Page 226

“Elliot had a very long talk with the young man before his departure to Oxford, so yes, he understands what the ramifications of her actions will be,” William explained.

“We always have the option to ask our cousin to commute her sentence to transportation to Australia for a long hard life of servitude with no possibility of return. I will ask Elliot to write to him and ask his opinion of the lesser option, to ensure that he will never feel the guilt of having a hand in condemning his own mother to death.”

Lord Reggie, who had until now only listened, said, “I think it is a good plan, William, regardless of his pleas and warnings to his mother. Even though he says that he will be able to live with her death, I believe that if offered the lesser option he would jump at it. As would anyone for persons they still love in some way.”

“In that case, I will send a note to Elliot to request his presence so we may discuss this with him,” William said. He also felt better about the decision they had reached as no matter how much she deserved it he did not like the idea of a woman being beheaded.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Amy Bennet was having a good dream when she was awoken by the frantic shaking of her shoulders by her husband.

As she opened her eyes, she saw him looking at her with deep concern.

“Tom, what is wrong? Is everyone well,” she asked, starting to panic imagining that something had befallen one of Falconwood’s residents.

“No, my love, I was very worried about your health,” he said as he pointed at the lower portion of the bed.

Amy eyes looked in the direction that his finger was pointing and then she saw it—a big patch of dark red blood.

She knew what the blood portended and burst into tears as her body was racked with sorrowful sobs.

Seeing her reaction, Tom knew this was not her monthly indisposition; this was something much more than that.

“Are you in pain my love?” Tom asked with much concern for his young wife.

“No Tom,” she answered prevaricating to assure him, “I-I am not in pain. I do have some cramps like those that I would have during my monthly indisposition, but other than that no significant pain,” she prevaricated not wanting to worry her husband more than he was already.

“I am very happy to hear that, this is different, is it not Amy?” he asked even as he knew the answer.

“Oh Tom,” Amy managed between sobs, “I am so…sorry.”

“For what do you have to apologise for my Amy?” Tom asked, hoping that if his supposition of what had happened was correct that she was not blaming herself for something over which she had no control.

“I lost our babe!” she wailed anew.

“Amy,” he said as he gently raised her head so she would look into his eyes and see the truth of what he was about to say.

“What happened was in no way your fault!” he said firmly as she looked at him with her big eyes, while tears streamed down her cheeks.

“You know very well that this happens to many women for a variety of reasons. It is one of the risks of being with child my love.” He hugged his wife close and kissed her softly in reassurance.

“You could no more control, cause, or stop this than you could command the sun and the moon not to be in the sky.”

“Y-you a-are r-right,” she hiccupped between sobs, “but I am so very sad.”

“It is only normal that you would be sad Amy,” he said softly as he kissed her forehead.

“I would postulate that you should talk to Marie and Aunt Anne when you feel ready, both have been through this, Aunt Anne more than once. They will be able to comfort you like none of us who have never experience a miscarriage could.” Then he added, “When did you suspect that you were with child my love?”

“About three weeks ago. I had missed my courses, and I was so excited as I had never been late before, but I did not want to tell you yet,” she explained.

With the love and compassion that she was receiving from her husband, she calmed down some.

“I wanted to wait until I missed the courses that should have arrived in a week. It was with great anticipation that I planned to inform you that you were to be a father, but now…” The tears started to stream again.

“Amy my love,” Tom said as he held her close as she nuzzled into his shoulder, the tears not abating, “it will not be now, but I firmly believe that at some point in the future you will be able to share news that you are with child with me. There is no hurry, we are young, all will be well love, I promise you that.”

“Do you really believe so?” she asked allowing a slight amount of hope to creep into her consciousness.

“I do with all of my being, one day we will have many children running around and this will not hurt as it does now any longer,” he told her as he imagined their future.

“Will you make my excuses when you go to break your fast please Tom,” Amy asked.

“I need to ring for my maid and bathe. I will ask her to clean up the bed quietly and she can throw this nightgown in the fire.” Even if her nightwear could have been saved, Amy never wanted to see it again as it would remind her of her loss.

“ We will break our fast in our sitting room,” Tom said firmly, there was no chance that he would leave his wife alone at this time. “I will ask the footman in the hall to have the kitchen send up trays for us. What say you to an hour and a half? Will that give you time to bathe and change?”

“Thank you for loving me so much Tom,” she said as she kissed her husband lightly on his lips, “Yes that is enough time for me to complete all of my ablutions and dress.” With another mutual kiss, Amy walked slowly into her bedchamber and pulled the bell-pull to summon her maid.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Clay Younge looked at the men assembled in the courtyard of the Lucky Seadog Inn and was well satisfied.

Instead of his crew of misfits, he was being escorted by nine men who all looked as if they had been in battle before and knew how to comport themselves in tough situations.

He had hired a carriage for himself and Mrs. álvarez, telling Jones that he would ride with her to keep her company thereby negating the need to admit that he did not know how to ride a horse, or that he had no interest to learn.

Johanna álvarez felt that the long hardship that she suffered since her husband was hung was finally coming to an end.

As the hired chaise lurched when they began to move, she was imagining how she would spend all of the money that she would soon have.

She would travel, first class of course, to the New World, and she would use her money to set up an enterprise like the one that had been stolen from her and her husband.

Before that, she would visit the best modiste in Liverpool and indulge herself with a new wardrobe.

Five and twenty percent was less that she would have liked, but that would still net her over sixty thousand pounds and would be more than enough for her plans. She hardly thought of Tony anymore.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Tony álvarez was contemplating the letter that he held from Mr. Elliot. He reread it once again to verify he had gleaned all the necessary information to help him make a decision.

21 August 1812

The Parsonage at Pemberley

Tony,

His Grace the Duke of Derbyshire requested that I write this letter to you.

He and the rest of the men at Falconwood feel that even though what your mother is partaking in is treason, they would like to apply to the Regent to commute the punishment to permanent transportation to Australia.

They feel, and I agree with them, that regardless of what you say the knowledge that if you had a hand, no matter how tangential, in your mother’s death, it will come back to haunt you and would be a very heavy burden for any to carry.

His Grace, the Duke of Hertfordshire, will not send a letter to his cousin unless you agree.

I know how disappointed you are that your mother has ignored the two warnings that you issued which gave her yet another opportunity to change her course, Tony. Do not let that disappointment cloud your judgement.

It is your decision alone and we will abide by whatever it is you decide, but I beseech you to think about this very carefully and try not to make a rash decision. Emily and I respect your intelligence, and you will always be welcome as part of our family, regardless of your ultimate decision.

Gracie sends her love to her big brother, as she terms you, and we all look forward to seeing you at the end of the term. Hopefully we will get to meet Mr. Stockton during the break.

Regards from all of the Elliots,

PE

Reading the letter a number of times helped Tony make a decision. He sat down at his desk, took a sheet parchment, and dipped his pen in ink.

26 August 1812

Oxford University

Mr. Elliot,

I have ruminated on your letter for much time as I considered my answer.

I followed your advice and thought deeply before making my response. You are correct, I was very angry with my mother for ignoring my letter to her so that she could continue down her path of ill-placed revenge. However, I cannot let that anger cloud my judgement with this life-or-death decision.

Regardless, she is my mother, and as such I still love her, even while I do not like her for her choices or the ones that she tried to force on to me. I weighed what you said about my regret in the future if I allowed her to be beheaded, and it is as you said.

At some point the anger will wane and be replaced by recrimination.

Please convey my heartfelt thanks to all at Pemberley for allowing me the chance to change my mind.

That being said, please notify their Graces that I would like it if the Prince Regent would order her transportation rather than her being sent to the Tower.

I would like to add a request of my own. Would it be possible for me to see her before she is taken from Pemberley for transportation, if that is to be her punishment? If not at the estate, I could easily travel to London and Stockton would accompany me.

I too am impatient for you to meet him. He is a very good and loyal friend to me.

My studies proceed anon, and I find that I enjoy the academic challenges very much.

I will have to thank you and Lord William for schooling me at chess.

I am improving vastly and believe that I may be able to win a game or two when I return home.

My regards to Gracie and Mrs. Elliot, and of course yourself.

With much thanks and regards,

TA