Snowbound Fairy Christmas

by Hunt, Brenda

“Mother, please allow Mr. Kinley to continue,” Nate demanded with some irritation. He had hoped his mother would not attend this meeting but she had been adamant.

  “Countess Shefley, please allow me to continue,” replied Mr. Kinley. “It has nothing to do with the heir ship.”

  Lady Shefley humphed. She did not like any of this. This had something to do with that Dulcey woman. But then perhaps, it was the missing part to this situation that she could use against Dulcey. Yes, this would be the answer she was looking for. By the end of this meeting, this Dulcey would be on her way. She smiled with anticipation of finally being able to put this nothing in her proper place.

  Nate nodded to Mr. Kinley.

  Percival sighed. He was beginning to develop a dislike for the Countess. He began again.

  “Lord Fergers left two letters, one addressed to your Lord Shefley, Lord Beckham and the other to Miss Dulcey. I am to read yours first, Lord Beckham. It is the shortest. After, I am to read the one Lord Fergers has addressed to Miss Dulcey next. I believe once they have been read, both of you will understand why Lord Fergers has done it this way.”

  He looked to Lord Beckham, who nodded, and then to Miss Dulcey, who nodded, as well. He took the first letter and opened the seal. He began to read:

  Dear Lord Nathaniel Beckham, Fifth Earl of Shefley

  After much searching, I have found your brother to be my heir, a very distant cousin, it appears. Upon my investigation, I have had reports that say your family is an honorable one. When I learned of his death, you then became my heir. I have this very serious request to ask of you. When I learned your brother had made his daughter your ward, it proved to me I could ask this of you. It is on your honor that I make this request. Once the letter I have written to my Dulcey is read, you will understand my request. As the new Baron of Chesterton, I request that you continue to provide protection for Dulcey, as I have done these past many years. My solicitor, Percival Kinley has assured me, I can depend upon you in this matter. If you cannot or refuse to, I have left other instructions with Percival concerning this. I leave this life with the belief that I can depend on you and know my Dulcey will be protected.

  With kindest regards,

  Lord James Fergers, Fourth Baron of Chesterton

  Percival looked up and straight at Lord Beckham.

  “I understand what he is asking of me, I just don’t understand why?” questioned Nate. He was confused. He looked to Dulcey, but she shook her head and shrugged.

  Dulcey was just as confused as Nate. Why did Lord James say she needed protection? Protection from what, from whom? All this left her anxious and confused. She was now frightened of what was to come. She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest. She heard that same beat loudly echoing in her ears. She clasped her hands together so tightly, she was certain that if she held something in them, she would have broken it to pieces. Oh, how she feared what was to come.

  “I believe the letter Lord Fergers wrote to Miss Dulcey will explain it all for the both of you. Please, understand Miss Dulcey, I tried to get him to explain all of this to you when Mrs. Digby died but he thought he had time. When he became ill, he decided to do it this way,” explained Percival.

  Dulcey sat in her chair, biting her bottom lip in worry. Everything about her was cloudy. There were no clear pictures for her to see. She felt like she was looking into a swirling mass of colors. It frightened her. Her visions had never been this cloudy, this uncertain. All of her life, they had been there guiding her. Now, when she needed them the most, they were confused and as such, she was confused, lacking direction.

  Nate watched Dulcey with concern. She looked frightened. Lord Fergers was asking him to protect her but protect her from what. Of course, he would protect her. He would not consider anything less. He wanted to reach out to her, to assure her, he would be here for her, always. He did not need the request of Lord Fergers.

  “Please continue, Mr. Kinley,” stated Nate, anxious to learn what this was all about.

  Percival nodded and broke the seal to the second letter and began:

  My dearest Dulcey,

  Please know everything I have done, I have done to protect you, to keep you safe. I have loved you ever since I first saw you.

  “I told you she was his by blow, his bastard child,” stated the Countess with disdain as though Dulcey dirtied the air about her. She now had the proof she needed to get this woman out of her son’s life. A baron’s bastard daughter was not good enough for her son, for their family.

  Percival looked up, startled by the Countess outbursts. “Countess?”

  Nate turned in anger. “Mother! I will not hear you utter another word or I shall send you to your room to pack your bags. Do I make myself understood?” Nate was livid with his mother. How dare she continue to say such vile things about Dulcey! This was beyond enough.

  “I just----.” stated the Countess.

  Nate interrupted before she could continue. “I am deadly serious about what I just said, Mother. I will send you packing back to Shefley Hall. Make no mistake about it. I have had enough of your remarks. Now sit quietly in your chair or I will call Evers and have you escorted out.”

  The Countess sat back in her chair and huffed. How dare her son talk to her in such a manner! He never used to. That is, until he met that Dulcey woman. She must do something about it and soon, before she got her hooks into her son.

  Nate looked at Dulcey. She sat very still in her chair looking down at her folded hands in her lap. How he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her his mother’s words were just that and not to let them hurt her so. But he knew they had.

  Dulcey sat their unable to move while everything in her screamed, run from this place. Run till she was safely back at her home. But she did not. Her legs refused to move, so she sat their listening to them talk about her.

  Percival looked at the Countess with displeasure. He was glad to see Lord Beckham was not like his mother. “It is not what you seem to imply, Countess, far from it, as you will soon know. May I continue, m’lord?”

  “Yes, please do. I don’t believe my mother shall make any further comments.” He looked at his mother, daring her to say something more. He wanted any excuse to send her packing.

  Mr. Kinley began again.

  I have loved you ever since I first saw you in your mother’s arms. So did your father, my younger brother Philip. He fell in love with your mother. Her name was Owena. She was the daughter of the Earl of Sayer of Wye Wales.

  The Countess gasped. She was of noble birth. No, this could not be so.

  Percival looked up and smiled smugly at her.

  Your mother was very special. She had special abilities, to be able to see and know things about other people. To know of things before they happened. So did your grandmother. Everyone near your grandfather’s estate knew and loved your grandmother and your mother. You have inherited some of their abilities, as well.

  They were so happy the day you were born. We all were. Your mother, your father, your grandfather and grandmother. They lived near your mothers parents in Wales. And for four years all was well.

  The vicar was old and left to live with his daughter in his old age. A new vicar was hired. Then on one of their visits, your mother could see the vicar’s wife was very ill though she did not look ill. Your mother tried to tell her, explain to her but she and the vicar would not listen, would

  not believe her.

  When she became ill, the vicar blamed your mother, saying and believing your mother had cursed her. When she died, he went crazy, calling your mother a witch. As a witch, she needed to burn. He tried to get many of the people of the area to believe your mother was a witch but they would not. That infuriated him even more.

  Since he could not get help from anyone in the village, he set fire to the house himself. Your father was able to get you out to Grammy Digby who lived nearby, but by the time he returned back for your mother, the fire had spread throughout the house. The house collapsed
before he could get your mother out, killing both of them.

  The Vicar was heard screaming all must burn in hell for doing the devil’s work, as he ran away from the house.

  When he escaped and disappeared, your grandfather sent you to me with Grammy Digby, for your protection, afraid the vicar would come after you, as well. I gave you my mother’s maiden name of Langely and had you live with Grammy Digby.

  It was the hardest thing I have ever done, watching you live in the cottage, knowing you belonged here at the manor house. That is why I tutored you for this day, when you are to take your rightful place as Lady Fergers. That day, appears to be now.

  Your grandfather and I searched for years for the Reverend Eandine. But he disappeared that night and we never heard of him again. But we were always afraid he would find you somehow and show up for you one day.

  I promised your grandfather before he died, as he did your grandmother, I would always protect you. He left you five thousand pounds. I have invested it for you, along with money from your father and myself. The money has done well. There is a bank in London that has over twenty thousand pounds for you in your true name of Dulcey Elizabeth Fergers. You are to be very well taken care of. Percival will instruct you on how you can draw from it.

  I would like you to have your season in London. This money will see to it. Also, I have left the cottage and some of the surrounding land to you.

  Lord Shefley, this is where my request comes in. I need you to protect my Dulcey from the possibility that the vicar is still alive and looking for her. I also need you to see to her coming out in London society and as such, I need you to also protect her from anyone taking advantage of her for her money.

  My darling Dulcey, you have no idea how many times, I have wanted to tell you this, but I was afraid. Please forgive us, if we have hurt you in any way, for that was never our intent. We only wanted to protect you. After losing Philip and Owena we, your grandfather and I, were so afraid of losing you.

  My one regret is that I have not lived long enough to see the beautiful woman you have become. Please know you have always been loved. Your father, your mother, your grandfather and grandmother and me your uncle. You were never alone.

  Do not allow your special abilities to frighten you, especially knowing what happened to your parents. Your mother always said it was a blessing she was given. It is a blessing you have been given as well.

  I wish you a happy life, my sweet Dulcey. You have been the joy of my life. I wish I would have told you all of this a long time ago, but I promised your grandfather and, I too, always feared for your safety. Please forgive me. It was never my intention to hurt you. Know all this time you have been loved by your family.

  With all my love, I can now sign as your uncle.

  Uncle James

  The silence in the room was deafening as they all sat letting the words of the letter sink in.

  Tears rolled slowly down Dulcey’s cheeks. This letter answered so many of the questions, so many of the doubts, she had lived with all her life. She didn’t know how to react to all of this. She felt numb, numb to her core. Never had she ever considered this was even as possibility. She was not prepared for this information. This was all so much, too much to take in and comprehend.

  Percival broke the silence. “I will need you, Lord Beckham to sign some of these papers as well as Miss Dulcey or should I say Lady Dulcey.”

  Nate looked at Dulcey. She sat there like a statue staring into space. He so wanted to take her in his arms and tell her, it would all be alright. That he wanted to protect her, even before Lord Fergers asked him to in that letter.

  “Lady Dulcey, I need your signature on these papers,” requested Percival as he put a paper in front of her along with the pot of ink and pen.

  “What are they?” asked Nate.

  “Just acknowledging that she understands all that I have read to her and papers for her moneys at the bank,” replied Percival. “Lady Dulcey?”

  Dulcey stared at Mr. Kinley and took the quill he offered her.

  “Lady Dulcey, I suggest that you sign Lady Dulcey Langely Fergers.”

  Dulcey nodded slightly and took the pen he handed her. Her hand shook. She needed to concentrate. She must sign her name correctly. Her correct name. Her new name. Lady Dulcey Langely Fergers. Slowly, she signed the paper and the second one he presented to her as well. She handed the pen back to Mr. Kinley.

  She rose with the sudden need to get out of the room. The room was closing in on her. She couldn’t breathe. If she didn’t get out, she was afraid she would start screaming and seriously wondered, if once she started would she be able to stop.

  Nate rose and stood in front of Dulcey to block her path. Everything in him wanted to gather her up in his arms and assure her this was good.

  “Please let me by, Nate. I need some time alone to absorb all of this. Please, Nate!” she begged. Dulcey looked up and pleaded with him desperately for him to let her pass. She needed to get out of this room. She felt like she was suffocating. She could not breathe. She could not breathe.

  Nate nodded and stepped aside. It took every fiber of his being not to follow her. To hold her, to comfort her as he knew she needed. But he respected her need for some time alone. This was a momentous disclosure for Dulcey. Anyone would have been shaken by it.

  “Nathaniel, her mother was a witch and burned because of it. It claims she is one, too. You have her living here, putting us all in danger. You need to do something about this,” stated the Countess, emphatically. This was the secret she would use to get rid of Dulcey. But she must tread carefully now. Soon, it will be known, she is a descendant of an earl and a baron. None the less, she was not the woman for her son. No, a witch, no matter the noble lineage, was not going to marry into this, her family.

  Nate passed his hands through his hair in frustration. He turned to his mother. “Mother, I am so tired of listening to your pompous opinions. Can you not see how distressful this is for Dulcey?”

  “What is distressing to me is that she is a witch and her mother has been burned as such. You have put us all in danger by bringing her here. Is not my distress important, Nathaniel? It’s enough to give me the vapors.” The countess laid her head back in the chair and began waving her hand in front of her face to fan her. She would use this information to her advantage. She would make her son see the folly of this association with this woman.

  Nate exhaled strongly and looked upward. He was very much aware of his mother machinations at feigning illness when she did not get her way. He walked to the door and opened it. Evers was just outside.

  “Evers, please have my mother’s maid come down to assist my mother back to her rooms.” He turned and walked back in.

  “Nathaniel-----.”

  Nate interrupted. “Mother, I need to speak with Mr. Kinley. There are several things I need clarification on. I will check on you later.”

  “We need to discuss this further, now” whined his mother. She needed to get him alone to convince him. He needed to be shown the folly of his ways. Surely, now he could see how completely impossible a situation this is.

  “After I have talked with Mr. Kinley, mother.” Nate noticed Leta, his mother’s maid at the door. "Leta, please escort my mother to her room. It seems she needs to rest.” He went to his mother’s side and offered her his arm.

  “Nathaniel---.”

  He interrupted her again. “I promise you, mother, as soon as I have finished talking with Mr. Kinley, I will come to your room so that we may discuss this. Please, go upstairs with Leta and I will be upstairs shortly.”

  Lady Shefley sighed in disgust and rose easily to her feet. With lips pursed in annoyance, she eyed Nate with what Nate remembered as a child, he and his brother called the evil eye.

  Nate turned away to talk to Mr. Kinley. He heard the door close behind her and immediately dismissed her from his thoughts. Dulcey was his primary concern now.

  “I wanted to talk to you alone Lord Beckham, as
well.”

  Nate went to the side bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey and raised the bottle in Mr. Kinley direction. When he nodded, Nate poured another glass. He brought the glass to Mr. Kinley and sat down in the chair he had occupied earlier. Percival sat in the chair Dulcey had sat in previously.

  Each took a long drink.

  “Lord Beckham, may I be frank with you?”

  “Yes, please do.” He was curious as to what the solicitor had to say. He seemed to have been close to Lord Fergers to have been entrusted with this mission.

  Percival studied the earl for a moment. He had noticed the concern he had showed Miss Dulcey.

  “Miss,-- Lady Dulcey is very well liked here. I did not always agree with Lord James but I do know he loved her dearly and what he did, he did to protect her. I sincerely hope you will honor Lord James request to see to her protection.”

  Nate nodded and looked Percival directly in the eye. “That is a promise I make readily. The last thing I want to see happen is for Dulcey to get hurt. This news actually makes it easier for what I have planned. I have plans on marrying Dulcey. In truth, only this morning, I have sent a missive to a good friend in London to petition the Archbishop for a special license. I had hopes of marrying Dulcey even before I knew of all this.”

  Percival smiled and nodded. He had noticed how Lord Beckham looked at Miss Dulcey. “An excellent idea, my lord.” Then he frowned, remembering. “Your mother, the countess?”

  Nate smiled tolerantly. “I am very much aware of my mother and her rude opinions, but she is about to realize, her only other choice is to accept this or live at the dowager house at Shefley Hall. It would mean sharing it with my grandmother, her mother in law. That is something she will avoid at all cost.”

  Percival smiled. He drank the last of his whiskey and stood up. “Then I will take my leave, for I do believe you have it all well in hand, my lord.”

  Nate stood up as well and offered Percival his hand. “Thank you, Percival. May I count on you for any legal issues I may have?”