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innerpostmentality · 5 years ago

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The Return of Mister & Mistress Sinclaire Part II - The Fire

A Choices Desire & Decorum based AU fanfic All rights to characters and settings from the Desire & Decorum fiction belong to Pixelberry Studios Featuring: Ernest Sinclair, Luke Harper, Lady Dominique, Caiden Lykel (oc), Marina Burke (oc) Rating: PG-13 Warning: Angst Word count: Long post, sorry it’s nearly 5000 words This takes place after Part I - Idyll Tagging: @darley1101 @hopefulmoonobject @blackcatkita @speedyoperarascalparty @hellospunkiebrewster @tornbetween2loves @gardeningourmet @melodyofgraves @thequeenofcronuts @symonde @ritachacha @hellooliviaolivia @paisleylovergirl @kennaxval @regencylady1810 He was bone weary as he hadn’t been since his days in service to the crown fighting Napoleon. His fortune in being able to get fresh mounts had taken its toll on him keeping him in the saddle for twenty eight of the last thirty two hours. And for the last two hours, Luke’s heart had been in this throat and it took all the restraint he could muster not to spur his horse as he watched the towering plume of black smoke rise from Gretna Green. The flat plains broken only by hedges and occasional rock fences delineating farm borders allowed him ample view of the smoke of a serious fire. Now he was still several miles away and his horse wasn’t fresh so he spoke softly to the horse and urged him into a canter. The road had been empty this morning once he got in view of the billowing black tower of smoke, everyone living within sight had already sped to aid the village. He could just barely start to see the buildings when a hay wagon with two men aboard barreled toward him headed away from the village. He moved to the verge frowning as they passed in the light loaded hay wagon. The driver snapped his whip over the team of two to urge them to greater speed. He frowned after the two hale looking men running away from the fire struck village but had no time to pursue them as he made for the town. A few minutes later the strange encounter was forgotten as he pitched in with every man, woman, and child in the village trying desperately to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to other buildings. There were a couple of bucket lines and several men who were using shovels to throw dirt on any embers drifting into grass. It looked like the fire had started at the stable and blacksmith. It was hours later before he could look for the Sinclaires. He finally found Ernest covered in soot and mud deep in conversation with some other men. Ernest looked startled for a brief moment as Luke approached him then gave him a huge smile extending his hand to him. “Master Harper!! Forgive my state, and please allow me to introduce you to Mister Camran and Master Smith Elliot. We were just discussing this bit of villainy.” “Villainy?” Luke raised his brow even as he shook Mister Camran’s hand. Master Elliot nodded. “Tis certain. Gled tae meet ye, Master Harper.” The smith’s hand dwarfed Luke’s as he shook it. Ernest was frowning. “Mister Harper I am happy that fortune brought you to us in this time of need. But I know that you are not here without cause and I am anxious to know it.” Luke nodded. “Indeed sir. We need to speak. Is there an Inn where I might acquire accommodations?” Ernest shook his head. “Mister Harper you will stay with us at the cottage. There are beds in the loft aplenty and I know Lady Sinclaire will be in accord with me on this.” He smiled. Luke lifted his brow, “I should not wish to intrude. And please allow me to congratulate you on your nuptials.” Ernest nodded to the other men and patted Luke on the shoulder. “Gentlemen, please excuse us. I know my lady wife will be very happy to see her friend and anxious for my return.” ________________________

The Dowager Countess of Edgewater took Mister Hartfield’s hand to assist her out of the carriage then took but a moment to smooth her skirts before she proceeded to the grand entryway of Addington Farm the residence of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. The door was opened as they reached the top of the stairs by the majordomo who swept into a bow inviting them into the entryway. Servants bustled about taking their cloaks and the gentlemen’s hats. “Lady Dominique, Mister Hartfield, Mister Konevi please allow me to welcome you to Addington Farm. I am Master Graham at your service. We have prepared rooms for you if you would like to settle and rest before dinner. Or we may set a tea for you in the parlor if you prefer? His Grace has scheduled your meeting for after dinner.” Dominique smiled at the silver haired majordomo, “Thank you Master Graham. Some tea would be quite refreshing though I cannot speak for Mister Hartfield and Mister Konevi. I was wondering if Lady Mary is in residence? I must confess that I was hoping that despite the suddenness of this visit I might see my old friend while I’m here.” Master Graham returned her smile inclining his head. “It is a happy circumstance then that you are here now. Her Ladyship travels to Bath at the end of the week to visit her daughter. She instructed me particularly that if you were to take tea she would join you. Though she would not want to impose upon your rest if that was your desire.” Dominique turned to Mister Hartfield and Mister Konevi. “Will you join us? You are most welcome if you so desire.” The men exchanged a look and each bowed to Dominique. Mister Hartfield nodded to Master Graham. “If her ladyship will permit I would retire for a bit before dinner.” Mister Konevi smiled at Master Graham, “I should most like to take a walk about the lovely gardens I spotted as we approached and stretch my legs a bit before dinner if that is permitted?” Master Graham escorted Dominique to the parlor. It was a beautiful room with two grand windows faced East providing a lovely view of the gardens. An enormous fire place mantled in Italian marble dominated the North side of the room with a life sized portrait of the archbishop hung above it. A portrait of Lady Mary hung on the East wall between the two large windows and a whole gallery of smaller but exquisite family portraits were proudly displayed on the Southern wall of the room. The Western wall was graced with several large paintings of Addington Farm and the surrounding forest and gardens. Four comfortable couches and four matching armchairs upholstered in dark blue satin brocade were arranged around the room. Rosewood sofa tables graced with vases of fresh flowers sat behind the couches and matching parlor tables sat beside each of the armchairs. “This is a lovely room, Master Graham.” Dominique spoke softly admiring the thoughtful arrangement and pleasant airiness of the room as she walked about it admiring the pictures. “Thank you Lady Dominique. I will see to your companions and send for your tea. I’m certain Lady Mary will join you shortly.” He bowed and left her alone. Mere moments later Lady Mary entered going to her with open arms and a welcoming smile. “Dominique!! It is wonderful to see you!” Dominique laughed and embraced her friend of more than thirty years. “You are kind and beautiful as ever Mary. I was just admiring your paintings. If my old eyes don’t deceive me these fine pieces are yours.” Mary laughed. “Ah yes. I found it a thing to do. And once I got started with our first child I felt I must continue with the others.” Her smile softened. “In fact it is why I journey to Bath the end of this week. Our youngest daughter Isabella has had her first child and I want to paint them.” She took Dominique’s hand and told her about each of the paintings until the tea cart arrived. Then they sat in the armchairs close to the fire with their tea. Mary smiled as she sipped her tea, “But Dominique, I know something must be amiss. You must tell me what is about that you come with two solicitors and but a few hours notice? You know you are always most welcome but I know you and that was very strange. I told Charles that something dire was afoot.” Dominique nodded. “You are right as always, Mary. I fear I made a horrible mistake and now I’m desperately trying to right it. I know not what you may have heard of the goings on the last several months. But I am…” Dominique pulled her handkerchief from her reticule and covered her face a moment collecting herself before continuing. “It has been so hard. And I have muddled things badly with regard to my granddaughter Rose.” Mary reached over and took Dominique’s hand. “Dear, now, now, I am certain Charles will help you. It surely cannot be so bad.” Dominique squeezed her hand. “You are such a comfort to me. Truly. But you do not know the mess I have made. I sought a match with Duke Karlington for my granddaughter Rose. I knew he was a bit older than her. Still I thought he was a handsome man, and wealthy, and titled. His lands match Edgewater admirably.” She sighed and sipped her tea. “Alas he is no gentleman. He did not deal honestly with me, Mary.” She shook her head. “And I had no notion of the agreement that had been drawn between my dear Vincent and Mister Sinclaire of Ledford Park. It was not until after my foolish announcement that I had agreed to the betrothal with Karlington that I learned all the details of the agreement between my son and Lord Sinclaire regarding Lady Rose. Only once we arrived back home after my foolish announcement did Rose show me the marks on her arm where the Duke had bruised her. Even then I still did not know about the previous agreement between my son and Mister Sinclaire. And honestly, it shames me to say I was still too caught up in my own fancies to comprehend how deceived I had been by the Duke. I was working to draft suitable terms for their union providing for Rose’s support. And Karlington was being ever more unreasonable. In the end Rose fled. Only after... Only after I lost her.. did I learn. When her Solicitor Mister Konevi came to me with Mister Hartfield who is Mister Sinclaire’s solicitor did I learn of Vincent’s arrangement with Mister Sinclaire. Mister Sinclaire it seems was so impressed with Rose upon their meeting that he went straight way to Vincent to ask permission to court her; and if she came of her free will to find affection for him, he asked permission to wed her. Vincent thought of Mister Sinclaire much as a son already and with Mister Sinclaire’s proposed betrothal arrangements they came to a happy agreement. But all was kept in secret. After the misfortune of Mister Sinclaire’s first marriage he was adamant that Rose know nothing of the proposed arrangement between her father and him regarding her betrothal. He wanted her affection to be a true one not forced in any way.” Dominique shook her head. “Had I only known; I never would have undertaken to approach Karlington.” Mary’s rapt attention was held by Dominique’s confession. And she nodded sympathetically. “You did not know, Dominique. You must give yourself some reprieve for acting in good faith with insufficient information. Have you found Rose?” Dominique dropped her eyes from her friend, uncomfortable with dissembling but convinced in this small part it was necessary. The three of them had spoken at length on their journey here deciding their course of action as they approached the archbishop. Her part was to secure the support of the Archbishop’s wife Mary who was her long time friend. No direct mention of Rose’s elopement would be made. The intent was at the end of it all for the Archbishop to insist that as soon as Rose was found she and Mister Sinclaire be wed. That way there could be no conniving by Countess Henrietta as to the legitimacy of the match or the Edgewater inheritance. Her voice was very quiet. “Not yet. Mister Sinclaire, Mister Harper, Mister Lykel have all been dispatched to search for her. But I have no word yet. And worse, Mister Hartfield fears that in his anger Karlington may have arranged for a bounty to be put on her and possibly Mister Sinclaire as well after I withdrew my consent to the betrothal with the Duke. The Duke certainly threatened me after he read my withdrawal in the paper. He said he would sue for breach of contract and ask the crown to forfeit Edgewater to him! In truth I believe it is all he wished from the beginning.” “I went straight to Bishop Monroe with Mister Hartfield and Mister Konevi and the papers drawn between Vincent and Mister Sinclaire that predate my foolishness. As well as all the copies of the rejected arrangements I tried to make with Karlington. And Bishop Monroe wrote his Grace the Archbishop a letter supporting all that I’ve said. I very much hope that Charles can help me and my dear Rose.”

Mary patted Dominique’s hand. “Charles will help. I know he will after you have told him all that you have told me.” -------------------------------------------

Caiden Lykel absently scratched the scruff on his jaw and glared at the macabre sign depicting a decapitated turbaned head swinging above the entrance of the Turk’s Head Tavern. It had taken him two days he really didn’t feel like he had to locate Miss Burke. He had spent more than a handful of pounds a pence at a time supporting half the street urchins in Leeds to find her. If she wasn’t so vital to his plan he would have gone with Mister Harper. But she really was the only woman he knew who he could trust to pull this off and handle herself in a fight if it came down to it. If, and it was a big if, he could persuade her.

He had met her on a trade junket. He grinned with the recollection, “met”, he had caught her stowed away on the ship he’d been sent to return from Calcutta for the East India Company, the Hercules a fine new merchantman on her maiden voyage loaded with spice for the London markets. He caught her the first time dressed as a boy hiding in the cargo hold between crates of spice. Her disguise kept him from realizing that the urchin he dragged from between the crates was actually a woman. He put her to work as a cabin boy. The cabin boy went missing a day later. The second time he found the stowaway was ten days later. The urchin was hiding in the stack of empty livestock cages in a used pig cage to be exact. They had cast anchor in Mauritius for recaulking and to take on fresh water and supplies. He had been directing unloading the water barrels and empty livestock crates when he saw the filthy lump in a swine cage. Fearing some mischief had befallen and thinking he was dealing with a dead body he opened the door of the cage and reached in only to have a filthy foot planted squarely into his jaw knocking him back before she rolled from the cage and round house kicked him in the solar plexus knocking the wind from him before dashing for the rail. It was the wrong rail apparently because she stopped and grabbed a free belaying pin before sprinting back across the deck to the seaward side of the ship. One hapless sailor tried to grab her only to meet the expertly wielded end of the belaying pin. Caiden had, had enough and recovered enough he bellowed at the men to catch ‘him’! She turned long enough for him to catch the flash of her dark eyes and in that moment he was stunned. Somehow despite all the filth and men’s clothing he realized two things about this urchin. He was a she. And She was amused. There wasn’t an ounce of fear or concern in that look. She was laughing at him. She was laughing at him, and the men coming after her had no clue what was happening. She rolled beneath the reach of one sailor only to headbutt another man in the crotch sending him sprawling and clutching his bruised manhood. The belaying pin thwacked another swabbie in the side as she spun up and over to the far rail. She tossed the pin rather casually in Caiden’s direction before she dove off the rail into the sea. Caiden didn’t even think about the insanity of what he did as he followed after her. Boots, belt, hat, pistol, rapier and daggers all went into the sea with him as he dove twenty feet into the warm Indian Ocean. Caiden could swim but not with his boots full of water and twenty pounds of cutlery and clothing weighing him down. It struck him as somewhat amusing that his crew was cheering him on as he was about to drown. He was trying to divest himself of his belt that held his pistol and blades when he felt her hand grab his jaw from behind. She was swimming behind him, she struggled but managed to pull him up to the surface. “Idiot.” She hissed in his ear her face next to his as she stroked for the shore. A few minutes later she let him go and he realized he could stand. She swam away from him and he saw her glorious red hair coming unbound as she strode from the sea onto the beach. “Wait.” He called after her. Only vaguely aware of the calls of his crew as they began to realize the nature of the stowaway. She turned her head looking at him over her shoulder with a lifted brow. “I don’t think so.” Her voice was low and silken with an accent that wasn’t from any Indian dialect he could place. Her sea cleansed features revealed alabaster skin and a delicate almost ethereal beauty completely at odds with the expectation one would have of someone, anyone, much less a woman who could elude or disable at least six men before rescuing him from drowning. “You… you have my thanks.” He mumbled feeling almost dizzy from the events of the last few minutes. She laughed and gave him a bow. “And your dagger which I suspect will be of more use to me.” Her eyes darted to the ship where crewmen were still calling to their captain at the rail. *** Caiden’s reminiscing was interrupted as he saw the lad with the cap atop his red hair exit the tavern he’d been watching and heard her laugh. If he didn’t already know, he wouldn’t know at a brief glance that there was a female beneath the clothes. He shook his head amused that two years later she was still posing as a boy. He dashed across the street and saw her posture shift the instant he turned in her direction. “Wait!” She stopped and turned her head. The bow of her cap shielded her eyes from him but he saw the dimple of her smile and heard the chuckle in her voice. “I don’t think so, Captain Lykel.” “Caiden. Just Caiden. Please Miss Burke. I need to speak with you.” She wiped her face and adjusted her cap. “I’m going to the market to get some chickens for the tavern.” She continued her walk toward the market. He fell into step beside her. “I need your help. I have a friend in trouble.” She smirked at him, cocking her head to look in his black eyes. “Well I’m surprised.” “That I need your help?” “That you would ask.” She went to a stall giving a sack to the merchant and picking out three fine chickens which she paid threepence for before taking the sack with the chickens from him. She turned and looked Caiden up and down, assessing before heading back toward the tavern. “What sort of trouble is your friend in that you need my help?” “I believe my friend and his new wife have a bounty on their heads. Put there because she ran away rather than marry Duke Karlington, an arrangement made by her grandmother without her consent.” Marina stopped and turned to face him fixing him with her dark chocolate eyes. “A bounty?” He nodded. “The Duke has some connections that are less than savory.” She arched her brow, “Without agreeing but entertaining my curiosity, what sort of assistance can I provide, Captain?” “I have a plan. It requires someone who might pass themselves off as Mister Sinclaire’s wife; and who I know can handle themselves in a fight. And I’m not a captain anymore.” She laughed at him. “Captain there is one thing I know. A Captain is always a Captain.” He shook his head but smiled. “Miss Burke, I can pay you.” “Really?” She smiled enough to show perfect pearl white teeth. “What is the bounty on them?” “What do you mean?” She cocked her head and there was a mischievous note in her voice. “What if the bounty was more than you are offering?” She shook her head and switched the bag with the chickens to her other hand. “How do you trust me, Captain? You know little of me. We are even. I stowed away on your ship. Beat up your men. Stole your dagger. I pulled you out of the sea. You got me to England. We are even.” “You stowed away multiple times on my ship.” “Only because you kept putting me off.” Caiden smiled at her. “It didn’t deter you. And it’s how I know you can handle this if you are willing. I don’t know how much the bounty is on them. But I promise if we find out I will more than match it.” “So if I agree what will be required of me?” “First we must ride with speed to Gretna Green. That will be two or three days in the saddle if we can get fresh horses. Once we are there undercover of night I will send the Sinclaires to catch a boat to Ireland and thence to find passage back to London. You and I will assume their roles and leave Gretna Green as Mister and Mistress Sinclaire. Travelling by coach back to London.” “So we are to be the bait?” “Aye. And if we are fortunate we will capture those who may testify to the bounty and who set it.” “You will have to buy me suitable clothes for this charade you propose.” He nodded and his grin got big as he realized she was seriously considering helping him. “Done.” “You must also provide all my expenses, horses, room, food.” She was watching him carefully. “Done.” “You must also keep my room above the tavern while I am gone. You must arrange to pay my rent for the next six months.” His eyes widened but he nodded. She held out her hand to him to shake. He looked at her tiny hand and resisted the urge to bend over it and place a kiss on her knuckles. Taking it in a surprisingly firm shake feeling the calluses on her fingers that told tales of hard work. “We have an accord, Captain. I’ll meet you before the tavern in an hour ready to ride.” ______________________________

Luke told Ernest of his meeting with Mister Lykel as they walked toward the cottage leading his tired horse. He told him of his friend’s words about the nature of Duke Karlington’s companion Gideon Payne and Mister Lykel’s concern that a bounty may have been placed on their heads.

Ernest nodded gravely and steered them toward the river that they might rinse the worst of the soot from their hands and faces before going to the house.

At the rivers edge they found one bucket filled with water and another laying on its side as though dropped. Both men frowned as what they were seeing registered. Then Ernest turned dashing for the cottage shouting for Rose.

Luke tied his horse where he could drink but not trod where the tracks by the river were. Then went to look carefully around the river bank.

Ernest’s heart felt like it would explode in his chest and his vision was tunneling with panic and despair as he burst into the cottage calling for Rose.

The silence was a knife in his heart as he dashed from room to room. The dishes from their morning breakfast sat unwashed in the tub. The chamber pots were unemptied. He dashed through every room looking, crying her name. Terrified he might find her body. Broken at the thought that she was gone. He abandoned the house and went to the stable calling. The cart horse and cow still secured in their stalls greeted him but no Rose. He stumbled back out howling her name desperately.

Luke ran to Ernest when he heard the mortal despair in his voice. He found him on his knees in the yard weeping, moaning her name.

“Ernest,” He put his hand on his back and helped him to his feet leading him into the cottage and sitting him on one of the stools in the kitchen. He looked around and found a bottle of Scotch and poured a good measure into two glasses for each of them. “Ernest, drink.” He watched Ernest take the Scotch and gulp it then bury his face in his hands as he wept.

Luke’s deep voice was the soothing tone he used to calm skittish horses as he spoke softly to the distraught man.

“Ernest, you must take comfort that she is alive. Mister Lykel is on his way. And, I believe I saw the men who took her.”

Ernest’s head whipped up, “What? How? We must go rescue her.” He stood and stumbled toward the master bedroom.

Luke followed him. “Sir, stop. You must listen to me. If we are going to go after them we have to have a coach and a fresh team. Neither of us are in any shape to chase after them on horseback. The horse I rode in here is exhausted and needs to be cared for. Unless you have some fine horses in that small stable you don’t have a horse that could go after them.”

Ernest stared at the bed a long moment tears streaking down his sooty face. His voice was soft and broken, “I can’t believe I lost her. I…”

“You haven’t lost her, sir. Bad men have taken her. Doubtless to collect the bounty we feared. But they didn’t kill her. I saw their foot prints in the soft soil by the bank. I saw wagon tracks. And I remembered the hay wagon that I saw this morning. It was lightly loaded with two men but headed away from Gretna. And the driver was using his whip on the horses. If I hadn’t seen the village afire I would have had words with them for the way they were driving their horses. But I was in haste to get to you. I had no idea that they had Lady Sinclaire until just now. Their horses will not hold to that pace long. So either they are going to have to make camp somewhere close or they are going to be slowing down trying to change or rest their team. What’s more, the right wagon wheel has a smith mark in its rim. I saw it in the print.

We need food. And we need a coach. We need rest. Neither of us is up to riding after them. I need you to think. Is there anyone here who may be able to help us? It’s going to be dark before we can leave and we might miss any sign of them departing the road if we try to pursue in the dark. So we need to prepare. You need to write to Mister Lykel so he knows what transpired should he arrive after we have left. I can see about packing some food and tending the animals here. I need you to see if you can enlist us some help and find us some horses. We also must be prepared to help Lady Sinclaire should she have any injury when we find her. We will find her sir.”

Ernest nodded, setting his jaw and pulling himself back in control. He walked over and rinsed his face and arms in the bucket of fresh water that was sitting on the hearth by the banked fireplace. “You are right. Please forgive me. I, I thank you for your support in this dark hour Mister Harper. It means more than I can express.

Can you show me the tracks with the mark you spoke of? I must go speak with Mister Camran and Master Elliot. I know they will help if they can.”

His blue eyes filled with pain fixed with Luke’s. “She is my life, Mister Harper. I must find her. I will find her.”

To Be Continued………….

#choices fanfiction #desire & decorum #the road to gretna green #the return of mister and mistress sinclaire #ernest sinclaire #ernest sinclaire x mc #desire & decorum au

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