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

do well in the world,‘ she said coldly.

It always came as a surprise to Sir Thomas how an woman of longstanding acquaintance could make even good news sound so formidable like the speaker in the house announcing the butchers bill for the last quarter he mused. As the saying went the apple falls not far from the tree for Sir Thomas had in mind a number of occasions when he had seen his own female children behave in the same fashion that Lady Ann now was?

Leaving Lady Ann Sir Thomas went about his daily tasks bemused by the fact that he could not fathom what had occasioned his wife to take such a set against him. Had he not always done his duty by her did he not show the measure of his affection for her by telling her on as many occasions that he still loved her even though they were now grown to that time of life when one should be comfortable with each other?

“True he had not always been at home but this was due to his service to crown and country a man should always do his duty to crown and country first before considering his own needs was the motto he had been brought up to believe in and he thought that his wife knew this. but there must be some new occasion for this strange behavior of the woman who had been his devoted companion, what can it be he mused as he began cutting some flowers. Maybe if I bring some flowers into the house and present them to her she might change her mind and forgive me for what ever slight I have afforded her he thought.

From a window on the upstairs Lady Ann observed her husband she was angry extremely angry did he think that she would not find out, did he indeed think that a kiss would save him? And now what was the silly man up to cutting her roses did he not understand that they had taken a long time to grow that much care had gone into there breeding?

At the entrance to Oakland Park a messenger hurried through the gate he had been sent with a letter of the greatest urgency from Ireland his master had instructed him to hand it to no one but Sir Thomas Sterley of Oakland Park. Then to wait for a reply from Sir Thomas, The livery of the messenger denoted a great house an old and ancient line one which the Sterley’s had seen before not many months earlier.

For the Earl of Waterford had in the months since the challenge to Sir Thomas’s honor grown brave enough because of distance in time and space now to wish to settle the matter of honor. At the same moment another coach was making its way to Oakland containing Young Harry Watson with some very agreeable news.


Chapter Twenty One


“Remarkable” said Sir Thomas as he waved a letter in his hand. “It would seem that his lordship the Earl of Waterford has decided that he needs to settle the matter of honor at the earliest convince,” he continued “Indeed husband I would have thought that you would be most pleased at this communication,” said Lady Ann.

“I will answer his letter directly I will also have to ask James to act as my second,” said Sir Thomas. “Pray why does that man in the Earls livery wait?” asked Lady Ann. “He has instruction from his lordship to wait for a reply, his lordship will be in Town till the end of next week and will be able to wait upon me on any day the following week. I will write to him this instant I think Friday fortnight will be suitable,” said Sir Thomas.

“As you will sir you know best,” said Lady Ann Sir Thomas left the drawing room to go and write the letter to the Earl of Waterford. Lady Ann pondered for a moment then taking from a draw in the bureau inn and paper, she began to write a letter of her own

Your Lordship,

I have thought long upon a certain matter and beg your indulgence... she began. Sir Thomas in the meanwhile had been writing his own letter when he returned he found Lady Ann gone and the messenger seated in the kitchen eating a small meal. Handing the letter over he watched as the man finished his meal and left.

“Sir Thomas and Lady Ann were in the drawing room he writing again she contemplation with a knowing smile some great matters which was playing upon her mind.

“Missive

To Captain James Aubrey
Great Witham
Surrey

From Sir Thomas Sterley
Oakland Park
Surrey
Saturday 18th March 1816

Dear James,
I fear that I must call upon you to stand once more as my second in the matter of his lordship the Earl of Waterford.
I have given him to understand that Friday fortnight would be a suitable time for him to wait upon me here at Oakland’s I believe that every thing can be arranged with the greatest circumspection. I think that we can arrange for doctor Barry of Notheringay to attend the field of honor and render any service, which matters might arise from the settlement of the debit of honor.

I await your replay by return of post

Your obedient Servant
Thomas Sterley

Missive
From Sophia Aubrey
Great Wisham
Surrey

Dearest Papa,
I have just this moment come away from James’s bedside the doctor is hopeful for his recovery after eating some thing the other day while visiting the Reverend and Mrs. James.

I fear that James has begged me to write and express his most sincerely regrets that he is quite unable to wait upon you as a second in the matter between yourself and the Earl of Waterford.

The doctor has forbidden him from rising from his bed until he is completely recovered

James has expressed his sorrow for been unable to be of service to you and begs that you will not consider this as a slight for he is quite unwell. The doctor has bleed him and is hopeful for his recovery however he has stated that it will take time

Your Loving daughter
Sophia


“Remarkable, most remarkable I was not even aware that James was feeling poorly,” said Sir Thomas. “I have not heard of it what is amiss,” asked Lady Ann. It seems that some malady has affected James and he has taken to his bed,“ said Sir Thomas.

A servant entered and announced a visitor “Mr Watson” said the servant. “Pray let him step in” said Sir Thomas his countenance lightening for here was an occasion to ask of the young man a service.

“Good day Sir Thomas I trust that you are well?” said Harry Watson “Indeed I am quite well and I hope that you have had a good result to your efforts?” asked Sir Thomas. “Indeed I have the most wonderful news the fair lady was much impressed and has expressed a wish that I call upon her and her father at an early convenience.

“I am exceedingly glad for it” said Sir Thomas pray may I ask a service of you?“ enquired Sir Thomas. ”I would be glad to be of service to you in any way that suits you Sir,“ said Harry.


“Pray step this way,” said Sir Thomas as he lead the younger man away to the library to discuss the matter of acting as his second.

“Lady Ann had of late been very cold towards her husband the letter in his hand had startled her much. She was not a woman to be trifled with and had already set in motion the beginnings of a plan which if truth be told would have frightened Sir Thomas so much that he would have fretted and not slept a wink. For Lady Ann would have her revenge she was a woman scorned she who was of an old and noble family would not let any man least of all her husband tread upon her heart. For she had loved him through many trails and tribulations, she had eaten humble pie and had always as the good book instructed a wife to be a meek and obedient wife. However, this latest insult was some thing she could not bear.

It was not that she had not had the opportunity to be unfaithful to him indeed in her youth and as a newly wed wife of a naval officer. Of course there had been many opportunities for her to have a dalliance but she had risen above every attempt at conquest from the males of the species. For she considered such dalliances unseemly her honor meant much to her even though there had been times when she had been very lonely while her husband had been away at sea. Lady Ann’s temperament was not suited for unfaithfulness, thus she was unable to understand the latest infidelities of her husband for had she always tried to be most accommodating to what ever he desired?


The sound of a coach stopping outside the Grosverner Square home of the Earl of Waterford could be heard; his Lordship laid aside the volume he had been reading. His expected guest had arrived wishing to impress his guest he