by Lisa Prysock
2 Chronicles 5:13, KJV
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;
Chapter 11
The Northampton Snowstorm
“May God have mercy upon us!” Rose Pritchard prayed when from the front window she saw the Duke of Gladdington’s carriage roll to a stop outside their cottage door. The color drained from her face and her body grew tense with apprehension. She sprung to action, attempting to tidy the humble dwelling. She quickly washed Reese’s face with some of the cold water inside the water pitcher.
As she scrubbed the smudges on his cheeks, she directed the children. “Quickly children, we ‘ave unexpect’d comp’ny; very important comp’ny! We must use our best manners! Victoria, throw a log on the fire. Ginny, sweep the floor please and don’t argue with Victoria. Adelaide, fetch me best apron. Amelia an’ Christian, sit there on the bench with Abby an’ don’t make a move.”
She proceeded to set the table to serve more of the meat and the broth she had managed to make from the goose. If only she could have preserved that goose until Christmas Day. And what of the days leading to then? Perhaps the good Lord would provide something else for them before then. Surely that goose would not last more than another two days. There wasn’t even so much as a boiled potato to go with it. She looked at the crock with the lid on the empty shelves and closed her eyes, thinking of the precious seeds she had been saving for a much bigger summer garden than last year. If they could make it through the winter, next year would be better if she had anything to do with it. She would plant more potatoes this time and twice as much squash. Corn for relish, and she would pick berries and make jams too.
The front door creaked opened before they could finish their tasks. Jorie entered with a large basket and lugged it to her mother’s arms. “Wait, ‘tis more…” She left Rose standing there with a shocked look on her face and placed the musket to stand on the butt in the corner by the door. Why was her Jorie dressed as a boy carrying the musket her James used to keep in the shed?
When Jorie returned with another basket, and closed the door with the heels of her half-boots, her mother had tears streaming down her cheeks. Rose Pritchard had already begun to sort through the contents of the first basket as the carriage rolled away. Her siblings had surrounded the table to peer inside the basket, their eyes wide with hope, knowing good things were contained inside and their hunger pangs would soon cease. Even Abby managed to limp to the table to see what was inside.
“Another basket, just like the one from before…” Abby said, yanking on Victoria’s thin arm.
“Hush children!” Rose Pritchard instructed. “Marjorie Ann, how in heaven’s name did you manage yet another basket o’ provisions from Hillbrook Hall? I thought surely the Duke had come to scold me for something ye had done! Ye ‘ave given me such a fright!”
“No, Mama! Read these!” Jorie opened the second basket and jammed the letters tucked inside into her mother’s worn hands.
Rose reluctantly accepted the letters, thankful she had learned to read from her own dear mother. She hadn’t had the benefit of attending school, but her family had owned a few books. She kept a number of books on the shelf in the corner near her rocking chair by the fireplace. Each evening, she required the older children to take turns reading something while she stitched as fast as her hands could. The problem wasn’t that they lacked books as much as it was that they now lacked an earthly father and provider. Her hands were blistered from trying to wield an axe to keep firewood stocked. The cupboards were bare. Their garments wore thin while she mended and stitched fine clothing for the more privileged. She could barely keep up with the rent as a tenant, and she couldn’t plow the fields as James had done. She had sold off almost everything of value. Her hope was frail and her heart heavy. Pulling her shawl close to keep warm, she tore open the seal the fancy wax seal of the first letter, and then the second, her eyes racing through the contents of each as quickly as she could without misunderstanding any of the words.
She sank to the chair at the table where her beloved James used to sit. She was the head of the household now. The children had grown accustomed to her having no choice but to take on the role of both mother and father.
Tears streamed down her face as she read both letters. She sobbed wretchedly and laid her head on the table, her limp arms falling about her lace cap. “Oh, Jorie! I ‘ave failed you!”
“No Mama! Don’t say ye such a thing! The good Lord, He looketh down from heav’n an’ hath seen fit in His glory to redeem us! He hath spared us from death an’ poverty, Mama! He hath stooped low and hath become our refuge, just like the Holy Book says that we do read ev’ry night. He hath answer’d me prayers an yer prayers, all our prayers He above done answered!”
“But, I ‘ave not asked the Lord to require ye to hunt an’ scavenge for our food. ‘Tis not fittin’ fer a young girl. “Tis not proper fer a lady, title or no… ye should no’ ‘ave ‘ad to do these things ye have done.”
“I know, Mama, and I won’t have to hunt an’ fish as often now that I have permissions and baskets o’ bread an’ pie, an’ jams, an’ all sorts o’ good nourishment; an’ ‘e said I can borrow books from a great library; an’ the Duke cancelled the rent Mama! Cancelled, Mama! All shall be well. All shall be well ag’in, Mama! He said ‘e will pay for Abigail’s operation, too! I am to come by after school and pick up a basket-- nearly every day Mama-- though sometimes the fine ladies of the Hall will bring it fer ye; so long as we keep goin’ to church an’ school, o’ course.”
“Oh, Jorie! Thanks be to God for ‘is mercy is all I can even say!” Rose Pritchard looked up and laughed through bittersweet tears. “Whate’er would I do without yer sweet face to cheer me on? O’ course we will go to church an’ ye will all attend school, as always when we can! I am… I am without words! What a shock the Duke would take such a liking to ye, to all o’ us…”
Brightening to see her mother’s weak smile, Jorie asked, “Mama, did you see the food in these baskets? ‘Tis enough for many days!”
“”Tis provender enough for a week! Aye, and a very good thing, too! There be a storm comin’ by the looks o’ them clouds… an’ I’ll be needin’ yer help choppin’ wood, Jorie. No more traipsin’ about in this get up! Do thee hear thy Mama? An’ take that hat off when ye are in me house. I’m not even goin’ tuh ask where ye found these garments… jus’ go put an’ put that musket in the shed where it belongs! ‘Tis enough to ‘ave one firearm under me bed… an’ then ye must change into yer proper dress… so we can ‘ave our supper. ‘Tis against God’s Word for a girl to dress like a boy!”
“Yes, Mama,” Jorie obeyed, removing the hat as she ran to return the musket to the shed.
“Victoria, put on a kettle o’ tea! We have tea, coffee, an’ sugar now, praise be to God who hath not left us destitute!” Rose Pritchard said, shaking her head at the wonder as she rose from the table to gladly stock her cupboards.
The mercy the Duke had shed on little Jorie’s situation was not lost on Catherine after all she had witnessed on Monday. The character and generosity he had shown in handling the situation endeared Kingston all the more to her heart. She had observed most of the entire incident in silence, allowing his character to be revealed without interference on her part. It still amazed her that they had a sort of Isaac and Rebecca relationship of almost instantaneous affection, with tenderness, a growing love, and an admiration toward each the other in such a short span of one week.
As Northampton seldom received more than four or five days of snow most winters, the winter weather they had experienced that year throughout the south of England had been unexpected and highly unusual. It was equally unexpected to have much snow
in Chelmsford, and a letter from home shared with Catherine that they had received more wintery weather and continued to suffer with bad roads and terrible travel conditions in Essex. Each time a storm deepened and moved through the Channel, an easterly gale force developed bringing heavy blizzards and drifting snow. The snow and winds deposited snow drifts tens of feet high in some places, even south of London. The servants could not keep up with chopping wood as Hillbrook Hall was filled with guests and every fireplace in use.
The guests were astonished on two counts as Tuesday approached: first, about the steady snowfall, and secondly, to hear that Lady Agnes actually might have a fiancé. Not only that, but many were confused as she had only recently begun to selectively divulge this news, in stark contrast to their knowledge of her flirtatious behavior with Sir Edward and Kingston. They were further astonished each time they looked out the windows to see the snow still falling. The snow descended steadily into flurries, and finally, white out conditions which followed the Earl of Milton as he embarked upon the very steps of Hillbrook Hall Tuesday afternoon. Thus it was that the Earl arrived just one full week after Catherine, and on the heels of a blizzard formation, as if the snow had followed him from the very coasts of Bath.
Catherine had her own distractions. Thank goodness they had sent Jorie home with enough food and supplies to last a good long week. She kept imagining those children starving and enduring the pain of fierce hunger. She took it upon herself to enlist a small army to prepare Christmas goods and goodies for the less fortunate. Mrs. Glenwood and Mrs. Childers coordinated their thoughts from years past with her. Soon, a task force formed. This army of ladies of the household began to prepare jams, breads, and pies for Christmas baskets for many of the tenants of the parish of Glad Crown. Seeing that St. Thomas Day was quickly approaching, widows, mumpers, and elderly would go from door to door, wassailing, hoping for wheat and other provisions. The price of wheat was so high that many struggled on a daily basis under the circumstances. Mrs. Glenwood expected at least twenty villagers to come knocking.
The army consisted of Catherine, Kingston’s sisters, Lady Boggs, Lady Jane, Lady Stapleton, and Lady Mary. Lady Stapleton and Lady Jane talked of the common ground they shared since they were both from Scotland as they worked, but soon the conversation turned to Marjorie. Jorie’s case weighed heavily upon all of them. Her story became known at Hillbrook Hall as among the worst they had ever known, partially due to the size of Rose Pritchard’s household. The Duchess had always insisted that the poor were cared for. Now, it seemed as though they had failed as they had mourned their own losses. It also seemed to have fallen upon Winnie’s shoulders to see that Lady Anne-Marie and Lady Amiée-Josephine carried on in the like traditions and good will of the Duchess and the Kingston line. Though Catherine did not set much store by some traditions, she firmly believed good ones should not be cast aside. St. Thomas Day was one such tradition worthy of keeping.
There was something about giving and doing that ignited her spirit and energized her. Thus, she was not privy to the conversation between the Earl and the Duke, but as she donned an apron in the kitchen and went to work at peeling apples for pies, she prayed for a good outcome for the sake of those involved. To say that she was uninterested would not have been a correct assumption, either. She prayed fervently for Kingston as she went about her tasks with a handful of the other ladies in the kitchen. It would not do if a feud stirred over the preservation of the propriety of Aggie and the Burke family reputation; in fact, it could harm the Duke and her own future with him, not to mention the reputations of all who visited Hillbrook Hall if false rumors spread.
“If you can assure me that Lady Agnes has been in the company of the proper sort, I come in peace,” Lord Grenley announced from one of the chairs in the Duke’s library as he warmed by the fire.
“She has indeed been in the company of my sisters, Ladies Anne-Marie and Amiée- Josephine… and, to my lament, a great many other silly girls… all young ladies of the same age, for the past few weeks. We have a full house of servants who have patiently tended to their demands. A number of maids arrived with most of them.” Kingston paused and added, “Aggie has been well cared for. Our family is very fond of her. She is like a sister to us. I must say I had some idea of how demanding young women can be, but ten of them under one roof can be nearly disastrous. They are young, a little careless in a harmless sort of way; somewhat flirtatious. They like to dance and talk with the visitors, but nothing more.”
The Earl of Milton laughed heartily as Kingston slowly set him at ease over his concerns. He was a likeable fellow, tall, and some might say a dandy in his appearance, features, and dress. He seemed anxious to speak to his betrothed, but patiently willing to discuss the details of his pursuit with the Duke while they waited for Alton to announce that Lady Agnes had come down to the first floor to greet her guest.
“As our engagement has not formally been announced, your word will be satisfactory in my eyes. Sleigh rides, a Christmas Dinner and a small country dance, two or three dances with a fellow named Boomerang, a tour of an ancient nunnery, an Abbey, as you say… it all seems to be well in hand. Agnes left so suddenly, with no word or letters until about a few days ago. Her parents and I have been simply distraught. I came as soon as I could. It seems as though she had no idea what her sudden unchaperoned absence could have done to her reputation.”
“Bouverie, Sir Bouverie,” Kingston corrected.
“Yes, yes… makes no difference to me, Your Grace.”
“I had no idea the letter we received confirming her arrival wasn’t from Lady Burke. I confess, I did not read all of the letters carefully. There were so many. When my parents passed away so unexpectedly, I found it a remarkably thoughtful gesture for friends of my mother to send their daughters after a period of mourning to cheer my sisters. They are in much better health now that they have had company. We have had a full house for a few weeks now.”
“I am glad to hear your sisters are much improved in health… and I wish you my condolences in regard to the sudden and untimely loss of your parents,” Lord Grenley added as he drank from his cup of hot cider. He occasionally stirred the cider using the cinnamon stick in the cup. “Lady Agnes has a severe case of wedding jitters, I fear.”
“She is very young,” Lord Kingston remarked, sliding a plate of tarts, scones, and pastries toward the guest. “Oh all right, one for you too, Maxwell.” He handed a tart down to Max who scarfed it down at once. “Perhaps the two of you can arrive at some sort of understanding which would appease her concerns. I have it on good authority from a trusted source, a friend of Lady Agnes… that since the arrival of Lady Burke, mother and daughter have come to an understanding on at least one or two concerns. I am of the understanding that Lady Agnes would like to reside for part of the year in London once you are wed, in order that married life can be established and well-ordered before returning to Bath. There are some other details which I am not aware of in the least. I do not wish to interfere, and these particulars are the only knowledge I have of the matter. From one gentleman to another, I thought this tidbit of news might be encouraging. London certainly has a great deal to offer in regard to social life and a great many other amusements.”
“Yes, I quite agree,” Grenley nodded slowly, digesting this new piece to the puzzle as he selected a blueberry tart. “I am most thankful for your insight and discretion, and that you have taken excellent care of my betrothed and sheltered her reputation during a time when her behavior has been perhaps understandably, a little unstable. Young girls, it seems, don’t necessarily all prefer the idea of marriage any more than we bachelors do.”
Some hours later, when Catherine climbed the staircase with Lady Anne-Marie after they had assisted Polly Childers in preparing a great many bags of wheat; jars of jams and jellies; loaves of bread; and a great number of apple pies, she happened to observe Lord Grenley emerge from a turn about the Gallery with Lady Agnes. The smile and wink Aggie tossed her spoke vo
lumes. She had obviously succeeded in winning the desired arrangements for their future marriage. The Earl seemed pleased to subsequently be installed at the Dowager House a short while later, in one of the only remaining bedrooms for the duration of the blizzard; upon the termination of which it was announced Lady Burke and her daughter would most assuredly accompany him on his return journey to Bath to begin making their wedding arrangements. Thankfully, the large shrubs along the stone path of the garden provided relatively safe passage to and from the main house. Guests moved in a group and used a safety rope, just as the servants did to find their way to the barns and laundry house.
Wednesday evening, there seemed to be a lull in the storm, but it turned out to be brief.
“Has anyone discovered where my gold locket might be?” Lady Frances inquired. “It meant so much to me. I haven’t been able to find it at all and have looked everywhere I can think of.”
“Or my imported perfume?” Lady Elizabeth asked. “It was a costly gift… and now, it’s just vanished, along with a pair of my earrings, a bracelet, and my buckled shoes with heels.”
The household gathered in the Drawing Room around a crackling fire after a light supper of mackerel broil with herbs, potted venison, bacon nutmeg garden greens with onions, and cheese on toast. Lady Amiée-Jo busied herself with her biology drawings but looked up to add with a pout, “I do wish we had some idea of where these items are or who took them! I’m still missing my pearl combs and I know a number of you are still missing items. Perhaps we should make a list of who isn’t missing items and Xander can stare at it until he solves the mystery.”
Lady Anne-Marie quietly drew a landscape winter scene trying to ignore the subject at hand which distressed her. Kingston was too involved in reading Milton to have heard the discussion, one he had already heard several times. The uncomfortable subject of missing items faded away as the evening continued on. Lady Agnes sat beside Lord Grenley while he quietly read poetry to her in a corner of the room near the windows. Lord Boggs and Maguire played a game of chess while their wives looked on as they stitched samplers.
