Tuesday, 01 August—Rendezvous in Blackpool

We stayed in Blackpool where the northern seaside of Lancashire faced the Irish Sea as it was located further north than Bloodham. 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 Bloodham with those meddling maidservants around us.’ Mr Gilbert O’Vile conveyed tranquillity as he insulted his maids, specifically Miss Collins, his least favourable maid.

We entered a cottage before he continued writing a play of Jupiter’s dearly beloved cupbearer Ganymedes. A poor widower never wrote a play since his dear wife’s departure since he had written plays based upon Pluto and Proserpine. He wrote the dramatic play, both in Venetian and English as a gift for his own dear wife. Mr Gilbert O’Vile was keen on staying somewhither near the seaside as we stayed in a cottage. I was forbidden to stay in a cottage unless it was an old hermit's cottage in Penworth.

Tuesday, 08 August—Return to Edgemont

We returned to Edgemont as I reunited with Miss O’Vile. She wished me and Gilbert good health whilst away in Penworth and Bloodham. Oliver is Gilbert's only surviving legitimate child with his only wife; the young lad has not yet been breeched since he has not reached his come-of-age. It was unfortunate that poor Ms Margaret Lennox died after bearing Oliver since it was common for unfortunate mothers to be departed by bearing their last child.  My poor friend Benny was sensible after his mother died bearing him, thus he was blamed for his own mother's death by his stern father. My thoughts shifted when Oliver cried, ‘Mamma!’ as he saw me as dear his mother. I cried to this poor lad, ‘Nay Oliver,’ I denied the young boy, ‘I mayn’t marry your Papa. I am just their heir for my own papa’s sake!’

‘Nay, you were such silly lad, her hair was just brown as umber; yet her eyes were extravagant as the sea, her skin was pale as a Roman sculpture. Alas my dear you! Look how I adore such miraculous beauty of yours!’ The young child’s father teased me as he denied my reply to his son; yet poor Miss O'Vile was embarrassed of such compliments that led to silence upon us. Sir Seamus and his wife returned after silence took over Edgemont as he welcomed me and his child; yet he was shunned upon his younger brother’s unlikely presence as they headed to the drawing room for civil whiskers. My friend Miss O’Vile sent me a letter from Mother as she was not pleased upon my absence whilst looking for her poor son.

Tuesday, 15 August—A Ghastly Encounter of Poor Dear Margaret ‘Peggy’ Lennox

It has never been worth, 

Since I am further from Penworth.

It was another 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,

Never reached with her older sister,

Nor a lowland laird, her very own father.

Dear Mother was concerned,

For I must be learned,

That she shall never see her dearest son

To be missed upon…

For a ghastly encounter, the ghost of Ms Margaret Lennox was quite a gentle soul for a dreaded ghost that wandered the great hall. Her presence can be warned by a flock of church owls swarming the garden outside Bloodham; or by a tall golden owl, sleeping on a tree from one morning. The departed lass could talk to me as she came from a Scottish gentry like my dear Mother since she was part of the Hamilton clan before marriage with Father as 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. My despotic grandfather was queer old fop who favoured Tories over Whigs; yet he unfortunately drowned on Plymouth Sound as his soul only remained to haunt me in Penworth.

Thursday, 24 August—Return for Grouse Hunting

We returned to Bloodham for a few days after our second stay in Blackpool in the same old grim cottage that welcomed me and the village fellows. On Wednesday, we bathe together on the coast in the morning after our early breakfast. His coachman, Mr Augustus Collins, is a humble man of more than fifty years of age; yet I decided to stay in his coach house once their master was chaperoned by his young gamekeeper Theodore Collins, son of Augustus Collins by his first marriage and Pamela's older brother, a young man of one-and-twenty and an average stature. I only stayed with his father as I despise hunting such creatures since I could hear terrific shots away from Bloodham. These shots reminded me of my dreaded grandfather when he forced me to hunt; but I am quite relieved that I have indeed never hunted a single poor creature in my life; yet I was glad that the master left me instead; for I should take care of these varied yet well bred horses with Mr Augustus Collins. Most of these horses were bred for coaches yet others were bred for hunting. Their master must have ridden one of these horses with Theodore; yet they returned safe after they brought three Heathcocks for this day as its meat is prepared for today’s dinner.

Monday, 28 August—Letter from My Dearly Concerned Mother

EDGEMONT HALL—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

It seems that Gilbert forbade me to return to Penworth as letters from my dear Mother were flooded. She began to fret as I never returned by fortnight. I hid a letter from Mother that was sent by Miss O’Vile after Mother’s stay in Edgemont; yet I was tempted to escape with one of his horses from his coachman, Mr Augustus Collins. I lied to the coachman as a lost, wandering stranger, trying to find his paths to be sent home; yet he warned Gilbert that I attempted to trade his horse; but alas, he sent me back to Bloodham.

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 as he started to wear his spectacles before reading, stern and aloud as he sat in front of me. He turned cold yet affectionate as he came closer unto me. This poor widowed 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, my dear’st Adonis.’

I tried to mutter as he ridiculed me; yet he spoiled me with kisses, each side of my freckled cheeks till he kissed onto my poor lips after he finished his muttering. I did not expect more as I tasted hints of gin from his breakfasted meal; yet it made his poor maidservant Miss Collins terrified upon entering the drawing room, 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 only did for his only dearly departed wife. Miss Collins remained silent till she read the letter as she announced, ‘The Countess of St Ives and Baron Perkins shall be hither—just to seek their poor lost son and nephew, Lord Mousehole.’

‘Oh Lawks, she is such a sight of disgrace as those d— owls!’ Gilbert dismissed Pamela till he read the letter written by Mother in dismay as he wore his spectacles again. Gilbert dropped the letter, by refusing to read the rest of it, despite it was written for him by Mother.

25 August—For You, miserable and rakish Gilbert O’Vile,

I shall be coming to Bloodham Hall 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 when you tried to court my only daughter Agnes as my only brother Angus caught you. 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 own studies in Trinity. 

Worst regards, &c.

The sun set when the church owls began to stay onto those branches outside the dining room; yet Gilbert was drunk with gin again since his previous meal since he breakfasted; yet he had persuaded me to stay in Venice during our supper; but his mad behaviour became mischievous when I refused the offer for a glass of clear white wine for dinner. He ordered Miss Collins as my lady’s maid, ‘Let this Lord Mousehole accompany to my bedroom, Missy Collins,’ as I heard him whispering, ‘and you must fulfill my desires by dressing this handsome creature as my dear wife.’

‘Yea, Master Gilbert’ she replied to her master with a distressed face while she looked at me before leading me into her master’s chamber, changing a young lord into her dear master’s wife.