It was nearing the end of December. A bitterly icy wind had begun to stir, nipping at the windowpanes and occasionally seeping through, causing the servants of the Tavington house to stir in their slumber, seeking the depths of their beds for further warmth. Katherine herself was having trouble sleeping and laid awake for several hours, blinking in the darkness and letting out an occasional moan as the child within her moved restlessly about, exhausting her of her energy with each ebbing minute. Garrick, surprisingly enough, was home, and fast asleep in bed next to her, his breathing deep and even as he lay on his back, shrouded in darkness. The faint smell of a foreign perfume wafted up from him and reached Katherine's nose, causing her to scowl darkly. She was hardly surprised; the two seemed to do nothing more than cohabitate, and even that was at a minimum, especially with her pregnancy.
Further down the hall, William shivered and awakened as a gust of wind from outside slipped in from an ajar window nearby, kissing his face with cold, mocking lips. Getting up from his bed, he walked over to the window and pulled down on it until it shut with a loud thud. For a moment he simply stood by it, looking out over the grounds. He could feel the chill on the window while the wind continued to implore to be let in with its soft, whistling song. Normally, the young master might not have been so annoyed with such weather, but as he was trying to sleep, it only made him roll his eyes and groan in irritation. Making his way back to bed, he burrowed beneath the covers, desperate for some reprieve, but the wind's soft yet insistent cries would not allow him sleep and instead, he found himself getting out of bed once more, cursing quietly to himself while his stomach growled with a growing hunger.
"Ruddy weather…" He mumbled, his speech somewhat slurred with sleep. Making his way downstairs, he contemplated exactly how he was going to go about procuring some food. Nothing was instantly accessible, though he didn't necessarily like the idea of waking one of the servants either; if that was the case, William decided that he might as well just go back upstairs to bed and endure an unsettled stomach for the rest of the evening. Especially for his father and grandfather, for both of them were far from approachable if awakened by petty issues such as the need for a midnight snack.
"Will," A female voice whispered in the darkness, not a foot from where William stood at the base of the staircase. The young master startled, letting out a muffled cry before a small hand clamed firmly over his mouth.
"Hush!" Kate whispered to him. "You don't want to wake anyone, do you," She asked, removing her hand from his mouth.
"So you could not sleep either, I take it," William asked quietly, allowing his eyes to adjust to her form amongst the shadows.
"No. It's far too cold in the servants' wing for me to sleep." Kate replied with a smile, though he could not see her features. "This winter has been most unkind." She remarked.
William smirked, stifling a chuckle in response.
"Yes, I suppose it has. If it has not snowed or frosted, it has been like this; windy and unpleasant."
"Indeed," Kate consented. "Well, I was hungry and was going to see if there was any cheese or salted meat in store. What of you?"
"The same, actually."
"All right. Well, follow me then. I know the kitchen better than you do."
William laughed and allowed Kate to take his hand as the two darted in and out of corridors until they reached the kitchen. Then, spotting a small candlestick, Kate managed to light it and took it with her, leaving William in the main area of the kitchen as she retrieved a plate of salted pork and some cheese.
"I know it isn't very much, but it should do well enough," Kate set the plate of food on a nearby counter for them to eat. "If you like, I can get you some water as well."
"I believe I am fine with this, though thank you for the offer," William replied gratefully, picking up a piece of meat with his fingers and shoving it eagerly into his mouth while she was more graceful with a slice of cheese.
"So, how has your mother been fairing," Kate asked in a murmur.
"Well…. Do you not see her," William asked, raising a brow as he swallowed the meat and started on some cheese.
"Not exactly. Your father has had me off doing work elsewhere in the house while my mother attends to your mother, and by the end of the day, she's so tired that she hardly has time to speak of any of the events before she gets into bed and goes right to sleep."
William laughed softly. "I honestly do not know much more than you. I have been busy reviewing my studies for the start of the second half of term. But I suppose Mother is doing fairly enough. She seems tired though. She should be due any time now. That is probably why Father has actually bothered to come home at all during the evening, and why Grandfather is here during the day," He finished with a slight frown.
"Most likely," Kate nodded, taking a piece of meat and ripping it in half before sticking the smaller part in her mouth. "And my mother isn't far away either, should something unexpected happen in the meantime."
William nodded and stared silently into the darkness, chewing slowly on another piece of meat. The wind had died down and all was still in the house. Somewhere in a distant room, a clock chimed, but its echoes were swallowed into the stillness. Outside, snow began to fall, slowly covering the grounds of the house in white.
"Kate, would you like to go riding," William asked, staring out one of the windows that was visible through one of the kitchen entrances.
"You have got to be a loon; it's freezing outside," Kate replied in a flat tone, raising an eyebrow.
"I do not recall that stopping us before."
"I know," Kate smiled and shook her head. "But I really don't think your father or mother would be very pleased if either one of us were to go out for ride at this hour. I know my mother wouldn't."
William sighed, reluctantly agreeing with a frown.
"There is absolutely nothing to do at the moment, and I cannot sleep."
"That is because you're too busy thinking of everything that is going on around you to just stop and relax for five minutes," Kate spoke.
"Probably," William replied wryly as he grabbed another slice of cheese. For the next ten minutes, the two spoke not a word to one another but simply sat on the countertop and ate, quietly enjoying one another's company amidst the stifling silence and restless air of the estate.
"Kate," William began, breaking the silence, "do you think things will change at all when the baby comes? I mean, do you think Father will be any different? After all, it is what he wanted, is it not?" There was a tone of bitterness in his voice that caused Kate to sigh in a disheartened manner.
"I suppose it very well could. Your mother will be busy, and you might even have a little less leisure time as well."
"That may be, but I am quite sure that I can still find time to go riding on the trails behind our house, and, if you are not busy, you could come along."
"I don't know, Will," Kate began again slowly. "I may not be staying here much longer."
"What," The surprise was obvious in the young master's voice. "But… the baby is coming, Mother will need your help and…. Why?" The news had struck him like a slap to the face.
"Believe me, Will, I hardly like the idea either. I mean I've lived here all my life. I was born here."
"So why must you leave" William demanded with a quiver in his tone. "You are my best friend, Kate!"
Kate took the plate of food in her hands, moving it aside before she leaned over and wrapped her arms tightly around William, who put up a struggle in response until he realized that she wasn't going to release him and reluctantly stilled, breathing heavily against her shoulder.
"Hush, Will…" She murmured, rocking him gently from side to side in her arms. "I haven't gone away just yet." Kate finished looking down at him with a small smile, though her sea-green eyes reflected an undeniable sadness within them.
"Why must you leave," William voiced the question once more, looking Kate directly in the eyes with a piercing azure gaze.
"Will, it is not my place to tell you-"
"Kate, no one around here tells me anything anymore; even Mother has seemed guarded about what she says. Can I for once just please have an honest answer? Is that really too much to request?"
Kate bit her lip and furrowed her brow. She knew the young master was right. He had been left out of a good amount of the news circulating about the estate, and she was more than sure that both of his parents would prefer to keep it that way, at least to an extent. Yet all the same, he was her dearest friend, and if she was to ever be in his current position, she knew that she too would not take kindly to being to being left out of the events that were unfolding. So, with a deep breath, she decided to tell him what he was being kept from knowing.
"Will, your father is losing money. He has been gambling it away. Obviously, your mother knows, and your grandfather knows as well. They're also going to sell the flour mills. Master Garrick cannot afford them anymore. And as for us, well, it's getting too difficult to pay for our labor. So I am not the only one leaving. My mother and father will be leaving also, along with a good deal of the rest of the staff."
William was aghast.
"So this is what I have been missing…" He spoke in a choked tone.
"Will, not everything is ruined. And I'm sure your parents will figure something out."
"But you are leaving. And where will you go?"
"Will, must I tell you again? I'm not leaving yet." Kate smiled down at him. "As for where I will go, we shall worry about that when it comes."
The young master managed a reluctant nod in reply before hanging his head and furrowing his brow. But he hardly had any more time to despair before he spotted sudden movement out in the corridors and Blythe appeared, her face flushed, for she had been rushing throughout the rooms of the estate trying to find her daughter.
"Kate," The woman's eyes were open and alert, "please come with me at once. Young master, I suggest you head to your room right away."
"What is going on," William asked in a confused voice, hopping down from the counter and helping Kate down as well.
"Your mother's time has come. Jagger has already left for the midwife and should be back shortly. Now again, to your room and do not tarry!" Blythe responded firmly.
William bit his lip, wanting to inquire further, but Blythe halted him before he could even begin with another stern gaze, her eyes narrowed pointedly at him. So instead, he did as he was told and went to his room but made a point of leaving his door cracked open the tiniest bit so he could hear any news from the servants if they might walk past. Yet everyone in the house had now come to such life that they now seemed too busy to even talk, and though they did pass by his room, all William heard outside the swishing of skirts and clipped steps were his mother's muffled cries coming from down the corridor behind closed doors. This seemed to go on endlessly to him, and eventually, he took to pacing across his bedroom floor, pausing every once in a while to see if he could hear anything else, yet nothing changed. Shaking his head anxiously, he defiantly left his room and crept down the hall and into a spare room, keeping to the shadows until he made it to the window and looked out at the grounds. His pony, King, loved frolicking about in the snow and so did the Shire, Henry. Perhaps he would take them out, as it would do well to get his mind off of the commotion that was happening in the house.
Sighing to himself, William made to leave the room but was cut short when he turned and nearly collided with Cynric.
"Were you not told to stay in your room," Cynric asked, in a soft, sharp voice.
"I'm sorry, Grandfather. It is just that I could not…. I needed to get out for a while."
"Get back to your room, William," Cynric repeated, glaring icily at his grandson.
William swallowed, averting his gaze momentarily but managed to ask, "Is Mother going to be all right?"
"It has only been two hours." Cynric's voice was patronizing. "Pain is normal in this situation, William. After all, it is hardly just a pinprick. And no, I have not been in the room to see how she has been fairing. I suppose if something truly does go wrong, the midwife will inform us. Though as long as she produces another heir, that is what matters." He finished stiffly.
The young master pursed his lips, clenching his jaw in frustration, holding back a scathing response that lingered on the tip of his tongue.
"I shall be in my room," He mumbled before pushing past Cynric, not bothering to look behind him at the burning gaze that he knew was being cast at his back.
Getting to his room once more, William closed the door behind him and sat down upon his bed with a sigh, his eyes wandering to a clock that stood next to his door. It was two in the morning and his body yearned for sleep, yet his mind was far too alert to allow for such respite. He got up off of the bed and began to pace across his bedroom floor again, taking note as the minutes slowly grew into hours and of these he counted three before deciding that it was best not to look at the clock at all.
In the master bedchamber, the midwife was busy dabbing a cool cloth on Katherine's forehead, looking down at the lady with a worried expression upon her features. Things were not going well. Katherine had already begun to fade in exhaustion two hours earlier. Now, she looked horrendously pallid and there was still no child to show for it.
"My lady…"
Katherine only moaned in response, closing her glassy-looking eyes in pain. She dearly wished to see her son, and had managed to voice this several times before growing too tired to speak.
The midwife frowned deeply and got up from the bedside, making her way out of the room where Garrick stood stock still just outside the door.
"Well?" He demanded stuffily.
"Milord, she is terribly exhausted."
"And….?" Garrick asked flatly. "Anything yet? Or is this going to continue to take a miserably long time?"
The midwife bit her lip and averted her gaze to the floor so that he would not see her frustrated expression.
"Sir," She began in a slow, careful voice, "I don't know if things are going to be as you may have expected."
"What do you mean," Garrick questioned sharply, causing her to wince at his voice.
"Your wife may not pull through; sir, she has been growing less and less responsive with the time." The midwife replied quickly, looking Garrick dead in the eyes.
"She may not pull through…." Garrick raised a brow and then strode past her, ignoring her protests as he opened the doors to the master bedchamber and made his way to his wife's bedside.
"Katherine…" He spoke softly in her ear, stroking her forehead. "My dear…" Garrick slowly turned her head so that she could look directly at him, but her eyes remained cloudy and her breathing was strained and thin.
"William…. Please, let me…." Katherine's voice died in her throat and she swallowed hard, turning her head away.
Garrick gave her a dark look.
"He can see you after all of this. Once you are cleaned up," He spoke quietly.
Slowly, Katherine turned back to him, forcing herself to focus at least the tiniest amount as she replied, "Garrick….there is not going to be an 'afterwards'. Please, let William come in."
"Not when you are like this." Garrick replied firmly. "He would not want it."
Katherine looked at her husband imploringly, squeezing his forearm lightly; she was desperate to see her son.
"No, Katherine. Not like this." Garrick repeated, pulling away from her.
"Please, milord, she is-" The midwife began to speak in Katherine's defense but was immediately cut off.
"I do not remember giving you any orders other than to make sure that she gives me a healthy heir; until then, my son is not permitted to come in! Is that clear?" He snapped, glaring at her until she nodded reluctantly. Then, with a derisive scoff, Garrick strode out of the room, murmuring incoherently to himself.
Katherine watched him leave, her eyes glassy once more as she turned her head away from the door.
"My poor dear," The midwife walked over to her and looked down at her with a pitiful gaze.
"William…" Katherine mouthed in silent agony.
"Mother?" A voice called softly from the entrance and the midwife looked over to see William standing just outside the entrance.
"Young master, what are you doing here?" She asked in surprise.
"I did not want to stay in my room." William replied simply, stepping into the room, but took no further steps when the midwife shook her head desperately.
"Your father does not want you in here!" She spoke in a panicked voice.
"My father just left for a drink in the study and my grandfather joined him. I watched them leave." William replied smartly. "Please, let me see my mother."
The midwife pursed her lips but reluctantly agreed, stepping aside so that the young master could make his way to Katherine's bedside.
"Mother?" William asked once more as he came to stand beside her.
Slowly, Katherine turned towards her son, her glazed eyes brightening ever so slightly.
"William…" She managed a weak smile; William was horrified. Never before had he seen her so sickly looking; to him, this was nothing more than a mere ghost of the radiant woman whom he had known for so long as his mother.
"Mother, what has happened-"
Katherine reached up and placed a finger on her son's lips, quieting him immediately before she tugged at his collar, gesturing for him to lean in closer to her. Obediently, William bent down and kissed her cheek, looking over at her with worried eyes. But Katherine's only response was to smile once more and give him a soft kiss on the forehead.
"William," She murmured to him in a nearly inaudible voice.
"Mother... Don't go. Not now…" William began to plead. "You still have to help me go over my lessons tomorrow. And it is Christmas in two days…"
Again, Katherine quieted him with a finger to his lips.
"Not this time, love." Katherine shook her head meekly.
"But I cannot do this on my own." William replied in a shaky voice.
"Be strong, William." Katherine whispered, caressing the side of his face.
"Mother no!" William protested desperately.
"I love you…"
"Mother…" William repeated once more.
Katherine didn't respond.
"Mother!" The young master tried desperately to call her back, but it was no use. Her royal blue gaze had dimmed completely and gone distant.
William pulled away from his mother, trembling as he reached over and closed her eyes, giving her one last kiss on the cheek before he turned towards the door, where Garrick stood with a brandy bottle in his left hand. His eyes burned with rage at the sight of his son in the room and he stepped forward, grabbed William by the collar of his shirt and shoved him hard out the door, where the young master stumbled and landed on the floor before his grandfather's feet while the door slammed shut behind him.
"Get up." Cynric spoke quietly, looking down at his grandson with disdainful eyes. William only winced but made no move to get off the floor. Huffing in irritation, Cynric reached down, grabbed the young master and hauled him roughly to his feet.
"I said get up!" The elder Tavington hissed before giving his grandson a rough shove towards the end of the hall. "And get to your room!"
Too stunned and hurt to fight his grandfather, William crept away from Cynric towards his room, opening the door and collapsing down upon his knees, hiding his face in his hands while trails of burning tears dampened his face and reddened his eyes. Still, he made no noise and listened carefully at the sound of the master bedchamber doors opening once more as Garrick stepped into the hall.
"So…" Cynric's expectant voice could be heard from down the hall. "Anything at all?"
"No," Garrick's tone was a rough one, "Katherine is dead."
"And the child? Garrick, what of the child?" The Tavington patriarch pressed.
"The child would have been stillborn." Garrick replied tightly.
"Garrick, I-"
"It was a girl anyway," He cut Cynric off sharply. "There is no second heir to be had."
William swallowed hard at his father's words, forcing himself to stay silent so that he could hear the rest of the conversation, but Cynric didn't seem to answer right away. Then, about a minute later, the patriarch replied, "William can not be your heir. Not if you want a successful line. He is naught but a burden who has yet to prove his worth, and now that Katherine is gone, there is no one here to object to anything that you decide for him… Send William back to school."
"Yes yes, I understand that-"
"Garrick, at this point, a bastard would be better than the one you have by right. William is worthless."
William began to shake as his grandfather's words echoed from down the hall, filling him with shame, yet he found the embarrassment quickly replaced by a quiet anger.
"Worthless…" The young master repeated his grandfather's words to himself, staring at the still open entrance of his room. Getting up off of the floor, William walked over to his door and slammed it shut, letting it shake and protest upon its hinges, listening into the heavy silence that followed before walking over to sit on his bed. "Not today."