A Rose’s Thorn

Looking back, my father was a smart and wise man. At the time, I would never have admitted as much... it was unwise to not-remarry especially with so willful of a daughter. He knew what he was doing though, that old coot... and thank the blessed virgin Mary that he did!

Chapter 1:

I am the only child of Lord John Duncaster, Earl of Winsor; her ladyship, Mistress Rose Duncaster. My father, only Lord and Earl due to my late mother the daughter and sole survivor of an Earl. Funny, it seems that is the hereditary luck of women born of my bloodline. Sole heirs to an abundant fortune. But in the year of her majesty the queen Victoria 1851, only personal property would go to a woman and only land if she is unwed and the sole heir. Thus our argument today, i would love nothing more than to see all these powder faced whigs off my property, to avoid their fake attempts at social niceties, and their claim to be the best step-mother a girl could ask for. All efforts in a vain hope that i may sway my father's hand... and opinion.

I snort derisively at this effort, as in the past 6 years I have to no avail been able to persuade my father to take another bride... his rebuttals have been simply to state that love doesn't find two hearts as swiftly as it did my parents and he would be nothing without my mother. This receives a regular round from me as to how my father is a great man, and mum would never have fallen for a fool. He is a catch and one of the wealthiest men to turn an earl dome around. No thanks to my grandfather, whom i will gladly bring up another time...

Back to the matter at hand, our argument; my father and mine, seems to always come up when i catch one of my father's late night trollops leaving while coming down for tea... a habit i have for drinking tea by sunrise... a habit, it seems his trollops wish I didn't have a compensation for.

"Dammit Rose!", fumed Lord Duncaster, slamming his hand on the breakfast table. "That is the fourth time this month you have created a stir, making sure my evening exploits are aired to the household!"

I serenely asked, "Is it not customary to offer tea to a house guest?! “Yeesss", my father cautiously replied, and with a great sigh of consternation added, " but not at sunrise as they are trying to make their way down the servants stairway."

This perked up my chin, and i know he saw the look in my eye as he shook his head knowing he just walked into my snare. "Why do they feel they need to hide their departure, if it isn't so shameful, why father?! Why don't you just find an available lady to offer marriage to, instead of playing with these poor waifs?"

He looked up and smirked, replying with the same ignorant response "someday, Rose you will find a man as headstrong as you, and you will know love as i have."

"Love shmuv da, i can see the toll bringing mum's inheritance back has taken on you! You need a woman to care for you, and i am leaving to study at the institute for fine ladies in a month!" Who will make sure you eat?! And take your necessary concoctions from the Apothecary?!" I hold my father's hands in mine, absently rubbing his signet ring and contemplating the next 4 years...

"Oh bollocks on that quack, he did nothing for your mother and he's just persuaded you to keep paying him to do nothing for me!" If that statement was meant to make me drop the topic on my father’s dating habits, it worked. Even with all the pomp he presents, i can see the teasing twinkle in his eyes. Continuing to encircle the letter D in his ring, i look up and smile, "you know darn well you have improved over the past month and i'll not have it all for naught!" Adding, "I'll be fine da, and grandfathers winter estate isn't far from the institute so i should have that to keep me busy!" This brought some colour to his cheeks mentioning the old estate, "you know; he said for probably the hundredth time in my 14 years, your grandfather chased your mother and i off that property and I haven't looked upon it since... you're going to have your hands full!"

I thought about that for a moment, "is there anyone living there?" For the first time since i had the idea to reopen the old place, i actually wondered if i was getting in over my head.

Smiling, my father nodded and assured my fears as he always seemed to know them without needing to be voiced. "I have made sure there is an adequate staff there to help you with whatever you need over the next few years, and i have been in contact with a barrister to allocate funds in your name to assist with any cost as well."

"My father, is the kindest and most doting man i have ever known!" Saying this as i throw my arms around him, my heart soars.

"However..." Father added; and i feel my heart plummet a few notches, "there is a new estate nearby, i have been trying to find out who it belongs to but every time i run into mystery surrounding the owner..." "Now Rose, i know that look in your eye", he admonished. "I will not have you wandering around this estate looking for clues, you are to steer clear of this place. After all, we know nothing about it and i will not have my favorite daughter debouched!" Seeing his color go up in his face, i knew this was something I couldn't ignore.

"Father please, calm yourself, first of all, i'm your only daughter let alone child and i'm not about to go looking for trouble in a strange place with strange men around... i'll have enough to keep me busy with the estate and the classes with Madame Blanchard." "It just would be nice to know who my neighbors are and if i need to keep the doors locked at all times or leave the outdoor lights on to welcome them over... “interrupting my train of thought, he shot up and said " for christ sake keep the doors locked! With all the disquiet around parliament with the whigs and tories, trust no-one in the country! Even though we are tories at heart, our power condemns us to whig standards and policy. We must be careful!"

"Ok da, now please... get some rest we'll be having tea later and then i'll need to visit the dress shoppe to finish my wardrobe for the up coming season..."

Resigned to not have to argue with me further my father began to leave the room, however still needing to have the last say; he turned and spoke. "You are young my dear, too soon enough you will have to deal with the barbarism in this world... you're right, we should enjoy this frivolity." And with that he swung his great coat, turned on his heels and proudly strode out of the breakfast chamber.

Watching him leave, and climb our ornately carved staircase to the second floor, i couldn't help but notice how he has aged since ma passed and how me leaving may not be the wisest course. There is nothing to be done for it however, as i need to finish my lessons that mum started, i've already taken more than the necessary break for grieving. And da, well da needs someone too... but that is a fish to fry another day. Right now, i need to make up letters to the shoppes in London to prepare for my departure and the last of the balls for the season. I’ll also have to contact the barrister to help with all the accounts i will need to create there in order to get that old relic up and functioning again. Mum always did say i had a talent for running a household... or maybe it was just driving them mad, i chuckled to myself.