Laurina
Part
I
The storm had been so wild that night; it seemed
to circle the little cabin four times. The thunder was so loud that Laurie
could not hear herself as she read to her brother, who sat on the settle
opposite her, cleaning his rifle as he readied it for hunting in the morning.
The thunder was also so loud that it muffled the sound of the persistent
knocking on the door. The knocking was revealed at a lull in the storm.
"Someone is at the door Alec. But who could
be out on a night like this?"
Laurie wondered to herself, as she rose from her settle and crossed the
small one room cabin to answer the door. As Laurie was about to open the door,
Alec quickly joined her.
"Who are you, and what do you want?"
asked Alec, as he slowly raised his rifle, and his sister opened the door.
When the door opened the brother and sister
beheld the very bedraggled figure of Reverend Ezekiel Alderton and a stranger
who looked quite out of place in the little cabin
Alec slowly lowered his rifle and invited the
two men into the cabin. "What brings you out on a night like this
Grandfather? It is not fit for man nor beast." Asked Alec, as he replaced
his newly cleaned rifle back onto the rack above the cabin-door.
"This gentleman wishes to speak with you
Alec." replied the Reverend Alderton, indicating the stranger, who had
begun to remove his coat. After having removed his coat, he held out his hand
and spoke in a curiously accented voice,
"Have I the honour of addressing Mr.
Alexander Daniel Moore, son of Lord Justin Moore and Miss Esther
Alderton?"
"You have that honour. Who are you?"
asked Alec curiously.
The gentleman reached into the pocket of his
waistcoat, and took out a modest looking card, which he gave Alec.
"I am Elijah Prendergast of Penhurst, Prendergast
& Penhurst of London. We have served the family of the Dukes of Moorefield
for generations. I have been sent here to inform you of the death of your
Paternal Grandfather, the sixth Duke of Moorefield, and that your Paternal
Grandmother wishes you home." replied the stranger.
"Sir, would you like some tea? The kettle
is just coming to boil." asked Laurie, quietly.
"And who might this young Lady be?"
asked Mr. Prendergast.
"This is Miss Laurina Mary Moore, my half
sister. Her mother was my Father's second wife." replied Alec, knowing
that Mr. Prendergast would immediately notice the features that would betray
her heritage. He had done all he could to protect Laurie from the idiots who
treated her like a second citizen because she was Indian.
Alec, noticing Mr. Prendergast's reaction to
Laurie's features, bristled.
"Yes, Mr. Prendergast, she is part
"Red Indian", but does that make her any less my father's daughter,
just because Laurie's mother was my father's second wife? Would it matter to if
I told you that her mother saved our lives, when a fever epidemic hit our
settlement. Would it matter to you to
know that Laurie's mother's people accepted my father and I without question. That she raised me from the age of six
years? Would that really matter to you or all those hypocrites out there who
pretend to accept Laurie, but then turn round and subtly show what they truly
think of her." Said Alec.
"Alec, I understand, if he only wants you
to go with him, I will go to Grandmother.
She needs me." Said Laurie, knowing that her brother had always
gone out of his way to defend her against the stupid people of the settlement.
"Forgive me, Mister Moore, it is just that
I only had the information about your father's first marriage. Then it would
appear that you have both inherited a share in the unentailed property of your
Grandfather, but your Grandmother, the Dowager Duchess insists that you return
to England. How old is Miss Moore?" inquired Mr. Prendergast.
"Laurie is sixteen and a half."
replied Alec, in a curt tone, not knowing whether to accept this stranger's
apology, or not.
"Alec, I will go to the camp tomorrow. You
do not need to worry about me. I know that Grandmother needs me." Laurie
said, as she brought the coffee to the table.
As the assembled parts of the cast of characters
are drinking their coffee, I would like to describe my heroine. She is just a tad above average height, long
jet-black hair, dark eyes, and the tan complexion of her Mother's people. Alec, is tall, with features similar to the
miniature portrait that was sitting on the mantle, the portrait of Alec's and
Laurie's Grandfather, the Duke of Moorefield. His hair is a rich brown, and his
eyes are a dark gray.
"Miss
Moore, you mentioned something about a camp," said Mr. Prendergast.
"To
what sort of camp do you refer?"
"I
refer to my Mother's people's village.
I go there in the morning to live with my Grandmother, she is old. She is the village healer, I learn from her
about herbs and medicine, she taught my Mother. She wishes me there.
"A
Red Indian villa...?"Mr. Prendergast began incredulously. "Forgive me Miss Moore, it is just that
as granddaughter of the Duke of Moorehead, you are also entitled to a share of
your Grandfather's unentailed properties."
"Perhaps
I do not wish my share. My Father told
us how it was he came to America, how his own Father treated him." replied
Laurie.
"Laurie!"
exclaimed Alec. "My Sister and I
are well aware of the fact that my Father came to America under a cloud, that
our Grandfather accused him of stealing from the estate, and that he was paid
to leave England. Under such
circumstances one would wonder that we should return at all."
"Circumstances
that your Grandfather came to regret.
The items that it was believed your Father had stolen, were actually
stolen by an ambitious cousin, who has since been disinherited by your
grandfather, unfortunately Basil Devlyn was to say the least, not happy with
this, and has sworn to have this codicil in your Grandfather's will declared
void, he is a most unscrupulous "gentleman". Your Grandfather came to forgive your Father
two years ago, it was then that this particular codicil was written and added
to his will." replied Mr. Prendergast.
© 2000, 2001
Copyright held by the author.