Hello to my readers! Sorry for the long delay, a whole month? That is just inexcuseable. Well, I've been out of town since the very first day of summer, and just returned yesterday, but now I shall have more time to write.
Anyway, these next two chapters are flashbacks (hence the italics). I was going to combine them, but that was getting a bit long, and I needed to get something out for you all to read. So here goes nothing!
Chapter 3
Jack Stanton was lying on his bed, hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. He was not looking forward to the events of this day. For this was the day that before his wedding to Prudence Rutherford, the rich brat that he had been betrothed to. His parents said that he needed to be married soon enough, since he was already eighteen and a Duke. His two older sisters, Rose and Carolyn, were already married to other fine Noblemen, and his younger sister, Marie, was betrothed to the young Earl of Yorkshire. He needed a fine Duchess, they said. So his father took the liberty of arranging a marriage between Jack and the daughter of Lord Robert Rutherford, one of the richest men in England, which came packaged along with a very friendly business relationship between his father and Rutherford. Unfortunately, his daughter, Prudence, was one of the most spoiled brats that Jack had ever had the displeasure of meeting.
He sighed as a maid came in and roused him out of bed. "Come on, Sir, do get up. Your mother and father are waiting for you downstairs." The maid, Sally, bustled about the room, setting out clothes for Jack to wear.
Jack stayed in bed and groaned. "Hey Sally, why don't you tell 'em I'm sick?" he asked her, in a vain attempt to get out of another busy day.
"Nonsense, Sir. You know that today is the day of your wedding party. Still are lots of preparations that need be made. Decorations, food, getting you fitted for your clothes, and the like. Also, the Rutherfords will be over for luncheon to help prepare. . ." Jack dazed off as the typically long list of events planned for his day droned on. It did not sound terribly thrilling to him, however.
"All right, all right, I'm gettin' up!" he said while standing.
"Good. I'll be leaving then." Sally put his clothing on the chair near his bed, and quickly exited.
Jack groaned as he stretched his arms above his head. As he stared out the window at his family's bountiful green lands, he became even more dismayed at his situation. Everyone wanted him to be something he was not: a proper English gentleman. Which, of course, entailed acting pompous and snooty, always being nice to all other rich people while looking down upon anybody else, and never doing things that were deemed "unacceptable" by others. What great fun, Jack thought bitterly.
Jack, of course, was the son of one of the most powerful men in England, and was actually a distant relative of the King himself. His life consisted of parties, balls, schooling, and courting snobbish young ladies. He thought it rather ironic that while there were so many people who would give their left arm to be in his position, he would just assume be a peasant than to live like this for the rest of his life.
He walked over to the chair on the opposite side of his large bedchamber and examined the heavily decorated shirt, trousers, and jacket that were folded neatly on the seat. Like most of his other clothes, they were not terribly comfortable. So he stumbled over to his closet and selected a loose-fitting white shirt and a pair of more comfortable trousers. He then sat down in the chair and pulled on his shoes, then sat back with a long sigh and closed his eyes. Waking up early was something he did not enjoy.
His short nap was quickly interrupted by the shrill call of his mother, "Fran-CIS! Francis! Hurry down to breakfast!" Bloody woman, Jack thought. Lady Beatrice Margaret Stanton was one of the phoniest people he had ever met. She spent much of her time kissing up to other wealthy couples, then came home and incessantly complained about every one of them.
He figured that now was the time he would get lectured by his parents about propriety, and about what a wonderful girl Prudence is, and about what a wonderful match the marriage would make between the two families, and about how he better not mess anything up. The usual lecture. He called out, "Coming, Mother!" as he quickly tied his wavy black hair into a crude ponytail. He quickly grabbed his coat as he ran clumsily out of the room and downstairs.
-------------
Jack stumbled into the room, to find his parents and his sister Marie already eating breakfast. "Francis, you're a mess! Look at you, your shirt is untucked, and your hair has not been properly brushed!" Jack rolled his eyes at his mother's typical morningly greeting. Rather than inquire about how he slept or comment on the beautiful day, she always chose to upbraid him about things so minor as these.
"I'll straighten up later, Mother," he said halfheartedly as he sat down at the table. He saw his father inspecting him, and said, "G'mornin', Father."
Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton III wore his typical expressionless face as he glared indifferently at his son. He was not a very caring sort, and rarely did he ever show any positive emotion, especially to Jack. "Good morning, Francis," he said indifferently as he continued to gaze at the young man's appearance. He let out a sigh, and said flatly, "I do hope that you will better your appearance and manners before the Rutherfords arrive." He continued to eat his food and read the letters placed on the table, as if nothing had just occurred.
Jack seethed with anger at the man, and his thoughts flew out of his mouth before he could contain them. "I'll wear what I bloody well want to, thanks. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to scare ol' Prudence the prude away." He didn't quite realize that he had said that out loud, until he saw Marie staring at him wide-eyed and tight-lipped, and felt himself being pulled out of his chair by the collar of his shirt. He saw that his father's face was bright red with anger as his hand slapped harshly against Jack's cheek.
"What did you just say?" he shouted as he pulled Jack's collar tighter in his fist.
"Nothin', sir," Jack mumbled as he looked toward the floor.
"I did not think so." His father thrust him toward the door. "Now, return to your bedchamber immediately and change your clothing. I do not wish to see you until the Rutherfords arrive, at which time you will exemplify much more appropriate behavior. Am I understood?"
As he rounded the corner out of the dining room, Jack turned around and said, "Aye aye, Cap'n!" then quickly bounded up the stairs and down the hallway, to return to the peaceful solitude of his room. As he left, he heard his mother say to her father in her shrill, squeaky voice, "I hope you did not bruise him on the day before his wedding, darling. That would not look very appropriate."
-------------
Marie Stanton did not want her brother to get married. She knew that all her siblings would be married off in time, but she had an especially close relationship with her brother Jack, and would miss him terribly when he left.
She also felt bad that their parents forced him into marrying such a snooty girl. Prudence Rutherford was the epitome of all the types of people that Jack and Marie despised. She was spoiled, snotty, shallow, and self-centered. Marie felt lucky that her parents had been a bit kinder in her own betrothal. She was to be married in a year's time, as soon as she reached age sixteen, to Sir Benjamin Nigel Worley, Duke of Yorkshire, who had proven himself to be a true gentleman, as well as a true friend. But poor Jack was stuck with Prudence the prude, as they had secretly nicknamed her.
She walked down the long hallway and stopped in front of the fifth door on the left and knocked softly. Jack called out gruffly, "Who is it?"
She answered him, "It's me."
"Come on in, 'Rie," he called back. She opened the door to find him sitting at his desk, putting a paper inside the drawer. She could see that he had changed into one of his finest suits, and had even taken the time to smoothly comb back his wild black hair. He propped his feet up on the desk, put his hands behind his head, and, grinning, said, "What might I be doin' for ya?"
She took a seat on the edge of his bed and looked down at her lap. Wringing her hands, she said, "I'm really sorry 'bout all this, Jack."
Marie looked up and saw him looking at her, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What're you sorry about?" he asked her, as he placed his feet on the ground and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning towards her.
"I'm just sorry. You know. About you getting married, about Prudence, about everything." She saw him look at the floor sadly, and continued. "I know that this isn't the life you want, Jack, and I'm just sorry."
Jack leaned forward and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Rie, don't be. I'll be alright." He then stood up and began to walk around the room, in his usual bumbling gait. "After all, who wouldn't want to marry ol' Prudie?" He walked up in front of Marie, and standing with his nose high in the air, began speaking in a high-pitched, stuck-up voice. "Father, you are terrible! I asked for a chamber pot made of pure gold, and you only gave me one of silver! I hate you!"
Marie laughed. One of their favorite activities was mocking Prudence the prude. She got down on her knees and grabbed Jack's knees, and said in her manliest voice, "Oh, darling Prudence! Do forgive me, I am not worthy of your greatness! I shall get you your golden chamber pot soon enough!" She then pretended to kiss his feet.
Jack continued with the charade. "Father, I want my golden chamber pot NOW!" he screeched, and stamped his foot on the ground while crossing his arms and sticking his nose even higher in the air. "And for causing me this distress, I also expect a three-layer chocolate cake!" They both burst into laughter, because Prudence was not exactly thin, and tended to eat in great quantities.
Their masquerade was ended by Sally entering the room. "M'Lord, M'Lady, your parents request your presence downstairs. The Rutherfords will be arriving shortly.
"Thank you, Sally," Jack replied, and Sally nodded as she exited the room. Jack grabbed Marie's hands and helped her to her feet. "Well, here goes another lovely visit," he said as he pulled her up.
Once on her feet, Marie began to smooth her blue silken skirts, and resume her previous conversation. "But Jack, I really am sorry. I hope things will turn out all right for you."
Her brother smirked as he offered her his arm. As she took it, he said to her, "Don't worry, love. I have a feeling things will take a turn for the better."
She looked at his smirking face curiously, and wondered what he could possibly have in mind. 'Well, it's probably better to wait and see,' she thought to herself as they descended the staircase.
Did you enjoy? I hope so! I shall be updating a bit more regularly now, so I hope you keep reading. Now, don't forget to review!
Anyway, these next two chapters are flashbacks (hence the italics). I was going to combine them, but that was getting a bit long, and I needed to get something out for you all to read. So here goes nothing!
Chapter 3
Jack Stanton was lying on his bed, hands behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. He was not looking forward to the events of this day. For this was the day that before his wedding to Prudence Rutherford, the rich brat that he had been betrothed to. His parents said that he needed to be married soon enough, since he was already eighteen and a Duke. His two older sisters, Rose and Carolyn, were already married to other fine Noblemen, and his younger sister, Marie, was betrothed to the young Earl of Yorkshire. He needed a fine Duchess, they said. So his father took the liberty of arranging a marriage between Jack and the daughter of Lord Robert Rutherford, one of the richest men in England, which came packaged along with a very friendly business relationship between his father and Rutherford. Unfortunately, his daughter, Prudence, was one of the most spoiled brats that Jack had ever had the displeasure of meeting.
He sighed as a maid came in and roused him out of bed. "Come on, Sir, do get up. Your mother and father are waiting for you downstairs." The maid, Sally, bustled about the room, setting out clothes for Jack to wear.
Jack stayed in bed and groaned. "Hey Sally, why don't you tell 'em I'm sick?" he asked her, in a vain attempt to get out of another busy day.
"Nonsense, Sir. You know that today is the day of your wedding party. Still are lots of preparations that need be made. Decorations, food, getting you fitted for your clothes, and the like. Also, the Rutherfords will be over for luncheon to help prepare. . ." Jack dazed off as the typically long list of events planned for his day droned on. It did not sound terribly thrilling to him, however.
"All right, all right, I'm gettin' up!" he said while standing.
"Good. I'll be leaving then." Sally put his clothing on the chair near his bed, and quickly exited.
Jack groaned as he stretched his arms above his head. As he stared out the window at his family's bountiful green lands, he became even more dismayed at his situation. Everyone wanted him to be something he was not: a proper English gentleman. Which, of course, entailed acting pompous and snooty, always being nice to all other rich people while looking down upon anybody else, and never doing things that were deemed "unacceptable" by others. What great fun, Jack thought bitterly.
Jack, of course, was the son of one of the most powerful men in England, and was actually a distant relative of the King himself. His life consisted of parties, balls, schooling, and courting snobbish young ladies. He thought it rather ironic that while there were so many people who would give their left arm to be in his position, he would just assume be a peasant than to live like this for the rest of his life.
He walked over to the chair on the opposite side of his large bedchamber and examined the heavily decorated shirt, trousers, and jacket that were folded neatly on the seat. Like most of his other clothes, they were not terribly comfortable. So he stumbled over to his closet and selected a loose-fitting white shirt and a pair of more comfortable trousers. He then sat down in the chair and pulled on his shoes, then sat back with a long sigh and closed his eyes. Waking up early was something he did not enjoy.
His short nap was quickly interrupted by the shrill call of his mother, "Fran-CIS! Francis! Hurry down to breakfast!" Bloody woman, Jack thought. Lady Beatrice Margaret Stanton was one of the phoniest people he had ever met. She spent much of her time kissing up to other wealthy couples, then came home and incessantly complained about every one of them.
He figured that now was the time he would get lectured by his parents about propriety, and about what a wonderful girl Prudence is, and about what a wonderful match the marriage would make between the two families, and about how he better not mess anything up. The usual lecture. He called out, "Coming, Mother!" as he quickly tied his wavy black hair into a crude ponytail. He quickly grabbed his coat as he ran clumsily out of the room and downstairs.
-------------
Jack stumbled into the room, to find his parents and his sister Marie already eating breakfast. "Francis, you're a mess! Look at you, your shirt is untucked, and your hair has not been properly brushed!" Jack rolled his eyes at his mother's typical morningly greeting. Rather than inquire about how he slept or comment on the beautiful day, she always chose to upbraid him about things so minor as these.
"I'll straighten up later, Mother," he said halfheartedly as he sat down at the table. He saw his father inspecting him, and said, "G'mornin', Father."
Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton III wore his typical expressionless face as he glared indifferently at his son. He was not a very caring sort, and rarely did he ever show any positive emotion, especially to Jack. "Good morning, Francis," he said indifferently as he continued to gaze at the young man's appearance. He let out a sigh, and said flatly, "I do hope that you will better your appearance and manners before the Rutherfords arrive." He continued to eat his food and read the letters placed on the table, as if nothing had just occurred.
Jack seethed with anger at the man, and his thoughts flew out of his mouth before he could contain them. "I'll wear what I bloody well want to, thanks. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to scare ol' Prudence the prude away." He didn't quite realize that he had said that out loud, until he saw Marie staring at him wide-eyed and tight-lipped, and felt himself being pulled out of his chair by the collar of his shirt. He saw that his father's face was bright red with anger as his hand slapped harshly against Jack's cheek.
"What did you just say?" he shouted as he pulled Jack's collar tighter in his fist.
"Nothin', sir," Jack mumbled as he looked toward the floor.
"I did not think so." His father thrust him toward the door. "Now, return to your bedchamber immediately and change your clothing. I do not wish to see you until the Rutherfords arrive, at which time you will exemplify much more appropriate behavior. Am I understood?"
As he rounded the corner out of the dining room, Jack turned around and said, "Aye aye, Cap'n!" then quickly bounded up the stairs and down the hallway, to return to the peaceful solitude of his room. As he left, he heard his mother say to her father in her shrill, squeaky voice, "I hope you did not bruise him on the day before his wedding, darling. That would not look very appropriate."
-------------
Marie Stanton did not want her brother to get married. She knew that all her siblings would be married off in time, but she had an especially close relationship with her brother Jack, and would miss him terribly when he left.
She also felt bad that their parents forced him into marrying such a snooty girl. Prudence Rutherford was the epitome of all the types of people that Jack and Marie despised. She was spoiled, snotty, shallow, and self-centered. Marie felt lucky that her parents had been a bit kinder in her own betrothal. She was to be married in a year's time, as soon as she reached age sixteen, to Sir Benjamin Nigel Worley, Duke of Yorkshire, who had proven himself to be a true gentleman, as well as a true friend. But poor Jack was stuck with Prudence the prude, as they had secretly nicknamed her.
She walked down the long hallway and stopped in front of the fifth door on the left and knocked softly. Jack called out gruffly, "Who is it?"
She answered him, "It's me."
"Come on in, 'Rie," he called back. She opened the door to find him sitting at his desk, putting a paper inside the drawer. She could see that he had changed into one of his finest suits, and had even taken the time to smoothly comb back his wild black hair. He propped his feet up on the desk, put his hands behind his head, and, grinning, said, "What might I be doin' for ya?"
She took a seat on the edge of his bed and looked down at her lap. Wringing her hands, she said, "I'm really sorry 'bout all this, Jack."
Marie looked up and saw him looking at her, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What're you sorry about?" he asked her, as he placed his feet on the ground and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning towards her.
"I'm just sorry. You know. About you getting married, about Prudence, about everything." She saw him look at the floor sadly, and continued. "I know that this isn't the life you want, Jack, and I'm just sorry."
Jack leaned forward and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Rie, don't be. I'll be alright." He then stood up and began to walk around the room, in his usual bumbling gait. "After all, who wouldn't want to marry ol' Prudie?" He walked up in front of Marie, and standing with his nose high in the air, began speaking in a high-pitched, stuck-up voice. "Father, you are terrible! I asked for a chamber pot made of pure gold, and you only gave me one of silver! I hate you!"
Marie laughed. One of their favorite activities was mocking Prudence the prude. She got down on her knees and grabbed Jack's knees, and said in her manliest voice, "Oh, darling Prudence! Do forgive me, I am not worthy of your greatness! I shall get you your golden chamber pot soon enough!" She then pretended to kiss his feet.
Jack continued with the charade. "Father, I want my golden chamber pot NOW!" he screeched, and stamped his foot on the ground while crossing his arms and sticking his nose even higher in the air. "And for causing me this distress, I also expect a three-layer chocolate cake!" They both burst into laughter, because Prudence was not exactly thin, and tended to eat in great quantities.
Their masquerade was ended by Sally entering the room. "M'Lord, M'Lady, your parents request your presence downstairs. The Rutherfords will be arriving shortly.
"Thank you, Sally," Jack replied, and Sally nodded as she exited the room. Jack grabbed Marie's hands and helped her to her feet. "Well, here goes another lovely visit," he said as he pulled her up.
Once on her feet, Marie began to smooth her blue silken skirts, and resume her previous conversation. "But Jack, I really am sorry. I hope things will turn out all right for you."
Her brother smirked as he offered her his arm. As she took it, he said to her, "Don't worry, love. I have a feeling things will take a turn for the better."
She looked at his smirking face curiously, and wondered what he could possibly have in mind. 'Well, it's probably better to wait and see,' she thought to herself as they descended the staircase.
Did you enjoy? I hope so! I shall be updating a bit more regularly now, so I hope you keep reading. Now, don't forget to review!