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

Neither did she know for the untimely deaths of the victims were put down to a pestilence which had struck the village of Notheringay at a time when peril stalked the land.

It was true that Elizabeth’s culinary creations were handled with the greatest care when presented by her good husband at Oakland Park. Indeed the very moment that the reverend gentleman made his departure from the abode of the Sterley’s the Pie would be consigned to the piggery for Lady Ann had only to partake of Mrs. James cooking to know that the best place of honor for the dish was the piggery.

Thus in the interests of the safety of her family Lady Ann would gladly accept the offered dish from the reverend and make a show of admiring it for indeed the visual look of the pie was on of spectacular beauty but its content dangerous to man.. Thus to preserve the layer of acceptable society the good lady continued to accept these dishes as they arrived giving thanks and recognition for them, unwilling to upset the reverend gentleman’s house for Mr James was a man of visions which had served the community well he was also a ghost layer of some fame.

Elizabeth James went about her days blissfully unaware of the danger which she presented to society while others stayed clear of her cooking as far as possible for the wise knew that her creations were liable to lead to a great uncomfortable. Indeed her own dear Brother in law Charles had of late for some unexplainable reason refused to call upon there home, which according to there likes was one of domestic bliss and a level of order which had seldom prevailed at the Notheringay Parsonage for many years for the ministers who took up the living did not remain longer then was needed for Notheringay had not much in the way to the clergyman who wished for to study would soon be drawn away to more profitable livings at Oxford or to Kent where the country air was rumored to be excellent and there was no counting the number of clergymen who had suddenly come under the urge to vacate the living of Notheringay to go to take the waters at Bath..

The living at Notheringay was not a rich one it was to the credit of Mr James that he had stayed making of it the best comfortable situation as possible. Mr James’s reputation was indeed one of which any one could say he was a Godly man who put the care of others before his own personal interests for he truly embodied the spirit of Christ in all he did. From his early morning meditations upon the green to the time he took with older parishioners who would talk for hours about there youth when George II was king. Indeed old Albert had been born in the final years of the rein of the first George and it was of him that that Mr James was most fond of listening for he told great stories of those days.


Chapter six


“My dear Lady Virginia,
I give you greetings from Surry and particularly Oakland Park I have no doubt that what passed between our fathers will soon pass. There after we might once more find ourselves enjoying the pleasure of each other’s company Sophia and Mary send there send there fondest wishes

“I would that I could present to you a line of verse to show my fondest esteem for your person


In Irelands troubled world
A fair English rose does grow
Like Elizabeth of old renown
For her beauty the fair
Lady Virginia of Waterford
My heart has sold

It is but a poor verse but one that my expression of joy at our meeting has brought to my heart,

It would in effect be most fortuitous for us if the current unpleasantness regarding Murphy had not occurred in Pap’s presence for papa is most serious in his regard for the rights of the lower classes having never forgotten the men that served under him when as a young man he fought at Saint Vincent’s Isle. Thus, I fear that he will not be moved to a view more conservative for he has a great respect for the man Murphy despite his republicanism.

This I am sure is the reason the Prince regent and his family seldom if ever condescend to be seen to be doing our family a service for Papa’s views are well known his politics are those of Wilberforce. Perchance you have heard your father speak of my papa in terms that are not very much to his liking
Pray give when talking to your dear lady mother my fondest regards.


With Sincere affection
Thomas Sterley

Sealing the letter Tom bethought himself as to how to get it into the mails with out its nature or content becoming known to his father thus he decided to walk to the village inn to find the next mail coach leaving for London.

“My Dearest Tom,
Your verse is well read and I thank you for it, I am of a mind to disclose to you the nature of the disposition I am placed under for when your letter came Papa was at home and wanted to know from whom it came. The county has been full of the news that the fellow Murphy and his whole family have left taken they say by some gentleman of wealth to work at his estate in England. Due to the time of this remarkable advent, Papa could draw no other conclusion then it was your father who had spirited away the Murphy family. Indeed Papawas profoundly sorry for it for he had in mind certain plans which have now come to naught for which I am heartily glad for though he be my papa he can at times be filled with a spirit of malicious anger which frightens me.

Of late, I have been painting the falling leaves of autumn soon Christmas will be here and my brothers will be home, what a joy it will be to see the both of them once again for we have been parted three full years. Can it be so long? I was but a child when they left for the war now they will be returning to find me almost a woman awaiting the advent of next season’s gala balls.

How splendid they look in there uniforms I have a portrait of them, which I often contemplate.

I fear dearest Tom that this must be adieu for my Papa will find it very much against his desire should I correspond with any one from your family until the passing of time has healed the wounds done by the occasion of the beating of Colin Murphy

With Sincere affection
Virginia Bromley
Lady Waterford

Virginia laid aside the quill and studied for a moment the words upon the page she hoped that Tom would not take offence at the manner of her writing. for it was the desire of her heart that they would one day be friends of Tom’s sister she had liked Sophia the most for she was more grown up then Mary who was closer to her own age.

Sir Thomas sat with quill in hand contemplating the phrase that he would like to use to the esteemed noble to whom he was about to write in regard to his son Tom

“My dear Sir Benjamin,
I am writing to you to enquire if you will be disposed to a meeting with me when next I will be in London. I am of the opinion that we might be of some mutual service to each other.

My Son Thomas is in need of employment as he is a youth of some experience in letters I was wondering if perhaps there might be occasion with in the foreign office for him to be of some service to the crown.

However, I should be in London three weeks hence and will call upon you at your convenience

Sincerely
Thomas Sterley esquire


Sealing the letter Sir Thomas rose from his writing desk and proceeded down stairs to the drawing room where great changes were under way for tonight would be the ball for which his wife had long planed.

Here he found James a lad of five seated in a chair most seriously studying a chocolate pudding. “Lad if your Mamma finds you here with that pudding you will receive a lashing I am sure” he said to the child. “Mary gave it me” the child said his face covered with pudding.

“Well then we will have to speak with her shall we?” said Sir Thomas as he picked up his son and carried him to the kitchen. “Mary Murphy a lean woman was standing over the fire stirring a pot ”Mary pray take the lad and keep him out of harms way until he has completed his pudding then find his nurse the house is not a safe place for an untended boy“ he concluded Mary Murphy curtsied and took the child. Mrs. Murphy with a brood of eight of her own and three stepchildren knew well the ways of children and knew how to treat them. Sir Thomas left the lad happily applying himself to the remains of the pudding before walking out onto the vast steps of Oakland’s front steps.

“No Sophia don’t put the flowers there they will spoil in the heat bring them here and place them upon the sideboard” said Lady Ann. “A most singular occasion” said Lady Sarah entering the withdrawing room. Lady Ann was not sure to whom the woman was addressing and thus remain silent for a moment “Indeed an occasion for celebration” said the voice of Mr Parker. “Good day” said Mr Parker as he entered behind Lady Sarah into the room Lady Ann curtsied “Good day Mr Parker is it Sir Thomas you are wanting?” she asked

“Of a certainty it is” replied Mr Parker “I have some urgent news to impart to him” replied