Hi all,
Hope you are all keeping well! Enjoy the new chapter :)
As always,
Happy Reading,
Sarah x
Chapter Summary,
Two pieces of news will bring pain and joy to Delaford.
It was a beautiful Spring morning when the news of Elinor's baby reached Delaford.
Marianne could barely read for excitement and Brandon had to prise the letter from her grip to understand a word.
I am writing to you as a most happy father. In the very early hours of this morning, my dear Elinor has given me a daughter, who is to be christened Catherine after her mother.
You, of course, may visit whenever you choose, as I know Marianne must be already expressing uncontainable joy.
I wish for your continued good health Colonel,
Yours, Edward F.
"A daughter!" cried Marianne. "Oh, a little niece!"
"I am happy for them both" smiled Brandon. "I wish them many more"
"And Edward is a good man," remarked Marianne. "Just as my own father when presented with three daughters. But Elenor will give him a son I am sure"
"When the time comes you can expect the same response from me" replied Brandon.
She pressed a loving kiss to his head. "And it will"
He was sat up in his favourite chair which had, like most of his belongings, been relocated to his bedroom. Patting his knee he beckoned her. "Come here"
"Christopher," she warned. "Just because you can sit up does not make you well again"
"I am in little pain and high spirits" smiled Brandon.
Rather reluctantly she perched on his knees. "I must go and see Elinor today"
"I will not object," he replied.
"But I don't like the thought of leaving you" confessed Marianne. "You are still far from recovered"
"Madame, I am not in my death bed" laughed Brandon.
"Do not downplay your injury" she urged, "Its a habit of your sex I've found"
"Go and see your sister and our new little one," he said. "I will sit right here and not move a muscle"
"But surely-" she protested.
"Go now whilst the day is young and the weather is fine" he continued. "Take the carriage"
Marianne thought deeply. "And you promise you will stay right here?"
He kissed her gently. "On my honour"
Marianne stepped out of the carriage, Edward stood waving on the steps.
"Dear Marianne" he smiled. "I knew you would follow my letter by the hour"
"I am so happy for you Edward" she beamed. "How is Elinor?"
"Tired, but well" he replied. "Our daughter entered the earth will little resistance"
"Oh I must see them both," said Marianne.
"Just this way" urged Edward, swiftly leading her upstairs.
"My love?" he called through the door before opening it. "We have a visitor"
Marianne playfully leant around the door, smiling as Elinor's face lit up.
"My dear Elinor" she sighed, hurrying to her bedside. "You look so well"
"I feel quite out of sorts" confessed Elinor. "But my heart is fit to burst"
She referenced to Edward who had plucked the tiny babe from her cradle.
Marianne sat down with speed, eager eyes desperate to see the little face.
"Miss Catherine Ferras," said Edward proudly, placing her in Marianne's lap.
Marianne gasped, little Catherine was a perfect blend of her parents. She bore Elinor's fine features but Edward's dark hair. "I confess before you both, I have never seen a finer baby in my life"
"Neither have I," remarked Edward, his eyes dancing between his daughter and his wife.
"She has your beauty Elinor," said Marianne. "And such good temperament from you Edward. She is so lovely"
"Within a month or so she must be brought to Delaford" smiled Elinor. "The Colonel will want to see his niece"
Marianne nodded. "He was so eager for me to come here and see you. I shall describe her in vivid detail for him when I return"
"How is the Colonel?" asked Edward. "Much improved I hope?"
"Oh yes," said Marianne. "His wound has healed quite wonderfully, as has his temper"
"Not against you I hope?" said Elinor, a frown on her brow.
"Not at all!" cried Marianne. "He's never so much raised his voice at me. But he is such an independent man and to be so reliant on others to fulfil such basic tasks became quite frustrating"
"Very imaginable" agreed Edward. "I will call on him when I can"
"Please do not rush Edward" she assured. "You have quite enough to contend with here"
Brandon sat up straight. "Keats, you are sure?"
"On my honour" he replied. "I saw him with my own eyes. We've got him"
"Digging his claws into another family no doubt" muttered Brandon.
"He's reimagined himself," explained Keats. "John Willoughby is dead, Captain George Bateman is his new alias."
"How dare he" snapped Brandon. "What honour has he to call himself such?"
"Money and friends in the right places" replied Keats. "But he's lodging with a friend, on his way to marrying a Lady Rose Fleetchurch, just turned seventeen"
"Her father is Sir Robert Fleetchurch, the owner of the Steel Works in Birmingham?" asked Brandon.
"Correct," said Keats. "You know the man?"
"We fought together in the East Indies," replied Brandon. "He shattered his arm and returned home. I became re-acquainted with him before Beth's disappearance, his daughter Rose was a close friend of hers. Surely Robert does not approve of such a match?"
"It seems that Rose has been tainted by scandal once before and he is without a son and heir" replied Keats. "Apparently upon hearing Willoughby was back in Bath he has helped him regain social standing and seemed to have secured him his new title. Then presented his daughter as a way to seal their deal"
Brandon sighed deeply. "I cannot allow such a victory for that wreck of a man. He'd be the sole heir to one of the most wealthy men in England, he could buy Delaford from me in an instant, he could buy all of Devonshire!"
"What do you want me to do?" asked Keats. "I can still get him out of Bath"
"That is what we must do, he must atone for his crimes," said Brandon.
"By we you mean, myself and my men?" questioned Keats.
"No," said Brandon. "I am joining you this time"
Keats scoffed, "You are mad Christopher, you are still not well enough"
"I cannot sit in this armchair and move the pieces from afar anymore" replied Brandon, throwing off the blanket that covered him. "It is time I joined you"
Keats saw he was already dressed for the road. "You were simply waiting for me, weren't you? Hiding under that blanket?"
"I must finish this," said Brandon, rising from his chair.
"And what will Marianne say?" demanded Keats. "When she arrives home to find you gone?"
"I have written in case of this occasion" replied Brandon, laying a small letter on the bed. "She will understand"
"She will or you just hope she will?" asked Keats.
"Marianne wants Willoughby brought to justice as much as I do" replied Brandon. "She will be angry with me, but in time and with the right course of action she'll come round"
Keats shook his head. "I cannot dissuade you from this course?"
"No" replied Brandon. "I cannot sleep knowing he could win everything"
Keats followed Brandon from the room, hearing the concerned whispers of the servants. He pulled Mrs Andrews aside, "Madam, please assure Miss Marianne that I will take care of him, we should be back within the week"
Mrs Andrews nodded but said nothing.
The gaggle of servants watched as Brandon and Keats rode away with speed.
Mr Laine and Mrs Andrews quietly conversed. "What are we going to say to the mistress?"
"The simple truth" replied Laine. "That is all we can do"
Marianne spent much of the day with Elinor, both of them excitedly awaiting their mother and Margaret.
Mrs Dashwood wept tears of joy, elated at another beautiful daughter within their family. Margaret seemed unsure of the baby at first, but once the crying ceased she was quite intrigued.
"Edward, Elinor I am so happy for you both" cried Mrs Dashwood. "Such a daughter she is"
"Thank you Madam" smiled Edward. "I trust your journey was easy"
"Oh yes," remarked Mrs Dashwood. "It was lovely to spy the Colonel heading into town as well"
Marianne's head snapped up. "Mama?"
Mrs Dashwood continued. "He was riding at some pace, I did call from my carriage but he had passed so swiftly he must not have heard me. He was riding with that friend of his...oh...that army fellow"
"Colonel Keats?" called Marianne.
"Yes, my dear" smiled Mrs Dashwood. "They both looked very well"
All eyes fell on Marianne until her mother remarked. "Marianne you look quite unwell, you look as if you could faint?"
"Are you sure it was him?" Marianne asked.
"As sure as there is the sun in the sky" replied Mrs Dashwood. "I know a face from a mile away"
Elinor took her sister's hand. "I thought you left him quite comfortable at home?"
"I did," replied Marianne. "He is not fit to go anywhere for another two weeks"
"I would not lie to you my love" urged Mrs Dashwood. "If I am mistaken then you must forgive me, but I am certain it was him"
"New of Beth perhaps?" suggested Edward.
"He'd surely send word," said Elinor. "He knows you are here"
"It must have been something beyond urgent" concluded Marianne. "I must go home"
"Allow me to accompany you" urged Edward.
"With a daughter only hours old, Edward you musn't" she cried.
"Mama is here with me, it will comfort me to know you've got a companion," said Elinor.
Reluctantly Marianne agreed, trying not to show the true extent of her worry she joined Edward and returned to Delaford.
Mr Laine stood nervous on the steps, he took a deep breath as the sound of the carriage approached.
Marianne swiftly disembarked, Edward following close behind, "Mr Laine, tell me he is here!"
"My lady" he stammered.
Edward grew impatient, "Speak up man!"
"He is not here Madam" confessed Laine. "He left near two hours hence, in a direction he did not disclose"
Marianne felt faint, "But Laine, he is unwell, he is injured, unfit!"
"There was no stopping him Madam, he would not relent from his course" replied Laine. "His Colonel friend also attempted to sway him but he would listen to no one"
"He made no mention of when he will return?" asked Edward. "Nothing?"
Mrs Andrews appeared in the doorway. "A week Sir"
"What could take him away for a week?" cried Marianne, hurrying to her.
"I don't make a habit of eavesdropping Miss Marianne, but I heard the gentlemen speak of Willoughby and Bath, then in some haste, they both left" confessed Mrs Andrews.
"He's been found" muttered Marianne. "But they will surely duel and-" She went dizzy.
Edward rushed forwards and caught her in his arm. "Marianne!"
"Get her inside" urged Mr Laine. "Into the drawing-room"
With ease, Edward carried her and laid her on the sofa, as Mrs Andrews fetched some water.
"Christopher" breathed Marianne. "Why would he leave?"
"Send word to town" ordered Edward. "Send some men, try and follow him"
Mr Laine, who was desperate for a plan agreed, "Right away Sir"
"There now my dear" hushed Mrs Andrews, placing a cold towel on Marianne's forehead. "He'll come back"
Marianne wept bitterly. "Why would he leave without a word!"
"He didn't" Mrs Andrews replied, pulling a small letter from her apron. "It was left in your room Ma'am"
Marianne grasped the letter, pulling it from its envelope.
Dearest Marianne,
Forgive my flight, but I wrote this in some haste.
I knew Keats would bring news on his visit today and my idleness in this fight against Willoughby is no longer sufficient.
I will return to you with good news.
Yours,
Christopher Brandon
The paper dropped into her lap, which Edward quickly took for himself.
"He has lost his mind" he exclaimed. "Marianne, please return to Elinor and I's for tonight, do not stay here alone"
She nodded weakly, her vision blurred by tears, as Edward and Mrs Andrews contemplated what should be their next move.
