Leonora's Journal Volume Two

The Sequel to 'Ring of Stone' and 'Leonora's Journal Volume One' by Bronwen Welsh

---

Chapter 26 A strange dream

Tuesday 3rd August.
We arrived home in the evening and as expected everything was ready for our reception. It is good to be home even though we enjoyed our sojourn with my parents and sister very much. To my surprise it seems that news of my aquatic adventure had somehow preceded us , and once again I had to accept with grace the congratulations of Mrs Danvers and Mr Anderson. I think that the fact that I can swim came as much of a surprise to them as it did to me!

Wednesday 4th August
I wrote to Freddie, Lucy and Sarah today to advise them that we are back in Oxford and inviting them to call for tea when convenient. I had a meeting with Mr Anderson and Mrs Danvers and was pleased to hear that everything had run smoothly while we were away and that there were no problems to address.

Friday 6th August
Today, Freddie, Lucy and Sarah came for tea. Lucy is now very definitely with child, and shared with me the news that she expects her confinement to be in November. As might be expected, she is very interested in Elizabeth’s development. She is now six months old. She smiles at me, Richard and Anna and is making cooing noises as well as reaching out to be picked up and absorbing herself with the little doll which she was given by Lucy. She can even roll over, so she is making definite progress. I am still feeding her breast milk, but I have also started her on a taste of mashed up vegetables and fruit and she seems to be enjoying it. She can now open her mouth and close it around a small spoon. It is truly wonderful to follow her progress.

Friday 13th August.
I had the strangest dream last night. I was seated on one of the smaller stones of the Druids’ Circle in Cumberland where I originally met Richard. It was still dark but there was a glimmer of light in the eastern sky. The grass was wet with dew. I had my drawing pad and pencils and was ready to sketch the scene as soon as it was light enough. As the light overhead grew brighter, a mist appeared, obscuring the other side of the circle. I paused and waited and finally it started to lift. I was not alone. On the far side a young man was standing looking at me. As the light improved I was able to make out his features and for a moment I thought it was Richard, they looked so alike, but this man was dressed in a different style of clothing, certainly not from the nineteenth century. From somewhere the name ‘Jack’ came into my mind. He was looking at me and smiling and I returned his smile. Then, as he lifted his arm in greeting, the first rays of the sun appeared from over a high eastern hill. They struck his face and he instinctively lifted his hands to block out the light. Then suddenly I was awake.

The sun was shining through a small gap in the bedroom curtains and shining on my face. I turned my head and there was Richard asleep beside me. Yes, the resemblance was uncanny. Whoever he was, the young man has to be a relative of ours, and surely a descendant. What an amazing dream to have, more like a vision.
I am sorry not to share it with Richard, but I think he is already puzzled enough with my strange dreams and visions and I do not want to concern him that I might be losing my mind.

Sunday 15th August
Today we attended church. Mr Irvine preached a very good sermon. Afterwards I knew Mr Irvine would greet worshippers at the church door, so I asked Richard to delay our exit so that I could speak to him. I asked him how the distribution of the moneys raised was proceeding (very well) and asked if he could approach Father Maguire to arrange a mutually agreeable time for them both to visit Richard and me at Marston House to discuss the distribution of the rest of the money, about half of which still remains. This he agreed to do.

Friday 20th August
Mr Irvine and Father Maguire visited us this afternoon. Richard was able to be present for which I was grateful. He took the lead in the conversation of course, and asked how the distribution of moneys was proceeding. Both reverend gentlemen said that it was a great success. Many of the poorest people in the parishes are women who are either widows or whose husbands are away either as soldiers or labourers who have had to travel some distance to find work. They often have several children and they are suffering from lack of income. The distribution of some money is like manna from heaven for them. Some asked whence it came and as had been agreed, the ministers only tell them that it comes from people in Oxford who are more fortunate and able to donate money to aid their Christian brothers and sisters.

I asked if there had been any problems with distributing the money. Both men looked at each other and it was Father Maguire who spoke first.

“Unfortunately, there have been a few problems when the husband is at the house but unemployed. He promises that the money will be used in order to provide food for the family, but this does not always occur. Recently a woman arrived at the presbytery the day after I left some money with the family. She was crying and very ashamed, but I managed to coax the story out of her. It seems her husband had demanded all the money soon after I left, and then he left the house and did not appear again until late at night, very drunk and with no money left having spent much of it on drink, and gambled the rest of it away. He was remorseful of course as such men usually are, but that did not solve the problem.

“I did not think it wise to give her more money for fear of the same thing happening, so instead I gave some money to my housekeeper and asked her to accompany the woman to the village to purchase the food she so desperately required to feed her six children.”

“That is a very wise decision, sir,” said Richard. “When Mrs d’Anglais suggested that you two gentlemen were the most suitable to distribute the money, I had no doubt that she was right, and so it has proven to be.”

“Indeed ma’am,” said Mr Irving.

Monday 23rd August.
I called to see Lucy at Studleigh Park today, taking Elizabeth and Anna with me. She said she is finding herself unusually tired. From my previous experience I assured her that that is quite usual. She begged to have a cuddle of Elizabeth and this was followed by Sarah requesting the same. I was happy to oblige. Elizabeth’s favourite toy is the doll that Lucy gave her and she refuses to be parted from it. Freddie came in at that point and greeted me and asked to see Elizabeth, commenting how she is growing. I’m sure he is greatly looking forward to becoming a father.

Wednesday 25th August.
My brother John is currently a pupil of a lawyer who appears in the High Court in London and it is presently between the Trinity and Michaelmas terms of court sitting, so he has been able to take a few weeks’ holiday and has returned home to Oxford. I had been notified to expect him soon after he arrived to stay with our parents, so it was no surprise when I heard the sound of horses’ hooves on the driveway and a few minutes later he burst through the door and pulled up short to give me a deep bow. I responded with an extravagant curtsey and then he leapt forward to take me in a bear hug which almost cracked my ribs!

“John! Dear John, it’s so good to see you again,” I gasped, fighting for breath.

He held me at arms’ length and beamed. “Look at you, Leonora, my little sister. I never imagined you as a married woman, let alone a mother, and yet here you are, and it seems very established as the mistress of Marston House.”

I smiled through my blushes. “And what about you, brother dear? I know you cannot think of marriage while still at your legal studies, but I think you should start considering if there is some young lady who might make a suitable wife for a rising barrister?”

John laughed. “Time for that in a few years,” he said.

“Nevertheless, I think it might be a good idea for us to hold a ball while you are here if Richard agrees, and I will make sure that every eligible young woman in the district is invited. Can I count upon your presence?”

“For you, dear sister, I can hardly refuse,” he replied.

Thursday 26th August
Balls are very popular with the ton. They are a great social occasion, and everyone is happy to attend. However, before I had a chance to speak to Richard about it, I had a visit from Lucy and Sarah, and after mentioning the ball and how John would be there, although he happened to be out visiting friends today, Lucy begged to be allowed to request of Freddie that it be held at Studleigh Park so that she could attend, even if she would not be able to dance. I could hardly refuse her, particularly as this will be the first ball she will attend since coming out of mourning, but insisted that if Freddie was reluctant, we would have it at Marston House, if Richard agreed, explaining that I am anxious to introduce John to the young single ladies of Oxford, even if he could not yet consider marriage. We have agreed upon Saturday 11th September as a suitable date. It may not seem far off, but as all the great houses host frequent balls, they do not need a lot of organizing.

I have little doubt that Freddie will agree to Lucy’s request. Now that she is carrying his child I do not think he could refuse her anything. By the by, I did not fail to notice a faint blush appear on Sarah’s cheeks when I mentioned my brother John. Quite frankly I think that would be a wonderful match. In fact it would make her my sister-in-law twice over!

Friday 27th August.
A brief note arrived from Lucy confirming the date of the ball, and since we will not now be the hosts, we are on the guest list together with my parents, John and Emma. I am welcome to take Elizabeth, Anna and Marie along, and Richard will take his valet Robert. and we can all stay the night, including John if he wishes, which is most convenient. Studleigh Park is a very large house, so they have plenty of room.

To be continued