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| starving for truth; Wiliam Kingston | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 6 2011, 01:15 PM (181 Views) | |
| Margaret Kingston | Jan 6 2011, 01:15 PM Post #1 |
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February 12th, 1512 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Margaret had repeated the verse a thousand times over the past few days, ever since her brother had sent her from their family home to make her way to Hampton Court. Strength and courage had never been a part of her life, in fact, her father and brother had all but beaten it out of her as a child. She'd been brought up to be the perfect young wife in hopes that they'd marry her off young, and not have to deal with her for months at a time. Unfortunately for all of them, that hadn't worked out very well. She was 19, and unmarried with no prospects. Of course, that made her ideal for this little task. Bending to George's will. She was to go out to William Kingston, the black sheep of their family, and attempt to soften him up so that when George finally made his appearance, he could weasel William out of as much money as possible, take Margaret, and disappear. At least, that's what Maggie had gathered. Being a woman, her brother gave her as few details as possible. Told her only what she needed to know to make the plan work. But, Margaret was fine with that. She'd resigned herself to being a quite young girl, because she knew it was her duty, and she also knew that it would pay off in the end. She'd get away from her brother, and have a life of her own. A place that could be hers. The very thought made her smile brightly as adjusted the hood of her cloak. Just do her job a little bit longer, and she could finally get away from her brother. She could finally get away from George. She took another deep breath as she nudged her horse into a slightly faster pace. She just needed to hurry up and get to Warrington Manor. She'd learned that William lived there in the last village she'd stopped in. She'd also learned that his wife, the Countess of Warrington, was named Lettice Knollys, or so she'd been named before her marriage. It still amazed her how much she'd been able to learn from people who had never even met the newly elevated Lord Kingston. Stepping down out of her saddle, she smoothed her skirts and took in a deep breath. “You can do this.” She whispered to herself as she quickly walked up the steps to the manor. This was it. And she was nervous. She was about to meet her eldest brother for the first time in her life. What exactly was she supposed to tell him? She didn't even know if he knew she existed! For all that she knew, William Kingston was completely oblivious to all of their family matters. She had no clue if he'd even heard that their parents were dead. But, she was wearing their mother's cross, as she always did, and if William doubted her, she'd willingly show it to him. But if he doubted her even after she showed him their mother's necklace? What if he called her a thief, and sent her away? She had to banish those thoughts from her mind. She had to think positively. There was no use in thinking negatively. After all, negative thoughts could accomplish nothing. What was going to happen was going to happen, and that was the end of it. She would worry about the repercussions once they came her way. She gently drew her hand back and rapped loudly on the door before a servant opened it with surprised eyes. She could tell by the maid's eyes that they weren't expecting any sort of company. “I don't mean to throw you from your schedule, miss.” Said Margaret with a sweet and quiet voice, “But it's of the utmost concern that I see Lord Kingston, as soon as possible.” She took in a deep breath as soon as the words left her mouth. It sounded so odd. Commanding anything. Margaret was so used to being in the background of everything. The maid told her to follow her, and quickly sped off to a sitting room. Maggie looked around at the grandeur and was in awe. This was the sort of thing her brother owned now? What would he be like, how would he treat her? How would he respond to her presence? The best she could ever hope for was that he wouldn't find her annoying, and allow her to stay with him for some time until George came. She removed her cloak and paced the sitting room nervously for several minutes before the door came open, and Maggie spun on her heel. Her blue grey eyes went wide with surprise and she was frozen. The man that entered the room was huge. Surely that couldn't be her brother. Surely that couldn't be her William Kingston. He was....enormous. And he looked terrifying. |
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| William Kingston | Jan 6 2011, 01:46 PM Post #2 |
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William had been spending the last few days in Warrington, making an attempt at getting all of his personal affairs settled. Lettice and he had only been married a short while now and, while he would have preferred to spend more time getting to know his wife, the rest of the world would not simply stop and allow him such a reprieve. As it was, at the moment, he was seated behind a desk in the study, writing out a series of letters to the house staff he had set in charge at the Kingston manor to see to it that his own home did not fall into a state of chaos without him there to command them more regularly. The man was more than capable, but there were a few things that he needed to see to. He was just pressing his seal to the wax on the parchment when there was a tap on the door. "Yes?" He asked whoever it was that was present. A young woman opened the door and gave a curtsy. "My Lord, there is a Lady in the sitting room that has requested your presence. We were not expecting any guests today, My Lord. Shall I send her away?" Kingston sat a moment as he replaced the stopper on the ink pot and stood from his seat. He handed the letter off to the serving girl. He had to admit, he was curious as to who had come knocking at the door to their home. It was no secret that Kingston and Lettice had taken up residence here, at least for the time being, while everything was situated and put into place. Kingston preferred to oversee these things himself rather than leaving it to blind faith in the servants. "See to it that this is sent off and then have refreshments sent in to the drawing room. I will meet with the Lady," he commented absently. He needed a break from being seated behind his desk for a while anyhow. The fact that this distraction came at such a time was a sign, was it not? "Yes, Milord." And with that, the young woman excused herself from the room. William headed for the sitting room. The door was closed, allowing their guest some privacy for the few moments it took him to attend her. He opened the door, intent on dealing with whatever and whoever it was and send her on his way, but when he finally caught a look at the girl in front of him, he was struck to the core. The young woman standing in front of him so closely resembled his own mother that he nearly stumbled. He paused a moment, looking her over before gesturing to one of the seats in the room. "Please, take a seat," he murmured, lost in his own thoughts for a moment. He paced his way over to a padded armchair and seated himself near the fire in the room. A servant quietly entered through the back door and placed a tray of tea and a decanter of wine down on a table before them. But William was still transfixed on his visitor. "My Lady, please enlighten me as to whom you are and why it is that you've come asking for me," he questioned. His voice wasn't quite as strong as he would have liked it to be, given the shake he had just been given, but his words were still to the point, brokering no nonsense. |
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| Margaret Kingston | Jan 6 2011, 03:50 PM Post #3 |
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Why had she agreed to this? Why had she agreed to come here and attempt to dupe her own family out of what was rightfully his? Maggie couldn't believe that she'd actually listened to her brother. This was wrong. It was totally and completely wrong. But, she was curious. She'd always wanted to meet William. He was her family, her blood. She'd never even heard the story of why he'd left, except for from the servants who'd been there when it had all happened. From what she'd been able to gather, William and their father had gotten in a row because he wanted to go out and better himself as well as his family. But, their father hadn't agreed with him, and told him that if he left, he was as good as dead to their family. And when he'd left, their father rarely, if ever, spoke of him again. Those were the only details she'd ever heard about him, and over the years, she'd wondered who he was. What he was like. Now that she was face to face with the possibility of knowing him, she was scared absolutely witless. The moment the door came open, Margaret was shocked. Tall, broad, and completely terrifying in appearance. He was total contrast to Maggie. She was small, thin, and quite serene of countenance. She shared much the same physiognomy as their mother. The same light eyes, small figure, and dark hair. She folded her hands together and allowed William to look over her, observe her, for as long as he wished to. Then he spoke, and told her to take a seat, she nodded and sat in the nearest chair, watching him as he padded over to an arm chair near to the fire. She smiled at the servant when the tray was brought in. “Thank you.” She told the servant before they made a quick exit from the room. Anything to tear her eyes away from the intimidating man sitting in front of her, with his eyes fixed on her so absolutely. But, the moment that he spoke, she was forced to look at him again. He asked, in a round about and much more polite way than she would have expected, who she was and what she was doing in his home, which only reminded her that she'd interrupted his adjustment to his married life. She chewed her lip nervously for a moment and then took in a deep breath. “I'm nothing so elegant as a lady.” She said softly, though she wished she could be recognized as a lady. She was just a country noble, barely even that. “I'm Miss Margaret Kingston.” She said, her voice quiet as she spoke. She looked down, away from William, as she pulled the necklace from her bodice, and unfastened it from around her neck. She gently set it on the table, allowing him to look at it. “That belonged to our mother, Anne.” How was she going to explain to him that she was his sister? She might as well just say it. Just tell him. “I'm.....I'm you're sister.” “My...well...our brother, George, sent me her to tell you about our father. He died nearly two years ago.” It was a lie, and most likely an obvious one, but it had been what George told her to say. |
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| William Kingston | Jan 6 2011, 06:47 PM Post #4 |
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He watched her as she took her seat and then thanked the servant who brought tea. That fact alone spoke depths of the woman before him. She was either a very kind, gentle soul, or she was not nobility at all for a good number of Ladies at court would have paid absolutely no mind to a servant such as the one who had just brought them tea. It made William wonder, even more, who this woman was. She was petite and quite slight, much like his own mother had been. And those eyes, they reminded him only of his mother's bright and blue in their countenance as she watched him in an almost nervous demeanor. His mother had always been sweet, gentle and shy, no doubt something that he had to thank his father for. The man had been nearly intolerable and had demanded his wife be nothing more than a pretty trinket at his arm that he could call upon whenever it suited him. Perhaps that was why William actually enjoyed the company of his spirited wife. And then he couldn't help but ask her why it was that she had come. He called her 'Lady' so as not to risk slighting a woman who was, indeed, of higher power than he had thought, but her response to the term didn't truly surprise him. “I'm nothing so elegant as a lady.” He said nothing, simply waited for her to continue. “I'm Miss Margaret Kingston.” His jaw tensed for a moment at the name she gave. She was, indeed, a relative of his? Truthfully, he wasn't as surprised at that fact as he should have been, given her appearance in general. Had he not claimed the striking comparison between that of his own mother and this woman? She pulled a pendant necklace from the bodice of her dress and unfastened it, laying it on the table for him to see. William leaned forward and picked it up off the table, running his thumb along it lovingly as he recalled the image of it, forever burned in his mind. It had belonged to his mother, a gift passed down from even her mother. He was about to ask how it was that the Lady had acquired it when it dawned on him. His mother never would have given the article up unless... “That belonged to our mother, Anne.” William closed his hand around it. Some part of him had already known what it was that this young woman would claim and yet a part of him didn't want it to be true. “I'm.....I'm you're sister.” William sighed and put the pendant necklace back on the table, sliding it towards her and out of his reach once more. "Then, I suppose, by the very fact that you are first daughter born to our mother, this belongs to you in all right," he commented, gesturing towards the trinket. It was also his way of admitting to the fact that he knew, within his heart, that this young woman was not lying to him. How could she be when she looked so strikingly similar to their mother? For a moment, William allowed his grief to wash over him. He felt the most neglectful son in all of the world and yet he had known that this would come to pass. He had known that, someday, his own mother would perish and he would not be there to comfort her through her time of need. But he couldn't help but wonder. "Would you tell me when it was that she passed?" He asked of her, wishing to know how long it had been that he had been ignorant of the absence of his own mother in the world. And yet, for some reason, he feared the answer to that just as much as he burned to know the truth of it. “My...well...our brother, George, sent me her to tell you about our father. He died nearly two years ago.” William raised a brow at that. Something about that statement didn't sit well with William. His brother had been but a boy when William had left home. For that matter, William himself had been but a boy when he had left home. Already, however, his brother had showed promise of being his father's son in every sense of the word. His younger brother had gladly sided with his father the moment he had left home, seeing himself as slighted, some way and some how, for the fact that his elder brother would be leaving. Would that not have made his brother happier to see that the heir of the Kingston property was outwardly being forfeit every courtesy due to him? Shockingly, it hadn't seemed so. "Two years now, is it?" He asked her, sounding thoughtful. "I can truthfully say that I do not mourn the loss of my father... our father, as I mourn the loss of our mother," he commented absently. He knew that he should not speak ill of the dead and yet he was still overcome with grief at the thought of having lost his gentle and loving mother who had stolen away a small amount of money to see her eldest son through and on his way. Their father had been most displeased with the loss of the money, from what he had heard from his uncle, a Berkeley. William was silent for a long time, his grief plainly written on his face. "God rest her soul and may peace find them both at the bosom of the Lord and Savior." He murmured. |
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| Margaret Kingston | Jan 7 2011, 02:39 AM Post #5 |
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The grief that radiated from him was almost tangible, and Margaret couldn't help but feel that it was her own fault. The necklace she'd showed him had been passed through generations of their family. Mother to daughter. And the fact that she now possessed it was as near to saying their mother was dead as actually saying the words. How could she do this to a man she didn't even know? Spring the news that his parents were dead, and the existence of a sister her never knew. What was worse, she'd have to admit it was her fault that their mother was dead. It was labor with Margaret that had killed Anne, and she'd been reminded of it anytime she misspoke, or misstepped during her childhood. And this man, her brother, had known their mother. She'd been there for him as he grew older. He had memories of her sweet voice, and gentle disposition. A small part of Margaret envied him that, but a part of her was thankful that she would never feel the loss he was surely feeling now. She took in a deep breath as William set the necklace down on the table again, sliding it towards her. She gingerly took it, and fastened it around her neck again as he commented that it must belong to her. There was a silence after that as she cast her eyes down, wishing there was something she could say to help him, ease his pain. But there truly was nothing. And when he asked when their mother passed away, she looked at him, her eyes reflecting a gentle sadness for his loss. She'd had her entire life to come to terms with it. William had only a few minutes. “19 years ago.” She told him as she sighed softly, “She died not long after I was born.” The explanation, while not asked for, was one that she felt necessary. She just hoped it didn't cause him any further grief. She didn't want her first meeting with her kin to be filled with sadness and remorse, even though that seemed to be the way it was headed. She'd loved her father the best that she'd known how over the years. He'd been a harsh man, but there was nothing, as a woman, Margaret could have done to change that. But, she could understand why William wouldn't miss their father as much as their mother. From the stories she'd heard, her mother had been one of the kindest souls alive. She'd never raised a hand, much less her voice, to anyone. And her father had made sure that Margaret behaved in much the same fashion. She was to be beautiful, but silent. It'd been taught to her religiously as a child. Perhaps her brother had never agreed with their father's teachings? But, that was a nearly impossible thought, one that she really shouldn't entertain. “Yes, sir, two years.” She responded, almost instinctively, as she looked at him. She felt responsible for the grief washing over him. But what could she possibly do? “I never meant to bring you sorrow, my lord.” Her voice was quiet, and gently broke the silence that had filled the room. Her brother whispered a prayer for their mother's soul, and she bowed her head, silently asking God to grant her strength, and wisdom to deal with this strange situation. “There's something else, sir.” She paused, almost unsure of what she should say next. How could she tell him that George would be along soon without revealing his true intentions for sending her ahead? “George should be along soon. He's wanted nothing more than to see you again, these past few months, but he's been unable to tear himself away from home and work.” Of course, it wasn't truly that George wished to see William so much as he wanted to see the man's fortune change hands. And Margaret was forced to lie to him about it, tell him that George wanted to mend bridges, repair their lost and broken relationship. |
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| Lettice Knollys | Jan 7 2011, 05:13 AM Post #6 |
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Countess of Warrington
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Lettice was used to her mother prattling about the estates and nagging at her to do one thing or another. Now that she was married and her mother was tucked away in Reading, she rather enjoyed the peace and quiet. Though she also enjoyed having her husband here with her. They had not had much occasion to become more acquainted with one another; William had his own affairs to attend to and she didn't expect him to stop everything at the drop of a hat to attend on her. Besides, she had her hands full readying Warrington for the arrival of her husband's belongings. With the main estate being near Oxfordshire, it took quite a bit to make sure everything got where it needed to go. This particular day was spent making sure the rooms were clean and the manor looked presentable. Her servants always did an excellent job with seeing that things were clean and the house was always running in excellent condition, even when she was not around. "Excellent," she smiled, as she looked at the last of the rooms. "Now, have you seen my husband?" The maid making up the bed wiped her hands on the skirt of her dress, and curtsied. "My lady, your husband is in the drawing room, with another young lady." What? Is he taking a mistress already? A tiny flash of jealousy overcame her, quickly tampered down by the logical thought that he was a man, albeit her husband, and if he wanted to take a mistress that was his business. Still. "Thank you. I will see what guest has so captured his attentions. Has he been in there for long?" The maid shook her head. "No, not very long at all, my lady." She nodded. "Thank you." Lettice walked down the stairs and toward the drawing room, waving off the usher. There was no need to announce her, not in her own house and not to her own husband. He knew she lived there, and announcing as such seemed rather silly and frivolous. As she was told, her husband was in there, with another young lady...but William seemed very grief-stricken and all thoughts of him possibly taking a mistress went out of her mind as she walked over behind his chair and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Husband, what is it?" she asked, her voice soft and inquiring. She then took a glance at the young lady sitting across from him, and noticed she was very much like her husband, at least in features. A relative? "I am the Lady Lettice Kingston, Countess of Warrington," she nodded. "I am my lord's wife." |
[align=center]Lettice is in 1 thread, and would like some more! PM me with ideas. On extended hiatus until May 18th[/align] | |
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| William Kingston | Jan 7 2011, 06:29 AM Post #7 |
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He was relatively unsurprised, really, when the young woman before him - for he could scarcely believe the state of address when referring to her as his sister - informed him that his mother had died nineteen years ago and only hours after she herself had been born. His mother, being of fairly common status, had married off to his father at a very young age and had birthed him first when she was but sixteen years old. That would have easily placed his mother at over thirty years of age when she had given birth to the sister before him. But still, it was a sad fact indeed. And then he turned his thoughts to the fact that the girl in front of him must have never known his mother's kindness. She must have never known kindness at all, having grown up with only their father and brother as leadership and if William was correct and their brother had turned out in just the way he fully expected he had, the home had been less than pleasant for the young girl before him. He was silent a moment, thoughtful, but then he caught the look on her face, the regret. Good lord, did the girl think it her fault that such a fate had befallen their mother? "My only regret, Margaret, is that you did not know her," he commented. "She was gentle, kind, sweet and looked so much like you that it struck me as such the moment I entered the room," he admitted. And then they shifted to the topic of his father whom, truthfully, though he rarely ever spoke ill of the dead, William was grateful that the man could no longer trouble his mind and thought in life. Even if William perhaps did regret the fact that he did not at least attempt to make amends with his father, he certainly regretted not finding out about his brother and newly acknowledged sister. “George should be along soon. He's wanted nothing more than to see you again, these past few months, but he's been unable to tear himself away from home and work.” William gave a wry smile at that. He had been right. His brother had grown to be as much of a snake as his own father had been. No surprise there when the young man had certainly be lacking the right influences. "And I suspect that he got the notion of having missed me for months on end when he heard word of the fact that I was to become the Earl of Warrington, hmm?" He asked the girl. He should be angry with her for she was no doubt a part of the ruse, but he couldn't bring himself to be. Not when she had been forced to be the bearer of such bad news. Not when she seemed so genuine, quiet, demure and utterly the perfect likeness of his mother, the woman that his father had forced her to be. It was then that the doors to the sitting room opened and admitted his Lady wife. She seemed to take in the sight before him. He was glad that she was logical enough to stand to reason that this wasn't exactly the picture of her husband meeting with some woman for the sheer pleasure of it, but rather there was something pressing being discussed between the two of them. Almost instantly, her countenance softened a degree. She crossed the room and placed a hand on his shoulder. Instinctively, his hand closed around hers. "Husband, what is it?" "Miss Margaret Kingston, as it would be, was sent to inform me of the passing of both my mother, some nineteen years ago, and my father, two years ago, and to bring me good tidings from the selfish, wretch of a bastard I call my brother who whom no doubt noticed roughly a month ago, coincidentally the time of our betrothal, that he so dearly missed me." He said looking up at her. "Interesting how the world works, is it not?" He finished. He sighed almost wearily. "And how utterly like him to send the sister that I knew nothing about to do his filthy work for him." "My first sincerest of well-wishes from one of my most esteemed admirers, no doubt. Margaret, I do not wish you to fear me as you fear George. I see it in your eyes when you speak. I see it in your very countenance in the way you downcast your eyes." He looked towards his wife. "I would like it, I think, if Margaret would stay with us for a while, Wife. Perhaps we can see if George, my brother, actually does show up as is expected. In which case you and my sister can both merrily watch as I have him seated and strapped underneath his horse so he shall bump his merry little head all the way home." |
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| Margaret Kingston | Jan 7 2011, 07:47 PM Post #8 |
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Margaret gulped down air as William asked her the one question she'd been hoping she'd never hear. George was going to be so angry with her, but she couldn't lie. Not when he asked her specifically. She looked down at her hands, which were folded demurely in her lap. “I didn't want to.” She admitted, her voice even softer, obviously remorseful about her role in this situation. “But, he's the master of the house. I have to do what he says.” It was just the way that her world functioned. She had to listen to the man's whims. “He told me to come here and soften you up. But, I felt terrible. I feel terrible. I didn't want to come here under false pretenses. You're my family, and I do want to know you. I was just....never allowed to.” The door opened a buxom, commanding redhead made her entrance into the room. At first, she looked livid, although it was masked well. Did she think that Margaret was a mistress? Nothing could be further from the truth. The lady introduced herself as Lettice Kingston, William's wife. She took a deep breath and prepared for some onslaught of questions, or someone screaming at her. Of course, given the way that the lady of the manor had just burst in, she was surely due for some form of reprimand. Margaret, while not wanting someone else to suffer for imposition, was glad that she'd have a moment to compose her self before she, herself, was reprimanded. “I do not want to impose on your good fortunes, sir. It's wrong of our brother to try and take what God has blessed you with.” She said softly as she looked at William. “It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady.” She told Lettice before William spoke to the striking redhead, and Margaret was taken aback. He spoke to her as though she was his equal. He didn't yell at her, he treated her with respect. What on earth was this? Was it a show to lure her into a false sense of security? Was he more like George than she knew. Oh, please, don't let that be true. She may have held a romanticized notion of her brother, a knight bound to do whatever in his power to help the family that had disowned him, and she'd known she'd be wrong in some aspect. But, she didn't want him to be like George. He remembered their father well, as he proved with his next comment. He told her that he didn't want her to be afraid of him. She nodded softly and took in a deep breath. “Yes, sir.” She said softly as she listened to him speaking to his wife. He said that he would like it Margaret could stay with them for some time, and Margaret looked up in surprise. Even after she admitted to being an accomplice to their brother, he'd extend and invitation for her to stay in his home? And offer her protection from George as well? Had she fallen down a rabbit hole? “After I've admitted my reasons for being here...you'll allow me to stay with you?” |
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| Lettice Knollys | Jan 9 2011, 01:17 PM Post #9 |
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Countess of Warrington
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He did not look very happy, and Lettice deduced it had something to do with the female sitting across from him. "Likewise," she said, rather curtly, in response to her greeting, before placing a hand on William's shoulder and asking him what was the matter. His hand closed over hers, and introduced the woman as his sister. So her instincts were correct...the woman was a relative. And apparently, she also had another relative, a brother-in-law. "I am sorry for the loss of your parents," she said, rather softly. She knew what it was like to lose someone you held very near and dear to your heart. Anger flashed in her eyes at the reason why her brother-in-law was finally poking around. "Yes, how coincidental. But he will need to know one thing...I have worked to keep Warrington in my possession for eight years. If he thinks that he can even stick one finger in its dealings, then he hasn't the slightest clue who he's dealing with." Lettice knew her place in the world, and would never disrespect her husband in public. It was her duty to stand by him and bear him his heirs. However, she knew how to deal with such men as this...George. Her hand tightened on his shoulder as he addressed his sister. "I would not mind in the least if she stayed with us. We women have to do whatever is expected of us, and I do not hold her at fault." William's comment made her smirk. "Now now, husband, such violence is not the answer. All I shall have to do is kick him in the codpiece, and he shall forget the whole reason he even came to Warrington." Lettice glanced at Margaret, and nodded. "Of course, dear girl. As I said, it is not your fault, and I don't believe for a moment you have any malicious intentions in your heart. You were only doing what you were told. Do not worry, though, you have your brother, William, and you have me to look after you." She only hoped she could be congenial company, as Lettice grew up an only child. "Husband..." she leaned down toward his ear, and whispered, "...do not let this trouble you. We shall deal with this. Together." She straightened up, and smiled. "Margaret, do you have any of your belongings with you? I can have a room prepared for your stay here." |
[align=center]Lettice is in 1 thread, and would like some more! PM me with ideas. On extended hiatus until May 18th[/align] | |
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| William Kingston | Jan 11 2011, 09:21 AM Post #10 |
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William listened as his sister explained that she didn't want to have to come to him and do this. He was, however, glad that she had. Now he had the chance to get to know his sister without the influence of George. He wasn't sure what kind of a moron his brother thought that he was, but he was in for a shock and a half. William was far from stupid. He may have been but a child when he had left home, but that certainly didn't mean that he hadn't grown into his wit a little in the past near twenty years. “He told me to come here and soften you up. But, I felt terrible. I feel terrible. I didn't want to come here under false pretenses. You're my family, and I do want to know you. I was just....never allowed to.” No. He was not a fool at all and, while his sister's words seemed genuine enough, at the same time, he didn't want to take anything for granted. Perhaps the girl was simply well schooled in the art of deceit. Either way, he was going to watch her, either as a brother watches a sister, or as a man watched a potential enemy. "Well.. you have your chance to get to know me now, Margaret. And I have my chance to prove to our brother once and for all that I will not tolerate his cruelty." And then his wife was in the room. She offered him her condolences for the loss of his parents. "Sadly, I mourn my mother's loss and I mourn for the man my father could have been." he stated, looking up at Lettice a moment. "Yes, how coincidental. But he will need to know one thing...I have worked to keep Warrington in my possession for eight years. If he thinks that he can even stick one finger in its dealings, then he hasn't the slightest clue who he's dealing with." William couldn't help but smile at his spirited wife. She was so full of passion that William often found himself admiring her. "He will not have the chance, Lettice. I can guarantee that." He proposed that his sister stayed with them and his wife seemed agreeable enough. If there was one thing that William had learned over the years, it was that he needed to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. He was not yet entirely convinced that his sister was a friend in the matter and, as such, was content to keep her close to him for the time being. Keeping her under his own roof meant that he could keep a close eye on her. He listened as she leaned close and told him that they would deal with this together before he stood up and offered his seat to his wife. He couldn't manage to sit still. "Margaret, I will not cast you out of our home like that. You were honest enough when I asked the truth of it and, as such, I will put the same faith in you that you have put in me." He rubbed at his brow a moment. This brought a whole new set of responsibilities down upon his shoulders. He was the eldest male of the family. He was now responsible for his sister. He would be responsible for seeing her married off. He would be financially responsible for her until she was ready to be married. He settled in front of the fireplace mantle and braced a hand on it, rubbing at his chin as he thought a moment. "When George arrives he will, no doubt, be greeted by an entirely different situation than he expected." |
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| Margaret Kingston | Jan 12 2011, 08:14 AM Post #11 |
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Watching her brother with his wife was a shock, to say the least. Lettice spoke freely, with no fear of a reprimand, and William allowed her to. His demeanor suggested that he even enjoyed the redhead's free spirited ways. He spoke to her as though he had a deep respect for her, for the fact that she was his wife. He was treating her like she was equal to him, not simply a piece of property. The relationship that they appeared to have was the only thing Margaret had ever wanted in life. She envied the fact that Lettice seemed to have that with William. Of course, the lady had grown up in much different circumstances than Margaret had. But, they seemed happy, and she could find no fault in that. She thanked God for the fact that her brother's life had turned out well after he'd left their home. She'd never known him, but that didn't mean she'd never thought of him, who he was, and how he was fairing. William had been in her prayers nearly every night. She'd asked Saint George to watch over her warrior brother, and keep him safe more times than she could count. He was her brother, and whether or not she'd known him, she'd wished only the best for him. The more she listened to Lettice and William, the more she felt herself relax. The lady Lettice seemed like someone that she could come to like. She understood Margaret's dilemma, and she didn't fault her having to follow orders. Not many people would have sympathized with her over the issue. She was doing as she'd been asked, but she had also attempted to be deceitful to someone of a greater station. But, she wasn't being faulted for it by Lettice, or by William, so it was best just to put the ordeal behind her. She was being welcomed into their home, and while she thought she might be under some type of watch, she was thankful. If she'd showed up on George's doorstep under these circumstances, he'd have had her beaten, or laughed as he turned her away, sending her back to wherever she came from. But, William was different. He was better. And if he was anything like this impression he was giving, she'd come to love him as family quickly. “I have what I needed for the journey, my lady.” She replied with a tired smile. “But a room would be lovely, my lady. Thank you both for your hospitality. It's far more than deserve.” William told her that he wouldn't cast her out of their home in such a manner as she seemed to expect. She'd been honest with him the moment that he'd asked it of her, and he was going to put faith in her as she'd put faith in him. She was as unused to being trusted, in any capacity, as she was unused to being treated with any amount of respect. She had no idea how to react to the situation, and so she nodded to her brother. “Thank you for taking me into your home. It means the world to me.” As well as safety from George when he arrived. But it also meant that William was taking on all the responsibilities of her care. He was responsible for anything that happened to her. He was responsible for caring for her and finding her a husband. Of course this meant the world to her. She was a veritable stranger to him, and he was taking on a new load of responsibility by allowing her residence in his home. It was such a tiring thought “I would hate to be rude,” She began, quietly, “But it's been such a tiring journey. May I be excused to retire for the evening?” |
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10:54 AM Jul 11