by Karen Joyce
“Alexander, do you hear this young man. I think you need to take your young protégée aside and have a word or two,” said Baron Charles Willoughby, as he sucked on his cigar with obvious disdain.
“Never mind gentleman, Lincoln and I have an understanding. Don’t we boy,” asked Lord Ashwood, winking at him, as he stood at the carafes tray holding a glass up to ensure that it was clean from any smudged fingerprints.
“I must admit, gentleman, this petition has given me pause for consideration,” said Sir Ethan Carrington, as he stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray before him and brought his hands together rubbing them in thought.
“Well, let us say hypothetically, one was charged with murder. What if, and I know this is a rather bold statement to make considering the near flawlessness of our legal system but all that aside, what if one were innocent of said crime?” Carrington’s statement appeared to give the gentleman serious cause for thought.
“Gentleman, the very purpose of the legal system is to afford an individual the right to due process,” answered Lord Ashwood, as he placed his right hand in his coat pocket and crossed the room to stand before them at the fireplace. “And if, as Ethan says, an innocent man were charged with murder, his defence would clear him of this charge.
“What if he were executed? Surely, even the legal system has its faults” asked Sir Winchester.
“Now Montgomery, there is always room for error” said Lord Ashwood, “but, consider the alternative.”
“And what is the alternative?” asked Lincoln.
“If we were to abolish capital punishment, then think of the consequences for society. The very nature of the penal system is twofold. Firstly, its function is to bring justice to those who have been wronged or who have committed guilty acts. Secondly, its function is to deter further acts of crime.”
“Then I ask you, Lord Ashwood, considering how strongly you feel about this issue, what if the life were your own?”
“Lincoln, must I justify your question with a response? I imagine any man who is innocent of a crime he is convicted wouldn’t be very receptive to his situation, and if the life were my own, it would be most disagreeable indeed.”
“And what if you were guilty?”
“Lord Ashwood, guilty of a crime? Lincoln, if we are to hypothesis, let us do so objectively,” said Baron Willoughby, releasing the tension of the rubber band stretching tighter and tighter between Lord Ashwood and Lincoln.
“I understand Thompson’s argument also raises some points of contention regarding whether the severity of the punishment fits the nature of some of the lesser crimes,” asked Carrington.
“That is correct,” answered Lincoln. “There have been amendments made to the legislation reducing the punishment for minor offences, but he maintains it should be done away with all together.”
“This is what happens when we allow the lower classes to run rampant through Parliament,” said Lord Ashwood, his temper flaring. “Chaos ensues.”
“Be that as it may,” interjected Willoughby, anxiously tapping his foot in the air with impatience. “I believe we have other important matters to discuss this evening.”
“Shall I begin, Gentleman?” asked Willoughby, as the men nodded encouragingly. “Lincoln, you may be wondering what has brought us all here tonight. It just so happens that there are some matters of importance we wish to discuss with you and our two families are here to celebrate in what we hope will be a favourable conclusion to the evening.”
“We have for some time now been concerned with Lady Madeline’s future,” continued Sir Carrington. “Especially in light of my brother-in-law, the Duke of Montague’s passing.”
“Hmm,” the other men murmured, agreeing with Sir Carrington.
“We have observed the relationship between you and Lady Madeline has strengthened over these past few months and it hasn’t failed to go unnoticed,” said Baron Willoughby.
“Now wait a minute here,” said Lincoln, as he rose from his seat in objection to where this conversation was headed. Sir Winchester placed his hand upon Lincoln’s arm to settle him down.
“Please Lincoln, hear these gentleman out,” asked his uncle, Sir Winchester, placing a hand upon his arm.
“Now some weeks ago we made an agreement with your mother,” continued Baron Willoughby. “You may be aware of our objections to the engagement between your cousin, Felicity and my son, Fortescue, but we were willing to overlook her shortcomings if a successful match were made for Lady Madeline.”
“Oh, I am well aware of this arrangement, but do, please elaborate on these so called shortcomings you mention. I am most interested to hear what exactly you are implying by them.”
“Surely, you can’t mean for my son to marry below his station without there being some advantage to the union?”
“This wasn’t an issue for you before he received his sizeable inheritance.”
“Now look here, young man. You may be a Member of Parliament but don’t forget to whom you are addressing.”
“What Baron Willoughby is trying to say,” said Sir Winchester, “Is that we have been aware of the special bond that you and Lady Madeline share and we felt it would be just a matter of time before you would both…”
“Before we would both what? Become united in wedlock?” asked Lincoln, throwing his arms in the air. “That’s right, I know all about your plans for me, it just would have been nice of you to ask me what I wanted. I mean for goodness’ sake, I am a grown man!”
“Lincoln,” said Lord Ashwood, “There is no need to be disrespectful to your uncle. He only has your interests in mind.”
“And what are your interests in these affairs?” asked Lincoln, looking upon Lord Ashwood with suspicion.
“I am merely here as a friend and to remind you Lincoln, that whatever decisions are made by the end of this evening could have far reaching consequences not only for you but, for other innocent parties.”
“Are you threatening me?” cried Lincoln.
“Lincoln, you forget yourself. Please accept my apology for my nephew’s impertinence.” said Sir Winchester. Lincoln should have been more outraged but he had known all along that it was only a matter of time before he would have to confront what they had been planning for him. And as he looked upon these men in expectation, a new thought occurred to him. Was it all preordained? Did men have free will or were our lives predetermined. Our path already forged before we have taken our first breath. If this were true why fight it? You cannot fight fate; God has his own plans for us and we are subject to his every whim. These thoughts followed one after another, until they led to the man in the room that hadn’t spoken a word all evening: Fortescue. It caused him to recall his young cousin, Felicity’s tears when she had heard the news of their broken engagement. Then he remembered Lady Madeline’s well of sorrow as he looked into her eyes. It didn’t seem to matter to him anymore, for he had lost what had truly mattered and even though he would never know the happiness that had lingered so close, so close. He wondered if perhaps it was never real to begin with. Perhaps it didn’t exist in this world or any other. And if that were true then we had to find happiness wherever it could be found, no matter how small in measure and who was he to stand in the way of theirs? If it was in his power to bring these two young lovers together, then why shouldn’t he wield that power? And Lady Madeline was a good woman. She would make a good wife. He would no longer lived for himself but for others and he would live for them too. Whatever happiness he could bring into this world, he would. And there was something else within these thoughts that lit that dark lonely path before him with hope: children. He could have a child. It wouldn’t be Lady Delphinia’s, but it would be his very own child and that child would be the legacy he would leave behind to this world. He would teach him all the things he wished he had been taught. He would create another beacon of light for humanity to follow. This child would inherit the sins of their fathers, but he would also lead them out of the darkness of their past
. He looked up then at these men who were all looking at him with expectation.
“I accept your proposal,” he said. Each of the men looked at each other, surprised and delighted at his decision.
“Get this man a drink,” cried Sir Winchester, as he rose from his seat and shook Lincoln’s hand.
“You hear that son,” said Baron Willoughby, as he rose and went to Fortescue and patted him upon the back. “You and Felicity are getting married.” Fortescue walked over to Lincoln and shook his hand.
“Thank-you Lincoln, your agreement to this arrangement will benefit Lady Madeline’s situation immensely.”
“Let us not delay the announcement of this news a moment longer,” said Sir Carrington. After the men had their fill of whiskey and port, they emerged from the smoky mist of the parlour and entered the drawing room where they were met by the sounds of the piano playing a light classical piece by Chopin, heightening the excitement in the air. Sir Winchester tapped loudly on his glass to gain the attention of everyone in the room.
“Hear, hear, Ladies and Gentleman, I have an announcement to make.” All the guests in the room gathered closer together to hear the news. “Tonight, I have the pleasure of announcing the engagement of my lovely daughter, Felicity Jane Winchester to my new nephew-in-law, Lord Fortescue Phillip Willoughby…” The guests broke out in cheers of happiness. Sir Winchester began tapping his glass furiously again with a silver spoon. “Indeed, indeed, now please, refrain from your excitement for a moment longer.”
“Let the man finish,” cried out Sir Carrington.
“Tonight is a special occasion indeed. For tonight we do not only celebrate one engagement, but two. Tonight, I also have the immense pleasure of announcing the news of my nephew’s engagement, Sir Lincoln William Rinehart to Duchess Montague’s enchanting daughter, Lady Madeline Agnes Montague.” Another wave of cheers moved through the room as the guests approached the couples to congratulate them. Lincoln stood beside Lady Madeline receiving words of encouragement from the guests, as they shook his hand and patted him on the back. Somewhere deep within him. Somewhere so far from this place where he now stood there was a pull plunging him down, deeper and deeper. The light from the chandelier caught someone’s earring, causing flashes of light to reflect across his iris and into the darkness he had withdrawn into, causing him to see a scene flash before him. Little by little. For a single moment. Then another, lighting the darkness within him. He tried to make out the image shining before him and then he saw it and his shoulders turned in slightly, as his chest fell from the deep pain piercing his heart. Lady Delphinia was standing there by the river, as the yellow petals of the morning fell down upon her. In his mind’s eye he reached out his hand to her and like a stone being thrown into a river, it caused the rippling surface of her broken image to shatter into pieces until nothing remained of her bleeding memory within his life’s empty hands.
XIX
Since that day when Lincoln’s future had been set in stone he had tried desperately to be happy, but he felt as if he were stuck in a nightmare he couldn’t awake from. They say every cloud has a silver lining, yet all he could see was a raging storm looming ahead. He would always love Lady Delphinia, but he had to move on. Always when there is life left to live we must continue upon our path. No matter how we wish we could turn from that beaten track; no matter how we want to turn and retrace our steps and return to yesterday we cannot. That time is past with all the moments frozen forever; eternally unchanged. There would be no second chance for him and he had to find a way to come to terms with this, for he struggled to move past it and he didn’t know what it would take for him to finally close that door just long enough so he could open another one that would allow him to breathe new life into his days. Lincoln knew though that whatever remained hidden behind that door would never be forgotten. Though their moments shared were few and far in between, they echoed through time and marked him, as if they were the only days of his life; and all of his existence could be summed up by them alone. He wasn’t releasing her, he was putting her away somewhere deep within. In a small corner within the deep recesses of his mind; tucked safely away within the very core of his soul. The sorrow would forever remain and like a cruel mistress that would never let him go he would forever remain a slave to her memory. Though the hour was early, Lincoln was working in the study of his manor in Gravesend before departing to call upon Lady Madeline to discuss the arrangements for their upcoming union.
“Excuse me, Master Rinehart,” called a familiar voice. Lincoln looked up to find the manager of his estate, Mr Seamus Eiby standing in the doorway.
“Seamus, have they arrived? I wasn’t expecting them for another hour. Is everything prepared for their arrival?” he asked, as he closed his ledger.
“Yes sir, we ‘ave carried out your orders as you requested, but they ‘ave not yet arrived,”
“Was there some other affair you would care to discuss?”
“No Master, I ‘ave come to announce the arrival of a young gentleman who ‘as requested to see you.”
“At this hour? I am most curious to learn of the nature of this call. Who is this man?”
“Mr Percival Fox. He claims he is a close acquaintance of yours.”
“Yes, that is correct. Mr Percival Fox is a good friend. Please show him in.” Some minutes passed before Lincoln turned his eyes again from his work to see Percival entering the room.
“Percy, good heavens, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?” said Lincoln, from his desk to greet him. “You must be famished after your long journey. Can I offer you something to eat or perhaps a light refreshment?”
“Yes, no, I am well. Though, on second thought, I am quite parched. Perhaps, a glass of whiskey?”
“At this early hour? Are you sure you wouldn’t care for a fresh glass of juice or something lighter…a sherry perhaps? You know, we have the plumpest, freshest sweet oranges growing on the estate.”
“No, Lincoln, just a nip of whiskey will do,” Percival responded, as he walked dejectedly to the empty Mahogany chair and sat down placing his head in his hands. Lincoln walked over to the lacquer case upon his cabinet and poured a glass of whiskey from the crystal decanter into one of the short, gold rimmed cordial glasses then walked over to Percival where he placed a hand upon his shoulder and lowered his other hand. Feeling Lincoln’s touch, Percival raised his head and took the drink from Lincoln’s hand.
“I do hope your manner does not foretell of any misfortune,” said Lincoln, as he walked around his desk and sat down in his antique elbow chair. Lincoln waited as Percival leant back his head and downed the contents of his glass before placing it upon the desk.
“You have done really well for yourself, haven’t you?” he asked, as he reached out his arms as if he held all of Lincoln’s estate within them.
“Yes, I have been very fortunate but I do not include these tangible possessions as a measure of what I have achieved.”
“No, of course not,” he agreed, with a touch of sarcasm.
“Percival, I am very pleased to receive your company today but, your behaviour is quite puzzling,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“Oh, no one is more puzzled than I. Let me tell you, my good friend. I have been through the wringer and am at my wit’s end. I was hoping, as you are on such good terms with Lady Madeline, you may be able to enlighten me as to her sudden change of heart.”
“Her change of heart?”
“You see, I have spent some time with Lady Madeline these past weeks and I was under the impression that she was quite fond of me, but it seems I have been mistaken.”
“I see,” said Lincoln, as he raised his hands and held them under his chin.
“Why, just the other day, I sent her and Duchess Montague an invitation to join me for dinner and take in a show at the theatre and I was respectfully declined and ever since all efforts of communication have been ignored. Can you imagine? For a woman of her good breeding to behave with such imp
ropriety.”
“I can understand your frustrations with Lady Madeline but you must understand with the sudden news of her late father, she has not been…how should I put this…in the correct frame of mind for entertaining.”
“You speak to me as if I have no heart. In fact, who do you think has been there to offer her a shoulder to lean on these past weeks?”
“And I am sure she is very grateful but surely you can understand that she may also need some time alone, to find some peace with everything that she has endured.”
“Do you believe then that it is only a matter of time?”
“Time is the healer of all wounds.”
“I am most relieved to hear of it, for I am anxious to resume our courtship.”
“Your courtship?” asked Lincoln, as he stood up and walked to the liquor case to pour himself a glass of whiskey.
“Why yes, I have been courting Lady Madeline for some weeks now and have grown very fond of her during that time.”
“Well, I had no idea you two had become so close.”
“Yes, I suppose it would be quite a surprise considering my reluctance to involve myself with women in a more serious fashion, but there is something very beguiling about Lady Madeline. I believe she is the first woman that I have ever felt could be my equal in all respects.”
“Why have you not spoken to me before of these affections you have for her?”
“I haven’t spoken of this to anyone. In fact, you are the first.”
“So, not even Lady Madeline is aware of what is in your heart?”
“Lincoln, I was the first to mock your words at the Opera, but I understand now what you spoke of and I do believe that she understood my intentions, though I had never intimated them in so many words.”
“Your intentions? What exactly are you saying?”
“Only that I was hoping to ask for her hand in marriage.” Lincoln was shocked by Percival’s words. The one person within this world he trusted and admired more than any other was sitting here before him, confessing his love for the woman that Lincoln had only days before become engaged. He had not imagined that his friend had felt this way. In all the short time that Percival and Lady Madeline had known one another he believed there had been no affection shared between them and the match Lincoln had hoped they would make in time, had not proved fruitful. Now he saw he should have spoken to him before agreeing to the engagement between himself and Lady Madeline. For the sake of their friendship, he should have taken him aside to ensure that he held no affections for Lady Madeline.