A Longing at Somerset 27/12 Before 11 am- Xmas 1677

[Charles Whitehurst]

Davina disclosed something about her brother's thoughts. His own name was omitted. Was he to be relieved by that or insulted? "Scotsmen?" That sounded curious.

 

Then came one of those dangerous type of questions women asked men. This was far more dangerous than the typical questions like do I look pretty? or Does this dress make me look too frumpy? This was up there with Do you love me? which was ever dangerous. Yet, this one promised no happy outcome. No matter what he might say, it could be misinterpreted.

 

Fortunately, she mentioned about the Queen's ultimatum. "What?" He rolled over to face her. "This year or next year? 1677 or 1678? Do you have to be wed or just betrothed? If it is this year then you have but a few days. When did she tell you this?" All manner of questions spilled out of his mouth in rapid succession. "What are you going to do?"

 

"I am far too besotted with you to think clearly about whom you should marry," he admitted at last.

[Davina Wellsley]

"That was a bit of my own reaction." She said referencing The Border Regions. "I am not inclined to be sent off there whilst my Lord Husband cavorts here at Court leaving me to languish."

 

He then positioned himself more along her line and she hid a smile. He was firing away with questions which told he told her that her 'news' had startled him and she, for a moment, thought of contining to play him but them grew serious.

 

"The end of next year." she began her eyes now downcast, a finger playing with a stray curl as she bit her lip to keep herself in check. "Twas a private meeting late summer and I was really given no choice but to Obey."

 

"Baintree was involved but I cannot prove it but tis suspected as he has suddenly taken a keen interest in my unmarried state hence his list of suitables."

 

She looked up at him then with a tiny smile. "You are my comfort as well as other things Charles and for that I am eternally Grateful. But this year has not ended and the new not yet begun so I shall push theses thoughts away concetrate on what is of real import."

 

"I cannot be forced into a marriage - even Baintree would not do that - but he could and would make me suffer in other ways and as for Her Grace, well, I am not outright disobedient but could lose my position."

 

She gave a long sigh then leaned in to kiss him softly lingering a bit then stating the obvious.

 

"The clock ticks My Lord and so I must go. And I am glad that you offered no name or names yet would have welcome'd yours."

 

He would think she jested and perhap she was.

 

But the idea still lingered that she might be his Countess. It was possible suruly and a good match. Yet there remained the unanswered question she had - if they married would it be the same between them or would he turn and become a husband intent on dominating her and her life seeing her established in some Country Seat or worse?

 

Was that a risk she was willing to take?

[Charles Whitehurst]

If truth be told, Charles would prefer to marry a lady that he could send off to his estate while he was free to cavort at court in her absence. It was a popular model these days. He dared not utter such sentiment to Davina, of course, given the words she had uttered. Yet, if he married her, would he feel the same? It was hard to say, but he imagined that he might acquire a mistress along the way and it would be an awkward think in a marriage with Davina. She had said nothing about his relationship with Catherine, but that might be because she had no hold on him other than his heart.

 

Marriage would change everything. That was the common wisdom he had heard. Either their love would give way to bickering or they would be so interested in copulating with such frequency that neither of them would get much else done. Marriages were not about sex and that was the strongest bond between them, suggesting that he not think of Davina in that way. Rather, he needed to think about the famial alliance. Baintree was nothing much at court, his own reputation eclipsed by his sister, who happened to be Catholic. Charles could not afford to marry a Catholic again.

 

"You have another year then," he sighed. Had she only a few days left, Charles would have been motivated to help her, perhaps by feigning a courtship so that the Queen would provide an extension. "Yes, push the thoughts away," he agreed, happy to shift the topic. He hugged her as she thanked him for being her comfort. "And you are my comfort," he whispered in return.

 

She mentioned that she would have welcomed his name, and he was left wondering how best to respond. It was another one of those no-win solutions. All he could muster was "I am glad." That seemed appropriately noncommital without chance for offense; but, who was to know what might offend a lady in love?

 

He escorted her to the door and shared another kiss before ensuring her hat and veil were in place. "When might we get together again?"

[Davina Wellsley]

He seemed relieved that her marriage plans were not immeniate but instead assigned to that phrase of "Next Year." Was that disappointment she felt as she listened to him telling her how Glad he was?

 

The fact he did not offer any responses to her own regarding that of names was perhaps what she had needed to hear. He would be a good match but then as his Countess she could only rise as far as his Ambitions took him. Plus there was the ever-present thing called Religion and she knew that being a Catholic at heart whilst conforming in Public might hinder those Ambitious.

 

Charles Whitehurst was her first Lover. The "First" in many ways she had to acknowledge that for it was true. Her ideas on Marriage would continue to be pressed and at some point an arrangement would be made that settled her Future. That was the way of things and had always been so.

 

An inward sigh and for a moment her expression was sad which she then tried to conceal with a smile. Twas hard because now Charles was forever confined to that Rolé that he currently held and might still continue to be once she married - but her wanting that and his agreeing to it was the unknown.

 

He had helped her to dress and their talk had been of nothings - things that did not require more than a smile or a kiss or even yes or no - until she was presentable once again.

 

He asked when they next might meet

 

"Well there are many Events planned for this week and so opportunity should be found as I am not involved in Everything nor are you I suspect! Whilst I have a fondness for that coach of yours I'd much prefer something warmer but then the remembrances of what went on inside might cause me to agree."

 

Returning his kiss with a bit more depth she wanted to leave him with her taste even for just a short while. He adjusted her hat and veil and she muttered how much she disliked such things but it was better than a Visard!

 

The door was opened and she slipped thru once again shown out by the same servant who saw her back out into the cold and into a nameless coach that would see her safely returned to Whiethall.

[Charles Whitehurst]

"I thought the coach quite spacious," Charles laughed in response. It was true that he felt as though he had sprained a thigh muscle in the process, he dared not reveal that. The coach was far too convenient as a meeting place for her to abandon it completely.

 

"This palace is the best place, for I am its Steward. There is my house in Picadilly, but that is reckless. There are closets in the palace, but they can be as cramped as my coach, I imagine." He hastily added the latter, not wanting Davina to think about whether he had experience in the closets with another. In fact it was in a coat closet that he had his first two rendezvous with Catherine Sedley. He paused to see if she had other ideas. There were secret passages, but he thought to save those for his meetings with Susan Herbert.

 

Charles had rented a cottage for his assignations with Catherine in prior seasons. He supposed he could do so again. Then there was his secret entrance and passage in Dorchester House. He had yet to employ it. Originally he planned to have several of his lovers stay there and he might sneak in through his secret entrance and passageway to come upon them in the night.

 

The problem was what to do with Davina beyond their next encounter. They had discussed marriage, but it was not the right match for either of them, or so he imagined. Was this the beginning of the end for the two of them? He hoped not Yet, there were only so many grains of sand in the hourglass before she was married off. They could continue on after that surely. Charles had already demonstrated in the past that marriage was not a barrier to his intrigues.

 

Perhaps her sadness was infectous, just as her smile and sparkling eyes were. Charles felt a ominous cloud coming over them. It could be held off with the shared joy of their intrigues, but it was there, waiting its time.

 

"Have Poppy send me a note when next you can spare a half a day, or perhaps an evening. We can meet here again. Yet, if I see you passing in the hall, don't be surprised if I ask for your assistance in some conjured problem, whereby I will whisk you into a dark closet for a passionate embrace," he threatened with a laugh and a gleam in his eye. It was best to part with a promise of an imminent renewal of their passion.

 

~ fin for me.