The Sterley’s of Oakland Park, SAREJESS [best e reader for epub .txt] 📗

mashed potato. With butter into her mouth “My dear Ann I merely mention this in passing as this evenings meal is uncommon in its wonderful flavor and aroma” said Lady Sarah.

After dinner, the company returned to the drawing room where a great fire had been build in the fireplace. it was around this warmth that the Sterley’s and there guests George Parker Lady Sarah and Arabella gathered for it was one of those evenings which comes at the end of an English autumn which all men long for hearth and home.

A while later Lady Sarah said, “I am exceedingly tired I will bid you all a good night” as she rose taking a candle to light her way. Her good night was greeted by various members of the assembled company wishing her a good nights rest. “Till the morrow dear Sarah” said Lady Ann. At ten o’clock Lady Ann and Sir Thomas retired to there bed chamber the wind blew with out as a tempest began to build.

Later in the night Arabella woke Lady Ann “Come quickly my dear Aunt for Mamma is in some distress I fear for her she seems most ill,” said the young woman as lady Ann pulled on a gown for the night was cold and there was frost upon the windowpane.
Upon arriving at the bedchamber, the Fitz-Gibbon’s shared Ann took in immediately that some thing of a serious nature had occurred for her dear cousin lay upon the bed her color gone deadly grey her breathing labouredly. “I must wake Sir Thomas immediately” said Lady Ann “Dear Arabella pray go and wake Lydia and bid her come this instant to watch with you over your dear Mamma” said Lady Ann.


Upon been awakened and made aware of his guests distress Sir Thomas roused Tom and together father and son rode to Notheringay to fetch doctor Booth away from his slumber and contentment in the arms of morpius

Doctor Booth leaned once more over Lady Sarah took her pulse shook his head and laid her hand down. Taking up a mirror he placed it before the patents nose for a full minute he remain in this position then his hand he closed her eyes. I fear Lady Sarah is no more a sudden change in temperature a shock of sorts a sudden stopping of the heart I believe has taken her from this world. If her constitution had been stronger she might have lived but the sudden change in weather and a heavy meal of sorts has put her beyond our help.“ He concluded.

“The sobbing that burst from Arabella was like a fountain which had long been bottled up for as a child she had been in the most fortunate position of been doted upon by both her parents. Lady Sarah who had known what it was like to be ignored as a child had devoted a large amount of time to the bringing up of her daughter. thus her sudden passing was felt more acutely by Arabella then would normally have been the case Lady Ann came to the young woman embraced he and led her away saying as she did ” There, there poor child she is quite in a state of nerves. Lydia dear bring some brandy for her“ she shall spend the rest of the night in my chamber” Ann concluded


The first snow was upon the ground Sophia lifted the hem of her dress as she moved across the steps in front of the house, it had been only a few short hours since Lady Sarah Fitz-Gibbon had passed away yet so much had already happened since then. Lord Charles Fitz-Gibbon had arrived this morning Papa had greeted the nobleman with as much tenderness as one would expect on such a sad occasion.

Arabella was with her father now both giving a measure of comfort to each other at

The distance to the estate of Lord Fitz-Gibbon been great it was decided to lay the mortal remains of Lady Sarah to rest in the vault of the Notheringay Church in the tomb of Sterley family. This was done that it might not distress Arabella and Charles Fits-Gibbon who had been very close to his lately departed wife.


The snow began to fall as the parson intoned the words from the Book of Common Prayer when His Lordship and Arabella left the church the snow was thick upon the ground. The wheels of the carriage leaving long tell tale signs in the earth as it moved off. Sir Thomas and Lady Ann followed in there own carriage back to Oakland park the two carriages went the occupants of both silent in there reflection at the sorry and speed at which one of there number had been snatched away.


“I trust that I can leave Arabella in your care Ann” said Lord Charles Fitz-Gibbon “Of late there is much to keep me busy in the north and I will have little time to comfort her as you know Sarah and Arabella where exceptionally close” he continued. “It would indeed be a pleasure to care for her Charles” said Lady Ann. “I know this is a trying time for you and for dear sweet Arabella it must simply be the worst but have no fear cousin I will take very good care of her” she ended.

“May I offer you a glass of brandy” enquired Sir Thomas of Lord Charles “Capital idea sir capital” said his lordship as he took the offered glass. The two men stood watching the weather outside from the large bay window that was a feature of the study. The ground was already covered with snow it seemed as if it might snow again Sir Thomas had tried to make his guest stay another day. However, Lord Charles pleaded urgent business and could not delay for he would have to return to his estates to put Lady Sarah’s affairs in order. The death of his wife had come as a shock to every one including him for he had always believed that Sarah had been of a very robust nature. Seldom sickened but he knew of old that when indeed she did sicken it was usually of a serious nature for Lady Sarah had loved the outdoors and could not bear to be abed unless she was exceptionally ill or in childbirth.

Sir Charles took leave of his daughter and Oakland Park on a dreary wet morning in October. Now the inhabitants of Oakland Park returned to there various occupations Sir Thomas to his study where he once more took up his pen and continued his to work on his study of the bird life of Southern England. Lady Ann and her daughters found themselves once more in the withdrawing room stitching various objects of needlework. For it was the season when the house was fully occupied with preparations for the Yuletide and thus much work was to be done.

The young men of the family found themselves busying themselves with games of cards, reading and writing for it was a slow time of the year for them Young Tom begun once more to write verse for he had in mind a number of things he wished to share with the family on certain winter evenings. John found his time occupied by the study and cataloging of various seeds for next spring’s plantings.

“Arabella dear do take some tea with me” said Lady Ann who was doing her best to relive the sadness that beset the heart of her young relative. “Lydia pray play an air for us the air is so oppressive I fear that winter has come to stay for quite a long spell and needs to be dispersed with a country air, Mary please accompany your sister you have such a fine voice” said Lady Ann.

While Lydia played lady Ann began to consider the forthcoming nuptials of her daughter and George Parker, she began to plan in detail the wedding for according to her the wedding should take place in the spring when the first blossoms began to show.

Lydia stopped playing the last strains of the music lingering for a moment “Mamma I believe that it will be the grandest wedding that Notheringay has seen in a long time” she said. “Yes my dear in a while we will begin to stitch your wedding robes I think that we know enough to make it quite a dress one that will make the county gasp at your beauty” said Lady Ann. “Oh Mamma you do say the strangest things” laughed Lydia who considered herself quite plan. “Oh do I indeed daughter pray are you not one of the prettiest of the Sterley’s? Asked Lady Ann. ”If you say so Mamma“ said Lydia quite giving in to her mother for she had learned a long time ago that to gainsay her mother was a battle that she would not and could not win.

“Sir Thomas entered the drawing room and poured a cup of tea, I believe that it will get a lot colder before the day ends,” he said. “Dearest husband you do have a way of putting a damper on our every occasion” said Lady Ann

“Do I my dear?” he asked a little taken aback for he had always considered himself a rather lighthearted person.

The light of a number of candles burned brightly in the dinning room of Oakland Park the inhabitants of Oakland Park and there guests the Parkers where sitting down to dinner upon the table was a number of dishes of the smell of roast pork and beef filled the room

Sir Thomas said Grace there after the company fell to a various attack upon the various dishes. “I would like to know what profound course has set your cook to make such fine dishes said Emily Parker.

“Ah the cooking of Mrs. Murphy she is the best cook we have ever had recently come over with her whole family at Thomas’s insistence” said Lady Ann. “Why Sir Thomas I had no idea that you had such feelings for the Irish poor” said Mr Parker. “Indeed I do not know much of the Irish poor but of Mr Murphy I know a great deal,” said Sir Thomas.

“I wonder sir if you