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

have seldom had the pleasure of such good company, miss Sophia you will allow me to say that I find that pink dress a most delightful shade,” said the young captain a she lifted a glass of cherry to his lips. “Why captain Aubrey you make me blush this is but a simple dress which Mamma has recently improved upon never the less I thank you for your complement” said Sophia.

“Did you know captain that our Sophia plays the pianoforte exceedingly well do you play?” Asked Lady Ann “Indeed I had the singular honor of playing upon the organ at Great Wisham before I joined I was of course meant for the church but circumstances decreed otherwise,” said Aubrey. “That is a great pity for the church, remarked Sir Thomas. ”I imagine that your new command is quite a large vessel?“ said William ”Indeed it is a ship of a hundred guns and a great many crew,“ replied Aubrey.

“It was most fortunate that you fell in with HMS Ocean when you did was it not” remarked Mary as she bit into a piece of bread. “Indeed it was very fortuitous for me for had I not we would not later have taken as prize the Spaniard,” replied Captain Aubrey.

“Do you mean to say you know all the names of the crew aboard your ship?” asked James who had not thus far taken any part in the conversation. Turning to the boy the assembled party thought they saw in his eyes a far away look of wonder and excitement for surly he of all the children of Sir Thomas was meant for the navy.

“Aye lad that is about the size of it for a sea captain and moreover a captain in the royal navy must know the name of every man who serves aboard his ship. For in battle ones life might very well depend on the service of one of those fine fellows who serves under your command,” said Captain Aubrey.

“When I am grown I shall be a captain in the royal navy,” said the lad as he returned his attention to a piece of mutton, which rested sublimely on his plate amongst a mountain of mashed potatoes.

“Pray tell captain have you any plans for what you will do when the war is finally finished?” asked Lady Ann. “I have not given it much thought I will one day leave the sea I imagine return to the old family seat at Great Wisham,” he said.

“What sort of place is Great Wisham?” asked Sir Thomas. “It is much like any other country estate, large house, town balls assemblies farmers that sort of thing and then of course there is the castle build by the Normans a great monument of a place we seldom have guests to the castle it is by far one of the coldest castles I all of Europe” said Aubrey

“If we live din a castle I am sure we would have the grandest time making the place habitable and cozy” remarked Mary. “Do you have hunting there” enquired Sir Thomas. “We have deer and some fowl in the great forest, Old Wisham how long since I have been there,” remarked the captain as if lost in thought. Nevertheless, a moment later he began tot tell a tale of pirates and gunfire which kept the room enraptured for a good while. When dinner was finally over every one was tired for they had stayed overlong at dinner listening to the stories of the sea, while the moon rose.


Chapter Fifteen


“I have taken the waters at Bath,” said Lydia, “it is the most remarkable thing,” “It seems my dear that Bath has done wonders for your complexion,” remarked Lady Ann. “George of course did not like it he found the waters not to his liking,” said Lydia. As she handed the infant to her mother “He has put on a pound or two,” said Lady Ann as she bounced the child upon her knee.

“Mamma who is the young navel officer who I see with Papa in the gun room?” asked Lydia. “That dear Lydia is our brave guest Captain Aubrey I imagine he and papa are checking the dueling pistols,” said Lady Ann. “Pray why would they be checking the dueling pistols? Asked Lydia.

“It seems an officer of the rifles who is living in the village thinks his honor was defamed the other night by a passing remark young Aubrey made. Thus the gentlemen will be meeting at sunset to settle the matter,” said Lady Ann. “I detest dueling it is barbaric,” replied Lydia.

“If a gentleman’s honor has been impinged my dear there is nothing for it but to have his honor restored by means of a duel,” remarked Lady Ann. “I pray that they have the good sense to fire high,” said Lydia. ‘That is indeed my hope“ replied Lady Ann.

“I have no desire to see either of the officers wounded,” said Lady Ann “but you know what gentlemen are like and I would remind you that in society there is no other way to restore ones honor,” said Lady Ann

“So what is it to be a duel to the death or first blood?” asked Lydia “I believe it is first blood,” said Lady Ann. “Who will stand as the captains second in this matter?” asked Lydia. “Captain Aubrey came to here at our invitation and papa feels it only fair that he stand as his second in this matter” said Lady Ann.“ really Mamma doesn’t papa have the good sense to know that he should not partake in these matters for I have always though that dueling is the prerogative of younger men, Papa should consider his duty to you, to his family first,” said Lydia

“My dear daughter it is incumbent upon your dear papa as a good host to stand as the captains second in this matter,” said Lady Ann “There will be no stopping it I am afraid for the other officer is a proud and haughty man of a good family,” remarked Lady Ann

George Parker entered the drawing room came over and kissed his wife upon the cheek “George you must help papa,” said Lydia in a high state of nerves “ for he has promised to stand as second for captain Aubrey and I am not entirely sure that he has not taken leave of his senses,” said Lydia.

“Aubrey is a good man and I do not think papa has taken leave of his senses I have offered my services to stand as a second to him and he has accepted my offer with a great deal of gratitude,” said George. “Oh no not you to George what is to become of us with you and papa dueling what will poor Mamma do if papa is killed?” asked Lydia “what is to become of our poor child growing up in this world with out a father and grand papa?” she continued.

“Lydia behave like a lady this matter is not a duel to the death I am sure that once the gentlemen have agreed on the rules honor will be satisfied and all will be as it should be” said Lady Ann.

“George glanced towards Lady Ann with a look of understanding and gratitude for Lady Ann knew how best to handle her daughter.

“I must be away for a short while to arrange this matter with the officers of the rifles” said George. “I shall return directly for papa has said we shall try a snifter of a new cognac he has recently got,” he continued before leaving the room.

“Well now this is a fine mess,” we are in said Lydia s she dried her tears,“ My dear Lydia you have naught to fear for seldom do the gentlemen fire to kill at most one of them shall be slightly wounded,” said Lady Ann. “shall we ring for tea?” she enquire of Lydia. “I have a fancy for some thing stronger do you have any Madera in the house?” she asked

‘I am sure that we do I shall have one of the maids bring it directly tell me how was Bath I have on occasion prevailed upon your father to take the waters but he is most strongly against the waters of Bath,“ Said Lady Ann.

“It is a town with much to recommend it I had occasion to see in the high street Miss Austen, you have no doubt heard us speak of her she is a writer of remarkable stories, which she reads of an evening to her family” said Lydia

“I have read one of her books I would not be surprised if she will one day be the foremost lady writer in England,” said Lady Ann. “however I am much more fond of the writings of Mrs. Burney,” said Lady Ann.

“Pray tell what sort of woman is miss Austen in appearance?” enquired lady Ann. “She is not over handsome however she has a fair complexion she is of medium height and carries herself with a great deal of grace,” said Lydia once more warming to the subject of her favorite writer.

“She is singularly fortunate in that she can follow an occupation which brings her joy and allows her to do the things she loves best,” said Lydia.


“I have always wanted to write,” said Lady Ann. “But Mamma I have seen you doing the very thing I have observed you writing for hours on end when papa is not home,” replied Lydia. “I take it you mean my scribbling they are nothing much just random bits of nonsense which take my fancy,” said Lady Ann


The sun was on the verge of setting the two coaches stood in the clearing, the assembled officers and gentlemen stood discussing the rules of engagement.

“Gentlemen the following will apply,” said George Parker to his left stood three officers of the rifles the insulted officer lieutenant