By Atonia

Part 3

Jack rode up to Meadowfields and found Henry in the stables currying his horse. "I might have taken you for a stable lad," he greeted.

"Papa, how good it is to see you," he put aside his brush and gave Jack a hug. "What brings you to Meadowfields?"

"I’ve been to London. Have you won any money on this one?"

"Ah, Jaunty, no but he’s placed each race. I have hopes of recovering a little money on him."

"You have guests?" Jack noticed the strange carriage.

"Guests, oh dear me yes…Richard Latrouix and two ladies."

"Two…ladies?" Jack smiled a little, "I suppose it’s not unexpected that he should seek you out. How are things with him?"

"He seems well enough and he’s been here for nearly two weeks. He’s come up with a confounded theory about me; he’s decided I’m his half brother, his bastard brother. He thinks Catherine was carrying Jean’s child when she shipped off to England. I’ve pointed out the time frame but he doesn’t listen. I did admit to being a bastard. I’ve had to bite my tongue on many occasion when he talked about our mothers."

"Why haven’t you set him straight no doubt his real mother could be found if she’s still alive?"

"Oh she’s still alive all right, married the blacksmith in the village. I don’t doubt she knows he’s here, servants being what they are; Cook no doubt carried the tale. He’s talked of leaving and going onto London, a move that would satisfy us all I think. I can’t tell him, Papa, he has enough problems without knowing he’s the son of a milkmaid."

"You are too kind hearted by far and I fear it will get you in trouble one day."

"I may already be in trouble…one of the ladies, Miss Sylvie Williams um…well Richard and Chloe are um and…I’ve not behaved as a gentleman." He lifted his chin.

"You didn’t take her against her will?"

"No Sir, but I have taken liberties. She hasn’t any family and is sort of a companion to Miss Chloe. I understand her to be from a good family in Sussex but alas they have mostly died out. She was sent to live with Miss Chloe in Venice, who was taking care of an elderly relation who has since died and left her his estate, doesn’t amount to much but it does allow them to live in some comfort."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Jack tilted his head.

"Well, Sir I may ask…I may ask her to marry me. I’m glad you’ve come perhaps you will meet her and give me your opinion."

"You need my opinion have you not made one of your own?"

"I have but…well there are doubts of course…she is in an unhappy situation and I shouldn’t…really it is beneath me…"

"Do you think she may be a fortune hunter? You are, my son, a catch for any young lady casting her net."

"It’s not fortune no I don’t think its coin at all. I’m rather confused as you see," he laughed a little nervously. "She spoke of fate bringing us together, this at a time I was very much in need of female companionship, not just for a night or two you understand but someone to wait for me at home when I am at sea. I find her very easy to talk with and there is an underlying…well I did speak of liberties taken."

"I would very much like to meet this young lady."

"You will stay the night then?" Henry smiled.

"Yes," Jack returned his smile. Perhaps it was time Henry was married. He still thought of him as a young man and indeed twenty-five was not a great age, but he was mature beyond his years. And without a doubt this young lady had caught his attention.

It was at dinner that Jack had the strangest sensation. He was seated on Henry’s right and Sylvie was seated across from him on Henry’s left. He’d picked up his wine glass and looked across the table, suddenly he was seeing Catty in Sylvie, her hair nearly the same color and dark eyes, it was a trick of the candle light to be sure the way the room seemed to glow only for a moment and Sylvie laughed lightly, the moment was gone.

"Are you quite all right, is the wine not to your liking?" Henry asked.

"I’m…I’m fine," Jack blushed slightly and set his glass down.

"You went deathly pale," Richard added.

"Only a hiccup, I’m quite all right as you see, the wine is very good, a good claret." Jack passed it off but the vision lingered in his mind.

Later he tried to reason what it meant, was Catty in her way giving Henry her blessing, her approval of Sylvie, for Jack found her delightful. She was perhaps a little forward, a little bold, but then she hadn’t a father or a mother to check her. He noticed the way she and Henry regarded each other, obviously Henry had taken liberties with her but he would not ask how far he had gone.

Henry joined him in the library for a glass of port. "You gave me a fright at dinner."

"It was nothing…well honestly, Henry I had a vision of your mother in Sylvie, something about the way the candlelight played about her hair, her eyes when she looked up. I’ve been trying to smoke it and I think she has given her approval of Miss Sylvie."

"Grand, that is grand because I have decided to ask her to be my wife. I know it’s rather sudden, we’ve only known each other less than a fortnight but it seems right, we’re comfortable together. She’s very pretty don’t you think?"

"She’s lovely and more of a woman than a girl I think."

"Yes she is…do I have your approval, Sir?"

"Yes certainly you do, not that you need it."

Henry walked to the fireplace, "I find I do…" he turned, "I do need your approval I defied you once and although I do not have regrets over my decision to go to sea…perhaps I could have handled it a little better. I deserved your anger and disapproval at the time and it brought me very low."

"You are a man now and must make your own decisions. The choice of a wife is a very important one, but it is one I cannot make for you for only you know your own heart.

"I know my mother was a loving comfort to you and if she has given her approval of Sylvie then…I shall ask her to become my wife. I know, Papa it has been many years but I still think of her here, this was her house and sometimes I feel her very near."

Jack looked down into his glass for a moment and then emptied it in one swallow.

"There you are having a secret drink," Richard limped in and helped himself, "should I leave, is this private business between you two?"

"No not at all, Richard, it is good to see you looking well."

"I’m very well, Admiral Aubrey and have been enjoying the country whilst here."

"Have you a permanent residence now?" Jack asked pouring another drink.

"I believe so, in Venice, of course the legalities are not as yet completed."

"Do you mean Chloe’s estate?" Henry asked.

"It’s not really an estate nothing like this you understand, but a grand old house on a canal where one can be involved in all the literary and musical pursuits available. I fell in love with the city I must admit." He smiled and found a seat."

"What legalities are you talking about?" Henry sat across from him on the settee.

"Why marriage of course, I’ve asked her today and she said yes so we’re off to London to see the deed done."

"Congratulations," Jack said and glanced at Henry.

"That’s wonderful news, Richard, when are you leaving?"

"Hah, I suppose you will be glad to see the back of us, really you have been a most gracious host."

"Miss Sylvie…"

"Oh yes, Sylvie…"Richard’s sly grin turned to Jack. "I rather thought your um, son was taken up with her."

"Careful there…"Henry flashed him a look "I intend to ask her to marry me."

"Excellent!" Richard clapped his hands, "we can make it a double wedding and save a few coins. Ha, ha, well, well Henry. You see I knew she would be right for you she comes with nothing really, but then you always were a champion for the underdog. Like me."

"I’m sorry, Richard I don’t follow you…"

"Well, look at you…tall, handsome, robust, virile and look at me, short and malformed. Don’t think I don’t know what you did at Greenlees. Father was going to make the estate over to me for my twenty-first but somehow you convinced him I’d rather have the money so he did a complete about face, it surprised me I’ll tell you. It doesn’t bother me you know that you now own Greenlees, after all your mother spent some time there by the grace of her father.  Of course someday I will own all of Latrouix, but you know what I shall do with it, yes I’ll parcel it out make what I can of it. And you, Henry what will you do with Greenlees?"

"I hadn’t thought to do anything with it, my mother wished me to have it…"

"Ah hah ha, as though it was hers to give away…"

Henry bit his lip and glanced at Jack.

"Do you intend to keep the house at Latrouix and perhaps live there someday?" Jack asked.

"Oh dear me no, I shall never go back there, I’ll sell the land and who knows perhaps the house too. I find the smell of nutmeg makes me ill now, won’t allow it in my food. No I shall end my days in Venice. You must come and visit, Henry we should keep up the family ties, don’t you think?"

"Yes, of course." Henry replied.

Jack was out for a morning ride over Meadowfields the day Richard and Chloe left for London. Henry had already made his offer of marriage to Sylvie and she did not accompany them to London. Henry turned to her on the front steps as the carriage pulled away down the drive.

He held her eyes with his for a moment and then blinked and looked away, "We cannot remain in this house together without we are man and wife."

"Should I have left with them?" she asked.

"No," he turned back and smiled, "I am well acquainted with Reverend Brown in the village, I suggest we pay him a visit." Jack had in fact told him if he valued his reputation and that of his future wife he’d better marry the girl before word got out they were living in the same house. "Papa should be back shortly, I’d like for him to be there to witness the ceremony."

"I’d like for him to be there too, I rather like your Papa."

"I rather like him too," Henry smiled and took her arm walking back into the house.

It was late the next morning when Jack kissed his daughter in law and mounted his horse. He was bound for Ashgrove. He left feeling satisfied Henry had made the right choice. She had been told about Henry’s birth and the tangled relationships and she’d asked if she might call him Papa. It made him feel proud and at the same time aged, had it been that long ago…Catty had kissed him goodbye?

The End

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