Authors: EH Lorenzo
'Do the Easton's still live there?' John asked.
'No longer, me Lord. Lind and Gleda are deed.'
''ow so,' asked John.
'Lind of an accident and Gleda of fever. Both deed several years ago, me Lord.'
'Terrible thing, that business with their older sone,' John said and for a moment he forgot the business at hand and instead thought about the tragic death of Bromley. 'Whot was 'is name again?'
'Bromley, me Lord,' replied the prisoner.
'Aye, Bromley. Terrible thing that. And whot was the other sone's name? Oh aye, it was nay Richard?' asked John.
'Aye, me Lord.'
'And is Richard nay living in Easton-on-the-'ill then?' asked John.
'Nay, 'e 'as nay been seen 'ere for many years, me Lord.'
''e married Bromley's widow, did 'e nay?' asked John.
'Aye, 'e did, me Lord.'
'And is there no Easton's living at Easton-on-the-'ill then?' asked John in surprise.
'Only the yungest. A daught'er and 'er 'usband.'
Those days seemed so long ago to John and a world away, almost as if they didn't occur. John had been away at the time of Bromley's death and he hadn't seen Richard since they were boys. 'I do nay believe that I wuld know Richard if I saw 'im,' he thought to himself.
The prisoner coughed and it brought John's thoughts back to the matters at hand.
'Do you know why you are 'ere?' asked John.
'Aye, me Lord. They said that I stole a chicken.'
'And did you steal a chicken?'
'Nay, me Lord. I borrowed a chicken. Me family was 'ungry.'
'You 'borrowed' a chicken?' asked John incredulously. 'And did you return a chicken?'
'Nay, me Lord, boot I will,' promised the prisoner. 'Please, me Lord, I 'ave been in prison for bet'er than a fortnight. Me family is 'ungry and can nay eat withoot me. I 'ave lit'le ones at 'ome.'
'The king can nay abide thievery in 'is realm,' John stated plainly as he slapped his hand on the table for emphasis. 'I am the king's servant and am sworn to enforce the law. You shuld 'ave thought of that before you stole the chicken.'
'Please, me Lord, 'ave mercy. If nay on me, on me lit'le ones,' pled the prisoner.
'And if I were to show mercy to you, whot wuld the next thief expect?' exclaimed John in a strong voice. 'I sentence you to another fortnight in prison and if at that time, your family 'as nay repaid the price of the chicken, you will spend another fortnight and so forth until the debt is paid. And you shuld consider that merciful.'
John motioned to the court clerk and said, 'Away with 'im.'
As the prisoner was led away, he continued to implore for his freedom. 'I beg you, me Lord. I wuld be bet'er able to pay the debt if I were nay in prison.'
John ignored his pleas and gathered his cloak to leave the courthouse. He quickly left the building and as he walked down the steps, he nearly ran into a well dressed woman.
'I beg your pardon, me lady,' said John as he bowed his head and carefully stepped aside to give way for the lady and her female companion.
'Lord Darby, is that you?'
John looked up and smiled in recognition. 'Agnes, aye, it is me,' he said as he offered his hand. Agnes took his hand and John squeezed it gently. 'She is truly beaut'iful,' thought John.
Agnes wore a light blue dress that wrapped close to her torso and was gathered at the waist. Her waist was adorned by a metal belt that hung loosely in the front. From her waist the skirt of the dress flared out in folds and flowed freely to the ground. A light breeze caused the skirt to flutter gently. A gold colored cloak draped her shoulders and mid-torso. John's thoughts were interrupted by Agnes and he blushed at the realization that he was staring at her.
'And when did you return to Stamford?' asked Agnes 'I 'eard that you were in Calais.'
'I returned yesterdee. I 'eard that you returned Wednesdee last. And 'ow was Suffolk?' asked John.
'Suffolk was very pleasant indeed,' replied Agnes with a smile. 'Boot, so much time with me cousins and aunt does becomb difficult to bear.'
'And were there no gent'lemen in Suffolk?' asked John with sly smile and just a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
'Indeed,' replied Agnes. 'Suffolk 'as many fine gent'lemen.' She smiled to think that John was a little jealous. 'Me mum is 'aving a part'y on Sat'urdee. I trust that you will comb with your mum.'
'Aye, I will be there, me lady,' replied John.
Agnes smiled and offered her hand to John. He accepted her hand and bowed his head slightly. 'Gud dee, me lady,' he said. 'Until Sat'urdee then.'
'Indeed, until Sat'urdee,' replied Agnes, allowing him to continue to hold her hand. She then lowered her head and gently bent her knees slightly. She and her friend then continued down the street. John watched them until they turned a corner.
On Saturday afternoon, John escorted his mother to the home of Agnes' father. There were already several people there and John saw that Agnes was speaking with another gentlemen. Agnes was wearing her hair drawn back on the sides and up in the back, with some locks that fell around her shoulders. Her hair was parted in the front and a ringlet draped either side of her face. A band of tiny white flowers ran across her head at the point where the hair that was parted in the front met the hair that was pulled up in the back. Other small white flowers also adorned her hair as jewels. She wore a long white dress that had golden embroidered accents around the neck, just above the elbows and at the end of the elegant sleeves. The sleeves fanned out in full fashion from the golden accent above the elbows to nearly the full length of the skirt. John could scarcely take his eyes off her.
John saw that Agnes did indeed notice him upon his arrival, but she continued speaking with the gentlemen that seemed intent on keeping her attention.
'Welcome to me 'ome Lady Darby and me Lord Darby.' John turned to see Agnes' father standing nearby. John had nearly lost track of his surroundings so intent was his study of Agnes.
'Lord Whitcomb,' responded John as he offered his hand.
'You 'ave been gone too long, me Lord, I am sure that your business in Calais was successful,' said Agnes' father. He took John's mother by the arm and led her to a nearby chair as they continued speaking.
'Aye, sir, boot it is gud to be 'ome again,' replied John. 'I see that Agnes is well.'
'Aye, she is well enuf sir, and she 'as much interest from the gent'lemen.'
'Aye, so I see,' observed John. 'And who is that she is speaking with at present?'
''e is Edmund and is comb from Suffolk.'
'All the way from Suffolk then?' questioned John in surprise. 'I presume that 'e is 'ere to see Agnes?'
'Indeed 'e is sir,' said Agnes' father in a tone and with a look at John that seemed to underscore his earlier comment about the multiplicity of gentlemen that vied for the attention of Agnes.
'And is Agnes committed to any of these gent'lemen?' asked John.
'Nay,' responded Lord Whitcomb, 'boot if a yung man is interested, 'e wuld do well to make 'is intentions known.'
'Aye, so 'e wuld,' responded John.
At that moment someone interrupted their conversation and Agnes' father was called away.
'Me boy,' said John's mother, 'do nay disappoint your father. You know that you luv 'er. Do nay let another gent'leman commit 'er.'
'Aye, mum,' was all that John replied.
His conversation opportunities with Agnes were short the rest of the evening. The gentleman from Suffolk stayed so close to her side that to interrupt would have almost been an affront to him, which John saw no reason for pursuing since he had learned that the gentleman's stay in Stamford would end the following day.
As they were leaving for the evening, John was able to have a brief conversation with Agnes.
'You luk very luvly,' John said to Agnes. She was obviously pleased and seemed to blush a little.
'You are too kind, me Lord,' she replied. 'Are you gone so soon?'
'Aye, I must get me mum 'ome.'
'I wuld 'ave so much liked to 'ave spent more time with you, boot you are gone so soon,' said Agnes.
'I believe that you were occupied most of the evening.'
'Aye, I suppose that I was,' said Agnes without offering much more encouragement.
'Until we meet again, then?' replied John.
'Aye, God's speed to you and your mum,' said Agnes.
John's servants had brought the coach to the front of the house and were waiting with the door open. John led his mother down the steps of the house and helped her into the carriage, stepping in after her. As he did, he looked out the window and saw Agnes still standing at the step. She smiled and offered a little wave of her hand. John returned the wave with a slight hand gesture and a smile and ordered the coach on.
Early the next day John rode to the Whitcomb estate to see Agnes, knowing full well that Edmund would still be there. He was greeted by a servant and ushered through the great entry hall into an adjoining room and invited to sit while Agnes was summoned. John preferred standing and he explored the room while he waited. He noted the marble sculptures that had likely been sent from Italy and several large paintings from France. He also noted that the tightly woven rug which he was standing on was likely shipped from Persia. 'Indeed, the wool trade 'as been gud to Agnes' family,' he thought.
Soon Agnes walked into the room and greeted John, offering her hand to him. ''ello, Lord Darby.'
'Gud dee, me lady,' replied John with a smile as he accepted her hand. 'You luk luvly.'
'I wuld nay 'ave expected you so airly on this fine dee,' Agnes said with a warm smile.
'Me lady, it is soch a fine dee, I decided to go riding and thought to ask you to comb along.'
'Aye, Lord Darby. I can nay accept your offer as you know that Edmund is still 'ere.'
'I do nay see Edmund, me lady,' replied John with some sarcasm in his voice as he looked about the room. 'And where might 'e be then?'
''e is oot with me father riding at present,' replied Agnes with a sly smile, obviously picking up on his sarcasm.
'Then 'e wuld nay mind if you were to go riding also, wuld 'e?' observed John.
''e is expected back soon and it wuld be rude of me to be away upon 'is return. Wuld you nay agree?'
'Is 'e nay riding with your father? Wuld that nay make 'im your father's guest?'
''e is me guest as well, me Lord.'
'I wuld nay think that one so old as Edmund wuld be your guest, me lady.'
Agnes acted as though she was perturbed, but she was clearly enjoying the attention and the fact that John was so persistent.
'Comb back lat'er, me Lord, and I will go riding with you.'
'Is that a promise, me lady?'
'Aye, it is a promise,' Agnes replied with a smile.
'Aye, and whot aboot Edmund?'
''e will be gone by then. I am certain of it.'
'And if 'e is nay gone?' asked John.
'I do nay know.'
'I do know. I will show 'im to 'is coach,' replied John with a sly smile.
Agnes blushed and looked at the floor. The thought of John vying so directly for her attentions pleased her.
John took Agnes' hand in his and smiled, 'Until then, me lady.' Then he smiled and turned to leave the room. As he walked into the entry hall, Edmund entered from a adjacent hallway. He had just returned from riding and still was wearing his riding clothing.
John observed him narrowly, but was not going to acknowledge him.
'Lord Darby,' started Agnes, 'This is Edmond of Suffolk. I do nay believe that you 'ave met.'
John turned and walked toward Edmund who was holding out his hand expectedly. John looked at his hand momentarily before accepting the offered greeting.
'Gud dee, Lord Darby. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.'
'Aye, likewise,' replied John with a forced smile. 'I 'ope that you are enjoying your visit with Lord Whitcomb.'
Edmund glanced at Agnes who only smiled ever so slightly and then turned her look to John.
'Aye, I 'ave enjoyed me visit with all of the Whitcomb's, me Lord.'
'The dee is a fine dee for your travels back to Suffolk. I trust that you will find the roads pleasant,' stated John with a glance outside.
'Aye, and so I shall,' replied Edmund.
With that, John walked toward the door and as he opened it stated, 'Shall I send some men to accompany you to Suffolk?'
'That will nay be necessary, me Lord,' replied Edmund in a voice that betrayed his growing irritation.
John bowed his head slightly in Agnes' direction, opened the door and said, 'Until later, me lady.'
Later that day John returned and went riding with Agnes. She was a well trained rider and was very comfortable atop a horse. She wore a long, light-purple dress and small hat of matching color. As they galloped through the fields, her dress caught the breeze and John was fascinated at her loveliness and her skill. They rode to Little Casterton and then to Great Casterton where they stopped for a meal at a public house.
As they rode slowly back toward the Whitcomb estate, Agnes said, 'You did nay need be so rude to Edmund, me Lord.'
'Aye, I suppose that I did treat 'im with sume contempt. There is no excuse for me actions, me lady.'
They rode in silence for a few moments before John asked, 'Is there an agreement then between Edmund and yourself then?'
Agnes looked at John with a surprised expression and stated plainly, 'There is nay any agreement between Edmund and meself. If there were, I wuld nay be riding with you now, me Lord.'