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Post by Idris on Apr 11, 2009 19:51:02 GMT
The first Ravenswood of note – Francis by name, a descendant of pirates and privateers - having made his fortune in the slave trade, spent it in contemporary fashion. He married the daughter of a old but impoverished noble family, who brought with her the manor of Piddling Parva in Dorsetshire. The manor building in the valley dated from the time of Good Queen Bess and was little more than a large farmhouse. Francis employed the architect and builder Matthew Brettingham to create a great mansion in the Palladian style on the slopes above, where it could be seen and admired from afar. The famed gardener Charles Bridgeman was brought in to landscape the grounds – once the village had been moved further down the valley out of sight. Mock temples and grottos were erected around the artificial lakes. The common land was enclosed for a deer park, and many displaced villagers found work among the army of servants at the big house or in its acres of gardens. Others left to try their luck in the city or emigrated, and those who could do neither starved.
One hundred and fifty years later the estate – now called Ravenston after Francis’ name for the new house - had grown to many times its original size, swallowing its neighbours’ lands as the Ravenswood-Gussages thrived. The slave trade was gone but canny investments still paid good dividends, and the family had been fortunate in its eldest sons, who were all of a sober and businesslike disposition. It had also benefitted handsomely during the railway boom, and the Great Western Railway now ran its trains up and down the branch line from Maiden Newton to Bridport through Ravenston lands.
A rather antiquated trap carried passengers and trunks to and from the nearest station at Toller Porcorum, assisted by a driver of the same vintage. On a chilly day in March three travellers were in this very trap, wrapped as warmly as they could manage, beginning their long journey to London.
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Post by Idris on Apr 12, 2009 22:57:30 GMT
Inside the trap, Alice Ravenswood-Gussage, a pretty and confident girl of eighteen, sat beside her cousin and smiled at her brother. "I hope that you will be able to join us in seeing a little of the city, William, after you have looked over the tutors. Chastity has seen nothing of London and you know that once the season begins, Mother will not let me spend a moment on my own."
She leaned towards Chastity in a confidential manner. "Coming out is such a frightfully exhausting process. Nothing but balls and garden parties all day and all night," but her cheerful smile belied her words.
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sapphire
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Post by sapphire on Apr 13, 2009 14:12:54 GMT
William was staring intently at the chilly scenery from his sitting position, considering how warmer it was back in Far East when Alice was telling him about her anticipation for London. He looked at his sister and replied warmly, "I only hope the whirl of the London season will end as happily for you as it did for others. I would think Mother will welcome the return of the season most of all."
He glanced at Chastity, duly worried about her. As someone who been abroad in the Far East for many years, he felt that someone who has been abroad for many years on end would be more apt instructor than the mere governess. He continued in the same vein to his sister. "I have already decided on the tutor, his visit should not take long. The governess was clearly unsuitable in her instructions." Afterwards, he asked Chastity with a hint of concern, "Are you warm enough, Chastity?"
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Post by Cosmichorror on Apr 15, 2009 2:08:26 GMT
It took Chastity a minute to properly process what her cousins were saying, and that the last one was a direct question. "Oh. Yes, I'm... I'm fine. These clothes are quite warm. Thank you." She added added on a bit belatedly and tugged her white coat closer around her. She always seemed to prefer white, if given the choice. She didn't know why, but after arriving in London, she rarely wore the brighter coloured clothes in her wardrobe, preferring the whites.
Maybe it's the city. She thought, looking out at the grey countryside. To her, everywhere in England looked grey, differentiated only by shades of grey, and it seemed as though colour itself was frowned upon. The city of London was the worst though, from what she remembered of it when she first arrived.
Her thoughts turned to the topic her cousins were discussing, the new tutor. She hadn't minded the old woman, she had paid little attention to Chastity which suited the girl fine. Lately she had felt tired and listless, and found it hard to rouse herself to do anything that wasn't asked of her. Even thinking was tiresome, it took her a few seconds to think about anything anyone said to her before it seemed to sink in.
This suited her fine though, ever since That Day, when the word returned to her that her parents had been killed while hunting, Chastity seemed to turn inward, at first blaming herself, then wishing she had been with them that day, if only to be with them now. One day she even considered taking matters into her own hands, even going so far as to steal a razor from one of the servant's kits. She never went through with it though, instead she ran to William, the only person in this grey world she felt she could trust. Even Alice seemed to always be hiding something behind that ever-friendly smile of hers. No, she preferred not to think at all most of the time.
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Post by Idris on Apr 15, 2009 21:21:51 GMT
“Every governess Mother has employed has been unsuitable in some way." Alice gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "I am sure you cannot make a worse job of picking someone, and at least a well-educated man should be able to devote himself properly to the business of teaching, and not run off to be married or worse."
"Is it to be the young man from the Cape then Will?" she quirked her brows at him. "Or the one who writes poetry and spends all his holidays in the Lake District, and plainly believes himself to be a second Wordsworth. Or the other – I forget there being anything memorable about him, but I seem to recall he had desired to take Holy Orders and then fallen out with the Bishop about infant Baptism.”
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sapphire
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Post by sapphire on Apr 18, 2009 16:36:10 GMT
Nodding at the mention of the young man from the Cape and told her, "Your answer on the tutor was right on first point. He seems to be fine and someone I actually faintly recalled at Cambridge. The rest you mentioned are not suitable. As it is, I am looking forward to his visit for it would give me an insight in him. Things will brighten up in time." He looked back at the scenery.
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Post by Idris on Apr 19, 2009 22:01:23 GMT
The trap now arrived at Toller Porcorum – a small country station bright with flower boxes – and only just in time for the train from Bridport was already steaming and panting its way up the line.
Old Ned creaked out of the driving seat and made his way slowly to the rear, but was swept aside by a strapping young porter who shouldered all the luggage as if it weighed nothing. In no time the three trunks were stowed in the guard’s van.
Alice grasped her carpet bag and parasol firmly and opened the door to the First Class compartment. The porter indicated two small cases on the platform.
“Where do you want me to put these sir?” the young porter asked William.
In fact Chastity had brought them with her. They were Edgar and Roxana’s travelling cases. She had left the trunks with all their clothes behind at Ravenston, but she knew that the cases contained her mother’s jewels and other personal items belonging to her parents, although she had not yet been able to bring herself to open them. The keys to the two cases were safe in a sovereign purse at her waist.
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sapphire
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Post by sapphire on Apr 21, 2009 20:11:39 GMT
Will considered the young porter's question for a mere moment and replied, Put them in the compartment. He waited for the young porter to put them onto shelf above the seatings while he glanced at Chastity for a moment. The fact Chastity still seems to wasting away concerns him deeply.
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Post by Idris on Apr 26, 2009 11:04:31 GMT
Apparently unaware of William’s scrutiny, his cousin sat herself in a corner of the carriage and stared moodily at the passing countryside. Winter still clung on in the leafless trees and windswept hills, but the downs were carpeted with fresh green grass, buds sprouted and bunches of catkins dangled from branches, and the clumps of spiny gorse shone with yellow blooms.
Kissing is in fashion I see, Alice said, indicating the gorse flowers. For some of us at least.
She blushed a little, then leaned towards her brother to speak confidentially, only part in jest.
Will, you must attend something of the season or you will never find a wife.
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sapphire
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Post by sapphire on Apr 30, 2009 21:29:24 GMT
He merely only wrinkled his nose as he replied with a irritated whisper, "I suppose I will. Hopefully, it should not take too much of my time. I rarely care for them after all. But I suppose finding a wife would be necessary, eventually."
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Post by Cosmichorror on Apr 30, 2009 23:48:28 GMT
Chastity looked out the landscape as her cousins talked. Kissing? Alice can be nice, but she can also be so... immature at times. At least William knows what it's like outside of this... She sighed. I don't want to marry.
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Post by Idris on May 4, 2009 21:39:16 GMT
Alice broke into a peal of laughter. “Oh Will, you are just so.....you talk as if getting a wife were like buying a dog! I would be sorry for her, whoever she turns out to be, but I suspect you will change once you find the right girl.”
Will was saved from further discussion as they pulled into Maiden Newton. With all the business of disembarking, the whistling and steaming of the engine, and hustle and bustle of porters and other travellers, conversation was impossible. Fortunately they did not have long to wait before the mainline train arrived, for the wind was cold and penetrating, and they were able to settle themselves comfortably in a First Class compartment. Alice pulled out a copy of the Ladies Gazette and proceeded to immerse herself in it.
The guard blew his whistle, and the train was actually beginning to move, when the door suddenly swung open, and a man pulled himself inside. Slamming it shut, he looked around the compartment in surprise, as if he had only just noticed that there were three people already sitting there. Then he tipped his hat and graced them all with a warm smile.
“I do beg your pardon, my good Sir and Mesdames. I hope you will permit me to share your compartment until we reach Westbury at least. The rest of the train is quite full up.”
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sapphire
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Post by sapphire on May 5, 2009 20:25:25 GMT
Will coolly gave him a glance at this man that is neither welcoming or unwelcoming. How irritating. He thought on this event, Still, it would be impolite not to share and beside I will need some distraction. He merely smiled in respond, "Why, indeed. A company is always welcome."
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Post by Cosmichorror on May 5, 2009 21:01:36 GMT
Chastity took a seat far from the door and waited for the train to start moving. She looked at Alice reading the gazette. What is the point in those things? They tell you what everyone wants you to do, but since everyone has diferent ideas, they really tell you nothing. It's so false.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the man enter the cabin until he slammed the door, causing Chastity to jump in suprise. She looked at the man with a simmering hostility. "Why..." Chastity started to question the man before Will stepped in. "Why, of course." She finished after William, looking away from the man. She tried to remember what she could of the conditions of the rest of the train. She didn't like this man, something about him was strange.
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Post by Idris on May 6, 2009 22:51:29 GMT
"You are very kind," the man said, nodding round at all three. Certainly his request seemed genuine enough, for there had been far more travellers waiting to board here than in their little local train.
He crossed the carriage to the seat opposite Chastity, moving and sitting carefully, as one who favours an old injury. He had with him a small case, like a doctor’s black bag, which he placed on the seat beside him, and once settled, drew from his pocket a small volume and concentrated upon reading it.
This allowed Chastity to covertly study him. He was perhaps in late middle age - a handsome man of dark colouring but with hair already going white, although he plainly did not require the use of spectacles for reading. His greatcoat - which he retained - prevented her from making a judgement on his apparel, but his boots looked of good quality if well-worn.
The man must have felt her eyes upon him, for he suddenly looked up and smiled at her, and his smile made him seem far younger. He might have been about to say something as well, but at that moment Alice, who had also been examining the stranger with interest, burst out.
"Is that the latest volume of Mr Browning's poems?"
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