"Mrs. Wheatley, I have the flowers picked. Do you think Miss Heywood will like them?"
Mrs. Sarah Wheatley, long time housekeeper at Heyrick Park, looked up from the herbs she was crushing with her mortar and pestle to see Miss Leonora standing next to her in the kitchen, a small basket filled with wildflowers – mostly dark blue cornflowers – in her hands.
In a short discussion last night, she learned that Miss Heywood had been beaten by a colonel at the ball. This man then left for London and his regiment had orders to India soon. The plan was for her master to go to London today, reaching out to his connections to see about finding and detaining him before he could be spirited half a world away. Miss Heywood would remain at Trafalgar House under the care of the Parkers as she healed.
There was more to determine, so her master had already left for Trafalgar House in the traveling coach, while she, Lenora and Augusta would come a little later.
Mr. Colbourne had asked her to accompany the girls today, and to assist Mary Parker in any way she could while Miss Heywood remained there. This morning, she had collected what she had to hand for alleviating pain and promoting healing, and was in the process of mixing herbs for her special healing tea. Mrs. Wheatley had little trust of English doctors – white men who thought they knew everything, but usually knew nothing useful. She was very apprehensive about the far too common use of laudanum. Hopefully her mixtures would do the trick.
She patted the girl's head. "I think she will, especially if she likes cornflowers."
"She does, she told us so when we had a picnic. Father gave them to her."
The housekeeper walked over to a shelf and pulled out a small length of twine. "Let's tie this around the flowers, to make a bouquet." Sarah helped her young charge gather the flowers and together they wrapped the twine around the stems and tied it tightly, in a neat bow.
"Mrs. Wheatley, why did that colonel hurt Miss Heywood?" Leonora asked, looking up at her sadly. "Father said he was a bad man, but how did he get to be bad? He's a soldier, he's supposed to defend us, and help us, not harm us."
This was not the first time this morning the young girl had asked this question, or many others.
Others might argue that a girl of eight should not have heard about anything that occurred last night. However, she and Alexander realized Leonora must know all that was going on, and hear it directly from themselves. The girl adored Miss Heywood and would wonder why she could not see her for weeks. The information of the abuse might be hard for a child to understand, but she was known to hide and spy and run off on her own all the time. If Sarah Wheatley was a betting woman, she would put all her money on Leonora finding her own way to the Parker house, sneaking in, and ending up in Miss Heywood's bedchamber.
No, it was better that the child be prepared ahead of time for what she might see.
Mrs. Sarah Wheatley put her arm around the girl's shoulders and sighed. "Child, I do not know," she answered gently. "There are people in the world who like to hurt others, I do not know why. Your father is going to try to find him and see he faces justice. That is all we can really do."
Yes, there were monsters in the world, monsters of men – and women - who delighted in hurting others. She had not known this personally, but her parents certainly did. The evidence of it was plain upon their faces – a brand burned into her mother's right cheek when she was a young woman for trying to fight against the sexual advances of the overseer. A long thin scar on her father's face from the corner of his left eye to his jaw by the master's son, for no reason except the man was bored.
There were more marks of bad men on their bodies, but she was not allowed to see them.
Sarah Simms nee Wheatley was born free in England, to parents who had been slaves on a planation in Jamaica, owned by an English lord. When the lord died, his wife, who inherited the property, sold it, and brought as many slaves as possible with her to England. In London, she freed them and sponsored their educations or apprenticeships. Being the eldest sister to William Wilberforce, humanitarianism was in the lady's blood.
Her parents took advantage of the opportunities they were offered. Her father worked in building, her mother in healing and medicine, and they also worked to help others like them. They taught Sarah, their only child, to read, and write. From other sources, she was introduced to history, literature, politics, and economics.
Her mother taught her all she knew of herbology, healing, cooking, organization - anything at all that would be useful in being gainfully employed when Sarah was old enough to seek paid work. The young girl soaked up learning like a sponge from anyone who provided it.
Along with her parents, she attended meetings and events for the Sons of Africa, a group working against slavery. There she saw more than she ever imagined of the cruelties inflicted on innocent people, and the devices specifically designed for that purpose.
No, she did not know how to explain such people. She only knew that they existed. She knew what to look for.
Flat, cold, empty eyes.
Her mother called them dead eyes. "Dead eyes in a man or woman, that is a dangerous person. No soul. No humanity. Like a snake. The overseer at Rose Hall in Jamaica was such a man. You see some of what he gave us, and not only your father and I."
Her late employer, Mr. Theodore Colbourne, Xander's father, also had those eyes.
Had she not been grieving the death of her young husband George, and the subsequent miscarriage of their child, Sarah might have spent more time and energy asking questions about the position of housekeeper at Heyrick Park. Why was there was not a woman already in the house being trained to replace the housekeeper, as was very common? Why was the current housekeeper, who was relatively young, leaving such a well-compensated position? In fact, the compensation was well above what was normal for the position. But she had no desire to stay in the city, feeling lost and alone. And she had always loved the sea. So she applied for, and was offered the position of housekeeper at the estate.
She accepted, seeking a new atmosphere.
She soon found out she was exchanging one kind of hell for another.
Theodore Colbourne used his words, his position as master to dictate what happened in the house, and sometimes his fists and belt to create misery at Heyrick Park.
His wife, her mistress, Elizabeth Montgomery, was the youngest daughter of the late Earl of Brimley. According to household gossip, she had literally been given away by her eldest brother, the current Earl, like spoiled goods, in marriage to Mr. Colbourne. The Brimleys were very wealthy, but due to a scandal with one of her brothers, the daughters had no titled suitors at all, and very few acceptable suitors of any kind. This meant the master of Heyrick Park had easily gained a wife with a dowry of 40,000 pounds that he could access immediately.
A wife he could verbally abuse, which he did with regularity, calling her a whore, telling her she was stupid, saying she was a bad mother and a terrible lady of the house. From the way he talked to her and spoke of her, Sarah was astonished the lady had maintained two pregnancies and given birth to two reasonably healthy children, two shy little boys.
Her first encounter with five-year old Alexander William Colbourne was when she found him hiding in the kitchen pantry. The little boy, pale and skinny, with a shock of dark hair and a bruise on his cheek, had pulled out two bags of flour – heavy bags of flour, at that – hid behind them, and pulled them back to cover his hiding place. It took her over an hour to coax him to come out, and that only with the help of a little puppy Mr. Wilson, the steward, brought in from the kennels when he saw what was going on as he was leaving the house after meeting with the master. Her heart broke as the little boy sat on her lap, crying quietly, carefully holding the tiny, furry body and gently petting its head.
After that encounter, Sarah determined to stay on at the estate, even though it was very difficult. She poured all the love she would have had for her lost child into Alexander and his two-year old brother Samuel. She put as much effort as she dared into protecting the boys, and their increasingly frail mother, by manipulating their father. Some of what she chose to do would put her in prison, or worse, if anyone ever knew, but that did not stop her.
But it seemed no one ever did realize what she was doing. Or, they knew but said nothing to anyone since they agreed with her in purpose.
It was she who engineered the firing of Miss Watley, the governess who was far too free with the belt in disciplining two young boys who were simply curious and adventurous, who needed understanding and patience, not regular whippings. With an employer who was regularly drunk, and a frail, absent mistress, it was no trouble to remove certain portable items from certain rooms over time, and plant them secretly in the governess' chambers. Sarah was only slightly sympathetic when the woman, innocent of the thefts, was fired without a character.
It was she who subtly encouraged the master to send Alexander and then Samuel to Eton, a couple of years earlier than was the norm, to get them out of the house and away from the abuse. Unfortunately, this created problems when the boys returned home on their first breaks with stories of their academic successes and progress with fencing and boxing lessons. Their father apparently had been less than mediocre in those areas. Perceiving his sons to be thinking they were better than he was, both boys received severe beatings. After that, they shared their stories of school with their mother, or her, and no one else.
Sarah told them repeatedly that education was a blessing and a tool to make their futures what they wanted, so they must put their heads down and study as hard as possible. Their successes continued at Cambridge, where Xander received numerous awards for academics and sport, and several firsts upon matriculation. Later, Samuel, when he came of age, finally defied his father and cut all ties with him. He went on after graduation to advanced studies in law, supported by his cousin Susan and her husband, the wealthy and powerful Lord Worcester, a man Theodore Colbourne could not stand up to.
It was she who eased the passing of the mistress, at the lady's own request. A cancer had slowly ravaged her body for years, getting worse and more painful over time. Together they plotted the timing and the things Elizabeth wanted in place for her sons before she died. With Sarah as scribe, Elizabeth dictated her will and several letters to each child, to be given at certain points in their lives – coming of age, marriage, the birth of the first child, for instance. The lady still had some spirit in her, her vile husband had not verbally beaten all of it out of her. She entrusted Sarah with these letters, to be given at the proper times, and then took the dose of laudanum that would finally end her pain.
And it was she who hastened the death of the master. Laudanum was used to manage the pain from his fall from a new, untrained stallion, but too much of the drug would slow and then stop bodily functions. The doctor said the master might not make it through the night, especially since he was inebriated when he tried to ride the horse. Her secret, disguised bottle of the medicine made sure the doctor's prediction came true and allowed her and the boys – the entire estate - to finally be free of him, in presence if not in spirit.
The sound of Leonora's voice startled her from her musings on the past.
"Mrs. Wheatley, I was so happy when Father said he asked Miss Heywood to marry him, and she said yes. But then he said she could change her mind. Do you think she would do that?"
Sarah sighed, and scraped her crushed herb mixture into a small glass jar. This was her special healing tea, her mother's recipe. "I do not know, child. Miss Heywood had to be in a lot of pain last night. She may not have been in her right mind."
Strong, thin arms wrapped around her waist, and a small face pressed into her stomach. "I don't want her to change her mind, Mrs. Wheatley. I love her and I think she loves us, too. I want her to marry Father and live with us always."
"So do I, child," she said softly. "So do I. It is up to Miss Heywood. A man cannot retract his proposal, but a lady can change her mind. You can pray for her to marry your father. If she chooses not to, you must accept her decision."
Sarah put her arms around Leonora and led her to a chair in the housekeeper's office. She sat down, and lifted the girl onto her lap, stroking her hair.
From the moment she brought Charlotte into the master's study for him to interview her, she knew the young woman would be just what the girls needed – strong, compassionate, and determined. Alexander had been reluctant to hire her, but Sarah gave him a knowing look after Charlotte left his study unexpectedly. She had been standing outside the study and heard the entire exchange. Unlike his father, her Xander was not afraid of outspoken, intelligent women, but she could not think of anyone – man or woman - who had ever talked to him that way, especially someone seeking a position!
Half an hour after the interview found the master saddling up Hannibal to find her.
It was beautifully ironic to tell Xander, as he watched Charlotte leave after she gave him yet another well-deserved set down, that he owed her a shilling. He had bet her it was all a waste of time and the girls would drive her off in a day. Seeing her confirmation that Charlotte was the right person for the family was quite satisfying.
What she had not anticipated was her master falling in love with the young Miss Heywood.
In retrospect, she should have realized this possibility. Alexander was as starved as the girls were for someone – other than herself – to truly care about him, but he would never admit it.
She smiled, thinking of the day there were dancing lessons. After years of sitting in the dark, the piano was dusted and tuned, the drawing room opened and freshened. Augusta was in transports of delight to be able to play! Even Leonora, who loved to be outside, or moving, enjoyed trying out her skills on the old keys. It was so wonderful to hear music in the house, the talk and laughter of the young ladies blending in beautifully. Sarah was entering the foyer to check on the work a new maid had completed, when she saw Alexander standing outside the door to the drawing room, peeking in.
He was doing a dance of his own – one step forward, one step back. One step forward, one step back, and then finally entering the room. She heard him announce that he and Augusta would be attending the garden party hosted by Lady Denham the following day, and Augusta's response. When he left the room he almost ran right into her, so distracted was he! Sarah could not help but tease him. "Did you find all you wanted in the drawing room, sir?" she had asked, giving him a look that told him she had seen everything. The poor boy's face was red as a beet, but he gave her a scowl and literally ran to his study, shutting the door with a loud bang.
She was surprised that Xander had offered his hand in marriage at such at time, but she was not at all surprised at his feelings. It was clear to her, someone who had known him since he was in leading strings, that her poor boy was completely besotted with Miss Heywood. Only the hardest of hearts would not respond to the young woman's kindness, intelligence, and passionate defense of what she thought was right. And it did not hurt that she was a beautiful young lady.
Sarah hugged Leonora closer. She would do the same – pray that Miss Charlotte Heywood would marry her master and bring her light and joy into a world that had had too little of it for far too long.
Arthur Parker sat at the long table in the dining room of Trafalgar House, sipping what was his third cup of coffee in an hour. Needing a surge of energy after a long, stressful night, he took his coffee black, with no cream. He was used to no sugar, due to Georgiana's boycott, but he did drop a little honey into the dark swirling drink to make himself able to swallow the bitterness of his beverage.
Unfortunately he was having trouble swallowing the sorrow and anger he felt at the events of last night.
How had they been so stupid? How had they not seen the depths to which Colonel Lennox would sink? And why, Lord, why had they not told the girls – Charlotte, Alison and Georgiana – what was going on with the debts? Maybe if he, or Tom, had shared Lennox's manipulations, his little sister would not be upstairs now, lying in bed, bruised and broken.
Dearest Charlotte.
She came into his life a summer ago, fresh and lovely and young, full of excitement and a sense of adventure to be at the seaside for the very first time in her life. The dear girl was never anything but unfailingly kind to him, enjoying port and buttered toast with him on more than one occasion. To Sidney, however, she was quite the opposite of nice.
He thought his brother deserved her set downs, rude and brutish as he often was to her. But as time went on, Arthur could see a change growing between them. A small admiration and regard, especially after they worked together to mitigate the injuries sustained by the late Mr. Stringer. Arthur had hoped that Charlotte might become his sister by marriage, after seeing the look of longing on Sidney's face at the midsummer ball as his brother watched her dancing.
It was not to be.
Fire and ash laid a path of destruction that consumed the terraces, and his brother's happiness.
For what man of sense and feeling could be happy leg-shackled to the shallow, spiteful harpy Eliza Campion?
She was simply awful. She consistently made rude comments, cleverly disguised with sweet tones and a smile, about Sanditon, about Diana, about the children, about anything and anyone she deemed beneath her. It was very clear to him that she had no intention of spending any time at all with the Parker family – or allowing Sidney to do so. She seemed to feel that her vast fortune allowed her to do whatever she wanted, and she used it to control his brother. Arthur was a usually a kind and jolly soul, not inclined to hate people, but in a very short time he learned to despise the future Mrs. Eliza Parker.
He felt no pity for her when they had all learned of Sidney's death, and the legal arrangements his brother made to protect Sanditon and Georgiana. Eliza could not legally do anything to require a return of the loan greater than a certain monthly payment, which was very low. And, to Arthur's great relief, she was specifically called out in Sidney's will, barred from having any kind of contact with Georgiana, who despised her even more than he did.
If it was not for the money owed to her, the rest of the Parkers would have nothing at all to do with her ever again.
How he wished Tom had not been such a fool, then Sidney could have had some happiness in his life! But that was not to be. Now his brother was dead, all opportunities lost forever.
Now the young woman his late brother had loved was possibly engaged to a man none of them really knew very much about.
"Hello Arthur," Georgiana chirped as she entered the dining room. Sitting next to him, she poured herself some tea, and took a sip. "You know, the lack of sugar allows the true flavor of this tea to come forth. This orange blend is quite delightful."
"You are chipper this morning, my dear," he replied, wondering what made her seem so unexpectedly light-hearted. "What has you in such a mood, especially after the events of last night?"
"It is simply a feeling l have, that all will be very well, regardless of how things appear now," she said, turning to him with a thoughtful expression. "I cannot explain it. Perhaps it has to do with my conversation with Mr. Colbourne last night and the sincerity I felt from him. All I can say is that I feel in my bones the outcomes we seek – Charlotte healthy and happy, this worthless man found and put in his place, even the happiness of all of us – will come to pass."
"You sound like a soothsayer of old, my dear," he replied, smiling at her. Would that her predictions came true, with as little pain as possible.
Alison came in just then, followed by Tom. She sat next to Georgiana and poured herself some tea, sipping it slowly, saying nothing to anyone. Arthur noticed her eyes were very red and very puffy. Poor girl, had she cried all night? He watched in silence as Georgiana turned to her and put an arm around Alison.
"Where is everyone?" Tom grumbled as he took his usual place at the head of the table. Arthur closed his eyes and sighed.
Was this morning going to be a repeat of last night?
After Arthur returned from escorting the young ladies to Trafalgar House, Tom could not stop himself from making unpleasant comments, quietly and out of the hearing of ball guests, about what had occurred and how it looked. How the girls should not have screamed. How the group of them had not been discreet enough in getting Charlotte to the carriages. How Mr. Colbourne, a man Tom deeply disliked, should be so involved in such a matter. And as always, how it all took attention and effort away from Tom's favorite child - Sanditon.
"I'm here, Tom," Mary said, giving her husband a stern look. "And the rest of the party has just arrived."
Arthur turned toward the doorway at the sounds of boots striking the floor.
Two tall men entered the room, one in red, the other all in black, both looking somber and imposing. Intimidating, even. Neither one looked as if they had gotten any sleep. They both were pale, with dark circles under their eyes.
"Good morning, Mr. Colbourne, Captain Fraser," Mary said quietly. "Please make yourself comfortable. We have coffee, or tea, and pastries."
"Good morning, Mrs. Parker," the two men said, almost in unison. Arthur watched as the young soldier sat next to Mary, and across from Alison. Mr. Colbourne took the seat next to the captain, taking a packet and what looked like a thick letter out of his jacket and placing them on the table.
"Mrs. Parker, how is Charlotte?" Mr. Colbourne asked, as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Arthur noted he added nothing to it, taking it very black. Perhaps he also had a late night and needed the energy a bitter cup could provide.
He realized he had never once spoken with Alexander Colbourne. All he really knew of him was from Tom.
The two had gone to school together at Eton, they were of the same age. Arthur vaguely recalled Tom's comments about the past when he called on Mr. Colbourne in the early days of the Sanditon venture, seeking capital investment. "That man is as arrogant as he was at school! Always thinking he knew everything and was better than anyone else! He would not even listen to my plans!" Tom had exclaimed angrily. Arthur, at the time, had not had any reason to think Tom's assessment of the man was wrong.
In retrospect, Mr. Colbourne had been wise not to invest a single penny in the development. And it was probably wise of Arthur to keep an eye on Tom today. He was his brother, and he loved and forgave him his many mistakes, but he was still Tom through and through.
"She is awake, bruised, but tired and in pain, as one would expect. I did have a short conversation with her when she first woke. At first she was a little fuzzy from the laudanum we gave her to sleep, but she did remember certain – happenings – from last night. I don't think the doctor will find any evidence of a concussion when he comes to re-examine her today," Mary replied.
Mr. Colbourne seemed to sigh with relief. "That is good news, that her memory appears to be intact."
"Aye, it is," Captain Fraser commented. "We saw many concussions on the battlefield, they are a dangerous injury to sustain."
"Mrs. Parker, I have the funds for the shopkeepers, as promised last night." He touched the packet. "I would prefer to leave for London as soon-"
"Throwing your money around, Colbourne, the hero of the hour?" Tom interrupted spitefully.
"Tom!" Mary exclaimed in reproach.
"Good Lord, Tom, this isn't about you," Arthur growled, glaring at his brother. Just as he thought. Tom did not know when to be silent. "Lennox has left the area and we are not going to get the funds from anyone else."
"Mr. Colbourne, you were saying something when my husband rudely interrupted you. Will you please continue?" Mary asked, staring steadily at Tom as if she was daring him to defy her. Fortunately he said nothing.
Arthur wanted to laugh at the look of disdain Alexander Colbourne leveled at his brother, as if he was a bit of trash in the street. Then the man turned to Mary. "I was saying that I want to leave for London today as soon as possible. However, when the shopkeepers are repaid, I need some documentation of the originator of the debt – I want the receipts, if possible. Can I rely upon you and Mr. Parker to get these documents?"
"Are you going to have the militia tossed in debtor's prison, Mr. Colbourne?" Georgiana asked, smiling. "It seems a fitting fate."
"Not necessarily, Miss Lambe," he replied. "It depends upon what is discovered about Lennox. The threat of being sent to debtor's prison for some may be all that is needed to testify against him."
Captain Fraser looked despondent at this. "I am sorry to say that far too many of my fellows will have enough debt just here in Sanditon to have them at your mercy."
"So we shall not see your name in the lists of debtors, Captain?" Alison asked softly. Arthur could hear in her tone of voice that she dearly wanted that to be true.
The young soldier gave a small smile, seemingly only for the young lady. "No, you shall not see my name there. I know how hard it is on a shopkeeper to extend credit. My brother Matthew's business was almost ruined in such a way."
"So we shall do the work here, Mr. Colbourne, while you gallivant around London society," Tom griped. Arthur just shook his head. Why could his brother not keep quiet?
"Mr. Parker, I would love nothing more than to remain in Sanditon and help care for Charlotte." Mr. Colbourne stated coldly. He stared unblinkingly, challengingly, at his brother as he continued. "So please, feel free to go to London in my place and use your connections to the Prince Regent to help find and detain a madman."
"Wiggins," Mary spoke sharply, gesturing to the footman. "Please find Nanny and the children. Tell them Mr. Tom Parker will be escorting them to the beach for the day, and that they will be leaving momentarily." The footman departed, ignoring the look of shock on the master's face.
"Mary!" Tom cried.
"You had better go get ready, Tom. Now." Mary's voice was full of steel as she glared at her husband. Arthur bowed his head in embarrassment for his family having such a poor showing in front of strangers. In theory, one should be able to look up to an elder brother for guidance, but this morning he only wanted to drag Tom away from the table and toss him into the street. After glaring at everyone, Tom stood and left the room, saying nothing as he retreated.
"Mary and I will see to the shopkeepers, Mr. Colbourne, and make sure that we collect the needed documentation," Arthur promised. "We would not want to jeopardize any case against Lennox."
"Should we not be reporting this to the local magistrate as well?" Alison asked.
Mr. Colbourne frowned at this comment. "Mr. Parker, is the magistrate still Horace Owens? And one of the circuit judges George Banks?"
"Yes to both," Arthur replied. "Although it is my understanding that neither man is – effective - or – respectable."
"You would be correct," Mr. Colbourne replied scathingly. "They were both cronies of my late father, drunken libertines who cared nothing for the law and justice. No, Miss Alison, it would not be a good idea to report the crime against your sister to these – villains. They would only smear her name publicly and claim she received what she deserved."
"I agree with you, Mr. Colbourne," Mary said. "There is nothing to be gained by reporting what happened to our local authorities. Now, may we go over the rest of the actions we talked about last night? Arthur was not here to be part of the discussion." No one said anything, so she continued.
"Firstly, Mr. Colbourne has provided the funds for the shopkeepers. He is going to London today to seek the help of his cousin and her connection to the Prince to see what can be done about Lennox. I believe you were also going to enlist your brother who is a solicitor and hire investigators as well?"
"Yes, I sent an express to Susan last night about it all." He pulled a paper out of his coat and handed it to Mary. "These are the addresses you may write me in London. I will be residing with Susan."
"What is it, Mary?" Arthur asked. Her mouth was gaping open in shock.
"Lady Worcester?" Mary exclaimed. "You are related to the Lady Susan Worcester?"
"She is my cousin, on my mother's side," Mr. Colbourne explained.
Arthur grinned, hearing the gasps and laughter from Georgiana and Alison, seeing the smile break out on Mary's face.
"I gather having this Lady Worcester involved is a good thing?" Captain Fraser asked, apparently confused by their reactions. "Who is she?"
"A very, very influential lady of society, and a close friend of the Prince Regent. But more than that, Susan loves Charlotte and would move mountains for her," Georgiana beamed. She turned to Arthur and patted his hand. "I told you, didn't I?"
"I don't understand," Mr. Colbourne interjected. "How does Charlotte know Susan?"
Arthur and Mary shared a look, each knowing that certain things should not be revealed to Alexander Colbourne by anyone other than Charlotte. "They met at a ball in London last summer where Charlotte accompanied my husband and brother Sidney to promote the Sanditon regatta," Mary explained. "Lady Worcester took a great liking to Charlotte and came to the regatta to further their acquaintance. I understand that Lady Worcester has invited Charlotte several times since then to visit her in London, but Charlotte did not feel comfortable in London."
"I see," Mr. Colbourne replied. "I am sure Susan will tell me more tonight."
Mary nodded. Arthur was glad they would not be pressed for questions that might reveal anything with Sidney and Charlotte. It was not their story to tell.
"While you are on the way to London, I presume Mary and I will make the rounds of the shopkeepers?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. And tomorrow you and I, Arthur, will leave for Willingden to relay the situation to Mr. and Mrs. Heywood," Mary replied. "Alison, do you wish to go with us, or stay here?"
"I will feel better if I can be here, near Charlotte," Alison said. "I suspect Mama will want to come back with you, to tend Charlotte. Papa will likely be too busy with the farm to leave at present."
"I have a letter for Mr. and Mrs. Heywood, if you would be so good to give it to them, Mrs. Parker." Mr. Colbourne handed her the thick letter Arthur noticed earlier. He wondered how much sleep the man lost in writing the missive. "I shall try to make it to Willingden, to see Mr. Heywood, but the business in London is time-sensitive."
"And Captain Fraser. You will be returning to London and preparing to leave for India?" Arthur asked. He wondered what the captain could do for them if he was half a world away.
The young man looked at the table speculatively. "Those are the current orders, so until I hear otherwise, that is part of what I will be doing. I will also be reporting on the colonel's activities."
"Spying?" Alison exclaimed. "That sounds rather dangerous!"
"I will not be snooping through his belongings or anything like that," the captain explained. "Simply put, I will be paying more attention to what he says and does, whom he speaks to when I am in his presence. I cannot change my behavior with him too much else he will become suspicious."
"It still sounds dangerous, Captain," Arthur said, feeling afraid for and sorry for this man, who had found out his superior and comrade in arms was not the man he thought he was. Truly, it was rather like the summer prior, when the Parker family found out how Tom betrayed them all.
But the captain shook his head, surprising everyone. "Actually, it is you, Mr. Colbourne, who may be in greater danger than I. Lennox has talked about a posting to India for as long as I have known him. He sees it as a grand opportunity to get in with the East India Company and make a fortune. If this Lady Worcester gets the Prince to change the orders to a place other than India, Lennox will be furious. If he finds out who is behind the change, well, I would not want to face him."
"Fraser, I thank you for the warning, but Sun Tzu was correct in saying 'he who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.' A furious man is not prudent." Mr. Colbourne took a paper out of his pocket and passed it to the captain. "This is the address of my cousin. Depending on what occurs, you may need assistance. And I expect the investigators will want to interview you. Please come to the house as soon as you are able once you arrive in London." He turned to Mary. "Mrs. Parker, if I am not needed any longer, would it be possible to see Charlotte if she is awake?"
"Yes, please come with me," Mary rose and gestured for Mr. Colbourne to follow her.
Arthur smiled as he saw the captain rise and gesture to Alison. "Miss Heywood, I must head back to camp soon, but could I speak to you privately for a few minutes?"
"You may use the drawing room," Arthur smirked, feeling odd playing the role of chaperone. "Fifteen minutes and no longer." The two of them left the room, with only Arthur and Georgiana remaining.
"What do you say now, my dear? Do you still have that feeling from earlier, that all will be well? This is a dangerous business." Arthur asked. He was less confident than before, especially after Fraser's last words.
Georgiana turned to him and said nothing for a moment. "I do, Arthur. I still do. Even for your brother, who made an absolute cake of himself today, I still feel we will all be happy in the end."
Arthur closed his eyes, thinking of the state Charlotte had been in last night. What would he do if his beloved Mary, or Georgiana, or any of them, was hurt like she had been? Lennox was a solider, he had killed people. That was part of what he was trained to do.
He could only hope that Georgiana was right, for all their sakes.
Note. William Wilberforce was a major leader in English politics against the slave trade. He was actually an only child.
Rose Hall was a plantation in Jamaica.
The Earl of Brimley is my own invention.
The herbal concoction for tea is Mrs. Wheatley's mother's recipe which shall remain their own secret. 😉
