Saturday, 02 September—Ne'er a Peaceful Supper upon Mother's Arrival
Mother shall arrive at evening. Shall I tell her I merely admire my dear Gilbert as he began to spoil me much? Alas my poor thing, he was just an old poor widowed man who treated me as his deceased wife who he loved dearly. My family forbids me to betroth and court someone aged more than five years, either older or younger, regardless of such wealth, till a situation is brought to Point Non Plus.
Mother and Uncle Charles came hither as they banged up to the mark, meant they had arrived on time. Mother seemed to be in despair as she rushed to the drawing room as I fiddled Boccherini's Minuet. She felt in despair till the music faded. Mother was feeling gay upon reuniting her dear son. It was a foolish decision to stay with my poor thing Gilbert for she was displeased. She wept in despair, 'Oh my poor Colin, why were you fooled by a scoundrel?' Forsuch dreaded statement, I remained silent. Pamela comforted Mother from despair. Her kindness rose to felicity as she thanked poor Pamela, for she had forgotten her master's poor treatment upon her. Pamela guided Mother and I for supper. The supper had started; Mother began to be displeased towards Gilbert; and Uncle Charles bragged Father's achievements, hitherto please Gilbert. Gilbert startled upon Mother's displeasure as I remained silent as I finished my supper. Gilbert began to stare at me as he seemed infatuated with his dear Peggy. I was displeased as he started a conversation of courtship and an offer of marriage. 'If that poor thing Nicholas was a lady, I shall offer him for marriage.'
'Nay you bloody rake! My son is quite young for an offer of marriage with a widower like you. He is nineteen years of age, the same age when poor Agnes disappeared.' Mother cried aloud as she burst her anger.
'Mary, 'tis enough!' Uncle Charles warned her as I left to the drawing room. The supper was ruined by a displeased dudgeon from Mother and Gilbert after I left to the drawing room as Uncle Charles left supper. I knew she would ne'er be pleased with this supper. Mother approached me as she was drowning with dudgeon, she seemed to know that Gilbert treated me as a rake's favourite than the eldest surviving son of a peer.
Sunday, 03 September—His Priestly Brother
I ne'er thought that today would be Sunday since Mother and Uncle Charles decided to stay in Astley. They were guided by Pamela to tour around the manor before breakfast; yet I was headed to the morning room with Gilbert, checking the rent of his fellow tenants before our breakfast as we shall be heading to the abbey every Sunday of the week as Gilbert only remains in the manor as a Catholic. Sally dashed to the morning room as she announced, 'The breakfast is ready, sir.'
'Quite excellent my dear Sally. What about the old barren Countess of St Ives and Lord Perkins? I hope their arrival to the dining room is early as they have banged up the mark—unlike my poor Lord Mousehole's tour.'
'Sir, I—' Sally delayed her statement of the news, pending their arrival as Gilbert frowned upon her as he blamed Pamela. 'Sir, they had arriv'd thither on time; but don't be cruel to my dearest Pamela. I know she is well-disciplined for a young maid like I; yet she became more sensible after yer very own wife died. Do ye understand, sir?'
Gilbert remained silent after poor Sally warned his haughty behaviour as I could observe his stern face if his own servants observed his own despotic behaviour, as revenge was taken against their own master. 'You've spoken too much for a maid, my dear Sally. I'm glad they arrived on time, just as usual.' Gilbert ignored her response regarding his cruel treatment to poor young Pamela as Sally bowed to her master as she headed to her own chores as she would prepare breakfast for her master and my own family. 'Twas too early at eight o' clock in the morning when breakfast started. Mother did not speak much to Gilbert; yet her face looked stern as she stared at me, her own son, as I kept observing a flock of church owls sleeping on the trees. I was hurried to eat a few buns and a sip of cocoa before we headed to the nearest abbey; it took less than thirty minutes to arrive by walking from hitherto the nearby church before the sermon was started by Mr Archibald O'Vile, Gilbert's second older brother. He was the second O'Vile relative I met in Chorley after his younger brother. He never married nor had any by-blows as his lifestyle opposed Gilbert's rakish habits. He is welcomed to Astley after the sermon ended as he visits hither, being welcomed by his own younger brother.
Monday, 04 September—Farewell to My Dearest Mother
Yesterday was Sunday as Mother and Uncle Charles delayed their journey to Penworth. They left early as she wept as she and Uncle Charles bid 'Good-bye'; for I chose to stay with Gilbert as he wanted me to leave Trinity. Gilbert ordered me to prepare to leave Astley for tomorrow as we shall be heading to Berkshire for a good situation with a friend. For Pamela, he decided to leave that poor maid behind as he assigned a servant Mr Garcia as my valet.
Thursday, 08 September—A Commission for Gilbert
Upon returning to his own manor, Gilbert commissioned a portrait for me from a friend, Sir Lawrence Campbell, Kt., a renowned painter, respected by his patrons as I met him as a youth since my close relatives are his respected patrons for the knighted painter; The Marquis and Marquise de Guerre, and his dear friend Gilbert are also his patrons and friends as the Marquis and his wife are patrons for Gilbert's plays. He requested his dear friend to finish the portrait before his natal day—dated 14th of September. He requested for a young lad to be covered by a long blue scarf, once belonged to his late wife as I was sitting next to a golden jar. Upon hearing the conversation, I was ordered by my dear Gilbert's request. I dressed as a handsome Trojan prince lusted by Jove. Gilbert was impressed of me as Ganymede.
Thursday, 14 September—Unto His Natal Day
'Twas a fortunate day for Gilbert since 'tis his natal day which is taking place for today. The carriage moved further South as we returned to Berks for a commissioned portrait. 'Ne'er tell this to Elinor,' he gave me a letter, a story of a widowed gentleman courting a youthful maiden. It was told from a widowed gentleman's view of a maiden for which I shall summarize:
As a maiden courted a widowed gentleman's nephew by a stroll onto the gardens, The old gentleman was infatuated upon the maiden's beauty which reminds of his dear deceased wife. After a stroll with the widowed gentleman's nephew, his uncle began to court the young maiden. His nephew was displeased upon his uncle's courtship towards his dear young maiden. The gentleman and his nephew began to duel o'er the maiden till his nephew met his own demise. The maiden and her family were displeased upon the gentleman. They're aware of a fatal duel with his nephew—the maiden's suitor. The marriage between the maiden and his nephew was arranged by her parents. The gentleman abducted the maiden from her family, ne'er to be seen again as the gentleman and the maiden eloped as the young maiden was ne'er pleased upon him as his bride.
'Twas too grotesque as romance, close enough to be a gothic tragedy of a prudish youthful lady; for I noticed that the story felt familiar. 'Yea, 'tis terrific.' I never lied upon keeping these letters. We returned to the manor in Berkham, near Ufton and Reading. Gilbert lived in the manor for certain events for social seasons and familial occasions upon visiting his very own family. 'Sir Lawrence Campbell has arrived, Master Gilbert.' a servant announced his master the arrival of Sir Lawrence Campbell, a bonafide knight. Gilbert approached Sir Lawrence as he welcomed his entrance, 'Welcome my dear friend Lawrence—was it finished yet?'
"Twas already finished Mr Gilbert O'Vile,' Sir Lawrence Campbell replied as Gilbert welcomed him. 'And I am glad you came, Lord Mousehole. Your brother Alexander was an excellent apprentice.' I gave a stern expression opposed to his utter gay expression since I ne'er knew Sir Lawrence was Alec's mentor. 'Oh! Don't give such a stern face, dear young lad. Your mother handed me a letter.' Sir Lawrence gave a letter from Mother; for which I shall read it after he left the manor. Sir Lawrence presented us with a portrait of me as Ganymedes. Gilbert was grateful since 'twas a present for him as he turns forty-and-one. 'Sorry my dear Gilbert, the portrait shall be displayed in Woodside; and after 'twas displayed on hither, Lord Mousehole; just for the commissioner's satisfaction.' Sir Lawrence shows the portrait. To his response upon displaying the portrait on Woodside, I reluctantly agreed since it was a commission for Gilbert; but alas, it was queer as Sir Lawrence sent away a commission portrait meant for a dear friend. At least, I knew The Marquis would be pleased upon its display. 'Splendid! A perfect suitor for a marriage for his daughters. I heard your family are friends with these French aristocrats.' His expression seems to approve the decision.
'Also 'nother letter for you, Lord Mousehole. From Mr Benjamin Hawkins, a friend of yours.' Sir Lawrence replied. 'I heard Mr Benjamin Hawkins is one of the suitors of a younger daughter of Marquis de Guerre.' he continued to whisper as 'twas months o' three since Benjamin's situation with Lady Désirée.
Monday, 18 September—To Dear Ganymedes (and I did not know 'twas an unfinished draft)
Poem for Dear Ganymedes, A Draft, written by Gilbert Edgar O'Vile for Lord Mousehole
Dear Ganymedes,
Handsomest amongst mortals,
Abducted by Jove,
King amongst gods.
The youth was bestowed
As his cupbearer.
As Jove infatuated,
Juno bore such temper!
I cannot regret being a muse and companion of a poor widowed actor and dramatist as he spoiled me with poems, stories and commissions as he spoiled his dearest wife, alas for this poor thing. I have been tempted by his rotten affection for such drafts of poems of Greek love for which I shall not deny for me to receive a poem he had written. Alas my poor Gilbert, I have promised that I shan't depart you till our very own deaths; for you shall haunt me for eternity as a ghost after your very own departure; yet I cannot ignore what you have done for your own poor wife as you made your haughty decisions over that poor maid!
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