Tuesday, 01 August—Rendezvous in Blackpool
We stayed in Blackpool where the northern seaside of Lancashire faced the Irish Sea as ‘twas located further north than Astley. Few villagers reside near the seaside as the shore was tranquil. ‘What a splendid rendezvous, my dearest Lord Mousehole. ‘Tis better than a stay in Astley with those meddling maidservants around us.’ Gilbert conveyed tranquillity as he insulted his maids, specifically Pamela Collins, his least favourable maid. He was writing a play based on a myth of Jupiter’s dear cupbearer, Ganymedes. A poor widower never wrote a play since his dear wife’s departure. He’d written plays based upon a Roman heathen myth of Pluto and Proserpine, a romantic play written both in Venetian and English as a dedication for his dear wife. Gilbert was keen on residing near the seaside for days as we reside in an isolated cottage for a day. I was forbidden to stay in a cottage unless ‘twas the hermit's cottage in Penworth.
Tuesday, 08 August—Return to Berks
We returned to Ufton as I reunited with Elinor. She wished me and Gilbert good health whilst away in Penworth and Astley. Oliver is Gilbert's only surviving child with his only wife. The young lad has not breech yet since he hasn't reached come-of-age. ‘Twas unfortunate that poor Margaret Lennox died after bearing Oliver. ‘Twas common for unfortunate mothers to be departed from bearing children. Poor Benny was sensible after his mother died bearing him, thus making a poor blame of his mother's death by his least dear Papa. Oliver cried, ‘Mamma!’ as he saw me as dear his mother. ‘Nay Oliver,’ I denied the young lad, ‘I mayn’t marry your Papa. I am just their heir for my papa’s sake!’
‘Nay, you were such silly lad, her hair was as brown as umber and her eyes were extravagant as the sea. Her skin was pale as a marble sculpture. Alas my dear you! Look how I adore such miraculous beauty of yours!’ Gilbert teased me as he denied my reply to his son; yet poor Miss O'Vile was embarrassed of such compliments which led to silence upon us. Sir Seamus and his wife returned after silence took over Ufton. Sir Seamus welcomed me and Elinor; he shunned upon Gilbert’s unwanted presence as they headed to the drawing room for civil whiskers. Elinor sent me a letter from Mother as she was not pleased upon my absence as she was looking for her poor son.
Tuesday, 15 August—A Ghastly Encounter of Poor Dear Margaret ‘Peggy’ Lennox
'Twas ne'er been worth,
Since I am further from Penworth.
'Twas 'nother ghastly encounter of a lass,
Stared at the window, made of glass.
For the church owls I could see,
His dearest Peggy was concerned upon me.
She ne'er reach with her older sister,
Nor a lowland laird, her very own father.
Dear Mother was concern'd,
For I must be learn'd,
That she shall ne'er see her dearest son,
To be missed upon...
For a ghastly encounter, she was a gentle soul for a dreaded ghost as she wandered the great hall. Her presence can be warned by a flock of church owls swarming the garden outside Astley; or by a tall golden owl, sleeping on a tree in the morning. The departed lass came from a Scottish gentry like dear Mother since she was part of the Hamilton clan before marriage with Father since he came from English nobility. Uncle Charles is the eldest child since he inherited his father’s title, Baron Perkins; yet Father is his younger brother. Late Baron Perkins, my grandfather, was a despotic queer old fop who favoured Tories over Whigs. As the old haughty fop drowned on Plymouth Sound, his soul ne’er departed as he haunted Penworth.
Monday, 28 August—Letter from My Dearly Concerned Mother
07 August—My dearest son Colin,
It was a month you never came back to Penworth or Trinity. I merely froze yesterday as your uncle and your valet Mr Montgomery warned me for an invitation from a scoundrel, who tempted my dear poor Agnes. Papa tried to approve their offer of marriage with Gilbert till Agnes disappeared after my departure from Venice.
From Your Dearest Mother,
The Countess of St Ives
Gilbert forbade me to return to Penworth as letters from my dear Mother were flooded. She began to fret as I ne’er return by fortnight. I hid a letter from Mother which was sent by Elinor after Mother’s stay in Ufton. I hid the letter as I was tempted to escape with one of his horses from his coachman, Augustus Collins, Pamela's father. I lied to Mr Augustus Collins as a lost, wandering stranger, trying to find his paths to be sent home. He warned Gilbert as I tried to trade a horse but alas, he sent me to Astley as I was caught by his master as I was sent to the drawing room by Gilbert. Ordered to be seated, he grabbed and read the letter, stern and aloud as he sat in front of me. He turned cold yet affectionate as he came closer unto me. The poor dramatist beckoned and grabbed my left hand with such affection, ‘Alas my Lord Mousehole,’ I froze as he dropped my hand gently as he unbuttoned my coat and grabbed my diary as he continued, ‘Oh you poor thing,’ He gently turned my chin as my face faced his, begging for forgiveness as he muttered, ‘How did you tempt me? You are quite handsome as poor Ganymede.’
I tried to mutter as he ridiculed me; yet he spoiled me with a kiss, each side of my freckled cheeks till he kissed onto my poor lips after he finished his muttering. I begged for more as it went deeper; it made poor Pamela terrified as she witnessed her master, tempting unto me as he described me to be handsome as Ganymede; I never realised till now he was writing a play for me as he did for his only dearly departed wife. Pamela remained silent till she read the letter as she announced, ‘The Countess of St Ives and Baron Perkins shall be hither—to seek their poor lost son and nephew, Lord Mousehole.’
‘Oh Lawks, Pamela, you’re just a sight of disgrace like those d— owls!’ Gilbert dismissed Pamela till he read the letter written by Mother.
25 August—For You, Miserable and Rakish Gilbert,
I shall be coming to Astley Manor along with my brother-in-law Baron Perkins. We shall be going thither by Saturday to seek my dear eldest son Lord Mousehole. It seems your behaviour never changed since we met in Venice; moreso the time you tried to court my only daughter Agnes. After we see you again, Mr Gilbert O’Vile; you must offer Lord Mousehole to us, so he could return to Penworth and continue his studies in Trinity.
Worst regards, &c.
The poor aged actor persuaded me to stay in Venice during supper. He was mischievous and drunken by brandy for breakfast as I refused to be offered with a clear white wine till dinner. He ordered Pamela as my lady’s maid, ‘Let this Lord Mousehole accompany to my bedroom, Missy Collins,’ as I heard him whispering, ‘You must dress my dearest lad as my dear wife.’
‘Yea Master Gilbert,’ she replied to her master as her face looked concerned as she led me into her master’s chamber, changing a young lord into her dear master’s wife.
The poor aged actor persuaded me to stay in Venice during supper. He was mischievous and drunken as he ordered Pamela as my lady’s maid, ‘Let this Lord Mousehole accompany to my bed room, Missy Collins,’ as I heard him whispering, ‘You must dress my dearest lad as my dear wife.’
‘Yea Master Gilbert,’ she replied to her master as her face looked concerned as she led me into her master’s chamber, changing a gentleman into her dear master’s wife.
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