Thorpe Hall-The Thorpe Family Saga (Book One)

Chapter One-A suitor at Thorpe Hall-Ireland, 1813

PART ONE

Rory Douglass walked up the cobbled steps of Thorpe Hall.

     He wore a black colored hat, a white colored linen shirt, brown colored breeches, and a white colored cravat.

      He also was wearing black colored boots on his feet. Rory had black colored gloves on both hands. He was 30 years old.

~~~~

Thorpe Hall, which was built in 1013, was so old that centuries of the Thorpe family members all lived, breathed, and were born there.

      The red and green color of the Thorpe family coat-of-arms were on the rich, red colored wall; the statues of Lord Eamonn Thorpe, who died in 1073, towered over everyone. His reign was so long that every Thorpe son, daughter, and wife, knew of his power.

       Rory saw two Knights watching him.

       "May I come inside? I am Rory Douglas of the Douglas clan. I've arrived to marry Lady Margaret Thorpe", Rory Douglas said.

      "She's not here. She's with Lady Eizabeth Thorpe. And you're not marrying her", one of the Knights said.

        "But...", Rory Douglass begun, then he was stopped by the second Knight.

         "Leave now...or die", the first Knight said.

          "This is an outrage-", Rory Douglass said.

Suddenly Lady Emily Thorpe arrived. "What's going on?", she asked the Knights. "M'Lady, This man insists on marriage to Lady Margaret", the second Knight bowed. "Mother won't like that. My sister is betrothed to Lord Seamus Ivory", Lady Emily Thorpe answered. She smiled at him. "This won't do. I have courted her for a year-", Rory Douglass begun to say. "Well, you don't know my family, Sir. We have Irish blood in us; we don't have Scottish blood in us". Lady Emma Thorpe said.

       "Who are you, M'Lady?", Rory Douglass enquired. "Lady Emma Thorpe. And I am the youngest of the Thorpe sisters. I can't marry until I'm 18", she sighed. "A pleasure, M'Lady. If this adventure proves to be for nothing, then I shall have to return without a wife. And Mother and Father won't let me back home in Dundee", Rory Douglass sighed.

        "How frightful, Sir. May I take care of you while you stay?", Lady Emily Thorpe asked.

        "Aye, if you don't mind M'Lady", Rory Douglas said.

        "I don't mind, Sir. Besides, I think you'll do fine here at Thorpe Hall". Lady Emily Thorpe said, as she smiled.

~~~~

"I am most thankful M'Lady. So, you're 13", Rory Douglass said.

        "I am. But I am a Lady. And a Thorpe. I have Gilles. And my chambers where I write in my study", Lady Emily Thorpe said.

        "Who is Gilles, M'Lady?", enquired Rory Douglass.

        "My Servant-Butler. He is not my lover". Lady Emily Thorpe said. And she blushed. They reached the arched hallway. "It's huge, M'Lady". Rory Douglass said. "Aye, I am sure your chambers shall suffice, Sir". Lady Emily Thorpe said.  They went through the red colored curtains. "Thorpe Hall is huge, M'Lady", Rory Douglass saw the servants' chambers. "They're rather busy, Sir. I-", Lady Emily Thorpe begun, before she heard voices coming from outside. "Mother and sister have arrived", she frowned. "Is anything wrong, M'Lady?", Rory Douglass asked. "Aye, if Mother has arrived early, then I'm in trouble", Lady Emily Thorpe sighed. She gazed out of the glass window. "Pray tell M'Lady, why are you in trouble?", Rory Douglass enquired. "Because I forgot to go to the market. I was thinking of the dance too much", Lady Emily Thorpe said, as she begun to cry.

~~~~

"EMILY! WHERE'S THE FOOD?", Lady Elizabeth Thorpe asked.

       "I forgot Mother! I was talking to Rory Douglass. He came to marry Lady Margaret, and...", Lady Emily Thorpe answered. And then Lady Elizabeth Thorpe arrived. "GO TO YOUR ROOM, EMILY! NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!", she bellowed. And, upon seeing her young daughter flee in fright, Rory  Douglass saw the horrid Mother. And he prayed to God that she wouldn't yell at him, as he stood his ground, and waited for the fight to begin.

~~~~

Page 2