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

had occasion while in Ireland to do any hunting?” asked Mr Parker “I did not have much occasion to hunt on the estates of my Lord of Waterford” said Sir Thomas. “Murphy is now one of my best servants I have gained two pearls of great price in the Murphy’s,” said Sir Thomas.

“Pray pass the gravy Lydia dear,” said Lady Ann who was busy addressing a vast lump of steaming beef and roast potatoes. “Taking a bit of a piece of roast pork Sir Thomas contemplated a heap of green peas. ”I wonder where she learned to cook for surely the Irish did not have a great deal in the way of food to feed themselves,“ said Sir Thomas. ‘I believe she spent a number of years in service to the Earl of Waterford,” said Lady Ann.

“I think before to long we will have to start planning the wedding my dear Emily” said Lady Ann. “That it seems is the only thing my dear wife has been thinking of these past few days‘ said Sir Thomas. ”Have no fear Sir Thomas for Emily has been confounding me with all her suggestions. I am right glad that we have this occasion to visit for they can now lie along side like two old warship and have a battle of it,“ said Mr Parker.

“Oh William how else is a mother to behave when her first born son is to be married?” asked Emily Parker off her husband. “I quite agree said Lady Ann the first marriage is always the most important for it is the one which counts all further marriages in a house are judged on the first one, to marry well is a young lady’s highest priority” she continued.

Dinner now at an end the woman with drew to one of the warmer chambers of the house while Sir Thomas and Mr Parker went into the study to draw a pipe or two. “Well William I believe we will soon be calling one another brother-in-law” said Sir Thomas. “It would appear so I have decided to settle three thousand pounds on George annually,” said Mr Parker. “That is a most generous annuity indeed I will of course settle a generous dowry on Lydia and a thousand pounds on the first born child of there union” said Sir Thomas.

“I think that three thousand should be enough for them to start with find a house of there own, it has come to my attention that Morton Grange is vacant I will look into it and see if the grange will make a suitable home for them” said William Parker. “Yes it is tragic how that house became available,” remarked Sir Thomas who was thinking of the former owner Lord John Morton who for his sins had tried but failed to keep a wife. “I do not think that poor Lord John could have done any thing else after Elizabeth deserted him” said Mr Parker.

The story of Morton Grange was a curiosity for Lord John Morton had returned from India after many years in the service of the Honorable East India Company. Taken a young wife the marriage from all accounts was not a happy one for the young woman in question had been brought up in India and by all accounts was given to wild and reckless behavior. The previous year in the spring of 1812, she had commenced a liaison with an officer of the continental army. Abandoning Lord John in a moment of madness Elizabeth had fled to be with her continental nobleman. Lord John an old veteran of love and war seeming no future for himself at the grange and having contemplated getting his wife back came to a decision there after he wrote a note and then shot himself after consuming a vast amount of brandy. Thus, once the executor of the Morton family had settled the estate of Lord John they had put up the grange for sale for Lord John was the last of his line. It had remained untaken since it had been closed this was the house that the future parents of the happy couple began to think of a suitable home for there respective children.

“George will you read for us?” asked Lady Ann “ It would give me pleasure to do so dearest Lady Ann” said George Parker “Please George you must begin to call me Mamma for what would the parson think if on your wedding day you addressed me as Lady Ann? Come my boy from now on I am your Mamma Lydia you will address Aunt Emily no longer as aunt but as Mamma do I make myself clear?” said Lady Ann. “Yes Mamma” Lydia for it had been the young woman’s intention to do exactly as her mother had specified. Having come to this conclusion some time earlier in the afternoon but until this very moment had not yet found occasion to address Mrs. Parker directly.

“Tom please so good as to go and find your father and Mr Parker pray that I beg to inform them that they should not tarry overlong in the study with those despicable pipes. Return directly and be of good company to us,” said Lady Ann “Tom rose from his occupation and proceeded to the study to deliver the message. Returned and resumed his seat next to Arabella for they had of late become engaged in a discussion on various matters of poetry and the new work by a young lady of genteel birth, which they were currently reading.

For Thomas held there was no greater writer then Sir Walter Scott while Arabella contended that the young lady of genteel was one of the best literary lights of the current age. Tom confessed that he did enjoy somewhat the work of the anonymous young lady of genteel birth but if one wished to read seriously then the works of Sir Walter were exactly the right thing.


Chapter Eight


It was one of those fine spring days when the buds of plants are awakening from there deep winter slumber. The church as Notheringay was surrounded by vehicles of all shapes and sizes. For today George Parker esquire of the county of Surry is to be wed to his long time sweetheart Lydia Sterley spinster of this parish.

James Thomas who has his living of this parish a somber man of middle years is addressing the couple before him. “Do you George William Parker take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold to cherish in good times and in ill times?” inquired the parson. “I do” replied the groom “do you Lydia Ann Sterley take this man to be your lawfully husband to have and to hold. To cherish and love in good time and in ill times?” he then enquired of the young bride before him. Lydia dressed in a white dress with a gay abandon of lace work hesitated a moment before answering then loudly declared, “I do”

By the power vested in me by the Church of England and the Crown I declare you husband and wife you may kiss the bride“ said the minister. Thus said George turned and kissed his bride to loud applause from the gathered congregation.

Momentarily the register will be signed I would ask that those of you who wish to give your congratulations to this delightful couple wait at the door“ said the minister.

“Oh Emily what a wonderful wedding do you not think that Lydia made a beautiful bride” asked Lady Ann of her new sister-in-law. “I do believe they are a handsome couple seldom have we at Notheringay seen such a fine display of affection between a bride and a groom” replied Emily Parker her heart swelling with pride on seeing her eldest son well married.

The happy couple stepped out of the church to be greeted by applause and some very well meaning words by there assembled relatives. Peter Parker who had stood as the best man looked splendid in his uniform. Thoughts of war were far from his mind as there was talk of peace in the air every one was exceedingly glad of this. For Napoleon on Elba was a bear caged at last...


Directly the company adjourned to Oakland Park for the wedding feast, For Sir Thomas and Mr Parker had spared no expense to make this a nuptial feast which would be well remembered for many a year.

The music was playing the first set as the newly weds took to the floor once more to be greeted by loud applause for it was a happy occasion where in all the assembled company now joined a dancing and feasting until late in the night.

The happy couple took there leave of the party at nine o’clock in the evening when it was still quite light. Heading for there wedding holiday for the house Morton Grange was not quite in readiness for occupation and thus Sir Thomas on the insistence of his dear wife had sent the happy couple of to the mid Lothian’s in Scotland to spend a few weeks with a dear friend of many years standing.

“William I think we have done our duty well in this regard” said Sir Thomas, “I believe that directly the happy couple leaves for there wedding holiday. We should retire to my study and express our appreciation for this happy event by sampling a few bottles of whiskey which I have recently recived from Scotland”

Missive
Musselberg
Mid Lothian’s
Scotland
23rd of April 1814
Dearest Mamma,
Scotland is a wonderful place, we visited the home of Sir Walter what a splendid house it is, I highly recommend it. Our first night in Scotland we spent at an inn run by a most interesting man by the Name of Samuel Ferreira I believe a descendent of one of the Spanish who was wreaked here in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Mr Ferreira was very knowledgeable of the war of 1745 and took some time to explain to George the actions. A bit boring for me but George found it of interest.

Mamma I do not want to alarm you but I must tell you that I have been a little indisposed of late with a very bad case of nerves in the morning so much so that I am unable to breakfast only taking a little black tea. I do not know if it is the air, which disagrees, or the rich food, which our gracious host