I deleted the second part of the story by accident, let me know if you want to read it!
Short Story / Grace: Part the Fourth (and last!)
The next couple of weeks passed by in a blur for Grace. Her sister and friend helped to make plans for her upcoming nuptials, but, while Grace participated in these activities with a seemingly improved disposition, her heart was not improved. She longed for a distraction, anything, however small, which would take her away from the interminable planning of her future by others, and which would throw her into the path of her desired destiny, one shared with… him.
One evening, after a particularly trying day viewing bridal silks and pellises and veils from Wardour Street, Grace was working on her cross stitch in the parlour. Her father seemed to be reading some papers his solicitor had sent from London but, in actuality, he was watching Grace. He looked thoughtful, as if gathering his nerve, cleared his throat and spoke.
“Grace, I wish to speak to you on a topic of some great importance. I shall speak plainly, and require your forgiveness should I say anything which may offend your delicate sensibilities. I know you are nervous about your upcoming wedding to Lord Wildsmith, but I cannot help but feel that you are somewhat more distracted than is usual in these situations. From what I have been able to fathom, these occasions elicit feelings of happiness and elation, but I see in you only worry and despair. Grace, you are my youngest daughter and you are very dear to my heart, and I would do anything to see you happy. But my dearest, I must know the cause of your distress, I had up until now assumed it was mere nerves which made you so uneasy, please trust your father and let me help you.”
Her father had never before expressed anything like these sentiments before in her life, and at this moment she truly felt the depth of his feelings for her, father for daughter. She had been looking into her hands the entire time he was speaking, and now looked up into his waiting, anxious face. She opened her mouth, a thousand thoughts vying to free themselves and reassure her parent. But she could not speak, she had no words. Her eyes flooded with the sudden release of weeks of pressure, confusion and helplessness. She got up abruptly and ran from the room and out the door.
She ran, her eyes blinded by the tears which had now started to flow in earnest. Not knowing or seeing where she went, she ran, almost hysterical now, running where her slippered feet took her. After a few minutes, she found herself at the stable. Still confused and irrational, she climbed the ladder to the upper loft, and found herself in Dick’s sleeping quarters. She was in the loft alone, and, had she been thinking clearly, would have realised the impropriety of the situation and extricated herself immediately. But her mind was clouded, her feelings clouding all perception of the right and wrong she had been taught since birth. She wandered among his things, running her hand over the pillow that he slept on, the towel that he used to wash with, not even the dirty shaving cloth, sitting in the wash basin, that he used to shave with, escaped her exquisite touch. The very act of being in contact with his belongings had a cathartic effect on Grace, and, along with the emotions and outburst of earlier, caused her to swoon, deeply, profoundly, onto the floor by the foot of his bed.
Mr Burlington watched his youngest daughter fly out of the house, and knew he had to find her. He engaged the help of the footman, and together they ventured out into the murky night.
Fanny witnessed the entire scene between father and daughter from the dining room, and felt for her poor mistress when she fled the house. Fanny, although a quiet, hardworking girl, kept a close eye on the comings and goings of the household, saw much but said little. She saw her mistress’ blushes when a certain stable-hand’s name was mentioned, and was greatly acquainted with Miss Burlington’s illicit feelings and dreams. It wasn’t her place to say anything to the master of the house, but she did have it in her power to help fate on this occasion. She sent the kitchen hand up the road to the Inn, where Dick met with friends on his nights off, with a message to return to the house on a matter of great urgency. Dick’s reaction upon receiving such a message was one of puzzlement. Assuming that one of the horses was ill, he bid his friends good evening and hurried back to the house.
He was met by Fanny upon arriving, who explained the situation to him. His help was needed by the master to find Miss Burlington, who had run out into the night with inadequate clothing and a seeming absence of good sense. Dick understood the situation instantly, assured Fanny that he suspected where he might find her mistress and hurried away. He quickly followed the path from the house to the stable, thinking only of the distress of Grace, the restoration of her comfort his only motivation. When he arrived at the barn, all was quiet. He checked each of the stalls and found only it’s usual occupant, quite undisturbed. Confused, he was about to head back to the house when his mind chanced upon an idea so strange that he knew not what to think of it. He slowly climbed the stairs to the loft, and found, to his great surprise and dismay, Grace, lying at the foot of his bed. He approached, knelt down and softly said her name. She stirred ever so slightly.
“Miss Burlington.”
She stirred again, and finally became conscious. At first unclear as to her surroundings, she soon was made to understand by Dick that she was in the stable. Barely aware of his presence, she looked around and saw that it was true. She knew not how long she had lain there, but it was now dark, the only light being cast by the candle that Dick had in his hand. Her gaze followed his hand to his arm, shoulder and to his face, where a pair of concerned eyes looked down at her. Without a word, Dick tried to help her to her feet, but this very act of tenderness caused the very feelings which brought her here to resurface, and she again swooned onto his bed.
Dick, with a keen grasp of the situation in which he now found himself, knew what he had to do. He gathered her up in his arms and prepared to carry her to the house, when he heard a noise coming towards his loft. A light appeared at the top of the stairs, followed by Mr Burlington’s anxious face. Concern was quickly followed by anger, as the scene before him presented itself. His daughter, in the arms of a man not her husband, and they both on his bed.
Not a man given to overreaction, his emotions got the better of him when he saw his helpless daughter at the hands of, what seemed to him, as evil a man as could ever walk the planet. Without waiting for an explanation, he rushed over to the bed and, before he could even think of the consequences of his actions, reigned a fury of blows upon the stable-hand. Dick raised his hands to protect himself, and in doing so, allowed Grace to slip and fall onto the floor. The sickening noise of her hitting the wooden floor caused a bit of sense to flood back into her father, and he stopped. Dick tried to help her, but was frozen into inactivity by the icy stare of the master of the house. By this time the footman had arrived, and, with her father’s help, they carried the insensible Grace back to the house. As they were leaving the stable, Mr Burlington’s last comment was thrown back in disgust over his shoulder to the stunned Dick:
“I never want to see you again. I want you gone, you and your belongings. If I ever see you again, Sir, I will send you straight back to that hell you surely come from.”
Dick watched him turn and leave. He knew that there was no point in trying to reason with Mr Burlington, for no explanation would be accepted. The master’s daughter, found in his arms. It was fate, cruel and harsh, but he must leave this place. One day perhaps he might be given the chance to exonerate himself, but tonight, he must go. He packed his few belongings, and with a word of goodbye to the new colt, departed.
At the house, Grace was placed on the settee in the living room and a cold cloth placed on her forehead. The very same kitchen boy who had earlier delivered the message to the Inn, was now sent to fetch the surgeon. Grace was still and pale, and her father feared the worst.
After an anxious eternity, the doctor finally arrived and assured Mr Burlington that, while his daughter’s situation was serious, it was not grave. He produced salts from his bag and, after a few moments, Grace’s eyelids began to flicker. A small moan escaped her lips, and she began to shiver. The doctor pronounced this a very good sign, and, with instructions to supervise her at all times, said he would be back in the morning to check on his patient.
Grace was watched all through the night, and into the dawn, in turns by Fanny and Mr Burlington. Nothing coherent was heard from her in that time, just moans and strange syllables. However, as dawn approached, she seemed roused by the birds singing, her eyes opened and focussed on her father, sitting beside her and holding her hand.
“Father, where am I? What happened?” she muttered.
“Hush darling, you were ill, but you’re better now. You gave us quite a scare. We found you in the stable, do not you recall?”
But Grace had already slipped into unconsciousness again, and remained in that state until the doctor arrived. He examined her, listened to her breathing and felt her pulse. Her breathing was regular, as was her heartbeat, all good signs. The doctor left a tonic to be given when Grace was able to sit up, and prescribed rest and quiet.
After a further worrying few days, Grace was able, with help, to sit up in bed tolerably well. She was still weak, and as yet unable to receive visitors, but took a small amount of food and drink to please her father. By the end of the week, her father deemed her well enough to speak to her of what happened that dark, dark night.
“Grace, there is something I must speak with you about, if you feel strong enough.” Mr Burlington knew he must be careful not to say anything which would cause a relapse in his already delicate daughter.
“Father, what is it? You look dreadfully concerned, are you ill?”
“No Grace, I am quite well. It is you I wish to speak about. I need to know if…” emotions caused the restriction of his throat and stilled the flow of words, such was the enormity of the situation, and the need of the man. “I need to ask you a very delicate question, that is, I need you to tell me, well, the stable-hand, did he…my dearest daughter, did he… harm you in any way?” He finally said that which had preyed on his mind for days now, but was equally apprehensive of the answer he might get, for he was sure that he was unprepared for the worst possible scenario.
“Hurt me, father? I’m not sure what you mean. I…” Grace paused, stared deeply into her father’s concerned face, and finally perceived his meaning. She breathed, and said “I understand. And no father, I am unharmed.”
Mr Burlington breathed his first breath for a week. No words could describe his feeling of relief. But the relief was soon overtaken by puzzlement. He now needed to know what, exactly, had taken place that night. But how to enquire of his daughter this information? Grace saw the feelings fleetingly cross her father’s face, and knew that she had to calm his fears.
“Father, that night, after we spoke, I needed to be alone, I needed solitude to gather my thoughts. I knew not where to escape to, and found myself at the stable, where the intensity of my feelings overwhelmed me and I fell into a deep state. I remember nothing until I was found and guided back to sensibility.” Here Grace paused, wondering how much of herself she should share with her parent. She decided, after a mere few seconds, to spare her father the full extent of her predicament, and only reinforced that which had already been said, that she was not hurt, and that Dick had only been trying to help.
At this, Mr Burlington coloured, looked flustered, made his excuses and hurried from the room. Grace assumed that her father had some suddenly remembered business to attend to, and made weary by the conversation, laid back down and slept.
Mr Burlington hurried downstairs to his study. He had much to think about, and reparations to consider. He was wrong, entirely, completely. He had made a gross error of judgement, he who others considered steady in his opinion. He had acted without thought, an unpardonable sin. He must remedy the error somehow. He must find Dick.
The next week saw much activity in the Burlington household. Grace actively recovered and Mr Burlington rued. But along with the remorse came the decision to actively seek redemption. Mr Burlington sent word to anyone who had the power to help him in his task: find the stable-hand. But to no avail, for no sightings were reported, no word sent back as to his whereabouts. It seemed that the man had simply ceased to exist.
One afternoon, as Mr Burlington wrote yet another letter to an acquaintance who’s help he so desperately needed, he received an unexpected visitor. Fanny entered the study and said “If you please Sir, Lord Wildsmith is in the parlour waiting to speak to you”.
Now here was a surprise. What could Lord Wildsmith wish to speak to him about? He hurried downstairs.
“Lord Wildsmith, my dear Sir, to what do I owe the extreme pleasure of this visit?”
“News has reached me of a most disturbing nature, indeed I hardly know where to begin. I am afraid it involves your daughter, Burlington, and a recent episode involving a member of your staff.” Lord Wildsmith looked expectantly at Mr Burlington, as if silently urging him for reassurance of some kind. Mr Burlington, believing that honesty would be rewarded, decided to share everything he knew with Lord Wildsmith.
Grace’s father relayed all that he knew. He waited expectantly for Wildsmith’s response. Lord Wildsmith took in all that he had been told, and paused to consider what he must needs tell Burlington. He sighed, and said “I understand, I was given incorrect information, but I am completely satisfied that I have now heard the truth. But I am afraid that the truth of the matter has not changed my mind, I am here to deliver news of a somewhat unpleasant nature to yourself. I have thought about this a great deal over the past few days, and I am convinced I have made the correct decision. I’m afraid I must break off my engagement with your daughter. No…” he held up his hand in protest “No Burlington, I’m afraid it must be so. At my age, I am looking for a more, how can I put it, a more settled wife. Someone more even both in emotion and action. At my stage of life, I cannot be constantly worrying that my wife is despairing over this or that, running off and swooning without regard to propriety. No Burlington, I remain firm.” And with the minimum required pleasantries, he hastened from the Burlington household and lives.
Three months later, the Burlington household had settled back into a reasonable facsimile of the life they lead only six months earlier. Grace and her father spoke very little on the episodes which had caused so much distress, both believing that looking forward was a more effective remedy for ills than looking back. Secretly, a small part of Mr Burlington was pleased to have retained the company of his youngest daughter. And secretly, Grace was pleased to continue in the role of companion to her dearest parent. She was happy to lead a quiet life, much to the dismay of her elder sister who believed that the remedy for all Grace’s ills was a ball. She spoke so frequently of neighbourhood balls, believing herself subtle, that Grace, in order to relieve her sister of HER suffering, agreed to attend the final soiree of the season.
The day arrived, along with it the madness which accompanies a household with two women preparing for an evening. Georgiana had been staying with her sister for a week now, ensuring that no change of mind occurred. Satisfied that there would be no last minute change of plans or mind, Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief that her months of hard work had paid off. Grace was to finally leave the house and enter public life again. For this feat Mrs Hatherley took all the credit and felt all the pride which was her due as a good elder sister.
The music was exquisite, the flowers perfect and the company comfortable. Grace was welcomed back warmly. Still, she felt an emptiness, like a great deep blackness enveloped her, for which no cure existed. She danced, but with no joy. She conversed, but with no animation. She only desired to return to her quiet existence with her father.
She was preparing to leave, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, and saw an impressively dressed gentleman looking down at her. He bowed deeply, apologised for having to introduce himself to her unaided by a friend or family member, and begged her forgiveness for his impropriety. Upon rising from his bow, he looked directly at Grace with searching eyes and a wry grin upon his face.
Grace suddenly felt her breath stop, her heartbeat quicken and her stomach clench with the flutterings of a hundred butterflies. For grinning down at her was Dick, her Dick, whom she never thought to see again. But this was no stable-hand. This was a gentleman of some consequence, with all the accoutrements and mannerisms of someone having been born to a position of great height. She could hardly contain her excitement, but her joy was swiftly overtaken by suspicion.
“Dick, can it be you? I wonder that I am still awake, for surely I have fallen asleep and am dreaming.” Grace did not hesitate to speak her mind, share her thoughts and feelings.
“My Darling Grace, of course it’s me. But I can see you are puzzled. Surely you are happy to see me?”
“Of course I am happy to see you. I never told you how I felt, but I know that you are aware of my feelings, for how can you not be aware of such a thing as enormous as this? But how came you to be here? I do not understand.”
“Ahh, my Grace. I have a tale to tell, one you will be amazed by. Let us go sit in the tea room, where it is more quiet, and I shall share all with you.”
They moved to another room, where conversation could be conducted more easily. Dick told his tale. He was not Dick the stable-hand, but Richard Longsword, the 7th Earl of Peebles. On that fateful night, he left the Burlington household, with every intention of returning when he could to prove his innocence. But he had had word of his father’s death, the 6th Earl, and had to return to his ancestral home in Peebles. He explained that his father had sent him out into the world to learn to earn a greater consideration for those less fortunate than him and his family, with a view to learning better how to run his own family estate when the time came. He had taken a number of jobs before joining the Burlington household.
“And when I first saw you, I thought that the good Lord himself had blessed me for all my trials, for I truly believed He had sent me an angel. I love you Grace, I have since the very first moment we met.”
These were the very words which it seemed Grace had waited all her life to hear. Her mood was instantly lifted and the great darkness which had enveloped her was suddenly filled with light. She felt whole again.
“Grace, if you will again forgive my impudence, I have visited your father and gained his approval. I would be honoured if you would consider giving me that thing which would make me the happiest of men, if you would consent to be my wife.”
Grace could hardly speak, her feelings overwhelmed her. But she did manage those three words he so wished to hear, before rushing into his arms, where she remained the rest of her life.
You need to log in to urbis or create an urbis account to review this writing.
Reviews
Sort Reviews by Newest | Oldest | Highest Quality | Lowest Quality | Newest Comments |
MaggieMinardi reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
This was an enjoyable read.
The little things: there were several instances of redundancies, “Grace” twice in the father’s speech 3rd paragraph, “before” twice in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph. Also, in the 4th and 5th paragraphs, the mention of her running is prevalent. The first sentence of the 5th is stronger, so I’d suggest keeping it there and having her quickly leave the room after her father speaks. There are still several mentions of running that should be sorted out in the next few bits.
I find the contrast of the modern voice of the narration to the courtly voice of conversation to be interesting. I think you could make it more consistent in conversation, though.
I would like to have more of a sense of place. You have some good descriptions of what people are thinking; I’d like to know what they’re seeing as well.
On the whole, good job. It’s a very likeable piece.
- add/view comments (0)
sherij9429 reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
There is no doubt in my mind that you have a firm grasp of how to tell a story! Now I have to go back and read the rest! Great job!
January 16, 2007
Deleted User
Review of Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
This is good. Not really my kind of story, being more a sci-fi or high fantasy indulgent. But it held my interest nonetheless, so at least you have the crossover appeal.
Nothing major I could find wrong, just minor and routine (or possibly imagined, I am not a pro editor) grammar errors that a publisher’s editor would take care of anyway.
That is if you were going to try and have the totality published as part of a collection of your stories or in a periodical or a story collection with other authors.
mothertribe reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
This was perfect, I plan to read the other chapters. Thank you for sharing.
helsg8kepr reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
I am glad I came across this, it was an enjoyable pleasant read. Geat writing.
cdnsurfer reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
Actually, this piece was very well written. I see you know the tricks of the trade. The story moved along well, and except for the movements from POV characters, it paced well and read well. My only concern with the shifts is that largely this is a story in this section of Grace and Dick, and the shifts out of their POV to her father, for example, is a bit jarring and I’m not convinced it was necessary.
Well done. Nice read. Thanks for sharing.
littledevilgirl reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
This story was very interesting. But I do wish that I had read the other three parts first because it was a bit hard to follow. Stupid anonymous reviews. But after I post this I will definately go read the other tree parts!
Guedde reviewed Version 1 -
Read 100%% of the Item
This was a very enjoyable read and very well written. This is not my genre of usual reading but it was not a difficult read whatsoever. Good luck with whatever you have planned for this piece.
Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Review item
Add to favesCreator
Relevant Links
Item Stats
GENERAL
8 Reviews 1 Comment
Version 1
Latest Activity: 2 months ago
REVIEW QUEUE
Appeared in Queue: 0 Times
Skipped: 0 Times
Ratings & Rankings
