Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Henry thoroughly appreciated the hospitality of Lord Pembroke and his family but he wanted nothing more than to return to London and continue on his journey.

“For how long have you resided in London, Mr Alcott?” Frances Dagwood, the Countess of Pembroke asked Henry over the fish course of their meal.

Henry had never particularly enjoyed seafood but he would not be rude after they had so kindly offered him lodgings for the night.

Frances Dagwood’s beauty had been transferred onto her five daughters. Although slightly rounded in the face and hips, her fine features were evident in the girls. Rosamund was the eldest, at seventeen. Next was Marie at fifteen and the twin twelve year olds were identical Elizabeth and Mary. The youngest was Catherine, at ten years old.

“All my life, Lady Pembroke,” Henry replied as he politely tried to force down the seared fish before him. He was not even sure what type of fish it was. All he knew was that it was white and tasted awful. “My father is originally from Yorkshire but my elder brother and sisters and I were all born in our home at Ethridge.”

“I’ve always wanted to take a summer home in London, or even something down in Kent by the seaside but Christian has always put a stop to it. He likes being home, don’t you dear?” Lady Pembroke teased her husband.

“I just didn’t like the idea of the girls being in the city so young, that is all,” Lord Pembroke replied. “We shall be in London for the season, though. Pray, how many sisters do you have?”

“Three,” Henry replied automatically.

“And what did your father do with them when the eldest was presented to society?” he pressed.

Henry could remember Kitty’s first ball. She had been so excited that she hadn’t shut up about it for weeks before hand. “Left them upstairs.” Henry chuckled. “It was only for a season in between each. My sisters were born a year after the other.”

Marie pouted and looked enviously at her sister. “Rose is only two years older than me. How is it fair that I should be kept above stairs when she gets to dance all night?” she demanded to know.

“You’ll have your turn in good time,” Rosamund told her sister, although a smug smile had taken up residence on her face.

“We shall have to call upon you when we come to London,” Lord Pembroke said happily. “I should like to be introduced to your parents. Your father is the brother of Lady Southerby, correct?” he checked.

“Yes, my Aunt Jane,” Henry confirmed. He could not remember his Aunt Jane before she had married his Uncle Daniel for he had been an infant when they married. He’d been told his aunt was quite a boisterous girl in her youth, before she settled and married Daniel and became mother to Sabine. Perhaps that was where Kitty got her personality from.

“Lovely, very agreeable woman, she is,” Lady Pembroke chimed in. “I wish we saw more of them. It has to have been at least three summers since we last met. We must take a detour on our way home from Rosamund’s season and meet them. Wait, do they not stay with you for the season?”

“Not since Sabine married,” Henry replied. “My cousins, Philip and Louis, don’t have any interest in courting in London either so they mainly stay in Nottinghamshire. If we see them, it is us that usually travels to them.”

“Shame.” Lady Pembroke frowned. “Nevertheless,” she continued. “I’m sure Rosamund would appreciate your connections this summer season. I must say, the two of you make a handsome pair.” Lady Pembroke’s smile widened as she nodded between her young daughter and Henry, who were seated beside each other.

Henry dared not look at Rosamund, fearing she too looked as embarrassed as him. For one, he was too old for her. Eight years was not much when a married pair were in their forties and fifties. But Henry felt like a mature adult and Lady Rosamund was still a child. But the most important reason was his affection for Ebony. He could vividly remember the feel of her touch when she had hugged him and the touched look of disbelief in her eyes when he had promised to return her sister to her. He found Ebony to be real. She was a real woman with real worldly experiences. She was perfectly imperfect, an adjective that seemed especially designed for her. She was the one who twisted his stomach, tongue and mind all at once. She was the one who made him forget that he was an educated, intelligent man. She was the one.

“Mama,” Rosamund said, sounding a little bashful. “Mr Alcott has not come here for matchmaking.”

“It is true, my dear, Mr Alcott has a quest of his own. He returns to London tomorrow,” Lord Pembroke added.

Lady Pembroke pouted. “Oh, surely not,” she protested. “Stay a few more days. Please.”

“I would if I could, Lady Pembroke,” Henry replied. “But I do have to return home. My business demands it. It is important that I conclude as quickly as possible.”

They seemed to accept it and the meal continued on comfortably. He conversed with each one of Lord Pembroke’s daughters – the youngest finding it quite amusing that his own sister Catherine was called ‘Kitty’. ‘Like the cat,’ she had said.

The next morning he said farewell to the Dagwood family with the promise that they would be welcome at Ethridge come the summer season. Whether Henry would be there or not was another dilemma. He was not sure where his quest would take him. He prayed that he would have Celeste safe and sound by then. He couldn’t help but feel as though Lady Pembroke wanted there to be some sort of understanding between himself and Rosamund but both he and Rosamund knew that would never happen. He would be happy to one day call her a friend.

He had returned the clothes belonging to Lord Pembroke’s son and had changed into his own. Prancer had been well rested and he was ready to make the trek back to London. Henry wouldn’t be stopping as often as he had on the way to Suffolk. He would allow Prancer to drink when he needed to but otherwise he would continue until he was home.

As opposed to a week, his return journey took him four days. He was relieved to finally see the familiar London buildings as he approached his home city. Hearing the cobble streets under Prancer’s hooves made him smile. It was good to be home.

He rode through London until he came to the more affluent part of town. Large homes occupied the streets and Ethridge was the grandest of them all. He rode Prance through the iron gates and dismounted him just as soon as he arrived at the door. He tied the reins to one of the pillars and then knocked on the door. Moments later, Mr Carter opened it.

“Ah, Master Henry, we’ve been expecting you any day now,” he said cheerfully. Clearly his letter to his mother had beaten him home which was good, it meant his mother was ready to answer his questions.

“Good day, Mr Carter.” Henry smiled. “Could you please have the horse taken out back for grooming and feeding?” he asked.

“Certainly.” Mr Carter nodded. Mr Carter clicked his fingers and a footman came scurrying from down the hall. “Take Master Henry’s horse out back, please,” he instructed. The footman nodded and immediately tended to a sweaty Prancer.

“Where is my family, Mr Carter?” Henry asked as he came indoors.

“Lord Ethridge is in his study with Master James and Lady Ethridge and Lady Alice are in the library with the children,” Mr Carter replied.

“Excellent.” Henry grinned. “Thank you, Mr Carter,” he called over his shoulder as he headed towards the library. He didn’t knock on the door when he arrived, he just merely opened it. His mother and Alice sat on the settee lazily with all three of the children lying across them as Alice read to them in French from Histoires ou contes du temps passé.

Both women looked up to see who the intruder was, as did his nephew and nieces.

“Uncle Henry!” Jack cheered, clumsily climbing off of Emilia and running as quickly as his little legs would carry him over to Henry.

Henry grinned and scooped up his young nephew. “I’ve missed my little Jack.” He kissed Jack’s cheek quickly before cuddling him tight and carrying him back over to his smiling mother and sister – in – law. His nieces smiled and giggled but there were comfortable on their mother’s lap.

“Hello, mama, Alice,” Henry greeted them.

“We were not expecting you for a long while, darling,” Emilia commented. “Not that I’m not thrilled you’re home. I’d prefer you in my sight then off gallivanting in the countryside.”

“Mama, I was not gallivanting,” he said impatiently. “Are you not at the orphanage today, Alice?” Henry asked.

Alice shook her head. “No. I decided to take the day to myself and spend some time with my little ones. I quite like being ‘ome. I think Eloise and I will ‘ave to work out alternate schedules. I can’t be away all the time.”

Henry knew James didn’t like the fact that Alice was always away from the house. He did not refuse her work or any hobbies but he knew just as much as she did that she was missing the children’s infancy.

“Did you have something to ask me, darling?” Emilia prompted.

“Yes, mama.” Henry nodded. “I wanted to enquire as to where you and Mr Shaw grew up. I also wanted to know if you knew his parents or any family that may still reside there.” He could not believe that he did not know where his mother grew up. It was most likely because she never spoke about anything before she met his father. She was neglected by her parents and mistreated and abused by her first husband. That was all he knew. He could perfectly understand why she would prefer not to speak of it.

“Hertfordshire,” she replied. “A little village called Yearling. It was on the edge of the county, in the south. Vernon’s father died before he was born. He was raised by his mother, Margaret. My memories are now tainted. Vernon was the one who helped me survive my youth. How twisted he became.” Emilia shook her head in disbelief and held her hands out for her grandson. Henry handed Jack over to Emilia who immediately nestled into her.

“It is no fault of yours, mama,” Henry promised.

“You were not to know,” Alice added.

Emilia merely shrugged her shoulders. “Will you depart for Hertfordshire today, Henry? Or will you stay for some food and rest?”

Henry had but one desire. He needed to check on Ebony. He just had to make sure she was alright for his own peace of mind. “I shall leave tomorrow, mama. I plan on going to the opera house today to check on Miss Seaver.” He went to turn around and leave the library but his mother’s voice stopped him.

“You would not have heard, darling,” Emilia said regretfully. “But the opera has moved on ahead of schedule. They departed for Paris but two days ago. I only know this as Vernon stopped by to bid me farewell. Your brother had to physically restrain your father from doing anything stupid.”

His mother’s entire speech was inconsequential. The only words he registered were ‘departed for Paris’. He would have been too late anyway. He only prayed that she’d received his letter before she’d left so that she had funds available to flee France should she need to.

“Then I suppose I shall depart today,” Henry decided. “I am bound for Hertfordshire.”

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Hope you liked it :)

My mum went out tonight so I was supposed to make dinner - yeah, that'd go well :P I told one of my brothers to come in the car and get take away with me so on the way there I plugged my phone into the car and told my brother to pick a song. He chose 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen and can I just tell you that we went to town! I'm talking word for word, head banging and singing the opera and guitar solo bits. X Factor here we come :P Then he put on 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)' by The Proclaimers and we were re-enacting the scenes from 'How I Met Your Mother' in my car. We rounded off the trip with 'Affirmation' by Savage Garden. They were an Australian 90s band and this song is one of my favourites. Every line starts with 'I believe' and it is me in a nutshell :

--- "I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned,

I believe you can't appreciate real love 'till you've been burned.

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side,

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say 'goodbye'."

Bloody good song :) In fact, I'm going to put the song on the side :) Have a listen with me!!

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