Regency Masquerade

Chapter Thirty One

By the time they stopped for a light luncheon and change of horses at a posting house, Mrs Pearson was starting to feel more cheerful. It was a very long time since she had been anywhere without Lady Murray and she began to feel as if a weight were lifting from her shoulders. Frances told her a little about her life abroad, leaving out the more florid episodes and the nurse thought it all sounded very exciting, even if slightly shocking.

They reached Brasted as the sun came out for the first time that day, a good omen she thought. John took them straight to the rectory, and, accompanied by Lord Carleton, went up and knocked at the door. "Reverend Thomas, do you remember me? I was here a couple of weeks ago enquiring about the marriage of Henry Metcalf?"

The face in front of them cleared, "Yes of course." He looked questioningly at the fashionably dressed man beside him.

"This is my Lord Carleton, Reverend Thomas, oh and I'm Hopgood sir in case you've forgotten."

Carleton reached out to shake the reverend's hand. "How d'ye do, sir? I have an unusual request of you. May I introduce my betrothed?" At this Frances descended from the carriage and came towards the small group, followed more slowly by Mrs Pearson.

The Reverend Thomas's face lit with sudden recognition, as had Mrs Pearson previously when she first set eyes on Frances. "Henry!" he exclaimed. "I beg your pardon!" he blushed.

"No, you are correct, sir," responded Frances, smiling, "I am Frances Metcalf, Henry was my father. And this is my companion Mrs Pearson, she was also my mother Amanda's nurse."

"My goodness me! What a surprise! But how can I help you?" he inquired, puzzled.

"Miss Metcalf and I wish to be married," Carleton said firmly. "I have a special licence with me."

"But, surely, your own parish ...?" asked the rector, astonished.

Frances spoke up, "To be honest sir, we have a problem with my grandmother, Lady Murray. I have lived abroad all my life and have only just met her. You are aware from John's enquiries that she had some doubts as to whether my parents were truly married?"

The rector was nodding, "But surely I was able to put those to rest?"

"Yes indeed," responded Frances warmly, "You cannot know how grateful I am to you. But Lady Murray is reluctant to recognise me still, and I suspect there will be a legal battle over my inheritance. Lord Carleton and I wish to be married as soon as possible so that we may confront this together as husband and wife. I do not have any place to stay for the three weeks required for banns, except with my Lord Carleton, and we thought this would be a better alternative, especially since you knew my parents."

Mrs Pearson was nodding throughout this, a picture of a respectable elderly lady and the rector looked at her, "Excuse me," he glanced apologetically at Frances, "but you can confirm this?"

"Yes indeed rector, unfortunately it is all too true, my Lady's behaviour has been a grave disappointment to me and would be to her daughter too, if she were still with us, God rest her soul." She held her handkerchief to her eye again.

"I am twenty four years old, reverend, certainly of an age to know my own mind, will you do this for us? I beseech you." Frances pressed, her hands reaching out to clasp his.

More prosaically, Carleton took the licence from his pocket and handed it to the rector. "You may see everything is in order, sir."

The rector looked from one to the other and sighed. "Very well, when did you have in mind?"

"As soon as possible rector, there will be just the four of us attending. Mr Hopgood and Mrs Pearson can serve as witnesses," Carleton answered promptly.