"Expectations" (Book 2), by Gratiana Lovelace (2018-2019), (Completed)

Ch. 14: Lord Harold seeks to rescue Lady Penelope

"Expectations" (Book 2)--Ch. 14: Lord Harold seeks to rescue Lady Penelope,
March 25, 2019 by Gratiana Lovelace (Post #1223, on Wattpad)

(an original Regency romance copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace, 2018 - 2019; all rights reserved); [(1) story cover art, left]

[As is my custom, from time to time I will illustrate my story with my ideal cast consisting of (in order of appearance/mention in this chapter): Lord Harold Blount portrayed by Crispin Bonham-Carter; his love Lady Penelope Countess of Lindquist portrayed by Lily Travers; Lord Christian Blount the Earl of Sussex (portrayed by Richard Armitage) and elder brother of Lord Harold and Lady Elizabeth; his wife Lady Madeline (Maddie) Sinclair Blount Countess of Sussex; and Lady Lucretia Beckham Knott, Grandmama to Lady Madeline]; Vicar Whitby (aka Lord Alfred Lindsay Marquess of Malten) portrayed by David Oakes]; Lady Elizabeth (Lizzie) Blount portrayed by Jessica Brown Findlay; Rupert Penry-Jones as Lord Duncan Viscount Lindsay; ]

Author's story content and serializing scheduling notes: For the most part, my ratings for the chapters will be PG-13-for romantic interludes and dramatic moments. If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with these ratings, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer. And I always put the previous chapter's brief recap at the top of the next chapter. Also, I hope to post new chapters weekly on Sundays. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

"Expectations" (Book 2)--Ch. 14: Lord Harold seeks to rescue Lady Penelope

Lord Harold had read his love Lady Penelope's short note four times now since he had received it--her begging him to come rescue her, if she can make her escape from France to her Grandmama Lady Winston's London Townhouse.

Lady Penelope's letter: "To Lord Harold Blount, Sussex Hall. My Dear Lord Harold, I must sadly inform you of the very ill health of my precious Grandmama Lady Winston. Though my husband Earl Lindquist's business interests must keep him on the continent in France, he has graciously allowed me to return to my Grandmama, to be by her side in her final days and weeks. If you are in town, I know that my Grandmama would welcome a visit from you. Sincerely, Lady Penelope, Countess of Lindquist.

Lord Harold could tell from her subdued note that Lady Penelope is in some kind of distress. And it is his most fervent wish and prayer to somehow [more fully] rescue Lady Penelope from her marriage, and spirit her away to begin a new life with him. Though Harold has no funds to support a wife, he has hopes of his small portion of his late Grandfather Earl's coal mines soon providing enough return to him from the investment, to allow Lord Harold to marry and raise a family in modest comfort. In truth, Lord Harold would do anything to [publicly proclaim] Lady Penelope [as his wife, and she proclaim him as her] husband. Well, almost anything.

However, as Lord Harold on his mount is just reaching the nearby Sussex Hall market town, he realizes that he will need reinforcements in order to rescue Lady Penelope. So he turns around and heads back to Sussex Hall Estate's Dower House, hoping that he will not lose many more precious moments delaying him rushing to his love Lady Penelope's side.

Lord Harold [(2) below] brings his mount to stop at the front Entrance to the Sussex Hall Dower House, tossing the reigns to a waiting groom and then racing up the steps.

Hearing a commotion of voices in the drawing room parlor-including that of his sister-in-law Lady Madeline's Grandmama Lady Knott, he adjusts his course from bounding up the stairs to heading straight for the parlor. As he bursts into the parlor, he sees his brother Lord Christian and his new young wife Lady Madeline, their sister Lady Elizabeth with her hoped for betrothed Lord Duncan Viscount Lindsay of York, a vicar of some sort, and Lady Madeline's grandmother Lady Lucretia Beckham Knott.