"Mister Tavington…Young master…. William Tavington, do pay attention at once!"
Eleven-year-old William looked up just in time to see a stiff, leather strap come snapping down upon the back of his left hand and looked reluctantly up at his teacher, flexing his hand in pain, while other students behind him began to snicker, the corners of their lips turning upward in sneers.
"Young master, how many times must I call you back to attention before you finish a single simple maths problem," His teacher spoke harshly, not making any attempts to mask his ire as a vein pulsated from the right side of his wrinkled forehead, lips tight as he ran a thin, spidery, calloused fingers through peppered hair.
"My apologies, Mister Garrison…." He mumbled, looking down once more at his blank parchment.
But it wasn't enough. Mr. Garrrison leaned down upon the desk until his face was but an inch away from his pupil and hissed, "I spend an hour each day teaching you maths. A full hour! And what is the result? An entirely empty sheaf of parchment and a meagre 'My apologies, Mister Garrison?!' And I can't say you were much more competent in your English lesson either. No, I believe you spent at least half of that staring out the window. Maybe, if I was lucky, you dipped your quill into that inkpot of yours and managed to scrawl a couple of sentences..." He glared down at the boy with angry black eyes.
William's cheeks reddened in shame, yet his teacher wasn't to be satisfied with a simple slap and chastising.
"Enough of this. To the headmaster with you. And take your things as well; class will have ended by the time you reach his office."
"Yes sir." William responded with something between a choke and a whisper, hanging his head before gathering his things, trying to ignore the deafening silence of the class as he left his seat, wanting to run as quickly as he could from the cruel, scrutinizing gazes of his peers that followed him almost all the way to the door, where a boy by the name of Bronson Fane gave him an particularly unfriendly smile before he stuck out his foot, sending young Tavington crashing to the floor, his papers scattered, quill broken and inkpot spilled.
Quickly gathering his things, William closed his eyes against the raucous laughter that ensued and fled the room, bumping into a boy several years his senior in the corridor.
"Watch yourself, little faggot," He snapped, shoving him hard into a wall and scattering his school materials once more.
Wincing as he hit the wall, William watched the boy stride down the hall before stooping to collect his belongings and slumping off down the hall and arrived at the headmaster's office with a sigh, reluctantly knocking upon the heavy wooden door.
"Come in," A grating, gravely voice called from behind the door.
Small hands reached up to the knob and grudgingly, William let himself in, his ears still pink from the earlier berating. Before him sat a man who was about his grandfather's age, with greying brown hair, yellow-green eyes, and lips that seemed to be set in a perpetual frown.
"Ah, young master Tavington…" The headmaster's voice was laced with disgust and disapproval. "Now, how many times have you been in my office this month alone? I believe this would be the fourth time. Not paying attention again, I assume… You know, I've already sent a letter to your father about the little daydreams you seem to be having during lessons as all of your teachers have come to me saying that their having to discipline you, for your wandering mind is causing a disruption for the other students."
"Headmaster…" William's mouth went dry. He could only imagine the trouble he'd be in when he arrived home for the holidays. Letters from his mother had borne concern and a warning of his father's increasingly surly moods.
"What is it that you're not grasping, Tavington," The headmaster hissed. "Your marks are embarrassing at best, yet you still seem to neglect them and do as you please. Do you honestly view yourself above your peers? I hardly have time to put up with such behavior. You are far from head boy here, and not from the highest of classes."
"I'm sorry, headmaster…" William wanted very much to disappear, or at least be dismissed to the dormitories.
"Really, Tavington? Just as you were the other three times you've been here this month? I've been too lax on you, boy. Your teachers have been too lax on you. Shirt off…"
William's bottom lip trembled but he remained silent as he stood up, placing his parchment, broken quill, and inkpot on the chair in front of the headmaster's desk and slowly removed his vest and shirt, holding them out before his bare chest as he looked up at him with anguished azure pools, his small frame shaking ever so slightly.
"Put them back on the chair with the rest of your things." The headmaster spoke, taking out a birchwood switch from a drawer in his desk.
"Yes sir…" William turned away from him, revealing an already significantly scarred back due to the beatings and harassment he had received from his peers, though the sight of a mere switch still unsettled him.
"To the wall…"
Clenching his jaw, William fought back anxiety as he went to the wall and leaned up against it, back exposed, arms outstretched.
"Fifteen lashes, for repeatedly failing to be attentive in class…"
Sucking in his breath, William closed his eyes, biting his tongue as the first of the fifteen lashes snapped upon his fair skin. It stung and burned, yet he hardly had time to concentrate on it before another lash slapped him near his left shoulder, and then another in the middle of his back. He was sure to have marks when the headmaster was finished.
By the last two lashes, it was all the poor boy could do to keep from pulling away and sliding down the wall. Once it was over, he was roughly handed his things and told to go immediately to the dormitories, his back an angry red mess of welts, bruises, and scratches.
Snow fell silently, covering the outside of the Tavington estate in white. Inside, Katherine Tavington watched her husband pace up and down the main corridor, a grave expression upon her features as she observed the furrow in Garrick's brow, the angry glint in his eyes and the tightness in his jaw.
"Hopeless... Pathetic! Your son has amounted to little more than a burden!" He seethed, coming to cease his pacing before her, the letter clenched in a white-knuckled fist.
"Garrick, he is trying-" Katherine attempted to reason, but her husband cut her off.
"Trying?! I hardly call failing marks in nearly all of his classes trying, Katherine! What is it that his pretty little head cannot seem to comprehend?"
"Do you forget that he is only eleven years old, Garrick," Katherine cried in an unusual outburst.
"He is my heir, Katherine! And he is a sorry one at that. I cannot remember not receiving anything but top marks in my schooling, and I know for a fact that you performed equally well in your finishing school. Your son is naught but an indolent child. There is nothing else for it," Garrick finished in a gruff, frosty tone, staring down at Katherine with glacial blue eyes devoid of any mercy. "I might not have to be so concerned if he was not the only heir. If we had another to carry on the name, I would not be left with having to deal with this one's lacking abilities in not only academia, but also in his inability to go a single month without catching a cold from being outside, riding that damned pony of his in the chilly weather in little more than a tunic and breeches. His social skills have not improved either, as I'm quite sure he still prefers to keep the company of Kate than any of the other boys near here about his age. How can he be a successful heir if he does not socialise with his peers? If he did, perhaps he would not be coming home with scratches and bruises because he is too slight and lacking in any amount of tenacity to defend himself properly. As it is…"
He left the sentence hanging, hurling the crumpled letter to the floor and cast Katherine a last withering glance before striding out of the estate, slamming the door behind him.
Stooping to pick up the letter, Katherine smoothed it and glanced over the broken red seal, as tears began forming in her eyes, but only one made its way down her cheek. True, it had upset her that William had been struggling in school. She knew he was far from daft, but his inadequate performance in academics had put her in a quandary, and Garrick's churlish words did nothing to help the situation.
Just then, the distant sound of trotting hooves caught her attention and she looked up, walking over to a nearby window to peek outside.
Outside, a small black carriage pulled by two bay-coloured Cobs ambled towards the front gates of the estate. It was one of the servants, Brishen, returning from a lengthy trip to collect William from school for the holidays. Stopping the carriage at the front gates, Brishen waited as another servant named Alton, walked up to collect her son's large trunk while the young master himself stepped rather unceremoniously out of the carriage, carrying his leather satchel on his right shoulder and a book tucked in his left arm. His normally neat brown hair had several tendrils sticking out from its tie and the bright disposition he usually returned home with was replaced by a sombrely air as he made his way none too quickly through the gates and up to the house, the snow crunching under his freshly polished silver-buckled shoes.
"Welcome home, darling…" Katherine managed a smile despite her mixed feeling as William opened the door.
"Thank you, Mother," He replied with a grim tone, but managed a small smile, setting his book on a nearby table and wrapping his arms around her middle but pulled away when he saw the letter in her hand. "Have I disappointed you too," He asked forlornly.
Katherine looked down at him and said nothing, her eyes still shining from the tears that she kept from falling.
"Well, it is true, my dear; I am not exactly pleased with your progress," She replied. "Your marks are not what they could be, but I trust you know what to do about that, do you not?"
"I do," William whispered, his arms still clasped tightly around his mother. "But Father will still hate me."
Katherine pulled away slightly and leaned down so that she was eye level with her son, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"William," She paused with a sigh, "I know your father is hard on you. Too hard at times, I believe. But he has been this way with everyone, lately. It is not an excuse for his behaviour, I know… As for me, I still love you just the same," Katherine finished, kissing his forehead. "So please, go upstairs and put your belongings away and then you can meet me downstairs in the library to discuss things."
"Must I," William asked, not wanting to even touch upon the subject of his academic standings.
"Love, I am not about to lecture you for an hour," His mother gave a light laugh. "But that does not mean I do not want to speak with you for at least a few minutes about it."
"All right. I'll see you downstairs then once I'm finished," William replied reluctantly, kissing Katherine's cheek before he grabbed his book off of the table and slumped off towards the stairs.
When he reached the stairs, Kate was heading towards the dining hall, but upon seeing that her friend was finally home, she paused and gave him a bright smile.
"Will! So glad you're-" She cut herself off and frowned upon seeing his unhappy expression. "Something wrong, Will," She asked cautiously.
William sighed allowing his satchel to fall a ways down his shoulder.
"Do you really want to know, Kate? School has been terrible at best, and that's the short side of it." He spoke, looking her directly in the eye.
Kate looked down at her feet before meeting his gaze once more.
"Well perhaps we might talk about it later? Of course, I would have to make sure I'm not needed, but I'm quite confident that I can spare a few minutes. I can even bring you a fresh slice of bread and butter if you like."
"I don't know." William replied, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I was supposed to meet Mother downstairs after I put my things away, but maybe a little later?"
"I can try," Kate replied, looking at him with troubled sea-green eyes. "Will, are you sure you're alright? You're usually not so down when you come home."
"Well I wouldn't be so down if my marks weren't so low and I didn't have people looking at me as if I were a fool!" He hissed, but instantly regretted it upon seeing the hurt look in his friend's eyes. "I'm sorry, Kate…"
The girl merely shrugged and nodded, pulling a strand of hair out of her face and behind her ear.
"I understand. Would you like me to accompany you upstairs," She asked, taking the book he held and tucking it under her arm.
"Thank you, Kate," William replied, his face beginning to brighten just the slightest amount, "I would."
With that, the two made their way up the large mahogany staircase and up to William's bedroom where the young master proceeded to tuck his things neatly away while Kate waited patiently at the door to either be dismissed or given another task to complete, her hands clasped before her as she quietly observed her friend with curious eyes.
"You don't need to stand there," William commented as he glanced at her from a corner of his room. "Come in."
"Are you sure?" Kate hesitated.
"Well is Father here?" William asked.
"Actually, I don't really know. He was here earlier, but he may have gone out. Your grandfather is here though, but the last time I checked, he was resting."
"Grandfather is here," William asked, his tone turning grim once more. "For how long?"
Kate chewed her lip, absently pulling at her apron as she tried to recall how long Cynric would be staying.
"Well, he arrived yesterday, and I believe he leaves tomorrow morning."
"I see…" William was hardly pleased with the news but could find nothing else to say about it. "I should probably go downstairs; I'm sure Mother is waiting for me."
And surely enough, Katherine had been waiting quietly for her son in the library, standing at a window and staring out over the expanse of land that sprawled before the Estate. A couple of ravens darted about the snow covered grounds before lifting into the air, flapping their large black wings wildly. Katherine watched their retreat to the sky with unsmiling eyes. Garrick's words had hurt her deeply; her bottom lip quivered as she allowed unshed tears to fall, streaking her cheeks with their wet, salty trails.
"Dear, dear, Katherine, tears do not become you…" Cynric's voice came in an eerie whisper to her ear and she twitched, wiping the tear-streaks from her cheeks self-consciously.
"Cynric," She said in mild surprise, "I did not see you there."
Katherine's father-in-law chuckled, placing a hand on her hip, his icy blue eyes glinting maliciously. "Well I do love the element of surprise…"
Katherine swallowed hard, trying not to writhe or shake, biting her tongue when he brought a silver necklace with a cross charm to clasp around her neck, ghosting his fingers over her soft, creamy skin as he did so.
"You left this in the dining hall," His breath was warm upon the back of Katherine's neck, and she shivered, fighting down a growing panic.
"Please, Cynric, I am waiting for William to meet me here," She spoke, an anxious note in her voice.
"Ah, your son is home for holiday, is he? But of course; and here he is now."
William had come down several minutes earlier to meet his mother, but upon seeing his Grandfather walk into the library on his way down the stairs, he decided to wait outside the entryway, yet he couldn't help but peek inside the library. Immediately, his brow had begun to furrow in confusion and a growing anger upon seeing his mother's visible discomfort and the twisted amusement his grandfather seemed to take from it.
"Mother…" William murmured but immediately began to shrink back when Cynric noticed him watching. His grandfather's gaze was perhaps even more suffocating than that of his father. Still, he stepped slowly into the room, wrenching his eyes from Cynric and focusing instead, on Katherine, who looked all too relieved too see him.
"You wanted to see me, Mother," He asked politely.
"I did, yes," Katherine nodded at him, motioning for him to sit down in a nearby armchair.
"Well, I shall leave you two alone then," Cynric remarked casually before he turned on heel, stepping out of the library without a backward glance.
Katherine let out a shuddering breath, placing a hand on the back of her neck and rubbing it as if to rid herself of Cynric's mere presence so close to her.
"Mother, are you all right," William had begun to grow uneasy at her upset state, trying not to fidget nervously while he sat, nearly enveloped in the chair.
"Never you mind, my dear. I am faring well enough. Right now, my main concern is you." She finished, the right corner of her mouth turning upwards. "Now what are we to do about these marks? Your headmaster spoke of your not paying attention and daydreaming in class."
William opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, unable to say anything so Katherine continued.
"Now, I hardly gather that there is only an expansive amount of empty space between your ears. So what will prompt you to perform better? What do you need, William?"
"I don't know," William replied with a frown, looking down at his shod feet. "I just… I don't know. I'm sorry, Mother."
"My dear, I know you can earn top marks. Or you can at least do far better than what you are doing currently," Katherine encouraged, stooping so that she was level with her son.
"I will. I'll do better. I'll concentrate harder. I'll get higher marks," William spoke in earnest. He already hated disappointing his father, but he considered it worse to beget such a thing from his mother.
"I have no doubt about that, love. In the meantime, however, I expect you to do extra work on your lessons while you are here," Katherine said, finishing with a stern undertone. "No horseback riding in the pastures until I see at least one lesson's worth of work a day."
William groaned in protest, sticking his lower lip out in a pout while his mother's only response was to smile and shake her head.
"William, you know you got yourself into this. I believe I'm being fair enough, my dear, and you also know that I could impose far more strict consequences. However, as it is, I think what I've given you shall suffice. You will still have plenty of time to read, ride, and play on your own, so long as your work is completed first."
"Yes Mother…" Young William replied in a dull voice.
"All right then, you may run off to your room if you like. We will not begin this until tomorrow morning, but in any case, I am finished with you here." Katherine spoke, kissing her son's cheek, pulling a stray lock of his thick, curly brown hair out of his eyes. "You may come to the dining hall for a meal in an hour."
William nodded, returning his mother's kiss with a quick peck before he left the library, returning to his room to sit on the side of his bed, dangling his legs over the edge.
"Will?"
The young master looked up to see Kate standing in the doorway, a tray of buttered bread and water in her hands.
"I took the liberty of putting honey on the slices as well. I know you like that," Kate attempted a smile despite the still sombre air about her friend.
"Thank you, Kate," William replied grimly, "You know, you can sit next to me."
Kate blushed and nodded, hesitantly sitting down next to him.
"I suppose so…" She replied. She had become more careful with observing her station in the house.
William raised a brow. "You suppose so," He repeated with a teasing smile, causing Kate to laugh. "Father isn't home, and I'm guessing Grandfather has departed back to his room. Besides, you're my closest friend."
The girl rolled her eyes but continued to chuckle, a couple of blonde tendrils falling into her eyes.
"Well does this mean that you will tell me why it is that you've been so down?"
The smile that had been on William's face when he had pressured her into sitting down next to him was replaced once more by a grim expression, but he slowly nodded his consent.
"I suppose you'll find out anyway…" He mumbled.
"Maybe… Maybe not. But I would like to know, if you're willing to share it with me."
William nodded and looked over at her as she waited patiently for him to continue, smoothing the skirts of the faded blue dress she wore.
"If you really must know, I got in trouble for not paying attention in class…. again. And my parents received a letter about it from the headmaster." He finished, turning his face away from her. "In short, I'm quite sure Mister Garrison believes me to be hopeless, a waste of his teaching time."
Kate bit her lip, her brow creased in a flummoxed expression.
"But Will, you must do your work. I mean, how else are you to take over your father's flour mills without some form of knowledge of how to do so," She asked.
William's eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips.
"So you agree with him then? That I'm not worth teaching," He asked, suddenly irritated with her.
"No, not at all!" Kate shook her head. "Will, I know you're smart. Brilliant. You've all the potential in the world to reach as high as you desire for what you want, and your parents are able to afford the best education for you to use it even more… I guess what I'm asking is why it is that your teacher would think such disparaging things about you?"
William sighed exasperatedly before replying, "Kate, when you're in the kitchens baking a pie, do you concentrate only on the task at hand, or does your mind sometimes wander because you know that you've done it enough times to be sure that nothing is going to go wrong even if you daydream just the slightest bit? Though sometimes, it still happens, right? You take one minute too long and the pie is burned…"
Kate licked her lips but said nothing while William continued to speak, getting up and setting the tray of food aside to grab a few rolls of parchment that had maths problems scrawled on them from previous lessons to show to her.
"You see these," He dropped the small stack of parchment into her lap. "I know all of these. They're easy. They take no effort. So when he begins to speak about them, I become bored and my mind wanders. Sometimes, I let it wander too much… and then I get into trouble. And it's not just them. Everyone; Father, Grandfather, my teachers, the headmaster… they all look at me as if I'm daft, mute and worthless. But I'm not stupid, Kate. I'm not stupid!" He cried suddenly, a desperate look in his eyes.
Kate startled momentarily at his unanticipated burst but quickly recovered and wrapped her arms around his shaking frame.
"No, Will, you're not stupid. You're not stupid at all. Anyone can see that."
"Father can't," William murmured. "Or at least he doesn't seem to."
"I'm sure he doesn't believe it, Will. At least, not as much as you might think…"
The boy frowned, raising a brow.
"Don't be ridiculous, Kate. He hardly looks at me when I'm home. And when he seems to be, it's always just past my left ear."
Kate shook her head but said nothing in return. She hated to admit that Garrick disliked his son as much as William seemed to believe he did. Yet even she had seen how cold he could be with her, and it saddened her to see him to upset, especially when she could do nothing for it.
"I'm sorry, Will. But look, your mother cares the world for you. I don't think she likes to see you so ill spirited. As for me, I'm not going anywhere…" She finished, giving him a tiny smile. "So I guess you're not completely alone, are you?"
A/N: All right, so just a couple of things here: if any of you were questioning the usage of 'faggot' in the 18th century in the context that I used it in, it is quite accurate, though it more likely referred to a bundle of bound sticks used for fuel as opposed to the derogatory homosexual meaning. So, in short, the boy was saying that Will was a pile of sticks. Yes, potentially pointless to put in an author's note, but I'm a geek and wanted to make it clear that that is accurate. Secondly, this is going to be the last chapter I post before I put this story in the 'M' section. So, if you suddenly can't seem to find it for later chapters, it will be there. Thanks!
-S.R.