"Oi, Will! He's over here," One of William's school friends, a boy by the name of Afton LeRoy called, pointing at a clump of tall, green, dewy grass.
An excited William Tavington stumbled over a pile of twigs as he made his way to his friend's side.
"Not so loud," Afton called in a harsh whisper, holding out a hand to stop William's eager advance. William nodded and slowed down, creeping up to peer over Afton's shoulder at a small brown toad nearly completely obscured by the grass.
"I thought you had lost him." William spoke softly, reaching for the toad.
"Lost what," A voice dripping with disdain came from just behind the two boys. Both William and Afton turned to see another boy of a higher form glaring down at them; his name was Vincent Coulson, and he was known amongst students for having a prickly disposition.
"It was nothing…" Afton mumbled, averting his soft brown eyes from the withering gaze of the older boy.
"Well be on your way then! Me mates and I have this place picked out for fencing,"
Afton nodded and made to leave but William grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks and stared back at Vincent with bright, icy eyes.
"Afton and I were only looking for a toad. And besides, we have yet to see your mates," He spoke in a quiet yet bold tone.
Vincent's cobalt-blue eyes flashed threateningly and a vein in his neck twitched.
"Testing me, are you, Tavington," He turned to William, stepping towards him as he prepared to shove him into the nearest tree.
"I am not," Young Tavington replied as tonelessly as he could, though the smart note in his voice was not missed by Vincent and the older boy grabbed him harshly by the shoulders, knocking him to the ground, but before he could move to kick him, William rolled out of the way and got to his feet.
"Ah, not quite the clumsy clot you were last year then," Vincent smirked, advancing on him. "Well, no matter-"
"Vincent, there is a prefect behind you." William cut in, looking over the boy's right shoulder with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips.
Vincent glanced behind him to see a tall thin boy with curly black hair, red-brown eyes, and a thin mouth set in a perpetual line walking towards them.
"Something the matter here," He asked, eyeing Vincent suspiciously.
William bit his lip and looked up at Vincent and the prefect, and before Vincent could respond, he spoke, "Everything is all right. Just trying to find something lost in the grass."
The prefect still looked suspicious but was satisfied enough with the answer; with a stiff nod and warning glance at the other boys, he turned and retraced the path from whence he came. William breathed an inaudible sigh of relief while Afton tugged at his arm, gesturing that they leave the area and return to the dormitories, the toad all but forgotten in the need to avoid getting into trouble for their confrontation with Vincent.
"That was lucky," Afton spoke in a relieved tone as the two boys walked through the front doors of the school and started up the stairs to their dormitory. "Last time we ran into him, you received a black eye and a fat lip."
"I know it," William smirked. "But really, I believe he is losing his imposing image."
"Are you mad, Will? He is twice your size."
"Maybe, but I am twice as fast," William quipped with a chuckle, his eyes shining with mirth.
Afton shook his head, pulling a strand of sandy colored hair out of his eyes.
"You know, an attitude like that will get you pummeled one day," He spoke, smiling at his friend.
"Probably," William replied simply before giving Afton a mischievous smile. "That is why I only brag to you," He finished, playfully pulling his friend's arm so that Afton stumbled down a step below him.
"You prat!" Afton hissed, glaring up at William, though it was all in good fun as William laughed back, climbing a couple more steps, looking behind over his shoulder and down at his friend to invite a challenge. Not to be outdone by young Tavington, Afton took the invitation and chased him all the way up the stairs to their dormitory.
"Sprite," He wheezed, chuckling at his friend as the two of them entered the dormitory.
William laughed in response.
"Well I can hardly say that you are much better!" He exclaimed. "Switching the candies in David Hamilton's satchel for a toad."
"Yes, but he deserved it," Afton replied indignantly, pulling the mischievous strand of sandy hair out of his eyes. "As I said, he got me ten lashes for being late to my lesson because he hid my satchel in the prefects' dormitory."
"Perhaps he did…" William nodded, moving to set his own satchel down by his bed. "So, are you going to be going anywhere for summer holiday?"
"No," Afton replied in a somewhat morose tone. "I wish I could say otherwise; about the only traveling I will be doing will be on the horse trails near home. Father is still away in India, though my uncle will be coming soon to stay with my mother and I for a month or two. Then he will be leaving aboard ship to India while my father begins his journey home. What about yourself?"
William shrugged.
"It shan't be anything exciting," He replied simply. "Except perhaps the fencing. Father has already hired a sword-master to begin training me. Though other than that, as I said, hardly anything except perhaps extra lessons just to make sure I keep up with everything." William smiled wryly. "And I believe Father is going to be spending a good deal of time away from home in London, which means that Grandfather is likely to stay with Mother and I for a while," William's brow furrowed and he frowned. "I suppose it could be worse."
Afton chuckled as he put his things away.
"Your summer holiday does not sound half bad to me, Will. Honestly, fencing with a sword-master. My father wants to wait a short while longer for me to begin that outside of school, though I'd give anything to start as soon as you are. Instead, I am quite sure I will be dragged around and forced to meet at least a few girls this summer. You know how they plan these things. It is mad, I tell you," He smirked.
William grinned in agreement as he removed his shoes and flopped down upon his bed.
"It is still better than sitting in a stuffy room listening to a tight-lipped professor lecture over and over again on the basic principles of Latin."
"Another letter from the young master, I see," Kate glanced at the letter in Katherine Tavington's hands, giving her mistress a small smile. "I do hope he is faring well."
"I do believe he is," Katherine replied as she read over the letter where she stood in the family library. "Though it appears he narrowly missed trouble again for getting himself into a couple of squabbles with some of his peers," She smiled to herself, shaking her head. "Lucky boy he is. Well, lucky or headed straight for the devil's pit."
Kate chuckled as she turned to dust the mantle of the fireplace in the library, sneezing as bits of dust and soot made their way into the air around her.
"Oh Kate, I am terribly sorry; I should have asked your mother to clean the mantle as I know how the dust upsets you so." Katherine frowned, giving the girl an apologetic look.
"I believe I shall be fine this once, milady," Kate grinned despite the dust flying about. "Though I thank you for your concern."
Katherine nodded and finished reading the letter. Then, folding it carefully back up, she bade Kate good-bye and headed out of the library and outside to the stables, pausing next to the large stall of an old Shire named Henry, calling his name softly as she held her hand out to him. The large horse whickered and walked over to her, shoving his soft pink nose beneath her hand as he stared down at her with aged, wise eyes.
"Good morning, old boy." Katherine murmured, stroking his nose and face. Henry was her favorite horse, with his kind, smiling eyes and gentle disposition that belied his massive stature.
"Shall I take him out for you, milady? I can get him ready for the carriage after I am finished with this one, if you like."
Katherine turned to see Kate's father, Jagger making his way out of another one of the stalls with William's pony, King, on a lead rope.
Katherine smiled and shook her head at the young man. "Thank you, Jagger; but I believe I shall take this one out to pasture on my own."
"Very well," Jagger nodded and gave her a shy smile, pulling a strand of unruly flaxen hair out of his eyes. "If you should need any assistance, I should not be too far away."
"Thank you," She smiled, dismissing him with a wave of her hand before grabbing Henry's lead rope, stepping into his stall and attaching it to his halter before she led him out to pasture.
"There you are, my prince," Katherine patted Henry's nose, releasing him off the lead and he went trotting off into the field, tossing his head and tail, neighing as he went. Watching him for a moment, Katherine turned and made her way back to the stables where she hung up the lead rope before continuing back into the estate. There were things to be taken care of and since a couple of the servants had taken to their beds due to illness, she wanted to make sure chores still managed to run smoothly so that Garrick might not arrive home and be put in a state of undesirable temperament. Making her way to the kitchen, she peeked in to see Blythe just finishing the glaze on a loaf of bread, while another servant, Kaelyn, placed another loaf into the oven to be cooked.
"Is everything going all right in here," Katherine asked. "I know you are a couple people short today."
"Everything is well, milady," Blythe replied, looking up from her work while Kaelyn gave Katherine a reassuring smile. "Thank you for your concern though. Bede and Daisy should be back to work within a few days. We have had someone check in on them every couple of hours."
"Of course. And thank you; it is much appreciated," Katherine replied. "Well, I believe I shall be upstairs."
Hours later, around midday, Garrick arrived back at the estate from a visit with an old friend in London, smelling of alcohol, yet his eyes were not clouded but still sharp and keen.
"Sir…" A servant named Theodore greeted Garrick at the entrance and took his coat for him. Garrick's only response was a terse nod. Things had not gone as he would have liked while in London.
"Have Blythe fetch me a drink," He spoke. "Has dinner been prepared yet?"
"It should be finished within the next fifteen minutes, sir." Theodore replied.
"Very well; just have Blythe bring me some scotch in the drawing room."
"Yes sir."
With a quick flick of his hand, Garrick dismissed Theodore and made his way to the drawing room where he sat down and waited for several minutes, drumming his fingertips on his knee impatiently. Rolling his eyes in irritation, he stood suddenly and strode into the kitchen.
"Is it honestly so difficult to fetch a single drink," He asked harshly, turning a pointed gaze to Blythe, whose cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"I am terribly sorry, sir." She stammered. "I-"
"Oh don't bother explaining yourself!" Garrick huffed. "Just get me the scotch."
"Garrick!" Katherine had been on her way to the kitchens as well to check on the staff when Garrick's raised angry voice had quickened her pace. "What has gotten into you? The past three visits to London have resulted in you coming home in a mood. Really, what is happening that you must turn sour toward one of our servants?"
"Nothing that you need be concerned about; go back to your reading, Katherine," Garrick responded in a condescending voice, staring down at her with a black look in his eyes.
"Garrick, I will not." Katherine gave him an even, unblinking stare, her own royal blue eyes bright with a steadily growing anger.
Pursing his lips, Garrick clenched his jaw so tightly that he began to bite into the flesh of his cheeks.
"Kate," He began, casting a glance at the young girl who was just returning to the kitchen after finishing her other chores, "please escort the lady back upstairs to her private chambers."
"Yes sir," Kate replied politely, averting her eyes from Garrick's insufferable gaze, but Katherine shook her head, placing a hand on the young girl's forearm.
"That will not be necessary, Kate," She spoke, giving Garrick a pointed look.
"Katherine, go upstairs. Now." Garrick began to shake with rage.
"Garrick-"
He didn't wait for her to finish. Instead, he grasped her right arm in a crushing vicegrip, causing her to cry aloud as she tried to pry his hand off of her. But it was to no avail, and Garrick dragged her down the hall and into one of the drawing rooms, where he all but threw her against one of the large armchairs. Katherine drew in a painful breath and squeezed her eyes tightly shut when her back hit squarely against one of the corners of the chair. Sinking to the floor, she made to move out of his reach, but Garrick continued to advance.
"Garrick, don't do this," Katherine spoke softly, looking up at him. "Please…"
"If you had not foolishly disobeyed me and followed Kate in the first place, perhaps I would not have had to," Garrick responded with a dark scowl.
"That is not fair."
"Fair? Fair? In case it has escaped your notice, Katherine, 'fair' is hardly the issue. If it was, then I would be inclined to believe that both you and William would have learned your places in this house by now-"
"Do not bring our son into this." Katherine's eyes narrowed. "Just because you come home in a strop after a drink due to the fact that something did not work out the way you had intended-"
She did not get the chance to finish; Garrick had grabbed a fistful of her hair and jerked her roughly to her feet before giving her a bruising slap across her right cheek. Katherine yelped and grabbed her cheek as hot tears began forming in her eyes while Garrick gave her a disdainful look, shoving her forcefully towards the entryway where she stumbled and fell to floor.
"Get up," He murmured dangerously, stalking toward her.
When she did not respond immediately, Garrick wrenched her off of the floor by her right arm and threw her into a small table, where she landed against it with a thud, sliding off of it before the table went with her to the floor.
"Stop this! Please!" Katherine cried gasping in agony as sharp pain pulsated through her ribs where she had hit the table. But Garrick was not listening. Striding back toward her, he grabbed her by the arm once more and again, made to throw her into the entryway. Yet Katherine would have none of it and struggled against him, eventually landing a blow to the side of his face causing him to loosen his grip in surprise.
"Foolish tripe!" Garrick overcame his dazed state quickly and stepped forward before Katherine could get out of range, pinning her arms to her sides with his powerful grip as he pulled her back to the armchair that he had first thrown her against. "You will learn your place!"
Again, Katherine attempted a struggle, but was rewarded with a dizzying slap while Garrick forced her over the right arm of the chair, jerking her skirts up around her hips, exposing her to him as she whimpered in fright, her eyes wide with terror.
"I said learn your place!" Garrick hissed, his breath hot and overpowering against the back of Katherine's neck while he unbuttoned his black breeches and forced himself into her trembling body. She screamed at his rough thrusts, wanting to crawl out from under him, but he had placed his hand firmly on the back of her neck, pushing her down and preventing any attempts for her to rise.
"Garrick…" Katherine's voice was all but inaudible as she desperately gripped the chair, tears streaming down her cheeks, stinging her skin.
The torture continued a short while longer, and when he had had his fill of her, Garrick pulled out of her, yanked her skirts back down and buttoned his breeches before striding out of the room to grab a glass of scotch that had been left on a table just outside the room, while Katherine collapsed on the floor in a fit of anger, exhaustion and fear, tucking herself into a quivering ball next to the armchair.
"Will…Will! Wake up! Your carriage will be here soon," Afton pulled the young master Tavington out of his bed.
"I know, I know," William mumbled sleepily. "I am already packed to leave…"
"But you are still in your nightclothes." Afton continued, giving his friend a hard shove.
William frowned but got up, grabbing the set of clothing he had laid out on his trunk the night before and went to the washroom. After a short but refreshing bath, he returned, dressed and ready for his trip back home.
"Well, I hope you have a good holiday, Will," Afton handed William his satchel before retrieving his own things. "My carriage is already here… Try not to go too mad if you father makes you study extra Latin over the summer."
William smirked.
"I should not have to worry. Besides, there will still be other things to do; I have got a sword master training me, after all," He finished with a chuckle.
Afton grinned.
"That you do indeed. In the meantime, I shall see you at the start of term. Good bye, Will."
"See you, Afton. And do try to be nice to any girls you meet this summer," William smiled impishly; Afton laughed, shaking his head.
"If I must…" With that, the young boy gathered his trunk and handed it to a servant who had come up to help him with his things. Then, with a final wave, Afton followed the servant out the door and down the corridor, pulling a misbehaving strand of hair out of his eyes as he went.
Fifteen minutes later, as William's own carriage arrived and so began the long journey home, half of which he spent asleep, huddled in a tight ball under a dark green blanket that his mother had had embroidered with his initials in white. Finally, just as dusk began to set in, the carriage pulled up to the front gates of the Tavington estate and the servant, Jagger, stepped down from the carriage to help the young master with his things.
"Welcome home, young master," Jagger greeted William with a small smile, grabbing his trunk to carry into the house, while another servant came for the carriage.
"Thank you," William replied, grabbing his satchel and hopping down from the carriage. "Is Father home," He asked, adjusting the satchel strap on his shoulder.
"I believe he is out, but your mother is waiting for you."
William gave the man a small smile, his azure eyes sparkling with the sun's dying rays.
"I shall not keep her waiting then," He murmured before striding towards the front doors of the estate where Katherine waited patiently just inside the doors.
"Welcome back, my dear," She smiled warmly at him, wrapping her arms around him.
"It is good to be home," He replied wrapping his arms tightly around her.
Katherine chuckled and kissed his forehead, brushing a lock of rich dark brown hair from her son's eyes.
"How I have missed you," She spoke softly. "And I believe the last time I saw you, you were still below my shoulders. Now you are up to my chin."
William laughed and planted a soft kiss upon his mother's cheek.
"Will!" An excited voice called from the main hall and both William and Katherine turned to see Kate standing with a wide grin on her face, a spot of flour on her nose and a spatter of it on her apron. "You're back!"
Before the young master could respond, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him with surprising strength.
"Oh Will, it has been ever so dull around here without you," She pulled away, smiling and blushing slightly at her improper actions. "I'm sorry; I just…"
William only laughed and looked down at his vest, which now had bits of flour clinging to it. Katherine only shook her head and smiled.
"Kate, you are always covered in something," He commented with a smirk.
"Well this time, it is flour from the loaf of bread I was making for you when you came home because I knew you'd ask for it. And, of course, there is butter and honey for it as well," Kate finished with a mischievous smile.
William's eyes widened with excitement and Katherine gestured behind him for Kate to bring the bread to the dining hall. Settling her hands gently upon her son's shoulders, she bent down to whisper in William's ear.
"Do remember to thank her, my dear," She chuckled, giving William's shoulders a squeeze.
"I will, Mother," He replied before he made his way into the dining hall.
Katherine followed him and sat down next to him, nodding at Kate as she brought the bread, butter and honey into the hall.
"Thank you, Kate." William spoke, grinning from ear to ear. "It looks wonderful."
Kate smiled, blushing at the compliment before she bowed and turned to leave.
"Are you sure you won't have any with us," William called after her, causing her to pause in her tracks.
"I made it for you, Will. And besides, I'm sure your mother would like to have some time with you being as you just arrived home," She looked at him and gently shook her head, flipping some of her flaxen hair over her shoulder.
William frowned and stared down at the table.
Katherine nodded, the corners of her mouth turned slightly upwards at the girl's consideration.
"Thank you. Though if you like, you can stay here a short while and share some bread with William. It will not be a bother in the least, and besides, I have to take care of something for a short while. In the meantime, please, sit down."
"Very well…" Kate smiled hesitantly and came back to the table, taking a seat next to William, who handed her a slice of bread with butter and honey on it. Meanwhile, Katherine got up from her place and left the room, feeling light headed, and made her way to the nearest washroom and paused outside, placing a hand over her slightly swollen middle.
"Milady," There was a scuffling noise within the washroom and Blythe came out, carrying a rag in one hand a wiping her brow with the other. "Are you well?" She asked Katherine, her brow knitted in mild concern.
"Yes, I'm fine," Katherine replied. "I am just… having a bit of a moment, I suppose." She gave Blythe a wry smile.
"Ah, is the little one acting difficult again," Blythe smiled, glancing down at Katherine's swollen belly. "Have you had the chance to tell your son?"
"I have not. In fact, I do not believe William even noticed when he arrived. But of course, he is just glad to be home. I did not mention anything of it in my letters."
"Oh," Blythe quirked a brow.
"I guess I only figured that he would find out when he got back home. And it was not exactly anything I had planned for, especially now that William is twelve, nearly thirteen." Katherine frowned a bit.
Blythe nodded understandingly.
"Well, he has a mother who loves him, and I'm sure it will be no different with this one, even given the circumstances. And I daresay that even with the age, William will be a wonderful brother to the baby when it is time. Hopefully, the master will lighten a little as well," She smiled at her mistress encouragingly.
"Yes…" Katherine gave a small, wan smile, "how I hope so. For all of our sakes."