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

from the girl,” said Lady Ann. “I am aware now of the circumstance of this affair,” said Sir Thomas now convinced of the depth of the love of the couple. Throwing himself into a chair, he contemplated for a moment a bird sang in the garden the voice of the small creature filling the room bringing him once more to his reason. For he could not remain in a state of agitation when a bird brought forth such a song of merriment.

Rising he rung the bell which brought one of the servants‘ into the chamber “Pray ask young master Tom to join us directly, said Sir Thomas. Departing the chamber the servant hurried on his way to find Tom.

“Now my dear it might be wise to write to your father and inform him of your feelings for Tom for I shall certainly have occasion once I have finished my task in London to proceed Northward with Tom to speak with your father on this matter. Pray take a moment to consider what you would write to your papa and when you have done so hand me your letter for I shall deliver it directly we meet him” Said Sir Thomas.

“Entering the chamber now Tom came with fear and trepidation for he knew not what way the weather yard had turned for or against him. Thus, he was anxious to know if Arabella would consent to be his wife or nay if he was to wander in African a stranger in a forbidding land.

“‘I have bethought” me self said Sir Thomas “and see an occasion where with all our hopes and desires might at one stroke be met” he continued, “Pray tell all” said Lady Ann now anxious to have an end to the argument. “It is simple my dear wife for if these to young people would marry before going to Africa it would be a pleasurable thing for Tom to serve away with a wife in Africa thus he will gain valuable experience and one hopes preferment more hastily then a young unmarried officer with little prospects. Yes indeed I will see Lord Fits-Gibbon directly we leave London and see what arrangement can be made in regard dowry and the like,” said Sir Thomas

“Why husband I have always wondered what I saw in you and yet you make it plan you are most fortunate in your foresight for you have of an instant made all things fit rightly and properly together” said Lady Ann.
Chapter nineteen


Chapter Ten


“More tea my dear Lady St Vincent?” asked Lady Ann proffering the tea pot in the direction of Martha St Vincent. “No thank you Lady Ann I have been drinking far too many cups of tea of late,” said Lady St Vincent. It has been quite some time since I last visited the counties life in Town keeps one so busy that one seldom finds time to even consider a holiday in the counties,“ said Lady St Vincent. ”However since the peace John has found that he has much time for reflection and thus we are come at last to my dear nephew’s house,“ said Lady St Vincent nodding in the direction of William Parker.

“Dear William and Emily have been so kind to us one hardly ever experiences such pleasant company in society now a days” said Lady St Vincent. “Quite so” said his Lordship the Earl of St Vincent. They had come into the counties to visit with there relatives. Lady Ann upon hearing of there presents in the home of there brother-in law Parker had set out at once to make the esteemed couples acquaintance for she viewed it as a great privilege to meet the famed Earl who had done so much for England in the field of navel warfare.

She was certain that Sir Thomas would be most put out by the fact that he was currently away and would not have the occasion to meet the St Vincent’s. “Do you plan to stay long in the county asked Lady Ann?” “A fortnight maybe,” replied Lady Martha. “My dear husband will be so put out for not been here to have met you. However a matter of family business will delay him in London I should imagine,” said Lady Ann “That is a pity for I am sure that my husband and he would have much to speak about been old sea dogs,” said Lady Martha “ quite so” remarked the Earl as he took another sip of tea from the delicate china cup.

“Sir Thomas on one occasion related to me on his lordships wit in the House of Lords when been questioned, some thing about the French coming” said Lady Ann. “Madam I can only assume it was the remark I made in the year 01, I do not say, my Lords that the French will not come. I say only they will not come by sea” said the earl.

“The very thing Sir Thomas said of you my Lord indeed a very sharp wit you have sir,” said Lady Ann “Will you step out with me sister-in-law? Asked Emily now growing aware that the earl whose countenance had been till this very moment one of fond remembrance exceedingly dark. For Emily parker perceived that the presence of Lady Ann was not to the liking of the old sea dog and as such she would not want it said that her husbands relative was been prevailed upon far more then polite society allowed.

“Yes shall we walk the maze for a spell?” asked Lady Ann linking her arm into that of her hostess. “I think I will obliged to join you” said Lady Martha who did not fancy the company of the gentlemen for she knew of old that men when in company prefer the females of society to amuse themselves with out making it an obligation of the men to keep them company when they speak of the hunt and guns and such other things that are in mans domain.

“It has been a fine summer uncommonly hot” said Lady Ann as they strolled in the maze. I should imagine that when winter comes we will long for these fine days,“ remarked Emily.

“Sir Thomas of course is a man for all seasons, he can be found in the Avery at all hours of the day and night inspecting his birds” said Lady Ann. “does your husband collect birds? Asked Lady St Vincent lighting upon a subject for whom she had an interest in fact a very deep love for her husband had brought her a parrot on one of his trips from foreign parts. ”Yes dear Lady he is exceeding fond of birds he plans to publish a book on the avian life of southern England before to long“ replied Lady Ann. ”That is the most remarkable thing for I am a great admirer of birds in there natural state, I have often watched the birds as they have flown south for the winter“ remarked Lady Martha

The ladies wandered trough the garden enjoying the late summer afternoon until it was time for Lady Ann to depart. “You must come again soon sister-in-law” said Emily “Yes that I will,” said Lady Ann as she mounted the hack that had brought her. For she had a new and certain fondness for her new relatives the Parkers more over the chance of missing out on the pleasant company of Lady St Vincent was some thing she could not bear to forego, for while in the maze the woman had found much of common interest. Lady Ann’s inquisitive mind seeking out those aspects of the life of her new friend made her exceedingly happy.

Missive

TO
Sir Thomas Sterley,
Picardy Hotel
London
From
Lady Ann Sterley,
Oakland Park
Surrey
September 1814

Dearest Husband I have the pleasure of informing you that yesterday I had the great honor of taking tea with the Earl and Lady St Vincent at the home of William Parker.

It came as a pleasant surprise to me to discover that William is the nephew of Lady St Vincent. The Earl and his good wife had come into the county to visit with there relative sand had occasion to stop at the Parkers for a fortnight.

I beg to inform you that should the matter of Tom be ended in good time you might take measures to hasten your return for as I informed his lordship you are an old sea dog and you would have much to speak about

Your loving wife
Ann


“Well my dear it is settled ”Lord Charles is very receptive to the idea of a match between our Tom and Arabella“ said Sir Thomas as he warmed his backside over the fire. ”This is most fortuitous news, we shall have to start preparations at once“ said Lady Ann. ”The meeting at fleet street went exceedingly well I even managed to call upon Lord Hood who you will remember my dear is an old friend of the navy,“ remarked Sir Thomas. ”This news of Tom and Arabella we shall have to publicize,“ said Lady Ann ”Pray how long before the will have to leave for the colony?“ asked Lady Ann ”Sir Benjamin gave me to understand that it would be three months hence thus my dear we have at least two months in which to make and prepare for the wedding. Lord Charles has said he will consider a dowry of twenty thousand pounds for young Arabella,“ said Sir Thomas. ”That dear husband is the least he could do after leaving the poor child in our care for such an extended season. One contemplate son the fact that he has hardly seen his daughter for almost a year“ remarked Lady Ann crossly for she was unaccustomed to such parental neglect in her immediate family. ”I am given to understand that Lord Charles is to be married again with in the year,“ said Sir Thomas.

“Sir you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge and facts pray what and who is the lady who is the object of his affections?” she asked. I t is I believe a lady of your acquaintance or at least some one you knew in your youth now a woman of most sober habits Miriam Lady Fortescue you will of course remember her from an occasion when she spent a season at Moorcroft Hall,“ said Sir Thomas