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

door Sir Thomas called “Sophia, Ann pray please to come here for I have the best news to give you,” he said. The sound of female steps approaching the door could be heard come in my dear,“ said Sir Thomas as he held open the door for his wife and child to enter.

“My dear daughter the captain has made plain to me certain feelings which he has lead me to believe are reciprocal, if this be true and I am sure the good captain will not lie on this account. Allow me to say that I wish you a long and happy life as husband and wife,” said Sir Thomas

“Papa thank you thank you thank you” said Sophia as she flung her arms around her father. “Well it seems there is to be a wedding,” Lady Ann with a smile upon her face congratulations my dear captain,“ said Lady Ann. ”Madam I would be obliged if you would call me James,“ said Aubrey. ”Indeed I shall for you are to be my son in law err long,“ said Lady Ann.

The following Saturday the Sterley’s made there way to St. George’s, Hanover square where the happy couple we united in holy matrimony. Much to the joy of the gathered congregation who had come to hear of there wedding through the steadfast and unceasing efforts of Lady Ann who had done much in the preceding week to let every one in the Sterley social circle know of the impending marriage. Upon there leaving the church the bells begun to toll a flock of pigeon’s affrighted rose from the bell tower. As if in blessing of the newly wed couples union.


Chapter Eighteen


The air was heavy with expectation for this evening there was to be a ball at the house in the Mews. The lights of hundreds of candles filled the ballroom. The coaches with liveried servants stood outside the door of the town house of Sir Thomas Sterley. Mary having overcome the first hurdle of been accepted in to society was more at easy at home then she had been at the ridged Almack’s ball a few evenings earlier. In truth, it could be said that she had behaved impeccable and with great grace so much so in fact that Lady Jersey had commented on how well she danced.

The other patronesses had also been very much taken with her and had marked her out for special favor when she again appeared at Almack’s. Never the less tonight was her night and she was of a mind to enjoy her self. Sir Thomas had bought the house in the Mews Mayfair shortly before the season had started it had taken a great deal of work but the house was eventually ready one week before the opening of Parliament.

The previous afternoon at the request of the prince regent Sir Thomas and his new son in law captain Aubrey had gone to the Naval club of which Sir Thomas had recently been accepted as a member. Membership of the club the exclusive domain of senior naval officers had for years been an object of Sir Thomas’s desire. Now as a new member, he had been called upon to invite as his guest for the afternoon captain Aubrey who under normal circumstances would not have been admitted to the club until he had reached a very senior rank in the service. The reason for his invitation was a desire upon his highness the prince regent to meet with the naval captain who had done so well in the late wars.

The dinner to which the gathered naval officers had sat down to had been to say the least a splendid affair of five courses. Captain Aubrey seated at the very low end of the table as custom demanded had been repeatedly questioned and complemented by the senior officers in regard to his actives while at sea. Later the Prince regent had questioned him most closely on the duel in which Sir Benjamin had fallen, for at one time Sir Benjamin had been a favorite of the Prince however the nobleman had fallen out with the regent on some known business. There after the men had talked generally of the present seasons society when the matter of the Earl of Waterford had come up in the course of the evening Sir Thomas had been required much to his distaste to give account of the letter he recived from the Earl. The conversation ended on this matter with certain of the naval gentleman in great mirth at the Earls audacity in finding a way to escape his obligation in the matter of honor.

The Prince regent it seemed was taking note of what was been said with great interest his overlarge body suffering under the attack of the heat of the great fire that burned in the fire place upon leaving the club late in the evening after many toasts to the good captain. Moreover, Sir Thomas for his part in the valiant action on the field of honor. They had taken a chaise and four to the house in the Mews where Lady Ann and her daughters awaited there return anxiously. For they were aware of the honor bestowed upon the young captain by the regent and the navel club, James Aubrey had in his possession as he returned that night a number of cards of some of the foremost names in the naval circle. Who had expressed a wish that he and his good wife call upon them when the season was over at there country estates.

However, this evening was Mary’s evening the house was already crowded with guests as the first couples took to the floor. An officer of the Cavalry took it upon himself to ask Mary for the first dance Arthur Batenfield session of an old Scottish family. Mary found much to her liking for he was an excellent dancer the new waltz was of the first dances to take place upon this evening, which the young officer danced well having learned first hand of the new dance the evening before Waterloo. When the Duke of Wellington and his men had been at a ball not to many miles from the following days action. Thus, the officer had danced with Belgium ladies on the evening and gone out to face the guns the following day.

The older gentlemen and ladies found themselves partaking of a light supper, which had been prepared in the dinning room; the young ladies and bucks would partake later. The night was young and the floor open the assembled company found great joy in dancing the night away.

“I am most happy to say that every thing seems to be as it should be,” said Sir Thomas to an old acquaintance. “I find that these sort of things do have a way of turning out well,” said the acquaintance. Lady Ann coming over to join her husband on the side of the great ball room said Sir I believe that our youngest may have found the gentleman who best suits her“ ”Indeed Ann I think that mayhap we need to give her a little more time for she is young and if needs be. Needs to dance with a few more gentlemen before she can make a decision upon the matter,“ replied her husband.

“My wife you see believes in love at first sight, while I like to take the time to see how a man will progress in the world. For before one hitches ones coach to a horse one must be sure that the horse is able to pull the coach, so to with a gentleman I like to see what are his prospects before I give him my daughter’s hand,” said Sir Thomas

“Quite so, quite so, remarked his acquaintance.


The carriages stood at the door servants rushed here and there loading the baggage for the Sterley’s were retuning to the country. The season been over the last social calls of the season made the last farewells for the next nine months.

Now old Bonaparte locked up safe after these many years now safely halfway across the world on St Helena Island. Britain and the world now safe at last from his greedy grasp.

Captain Aubrey returning to his command while young Sophia was to return with her parents to Oakland Park. Mary now dressed in the best stood upon the step watching the activities in the street. Although she had not found a husband she was content for she knew that a number of connections had been made it would not be long before the young men of well-connected families began visiting Oakland’s.

She had been particularly impressed by the handsome young lieutenant of the Kings household cavalry who seemed very nice if somewhat nervous in her company.

“Well lass are you ready?” asked Sir Thomas. “Oh papa I am always ready to go home she said like an old solder after another successful campaign. ”Ah there you are,“ said Lady Ann stepping out of the house. ”Pray Mary fetch my fan,“ she said. The reason for her desiring her daughter to step in side was the fact that the old woman found it unseemly that a young lady should be upon the steps while it was quite all right for the master of the house to be on the step. However, she was of the opinion that she must this instant have a word or two too say to her husband. ”Tom please step inside as I would have some thing of significance to say to you,“ she said.

Stepping in side Sir Thomas was hurriedly followed by his wife Dear wife what is this matter of significance that you would speak upon,“ Sir Thomas asked.” What a fudge is going about town,“ she said ”Indeed pray enlighten me,“ said Sir Thomas ”Well I have it of the countess of Devon that the Earl of Waterford has been heard to say that you are a coward for not taking up sooner the matter of honor for he claims he wrote to you requesting a meeting to resolve this and you refused begging his pardon and extending an apology,“ said Lady Ann. Laughing Sir Thomas said well Ill be dumfounded the Earl is such an old rouge to lie lake that, I shall write to him this instant and request that our second meet to set the place and time when I can wait upon him,” said Sir Thomas. Drying the tears of mirth from his eyes for he had come to expect that the earl would find some way to turn the tables upon