Clouds Over Pemberley by Walter Oleksy

Author:Walter Oleksy [Oleksy, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

Darcy hailed a cabbie and he and Sean spent the morning being driven to millinery shops frequented by the wealthiest ladies. When the Irish lad inquired about the price of even the most modest of new ladies’ bonnets, he was aghast.

“Even the least expensive of the bonnets would cost a working man like myself a month’s wages, if not more.” Not finding Lydia at the shops, as noon approached they hastened by cab to Windsor Palace. Along the way, taking to the streets at times, they passed beggars, whores plying their trade, street peddlers including a knife sharpener, a locksmith, shoe blacks, and would-be doctors selling patent medicine cure-alls. They had to almost fight off begging dirty-faced waifs in tatters, both boys and girls, asking for pennies. Darcy emptied his pockets of change for them, but Sean had none to give.

When they arrived near the gates of Windsor Palace, they saw the King’s men already engaged in the changing of the guard. Sean admired their handsome uniforms.

Said Darcy, “The high-black-helmeted soldiers in red tunics are members of the Windsor Castle regiment of Foot Guards, from the Household Division, led in marching by the Guards Band.”

“They put on quite a show.” “I do not see Lydia among the spectators, but I recognized one of the soldiers I thought of looking up. He is a friend of Mr. Wickham’s, a Lieutenant Perry. But he has already returned to the castle or I would have asked if he perchance has seen Lydia.”

While they remained at the gates, as did a small crowd of visitors, Sean asked about the King. “I’ve heard about the supposed madness of King George. Is it true that he is not playing with a full deck of cards?”

“It is common knowledge that George the Third is at least one sandwich short of a picnic. He is actually, quite mad, sad to say,” Darcy assured him. “He is in the castle, but living in seclusion in a room where he is safe and secure.”

“I had heard that his mental malady came on from being blamed for England losing the war for independence with the colonists in America.” “That may well be so, but in perhaps generosity to him, he was also gravely distressed by suffering the death of his youngest and favorite daughter, Princess Amelia. He has been said to cry every day, lamenting her loss and descending into melancholy beyond description.”

“Does he still rule, in his condition?” “No. His son and heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, acts as Regent until the King recovers, which is doubtful. Upon his eventual death, the prince will succeed him.”

“Ireland has had no king of its own for some years. We now are also governed by George the Third and will be, upon his death, by his succeeding son. I hope the Prince of Wales is of better mental and physical health than his father.”

“Let us hope so,” said Darcy, starting to walk away from the gates, with Sean following.

They took

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