, so we ought to enjoy it and see the heather one final time", said Ian as he zipped up his jacket.

"I'm glad there's trails, imagine getting lost", said Alexandra in dismay.

"Are your legs bothering you, Mrs. Parker?", he asked.

Alexandra smiled at her eldest daughter's boyfriend, glad that Olga had found such a caring young man and that her three oldest daughters had found loving partners. "No, I'm feeling much better. My sciatica hasn't been bothering us since we got here", she said.

"That's good, I suppose all you needed was some exercise and fresh air", said Pierre.

Maria nodded as she made sure Mollie and Nicole had their boots tied. "You've been feeling so much better lately, Mama. If Tessa could see you", she said.

"They're on their way to the bay", said Pierre as everyone nodded.

Nicholas was glad to see that Alexandra looked better and  hadn't had an attack of sciatica in days. Ever since they had arrived in England, Alexandra had gone from the frail, sickly middle-aged woman she had been during their captivity to more like the vibrant, beautiful princess he had married all those years ago. Her hair was still gray at the temples but her blue eyes had regained their former sparkle and she laughed more readily, no longer with the weight of the world on her shoulders. He thanked God everyday that the Sol Duga had found them and brought them to safety in England, to his daughters happy with their partners and Alexei be a happy, normal boy. 

Nicholas had to grin as Alexei crossed his arms and looked on impatiently as Maria made sure the girls were ready for hiking. he knew it was a good sign that Nicole was already fond of her father's new girlfriend and that Maria doted on her stepdaughter, and that Tatiana and Mollie liked each other. Although the girls were adorable and sweet, he knew that he was eager for him and Alexandra to have biological grandchildren.

Olga was eager to get back on the motorbike after having toured in the car yesterday, adjusting the straps of her helmet and sunglasses before getting behind Ian on the bike. Basil was in the lead with Tabitha seated behind him and then Percy next in line, followed by Ian and the other Kingfishers, then the cars. Basil kicked his engine into gear followed by the others as he led the group away from the hostel. In twenty minutes Basil had led them to a car park at the start of the trail as everyone parked. "If you stay on the trail, you'll be all right", said Ian.

Olga made sure tp take in the whole of the moorside around the trail since she was sure she would never see such beauty again. While the area around Haworth was rugged and stunning, the North Moors had a more ethereal, otherworldly beauty. The heather was in full bloom here with the vibrant pink and purple blooms among the green grass and under a clear blue sky looked like a painting, if Constable had ever painted scenes up north instead of East Anglia. The tiny pink and purple blooms appeared to sway gently in the breeze as though waving their hands, the colorful tiny blossoms acting almost like they were happy.

"There's heather in Scotland too and sometimes it's white, the heather down here is pink and purple. Too bad up in Scotland in the winter it snows a lot, but the snow isn't dirty and the train station is only a few minutes away from the castle. yes, the head of the Scottish Sutherlands is an earl with a castle", said Ian with a chuckle.

"I've heard of an Earl of Sutherland, but I didn't realize they were related", she replied.

"The Yorkshire Sutherlands aren't noble, which as well since I'd have to go down t'London and sit in the House of Lords. They don't do anything, the House of Commons actually has the power since the MP's are elected. Not that they do anything", Ian quipped.

"This is not the time to talk politics, but do women vote?", she asked.

"Yes, since 1926. You have to be a British citizen and over 21, Skye can get you a form to fill out and they'll send you a voting card you show at the poling place", said Ian.

The trail led from the car park up to the moors from the hillsides, the path a pale brown clearance through the heather. "This reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and her companions took a shortcut through the poppies. Except we won't fall asleep", he laughed.

"And a house didn't fall on a witch. But when we first found out we were in England, it did feel like we were in Oz. We read the Oz books by Mr. Baum", said Olga.

"There was a famous film about the Wizard of Oz back in 1939, it shows at the cinema once in a while. The parts with Dorothy in Kansas were in black and white and Oz was in color, glorious vivid Technicolor. I saw it for the first time as a lad at Uncle Marcel's cinema and it's been one of my favorite films ever since. I wanted to get swept off to Oz as a child, but not the witch's castle with the flying monkeys", he laughed.

Olga was glad the group was taking their time hiking as she and Ian walked side by side. "As long as we stay on the trail, we'll be fine. The path just leads back to the car park, and one isn't supposed to go tramping through the heather", he explained.

The group continued hiking for the rest of the morning before deciding to turn back. "After lunch, I want to visit Durham, it's only an hour from here. Just tell your folks", said Percy.

Olga was excited to visit another different part of England. "I thought Scorpios can control their emotions", Ian teased.

"Yes, but this particular Scorpio has never been to Durham before", she laughed.

"We could stay overnight at the dorms in the uni if the weather gets bad, we'll just phone the front desk. Durham is lovely, it's where I got my doctorate. The cathedral is the oldest and largest in England, it dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, Bede and St. Cuthbert are buried there. There's also a brilliant archaeology museum and an Oriental museum, plus the castle isn't bad either", he said.

"Just be careful, Olivia. And is the dorm a proper place for a young lady?", asked Nicholas. 

"Yes, each room has bunk beds or separate beds, they're too small for two people. And we're going along with Basil, Tabitha and Percy", said Ian as Nicholas and Alexandra looked relieved.

[Melinda Halliwell]

Have never been to Yorkshire or Scarborough.

The furthermost north I've visited is the Lake District and Skegness on holidays which are both nice places to go.

Wouldn't mind the Peak District or Scotland maybe at some point.