Since Sir Harry was the closest to the door, he opened it to reveal, of all people, Doctor Edwards. Entering the room, the doctor said, "My dear Lady Winter, I saw your traveling chaise in the courtyard, and I couldn't believe it. I do hope you do not mind my joining you for a few minutes. I wanted to check up on your Uncle Simon." Rushing to explain further, he went on, "I am called to London and will continue my journey tomorrow morning." Espying his patient, the doctor began to approach him.
Lady Winter rose and extended her hand. She shook the doctor's replying, "But of course you should join us. Your arrival could not be more timely. Uncle had an unsettling journey, and we have decided to stay the night here. I would that you see to him and reassure me that we did not leave Brighton too soon." Her worried expression cast a shadow over her countenance.
Doctor Edwards saw to his patient immediately and the men ushered the doctor and Uncle Simon upstairs to his chamber. This left Lord Stanton, Lord Henry and the ladies to spend a little time in conversation. They decided to play whist before they retired. Mrs. Willowby, the landlord’s wife, had already escorted Lady Winter's household staff upstairs, so it was just the four of them in the room.
"I am so pleased the Doctor was passing through and saw our carriage," she exclaimed. I have worried that I rushed our departure instead of letting Uncle rest more. He seemed strong enough, but I must have misread his cheerful disposition for his being more recovered." Lord Stanton patted her hand gently saying, "Lady Winter, you are always putting others before you. All will be well." He smiled and suddenly the evening promised to be more enjoyable than she had hoped.
Sir Harry dealt their cards and for the next hour or so, they laughed, joked and played partners. The men won finally and then it was off to their beds for a good night's rest. They would prepare to leave by nine o'clock, right after breakfast. The gentlemen escorted the ladies upstairs and bade them a good night.
Lady Laura preceded her Aunt into their bedchamber. As their window was open, Alice was lying down inside her little crate. Laura walked to the window and closed it. The late August evening had turned much cooler and this would allow Alice to sleep on her mistress’s bed. Sarah knocked on the door and came into the room. Curtseying, she then helped them to ready themselves for sleep. They thanked her and she went off to her own bed. The ladies settled down into their comfortable feather mattress and soon they were asleep. Alice yawned, stretched and closed her eyes. She purred and soon she was softly snoring into the night air.
Looking up at the bedroom windows of The Wooden Ship, the watcher had decided to climb up to the older man's bedchamber, after the whole household was quiet. Those jewels must be recovered and tonight was perhaps the only chance to check and see if he had the pouch hidden in his belongings. Since they hadn't been found in the front parlor, the old man was the most likely to have picked them up. Tonight was it.
Getting a ladder from the stable had been tricky, as the stable lad was making his nightly rounds and the ladder had to be quietly carried toward the inn. Once it had been lifted and leaned against the brick wall, the nocturnal intruder climbed the rungs as fast as possible. Thankfully the window was open. This was a good sign that fortune was smiling down. Once inside, a quick but silent search produced nothing. The old man was lying on his side and was snoring very loudly. Good enough to muffle the visitor's footsteps.
A continued search through all of his personal belongings proved that the elderly gentleman did not harbor the priceless gems. Climbing out the window and back down the ladder took only a few seconds. The ladder was returned to the stable, so that none would be the wiser. Time to consider who might be in possession of the jewels, for without their recovery, financial doom was imminent.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
-15- Repairing Uncle Simon and Alice Acts Naughty
Lady Laura leaned back against her godfather's large chest, inhaling deeply. His scent, mixed with the fragrance of the warm day, the leather of the saddle and the smell of horseflesh, combined to give her a heady sense of adventure. Sighing a bit, she turned toward him asking, "Do you think poor Uncle Simon is going to recover? He is getting on in years and his hands were visibly trembling when they laid him on the coach seat.” She turned to look forward again, admiring the beauty of her surroundings.
Sebastian's deep voice assured her, "Laura, your Uncle Simon is just having a difficult time of it, but I feel certain he is strong enough to pull through this. Hopefully, he will be back on his feet in a few days. Higgins and Alfred will take good care to see that that happens." His strong hands held the reins a little tighter as the wind suddenly blew hard enough to cause the trees to bend forward and startle his horse.
Meanwhile, Laura's aunt was having a hard time keeping little Alice calmed. She had to hold tightly to her leash while holding her soft, squirming body, to keep her from leaping out the window. Apparently, she wanted to ride on Laura's lap atop the horse. Now that would be a sight, her aunt thought. "Please relax Alice," she admonished gently. "Laura will hold you as soon as we reach the posting house. Looking out the window, she could see the top of the roof coming into view. "See there Alice, we shall arrive in just a few minutes and you will be reunited with Laura again." Alice let out a tiny mew and settled down on the skirt of Aunt Minerva's dress. She looked wistfully at the tops of the trees passing in view of the opened window.
Having reached the posting house, the entourage was made heartily welcome by the owner, and their horses were taken to the stables. Everyone entered the establishment, which was called, The Wooden Ship, and was quietly taken to a private dining room. Once there Uncle Simon was placed on the sofa and a cool cloth was laid on his forehead. "You know, I am feeling much better already," he said. In fact, his coloring was a testament to his words. There was a creamy hue with a little pink in his cheeks. Much better than the deathly white and pasty pallor he had worn a short time before. Seeing him thus, sighs were heard audibly all around the room.
Alice rubbed herself against Lady Laura's skirts, whereupon Laura scooped her up and twirled her three times in a circle. Noisily she dropped tiny kisses on the little cat's head, and Alice went along with their game by acting as though she wanted to escape. To everyone’s pleasure, Alice leaned against her mistress’s neck and licked her cheek. A laughing Laura was so radiant that those present could only stare at the young lady's happiness.
Walking over to Uncle Simon, Lady Laura kissed his thinning hair and told him, "There. Now you will be well, and we shall go on to London and prepare for all of our outings." She smiled a brilliant smile and the old man basked in the warm glow. "Aye, Laura, I will take you about in grand style," he promised.
Sebastian was looking at Lady Winter unabashedly, as her attention was on the owner's wife and deciding upon their refreshments. When asked if there were enough rooms for them to stay the night, the woman assured her they could easily be accommodated. She then turned to Uncle Simon, asking him if he wanted to rest here and they would continue tomorrow. He agreed and Lady Winter asked the woman to prepare bedchambers for them, as they had decided to stay over.
They all dined in the private parlor, with the servants eating at a separate table. This was a bit of a holiday for them and a surprise to boot. One could hear the relaxed laughs and easy conversation enjoyed by all. Lady Winter was thankful her Uncle was looking well enough to partake of the roasted chicken and fresh vegetables. They were getting ready to retire when there came a knock upon the parlor room door. Everyone turned to see who was knocking.
Sebastian's deep voice assured her, "Laura, your Uncle Simon is just having a difficult time of it, but I feel certain he is strong enough to pull through this. Hopefully, he will be back on his feet in a few days. Higgins and Alfred will take good care to see that that happens." His strong hands held the reins a little tighter as the wind suddenly blew hard enough to cause the trees to bend forward and startle his horse.
Meanwhile, Laura's aunt was having a hard time keeping little Alice calmed. She had to hold tightly to her leash while holding her soft, squirming body, to keep her from leaping out the window. Apparently, she wanted to ride on Laura's lap atop the horse. Now that would be a sight, her aunt thought. "Please relax Alice," she admonished gently. "Laura will hold you as soon as we reach the posting house. Looking out the window, she could see the top of the roof coming into view. "See there Alice, we shall arrive in just a few minutes and you will be reunited with Laura again." Alice let out a tiny mew and settled down on the skirt of Aunt Minerva's dress. She looked wistfully at the tops of the trees passing in view of the opened window.
Having reached the posting house, the entourage was made heartily welcome by the owner, and their horses were taken to the stables. Everyone entered the establishment, which was called, The Wooden Ship, and was quietly taken to a private dining room. Once there Uncle Simon was placed on the sofa and a cool cloth was laid on his forehead. "You know, I am feeling much better already," he said. In fact, his coloring was a testament to his words. There was a creamy hue with a little pink in his cheeks. Much better than the deathly white and pasty pallor he had worn a short time before. Seeing him thus, sighs were heard audibly all around the room.
Alice rubbed herself against Lady Laura's skirts, whereupon Laura scooped her up and twirled her three times in a circle. Noisily she dropped tiny kisses on the little cat's head, and Alice went along with their game by acting as though she wanted to escape. To everyone’s pleasure, Alice leaned against her mistress’s neck and licked her cheek. A laughing Laura was so radiant that those present could only stare at the young lady's happiness.
Walking over to Uncle Simon, Lady Laura kissed his thinning hair and told him, "There. Now you will be well, and we shall go on to London and prepare for all of our outings." She smiled a brilliant smile and the old man basked in the warm glow. "Aye, Laura, I will take you about in grand style," he promised.
Sebastian was looking at Lady Winter unabashedly, as her attention was on the owner's wife and deciding upon their refreshments. When asked if there were enough rooms for them to stay the night, the woman assured her they could easily be accommodated. She then turned to Uncle Simon, asking him if he wanted to rest here and they would continue tomorrow. He agreed and Lady Winter asked the woman to prepare bedchambers for them, as they had decided to stay over.
They all dined in the private parlor, with the servants eating at a separate table. This was a bit of a holiday for them and a surprise to boot. One could hear the relaxed laughs and easy conversation enjoyed by all. Lady Winter was thankful her Uncle was looking well enough to partake of the roasted chicken and fresh vegetables. They were getting ready to retire when there came a knock upon the parlor room door. Everyone turned to see who was knocking.
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