TITLE: Letters from the Country
AUTHORS: Brenda Shaffer-Shiring and Kathleen Speck. Kathy wrote the Torres entries, Brenda the Chakotay ones.
PART: 6/9
RATING: G (all audiences)
CODES: C/T AU
DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1.
From Chakotay Darrow, Viscount Trebus, Dorvan House, to Lord Thomas Paris, London
12 August, 18--
Dear Tom,
I appreciate your prompt, and most encouraging, response to my last. But despite your well-meant advice, I do not believe I could so simply break my betrothal with Kathryn. It is true that her attitude to men and marriage is less than flattering to my ego, but she points out, quite aptly, that it is quite common amongst people of our class -- and that it in no way suggests that she does not like me well enough to make a comfortable match. She remains an estimable and intelligent woman, a suitable lady for Dorvan. And at my age, old friend, it becomes ever more apparent that I must wed someone.
Still, if she continues to provoke and frustrate my Belle, I may have to reconsider my opinion and my choice! For Kathryn's latest candidate as Belle's prospective spouse was one that Belle found most distressing.
It is true that he is no unmanly man, as is Lord Barclay. This latest candidate loves to ride and to hunt, and says he would welcome a bride who enjoys the same - a description that certainly suits my Belle. And his lands are admirably suited to such use, being lovely, wooded, and wild. Belle and I, and my father, have visited his estates many times, and as a girl Belle quite adored them. But she had never considered that one day she might become mistress of those lands.
That is because their lord is a man of my father's years -- he is in truth a long-time friend of my father's. He is Laird Montgomery Scott, from which title you will understand correctly that his lands are in the wilds of Scotland. Laird Scott recently became a widower (for the second time, I believe), and as Lady Christine bore him only daughters, he is in the market for a bride who may give him a male heir.
To be sure, he is a strong man, and yet vigorous, and not without a gleam of humour in his eyes. To be quite as sure, matches as uneven in years are made each season -- not a fortnight since, my father's contemporary Lord Elim took to wife one Miss Ziyal, a girl just out. And only Laird Scott's age and previous marriages allow a woman of Belle's questionable lineage to be considered as possible wife to him, a full lord.
Kathryn told me that this was doubtless Belle's best prospect to gain a noble rank, and guarantee her children a place in society. And I know she is right, but o my Belle--
She greeted him gladly enough at the outset of the evening, no doubt thinking of him only as my father's old friend, and the kindly man who had indulged the young sportswoman. But after they had spoken, and he presumably had presented himself as her possible suitor, her manner changed. She was courteous enough (or at least I have not heard that she was otherwise), but to my eyes she looked most unhappy.
I claimed her for a dance, and spoke to her, and she told me no more than I had expected: that she liked Laird Scott well enough, but she found it impossible to think of a man Father's age as a husband. But could she say as much without offending my father and her lord? It was a pitiable dilemma, and it wrung my heart to see her so distraught.
With some warmth, I reminded Belle that I had already vowed she should never marry where she did not wish. When she attempted to demur, I would not hear it, and promised forcefully that I would never grant Laird Scott leave to court her. Her relief, as she looked into my eyes, was sweet to see.
I know, Tom, that men are not often so particular about the happiness of women in their care, and yet I feel as if I am set and designed to be the guardian of Belle's. And so I shall be.
It was Kathryn, of course, who was unhappy. She asked me how proceeded his lordship's acquaintance with Belle, and I informed her that he should never proceed beyond acquaintanceship with her. You can imagine that she did not receive this news gently. After some dispute, she informed me that if I were so obsessed with yielding to the romantic notions of a young girl, I had best make sure that girl was prepared for genteel work, as I would certainly not succeed in marrying her off. I told her that was my concern, and that I was well able to keep Belle until it should suit her to leave the estates at Dorvan.
She cast me a withering look at that, which made me wonder if her plan in seeking suitors for Belle is simply to ensure Belle's removal from my house before her own taking up of residence. I have come to realize that the two ladies do not, to phrase it most gently, love one another well.
Mistress of Dorvan or no, Kathryn shall never force Belle's removal from my house. I dedicate myself to that.
Trusting in God to keep you well, I am,
Chakotay
