P & P FF AU. NON-Canon GENERAL REGENCY

To Catch a Shining Star

NOTE: Sir Wallace calling Corianna by her first name was done on purpose... I wanted to show how close the couple are to her and thought it a good way to show it.

Previously:

"See you later, boy." Corianna put him in his stall and walked out of the barn before heading out ot lunch, then she would check in on her mother before heading over to the Kendalls.

Kendalls

Ch. 4

A three-brown mansion had been built in the meadows which were surrounded by rolling hills on three sides and were separated from the circus by not only one of the hills but by long wooden fence. a graveled pathway curved in front of the Kendall home keeping a large fountain away from the home. Another, straighter, path kept the fountain from touching a man-made pond.

Corianna walked down a dirt path to the estate's home, across the curved graveled path and up a flight of stone steps. Her feet took themselves up to her 'uncle's' home. It was not a term used outside the Kendall home. It would have made Mr. Duncan furious as he did not like Sir Wallace Kendall. And, from what Corianna could tell it was for no other reason that the man had money and could read. As it was his fault that Mr. Duncan's daughter had a desire to read even though the estate owner had not once given her a book.

Oh, he would have- had she asked. However, there was no way Corianna could -or would- risk asking. The man's wife was had taken to her bed about six months ago he, himself, was not all that well off, so people claimed. However, no matter their health status, it simply was a very difficult time and did not seem appropriate to bother the gentleman with such a request. Plus, while the couple -unofficially- viewed her as kin they were in reality not of blood. It would hold too much potential of causing problems for them and her blood family.

"Corianna, my dear." Sir Wallace lifted up his hands from the wheelchair from where he sat as she walked in the door. White marbled floor sparkled on the main floor and could be seen going up a flight of stairs. "My wife will be delighted to see you." He gave her a hug as she approached him. "She has been pestering me to send for you. I told her you had obligations with your circus family."

"Obligations to circus kin, indeed. I suppose it would take a performer to truly appreciate the theatrics of society. And pestering you must be quite such a sport as to have worn her completely out." There was a twinkle in Corianna's eye; there was no one in their right mind who could take her serious.

"Whoever you marry a second time around better have a sense of humor or you will drive him crazy."

"Who says I am getting remarried? Men never want a woman who has the audacity to read , shoot off satirical remarks, tell them they are wasting their money and demand they some sort of investments going on. Just go to the grave of my late husband, he would be more than willing to inform you of that." Corianna laughed as she went up the steps tracing her hand along the dark banister as she did so.

"I wanted a woman like that." Sir Wallace roared with laughter and rolled back down the way he had come; choosing to ignore her remark about Bryce's grave; he had never liked the man in the first place. There was no way he was going to visit that male's final resting place. "Someone has got to be out there who can come rescue that lady from the life she is living, that or Corianna is going to break loose. That lady is a diamond that muck of a father keeps trying to ruin and she simply keeps rising to the top. And I do not care if it is an old man who has messed up in his youth and is now working to straighten himself out. Crumb, I would help him out financially out if necessary if that were the case."

Corianna heard none of it and she walked on topaz colored flooring down a somewhat dimmed corridor and knocked on a heavy oak door. It was opened by a young maid. The lady was ushered in. Lady Aine laid in a large, four-poster, canopy bed and was helped up and then propped up by pillows.

The room was spacious with dark cabinets and the heavy wool curtains Lady Andrianna preferred were closed. A creme-colored, over-sized rug had been placed on the floor and kept a person's feet warm as they walked across the floor.

"You may leave us alone now. Miss Corianna is very capable of giving me any medicine the doctors say I need."

"Yes, Ma'am." The maids left knowing full well the medicine would be measured out, but questioned whether or not it was really being taken. However, they had -in front of Lady Aine - all agreed to turn a blind eye. She had no intention of dying with a muddled brain; her mind was going to be clear without hindrance of any outside source.

"Please, open those dastardly curtains, and crack open a few windows." Lady Aine requested once the maids were gone. "It is so depressing having them closed and fresh air never hurt anyone in spite of what that nurse of mine seems to think."

"We are most fortunate the only one that insists on them being closed is your head nurse, and that she just headed to town. I wonder why, it is not like you are low on medicine."

"I might have had a small accident."

They both cracked up laughing. Lady Aine had no accidents. The whole Kendall staff and her husband knew that. Clearly the only person who had not figured it out was the nurse.

"So, explain to me something that has never made sense to me. Well, other than your father's views, maybe."

"I will if I am able."

"How is it that you, being raised in a family so engrossed in the circus life has never seen a show in the big tent? You do exceptionally well at trick rider for crying out loud: I have seen you from my window when you have been on one of our horses."

Corianna grew somber. "I have been inside the tent, remember? But only while my late husband was alive."

"Oh, yes, I forgot about those years."

"So, yes, people know I can trick ride, I practice all the time. However, Father refuses to see it. Now denies I am any good; chalks up past successes to my late husband. " She shrugged her shoulder and went on. "My not seeing any show inside the big tent outside my time of marriage is not as hard as you might think in spite of my being raised in a circus family. Father did his best to keep me occupied with the responsibilities of things people never saw. Things which made the show even possible. I was tasked with helping to care for the animals, maintaining costumes, and so forth. All that kept me so busy I simply never had the chance to simply sit and watch any of the performances.

"When did you start practicing the trick riding then?"

"After I got married. It was the one thing I will credit my late husband with. I may have had to hide my learning to read from him as I did my father, but he did allow me to learn to ride and do the tricks with him. By the time he was killed I already knew all the stunts. Due to my age, I fought against his attempts to stop me from practicing and won. However, sadly, he controls the reins on who performs."

"That does make sense; So, with your father's - and late husband's -view on reading. How did you learn to do it?"

"There were certain performers who could read and write. I simply convinced them to teach me behind their backs. They took a great risk in teaching me. I would not be telling you now only they have either died of natural causes or left not only our circus way of life, but the country as well. Now, let us get you comfortable."

"One more thing, would you ever leave the circus life do you think? Give up the idea of trick-riding altogether?" When asked why the question had been asked, the old lady shrugged her shoulders. "Just curious."

"If life led me that way, and I still could keep my book then, yes, I believe I would. However, I am not giving up horses. Wherever I went better have space for one, or I am not going."

Corianna ventured to bring up the subject of her mother staying with the Kendall's while the circus was in town. "She is not getting any better and I fear the tent is doing her no good."

"Our butler tried just this this morning to get your father to consent to that, did he not tell you?"

"Clearly not." Corianna had to fight her temperature from raising. "Did he even consider it?"

"Not really, I think he is in denial. Your mother has always bounced back. I do not think his heart wants to acknowledge what his mind knows." Lady Aine paused and then lowered her voice. "Promise me something will you?"

"Depends on what it is, I may not be able to deliver."

"When your mother passes on, find a place to go. If you cannot...come back here. I have already discussed it with my husband and children."

Corianna went to open her mouth to ask why, that was -to her- obvious. Her father. He was getting way too controlling.