Chapter 1

"I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience." Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

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Have Hope

Chapter One

Norwood, Derbyshire

August, 1813

"Christopher Kensington," Kit murmured to the election official, who subsequently went down his list of landowning men in the district to find his name.

"That is Sir Christopher Kensington, I will have you now," Cassian corrected proudly.

"Father, please," Kit hushed. He was still not at all comfortable with the attention, and the knighthood it had brought. It was all sort of silly, really. He had only been in the right place at the right time.

Kit had been a student at Cambridge University for the last four years. He had completed his studies in June, and had now permanently returned to Derbyshire to help his father run his textile business.

But his last month at Cambridge had been far more eventful than any before that. Prince Edward, the younger son of King William V had been completing his first year of study, just as Kit had been finishing. Kit had been leaving an examination when he noticed an unusual man skulking across the school grounds. He had looked agitated and angry.

Kit had been making his way towards the man to ask him what was the matter when he saw him produce a pistol from the inside of his coat. His target was the young prince, sitting by himself reading.

It had been instinct, really. Kit had cried out to the prince and tackled the would-be assassin to the ground.

Kit had gained much from the ordeal. The King had given him a knighthood and had offered a generous income, not that Kit had accepted. He was famous and was lauded a hero. But Kit was most glad to come away from the situation with a friend.

Of course his parents could not have been prouder. His mother could not stop parading him about and introducing him to everyone as Sir Kit. He would have been annoyed were he not so happy to have parents that wanted to brag about him.

Kit would never take them for granted. Ever.

"Sir Christopher, forgive me," muttered the official. He marked Kit's name, then Cassian's, and then Finn's.

It was the district election between the sitting MP and another candidate. The election was being held in the church as it was the largest room in town. Inside, landowning men from all over had come to cast their votes between the two idiots.

Supporters from both sides were hawking, campaigning for their candidate, waving flyers about trying to sway voters at the last minute.

Kit had no idea who he was going to vote for as he took his ballot over to the station. He had to choose between two names, but both were as corrupt and self-serving as each other. It seemed one had to choose between the lesser of two evils.

The sitting MP, Sir John Strachan, had voted against improving rights for the poor in parliament. Kit supposed that was unforgivable. With a sigh, he dipped his quill in ink and marked the box of the opponent. Kit hoped he would do well should he be lucky enough to be elected.

"How is Faith doing?" asked Finn once all three men had cast their votes and left the church. They stood together on the road. The streets were relatively quiet as most of the village was inside the church.

"She is a nervous wreck," replied Cassian honestly.

Kit could see the anxiety on his father's face.

"Why don't you delay the operation until after she has the baby?" proposed Finn.

"Because Faith won't let me," confessed Cassian. "You know the operation was scheduled before we learned we were to have another child. Doctor Ward is travelling from Leicestershire to remove the bullet and Faith won't see the procedure cancelled."

Kit was nervous, too, but he would not show it. The bullet that lay dormant all these years in his father's chest had long been a source of anxiety for Faith. But it had never been the right time to have it removed.

First they were adjusting to their new life. And then Kit's younger sister, Emma, was born. Kit had gone off to university and so he could not be home to help. And so Faith had finally decided enough was enough, and had written to the Leicestershire doctor herself to arrange a date.

One week later Cassian and Faith learned they were to have another child. But Faith would not change her mind, no matter how worried she was.

"Everything will be fine," promised Finn.

"Oh, I am not worried about myself," Cassian replied. "I am worried about Faith. She is all nerves. I fear what it might do to the child."

Kit did not like to hear that. He just wanted the procedure to be over with. He did not like seeing his mother uneasy, especially in her condition.

"We are expecting you for dinner tonight?" checked Cassian.

"Oh, absolutely. I shall distract Faith by asking to hear the story of Kit's bravery again," Finn said teasingly. "Until then." Just as Finn went to turn away in the direction of the magistrate's office, the doors of the church bust open, and two gruff looking officials were dragging a man out by his upper arms.

Not before descending the steps, they threw him down onto the ground roughly. The force of impact caused the man to smack into the dusty road, his tricorn fell from his head.

The moment it did so, waves of distinctive red hair fell down his back ... his?

The woman's back was to Kit, but there was something about that hair, something familiar.

The officials were not finished with her yet. They marched down the church steps with anger in their eyes.

Kit saw it before it happened. One man drew back his foot, ready to kick her in the stomach. Kit saw red, and immediately bellowed, "Stop!"

He did. He put his foot back on the ground as she woman hunched over on all fours, recovering from the fall.

Kit, Cassian and Finn marched over to the altercation.

"You treat a woman like that again, sir, and you will spend the night in a cell," threatened Finn.

Both officials paled. "But sir," the first protested. "She was breaking the law."

"She was voting, sir. We caught her red handed. Impersonating a gentleman. We thought it funny she didn't look eighty years old," added the second.

"Don't I have just as much right as any to decide what idiotic backside represents me in London?" muttered the girl from the ground.

Her voice, too, seemed familiar.

"No, you don't!" retorted the first official. "Woman are too sensitive for such things. It's science. Tell her, sir," he urged Finn.

"What happened to the vote?" asked Finn.

"Caught and destroyed. It did not contaminate the legitimate votes."

"Can you stand, young lady?" Finn pressed his lips together firmly.

Kit had never before seen a woman have the nerve to attempt a vote at an election. He was impressed, just as much as he was saddened that she would have to be dealt with.

She climbed to her feet, brushing the dust off of her breeches. Despite her nerve, she did not disguise herself well. Her figure alone was a dead giveaway. She was far too slim and small to be a man. Kit had not noticed that while she had been on the ground. Her hair, though, was extraordinary.

The moment she turned around, Kit recognised her. His memories immediately took him back to his fourteen year old self, awkwardly following the prettiest girl he had ever seen on her mission to educate her village. He cherished several things about that day, most notably the kiss he had received from her, and his promise to write to her. A promise that he did not keep.

Olivia Pendleton had grown into a stunning young woman. Her face was no longer round and childlike, but elegant and slender. Her skin was like porcelain, with a healthy flush in her cheeks from the summer sun. Her nose was slightly longer, and her lips were fuller than he remembered, but her eyes, just like her hair, were exactly the same. The same brilliant blue, filled with spirit and determination.

"Do you understand what you have done, young lady?" Finn asked seriously.

"I have held my MP accountable for his actions, sir," replied Olivia calmly.

"You have voted in an election illegally," countered Finn.

Kit looked sideways at his father, but he did not see any recognition on Cassian's face. Perhaps he did not know this was Olivia.

Olivia had not looked at Kit, either. She was fixated on Finn, and was standing her ground. She was exactly as Kit remembered her.

"I admire your spirit, Miss ...?"

"Murray," lied Olivia.

Finn saw through it. "Would you like to try again?"

Olivia shook her head. "Take me to prison if you wish it." Olivia held out her wrists, awaiting shackles.

Finn chuckled. "I will handle it from here, gentlemen," Finn dismissed the officials. "Please see me before ejecting any voters violently in future," he added warningly.

The officials retreated back into the church.

"Follow me," instructed Finn. He turned his back on Olivia had started towards the magistrate's office.

Kit could see the frustration on Olivia's face as she obeyed Finn.

Kit and Cassian followed behind. "Your mother is not to hear about this," Cassian said under his breath.

Kit paled. So Cassian had recognised Olivia.

"You know what sort of stress she is under at the moment. If she knew about this, it would put her in a royal state."

Kit nodded, agreeing. Faith could not know about this.

Kit and Cassian followed Finn and Olivia into the magistrate's office. Finn collected his keys from the desk drawer and walked over to the lone cell and unlocked it. Holding the door open, he motioned for Olivia to enter.

Kit could see the ire on Olivia's face as she trudged into the cell. Once inside, she sat down on the small cot as Finn locked the door. Olivia wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees.

"What is going to happen to her?" asked Kit, attempting to mask the fear in his voice. Would Olivia go to prison for this?

"Oh, nothing. I will leave her in there for a few hours to fret. She is just a spirited girl, not a criminal. I will have her parents collect her when she decides to tell me her name."

Kit knew quite a lot about Olivia's parents. Their names were taboo in the Kensington household.

"Her name is Olivia Pendleton," Cassian told Finn. "Her parents are John and Ruth Pendleton. You remember Faith's in-laws."

Realisation dawned on Finn as he turned his head back to Olivia and furrowed his brow. "Oh, yes, I remember," he murmured. "Well, I suppose I shall write to them."

"You can write them but they will not respond!" Olivia shouted from her cell. "I am my Aunt Lorna's problem now."

Kit frowned. Had John and Ruth cast Olivia out? Their only daughter?

Finn pulled a piece of fresh parchment from his desk drawer and scrawled "Lorna" on the page. "Thank you. And where does this Aunt Lorna live?"

Olivia huffed as she confessed. "She and my Grandpapa live on the Murray estate two villages over."

"Did you know about this?" Finn asked Cassian.

Kit did not wait to hear his father's reply. He slipped away towards the cell. Kit came to stand in front of the bars, looking in on Olivia.

Olivia stood up from the cot and came to stand in front of Kit. Her small stature made Kit feel even taller than he already was. She was looking up at him with such conviction in her eyes.

There was so much passion and determination in Olivia. So much spirit. She had been just the same when he had known her seven years earlier. Olivia had purpose.

It was a feeling Kit had yet to experience. What was it like to be so passionate about something that you would break the law for it?

Olivia cocked her head and appeared puzzled. "Why do you stare at me so, stranger?" Olivia asked curiously.

"Stranger?" repeated Kit. Oh, good Lord. She did not even remember him.

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Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Have Hope!

I appreciate your patience. Since Have Faith finished, I've had three massive folios due and I'm now 3 credits away from my Master's Degree!!

Big thanks of course goes to my friend @Kassilassie for making my book cover once again. She's so amazing. I send her photos of who I imagine as my leads and she takes time out of her day to make these for me. Thanks Kassi!!!

Alright, I better get to sleep. I have to have my passport photos take tomorrow *shudders*.

Vote and comment!!