Mara: A Georgian Romance

by Barbara T. Cerny

  Next, Lady Maureen dragged Jake to a barber, where he winced as they cut off his ponytail. Blimey, it’s gonna take me a couple of years to grow that back! he thought. But the professional haircut did feel nice.

  The last stop was at a cobbler shop—unfortunately not the one where Luke worked. This cobbler had ready-made shoes, and Jake tried on several pair before finding one that would work.

  “A bit too tight, but they will do in a pinch!” he declared, and then smiled a big, crooked smile.

  After a short pause, everyone in hearing distance laughed heartily. Lady Maureen looked at the disarming grin on her stable hand’s face and thought, yes, this one is definitely a charmer!

  Upon returning home, she ordered Jake a hot bath and scrub himself from top to bottom. He was mortified when Lady Maureen came in to personally scrub his nails and make sure they were spotless. Jake sat there with his legs pulled tight to his chest in the tin tub, trying to hide his privates, as she tortured the ends of his fingers. She also cleaned behind his ears for good measure.

  The staff just laughed.

  The clothes arrived just before eight.

  The next morning, Jake, looking clean and handsome in his new suit, drove Lady Maureen in the phaeton to the palace. They arrived with time to spare before their audience. Lady Maureen spent that time making Jake practice his bow and introduction. Jake was thankful he was only a stable hand, as he couldn’t stand to do this every day.

  “Stop playing with your collar, Jacob!”

  Jake dropped his hands. That stiff collar choked him.

  Lady Patricia arrived about ten minutes before the audience. Jake practiced his bow and introduction on her.

  “M’lady,” he said bowing deeply, kissing the back of her hand, “it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “Who is this handsome young man, Maureen? Surely not one of your sons!”

  “Oh, no, Lady Patricia. This is our stable hand, Jacob. He is one of the orphans from the Children’s Home. He is here to give the inspector and our queen the report on Mr. Snellings’ dishonesty.”

  Doesn’t look like a stable hand to me, thought Lady Patricia. None of my servants are that good looking, or that well-dressed!

  In no time at all, the inspector, Albert Biggs, joined them, and they were called into the throne room to meet the queen.

  The opulence of the room astonished Jake. The entire nation could be fed for a year on the wealth contained in that one room!

  The floor was marble, inlaid in an intricate pattern of many colors. A long, single Persian runner carpeted the length of the room from the door to the throne divan. Columns with gold inlay stood like sentinels along the runner, creating alcoves behind which chairs and settees were placed for those waiting to see the king or queen. Along the walls were paintings from various masters.

  Jake was awed and quite overcome by the room alone. Facing the queen would probably be the death of him. His knees shook, and he barely breathed. He prayed he wouldn’t pass out or throw up.

  He nervously followed the ladies up the aisle, forcing his shaky legs to move forward. He certainly didn’t want to embarrass Lady Maureen, since that would probably result in his earning another whipping. Facing the queen had to be easier than that!

  They arrived at the two thrones. Queen Charlotte sat regally in one of the lavish chairs. The other remained empty. Both Lady Patricia and Lady Maureen curtsied deeply; Jake and Biggs followed suit with their bows. They each, in turn, stepped up on the divan, kissed the queen’s ring, and then backed down the steps onto the floor. Step one completed flawlessly.

  “Well, Patricia, I understand you have some upsetting news about the Children’s Home,” she said in a soft and feminine voice. Jake relaxed a bit. She wasn’t an ogre after all.

  “Yes, my queen. I received this news from Lady Maureen Markham, who learned of it from her stable hand, a boy who lived in the Children’s Home for six years. If it would please you, your majesty, I will let Lady Maureen tell you her story.”

  “It pleases me.” Queen Charlotte focused on Lady Maureen.

  “Your majesty,” Lady Maureen began deferentially, “my daughter came to me with this information, and I decided I had to do something about it. Mr. Snellings is abusing these children horribly by starving them, beating them, and selling them to the highest bidder. I could not stand by and allow your youngest and most vulnerable citizens to be treated thusly.”

  The queen raised an eyebrow, and looked at her inspector. “What do you know of this, Mr. Biggs? Have you observed this behavior?”

  “Why no, my queen. I check the home twice a year, and the orphans have always told me they are treated well.”

  “That’s because we were forced to, under threat of a severe beating!”

  The adults had forgotten the stable hand was in the room, and looked at him now in disbelief at this breach of etiquette. Lady Maureen quickly tried to cover his poor manners.

  “My queen, please forgive the boy for his outburst. He is a product of the Children’s Home, and is here as an eyewitness. He is now a servant at our home, and is not trained in the ways of the aristocracy.”

  The queen nodded to Lady Maureen to acknowledge her statements, and then turned toward Jake, who neither looked nor spoke like a servant.

  “Come closer, young man. Tell me your name.”

  “Jacob Abbot, at your service, my queen.” He bowed once again, like Lady Maureen had taught him. “Forgive my outburst, but I have lived through the horror they call the Queen’s Children’s Home, and only wish to keep other children from experiencing that same misery.”

  “It is not—” began Biggs.

  The queen put up her hand. “I will listen to this young man, inspector.”

  Biggs bowed his head, and remained silent.

  The queen nodded at Jake. “Mr. Abbot, I will listen to your account.”

  Jake took a deep breath, and began telling his story. He had the report in his hands, but he did not read it. Instead, he spoke to the queen from his heart about what he had experienced at the home. He began with his own background, and how he had come to be a resident there. He told tales of being starved, beaten, having to steal to survive, being sold to the fish market, hitting Snellings and running, and being hired by Calvin and Rory. He did not mention his initial meeting with Mara, or the existence of Luke and Pete. But otherwise, he kept his account accurate and passionate. Talking to the queen accomplished more than reading the report ever could.

  The queen sat quietly, listening to this articulate young man eloquently chronicle the wrongdoings of the director of the Queen’s Children’s Home. His tale held her spellbound.

  As Jake spoke, Albert Biggs saw his position slipping away from him. If even half of this boy’s tale was true, he had missed everything.

  At the end, Jake held out the report and the ledger. “Here is the proof of Mr. Snellings’ illegal activities.”

  The queen began to read the ledger.

  “If it pleases the queen,” Biggs began, now trying to save his own backside, “I would like to ask the boy a question.”

  “Of course.” She nodded her permission, without looking up from her reading.

  “Mr. Abbot. Do you have proof of these beatings? Proof that Mr. Snellings beat you?”

  “I …”

  “Jacob,” Lady Maureen quickly interrupted, “remove your shirt and show the inspector your scars.”

  Jake looked at Lady Maureen in disbelief. She knew full well the scars were the result of the beating her husband had delivered, not Snellings.

  “Jacob,” she urged again. “I know you are embarrassed by the scarring, but the queen needs to see it.”

  Jake had no choice. He removed his jacket, which Lady Maureen took, unbuttoned his shirt, and took it off. He then turned slowly so that all could see the three ugly marks that ran down his back and the one across his chest and shoulder.

  The queen looked at Jake’s body, appalled at the damage in
flicted on such a young boy. “There is your proof, Mr. Biggs. Any other questions?” her voice no longer soft, but angry.

  Biggs tried to look small and insignificant. His question had only made things worse for him, his attempt backfiring royally. “No, your majesty.”

  The queen read in silence for a few more minutes, while Jake put his shirt and jacket back on.

  The queen then stood. They all bowed low. “Edwards,” she said to her major domo, “find the chief of the constabulary immediately. He will entertain these good people in the yellow parlor. Hand him these documents, and have him arrest Percy Snellings at the Queen’s Children’s Home. And throw Mr. Biggs out of the palace. I am in need of a new inspector.”

  With a regal nod of her head, she exited the room through a side door. Everyone stayed bowed low until they heard the door close.

  Jake smiled inwardly. He had survived and his queen knew the truth.

  *****

  Lady Patricia did not stay to meet with the chief constabulary, Keith Bivens. She had other matters to attend to. And since the inspector had been thrown out of the palace, only Jake and Lady Maureen were escorted to the yellow parlor to await Mr. Bivens’ arrival. They talked a bit while they waited. Jake straightened his clothing.

  “M’lady, I do not understand your decision to disrobe me. Those are not scars from Snellings.”

  “I know. I never said they were. Neither did you. I simply let everyone draw their own conclusions.”

  Jake blinked hard. He learned a lot in that moment.

  After hearing Jake speak to the queen, Lady Maureen was now very curious about her servant. “I didn’t realize you were not born a commoner. I am highly impressed by the way you related your story to the queen. You are not uneducated.”

  “I can read and write. Not well, though, as my formal education stopped when I was eight. But you are right, I am not common born.”

  “Tell me your lineage.”

  “I don’t know much. My mother talked about being the granddaughter of a baron, but I don’t know who. Her maiden name was Abrams, if that helps. I didn’t pay much attention to her stories. I was an eight-year-old who just wanted to play with his chums.”

  She nodded in understanding. Her own boys couldn’t care less about such things. “Well, you did an excellent job before the queen, Jacob. I am proud of you.”

  “Thank you, m’lady.”

  When Bivens arrived, they related everything again to him, letting him read the report in its entirety, as well as look through the ledger.

  “Lady Maureen, you may return home. I think your role in this is complete. I want to protect you from the rest of the unpleasantries. Mr. Abbot, after you take her home, come to the orphanage. I will meet you outside with a couple of my men, at say”—he glanced at his fob—“five o’clock?”

  They nodded in agreement.

  The staff waited for their return with a late lunch and baited breath. Lady Maureen and Jake repeated the whole story again as they ate, although they did not mention Jake showing his scars to the queen. That would forever remain their secret.

  “You get to be a part of the arrest!” exclaimed Alvin jealously. “I wish I could be there!”

  “Why not? Come with me. All they can do is say no”

  “YES!”

  *****

  At five o’clock, Jake, Alvin, Bivens, and two of his men assembled. They talked a little strategy, then walked into the building.

  They were met by one of the orphans who, seeing Jake and Alvin, smiled grandly before running to find the head mistress, Mrs. Williams.

  The head mistress looked at the older men appraisingly, seemingly not noticing the boys. “Gentlemen, what can I do for you? The orphanage is not open for business. We take appointments only. May I set an appointment?”

  Chief Bivens introduced them all around and demanded to see Mr. Snellings immediately.

  Finally recognizing Jake and Alvin, Mrs. Williams sent the group up to the apartment, and then left the building, never to return. It was a very smart move on her part.

  The three men and two boys climbed the stairs and stopped at the apartment door. One of the men knocked and yelled, “Open up, Mr. Snellings!”

  They could hear scurrying around behind the door. “Open up, Mr. Snellings!” the constable repeated. Still no one came.

  “Should I knock it in, gov’nor?” the man asked Bivens.

  Before he could answer, Alvin spoke up. “May I?”

  Bivens looked down at the thirteen-year-old boy. “And what do you think you can do?”

  “Unlock it.”

  Bivens raised an eyebrow, but motioned for his man to stand aside. Alvin knelt down in front of the door, pulled out the lacing tool, and in thirty seconds had the door open.

  “I’d best not catch you doing that anywhere else, son,” warned Bivens, impressed nonetheless.

  Alvin simply smiled.

  As prearranged, Jake and Alvin stayed in the hallway until they were called.

  They heard the tussle. “Percy Snellings! You are under arrest for theft of the queen’s property, the mistreatment of minors, and the illegal selling of minors.”

  “What? Take your bloody hands off me!” The boys instantly recognized the pompous voice of Percy Snellings. “You have no right to be here. This is my apartment. You have no proof of such activities. This is slander! I will have the queen take your heads for this insult.”

  “I am not too concerned about that. The queen is the one who sent us!”

  “What proof do you have?”

  “Boys!”

  Jake and Alvin entered the apartment. One of Bivens’ men stood on either side of the red-faced and very agitated Snellings, holding him tight.

  Snellings stopped struggling when he saw Jake.

  “Abbot, you son of a bitch! Arrest that boy. He assaulted me when he left here last year. Broke my nose, he did. Arrest him!”

  Jake held up the ledger. “Don’t think so, Percy. We have all we need to put you away for a very, very long time. I only regret I didn’t hit you hard enough to send you to your grave.”

  Alvin had gone to the study during this exchange, and returned with several of the ledgers.

  “A very long time, Percy. Nice to see you again, man. you be looking well. But after a few years in the clink, you will be lookin’ more like one of the starving orphans instead.”

  Percy hung his head.

  Chapter 12

  Life returned to normal, and the months flew by. Jake, Mara, Alvin, Pete, and Luke had their little adventures, but nothing could compare to saving the orphanage. They loved to re-live that escapade over and over again.

  Lady Maureen had adopted the Queen’s Children’s Home as her personal project, and made sure the new director was competent and loving. She visited once a month, unannounced, to keep an eye on things.

  Life was good for the five English children growing into young adults.

  *****

  Lord Markham decided to downsize his staff by one, thinking that his children—now sixteen, fourteen, and twelve—didn’t need a nanny anymore. He gave Cecilia her two-week notice.

  The decision horrified Mara.

  “Mother, you can’t let Father do this! She is my nanny. I need her!”

  “My dear, you are almost a grown girl. You don’t need a nanny anymore.”

  “But I need Cecilia. You can’t take her away from me!” said Mara desperately. Cecilia was like a mother to her, more so than her own.

  “Some day you will need a ladies’ maid, but that day is still years away. You don’t need anyone right now.”

  Despondent, no one could help Mara out of her blue mood.

  After overhearing a conversation the staff had in the kitchen about a week later, Mara figured out a way to save Cecilia.

  She learned that Nettie decided to marry a local merchant in the spring, and would be leaving the service of the Markhams.

  “Mother, Nettie is leaving, so please let Cecili
a stay. She can take Nettie’s place until I am old enough for a ladies’ maid, at which time you and Father can hire another maid. Cecilia doesn’t need training; she is well suited for the job, and is well liked by the staff.”

  Lady Maureen couldn’t fault her daughter’s logic, and neither could Lord Markham when Lady Maureen took the idea to him. It saved him the expense of having to advertise and interview for a new maid.

  Cecilia stayed.

  *****

  That summer, little changed in their lives. As usual, they vacationed at Rochcliffe House, where they played and enjoyed being young. Jake and Alvin spent their days doing chores. In the evenings, they met Mara in their nursery hideaway, where she continued to teach them reading, writing, and math.

  Alvin had planted and nurtured a beautiful bed of calla lilies. These particular flowers were Mara's favorite. She spent time daily saying hello to each calla lily, and named them all. Jake thought she was out of her mind, but it flattered Alvin that she loved his work so much.

  Jake escorted Lady Maureen and the viscountess on their morning rides through the parkland surrounding the manor house, and Mara on her afternoon rides. He thought it a shame the women didn’t include Mara on their rides and in their lives, but Jake didn’t complain, for that meant he had Mara all to himself every afternoon.

  While at the country estate, Calvin would sometimes give Jake and Alvin an afternoon off to enjoy themselves. On such occasions, the boys usually went skinny dipping in the manor pond. Jake had found an old rope a couple of years back, and hung it off one of the large tree branches. He and Alvin spent hours swinging from the rope and doing acrobatics into the water.

  One fine day in late June, the boys were enjoying one of their rare days off. Little did they know the manor had a secret visitor.

  Mara fumed at having to give up her afternoon ride so the boys could frolic in the water. She was also angry they hadn’t asked her to join them! She told Calvin to saddle Hebe, and rode to the pond by herself. After watching the boys undress and run into the water, she quietly snuck over to take their clothes, shoes, and towels. She pushed the booty into her saddle bags, and smugly rode around the estate on her own, enjoying sweet revenge. She wished she could see the looks on the boys’ faces when they found their items gone!