Wentworth's Baron - Chapter Ten - Revelation

CHAPTER TEN

Revelation

As for ‘the Baron’ or Alexander Durham Barrington, he was intent on finding out more about Wendell and how he came to be in the Circus.  Sir Lewis left their company not long after Alexander arrived and Wendell continued his conversation in the same easy going way.  They spoke of many things and Alexander became quite taken with Wendell.

“So, you wanna see me do me ‘orse tricks?”  Alexander, wanting to indulge Wendell with his ‘orse’ tricks took this opportunity to question him about Sir Lewis and his ‘vestments.’

“See it goes like this, uncle Lewis ain’t really me uncle.  He ‘dopted me, see.”  “Do you know from who?” asked Alexander.  “well, don’t rightly know but uncle Lewis says ‘twas some gent whos loved his lady very much but couldn’t marry her so I’s come along and can’t ladies of quality have kids and not be married...so, uncle Lewis takes me and gives me to me mama to raise -- me ‘doptive mama see.  But, uncle Lewis, he’s really good with money and he takes me money from me and me mama and ‘vests it in his bank.  He says in a few years we be really rich so’s I can go to one of them fancy boys’ schools.”

Alexander sat listening to Wendell as he went on about his ‘doptive uncle’ and his ‘doptive mama’ and others.  The more he heard the more he felt that his suspicions could be right.  The only thing he wanted to check before leaving, if he could find a way, he wanted to see if Wendell had a dimple over his left shoulder.

Just then, the ring master came into the tent with Wendell’s costume for the show.  Wendell immediately stood up and ran to grab it out of his hand.  “Thanks sir, I best be gettin’ ready now” he said to Alexander.

This was the opportunity he was hoping for.  “Wendell, can I see you do one of those ‘horse tricks’ now in your costume before you go?”  Wendell smiled a grin from ear to ear.  Despite the conditions of his upbringing his teeth were a perfect white.  Alexander couldn’t help but notice the resemblance in his smile as well.

Wendell went behind the curtain and in minutes was out on his horse circling the ring in preparation for his ‘trick’ and in a split second, he jumped, rolled and landed flat footed on the back of his black mare with ease and grace.  He dismounted and came over to Alexander to bid him farewell and as he turned his back to hold the reigns of his horse...there it was clear as day.  Wendell had the exact same dimple in his left shoulder.

While he was not surprised at the result of his detective work, now he had more that he needed to discover.  Just how does Wendell fit into the lives of the Wentworth family and who is this Sir Lewis Rockingham.

He arrived at Henrietta’s just as Victoria was entering her carriage but she did not see him wave as she drove by.  No matter, he thought.  He needed the opportunity to speak privately with Henrietta.  How would he start.  He always felt it best to come right to the point but somehow this was different.  He found he was concerned she would be angry with him and not want to see him again.

Henrietta accepted his call in the Parlor.  Alexander thought her to be delightful this afternoon.  He longed to go to her once again and pull her to him and to kiss those tender lips.  But, he held himself back on this account as he was trying to find a way to bring up the subject of how it came about that he introduced himself to her as Baron Neville de Raby.

Truth be told, he didn’t quite have a good explanation.  He was in a particularly foul mood that morning when he came upon her in the field.  He was frustrated with his father about the marriage arrangement and went out to walk off some of the frustration.  Without even realizing how far he had walked he came upon her in the field and wanted for a bit of fun.  Once he learned who she was, his intended, well that was it.  He thought it the perfect opportunity to see what this woman was about.  He could get to know her and see if she was the kind of woman he could be happy with, fall in love with or was she just interested in his title.  It did not occur to him then what he would do if he actually did fall in love with her.  How could she love him knowing he deceived her?

All of these thoughts made him uneasy in her presence.  Henrietta seemed to detect his restlessness and determined it must be because of his guilt at their ‘practicing’ when he was courting Victoria.  Henrietta did not pretend that these thoughts were not plaguing her as well for she could not forget the way she felt in ‘the Baron’s’ arms.  The feelings continued to govern her every thought since parting his company.

And so it was that the two sat silently each dealing with the confusion that plagued their consciousness.  Lord Wentworth joined them concerned that this acquaintance may be becoming a bit too much knowing that his daughter was promised to another decided to ask ‘the Baron’ to his study for a talk.

Henrietta’s heart sank at this but ‘the Baron’ thought it an excellent break in the silence that compelled them both.  Upon entering the study Lord Wentworth asked him to sit down in the chair across from the desk.  Lord Wentworth took a seat behind the desk.

“My boy, I feel I must tell you that although I have great respect for you, your prospects here are not to be fruitful.  You see, Henrietta is spoken for and is to be married very soon I’m afraid.”  Alexander sat silent for a moment before answering.  This is as good a time as any he thought.  “Well, sir I own to have known about the arrangement but I have a bit of information that I don’t quite know how to impart.”

“Well, out with it,” said Lord Wentworth.  “Whatever it is will be better served once you’ve told it I always say.”  Lord Wentworth sat patiently as Alexander aka ‘the Baron’ proceeded to explain the details of his own arranged marriage and the frustration he felt that morning in the meadow ending with “and, well, you see, sir, I am Alexander Durham Barrington.”

Lord Wentworth sat contemplating these facts as presented to him by his now known to be future son-in-law and suddenly with a roar of laughter as infectious as his daughter’s sat across from Alexander for what seemed like hours wiping the tears of his revelry from his eyes.

Finally, he said “well, my boy, I must say I have not been this diverted this age.  Here I am gently coaxing that strong-willed daughter of mine to Toddington Manor to meet her intended, which she refuses to do I might add, when all this time her intended is here helping her to get him to bugger off.”

At this, Alexander could not help but see the humor of it all and joined his future father-in-law in another round of merriment.  Regaining the seriousness of the situation, Alexander asked Lord Wentworth, “well, I am not sure what to do right now.  I want to tell her the truth, in fact, I came here today for that reason but I couldn’t get myself acclimated to the point of it.”

Lord Wentworth, still buzzing with hilarity said “I think maybe we should let things be for now.  It may be that going to Toddington Manor would be the best opportunity.  It will be more difficult for her to remain angry in the midst of your relations.  She may very well be upset with you for a time, but I called you in here because I know my daughter.  She has a marked affection towards you and I’ve no doubt that she will come around after it sets in.  She may even grow to see the fun of it as we just have.”

At this, Alexander felt relief.  It was good to know that her father at least was no longer in the dark as to his intentions and as to who he was.  As he rose to take his leave, he could not help but notice the portrait over the fireplace to his right.  Lord Wentworth upon seeing his attraction to the portrait offered “that is my late wife Lady Arabella.  I cannot bear to take a house where I cannot have her lovely face look upon me.  I miss her so.”

Alexander expressed his acknowledgment of her beauty and did not hesitate to note to Lord Wentworth the unique color of green bestowed upon her eyes.  “Yes, those were the eyes that I adored.  I swear I was bewitched by them.  I have known no other with eyes of that color in my lifetime.  Henrietta has inherited those eyes no doubt they are what turned your head in her direction, heh?”

“I own that to be the case.  They are remarkable.  I, too, have never seen such as those in my life.”  Excepting, of course, those of one young circus performer to which this piece of information Alexander continued to withhold.