Maria Bertram's Daughter: A Mansfield Park Sequel by Lucy Knight

Author:Lucy Knight [Knight, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Meryton Press
Published: 2022-04-10T17:00:00+00:00

***

Games in the afternoon were a prelude to the Christmas feast, which in this house always began at five o’clock in the evening. Candles were lit, the glass, china and greenery glowed and twinkled in the soft light, and courses succeeded one another apparently endlessly. Eventually, there was nothing left but nuts and dates. The children seemed still able to eat these, but all the adults round the table were almost unable to move, and Mrs Hughes said she must go to her room to lie down or fall asleep on the tablecloth. She retired, the children went to the nursery to play with their new toys, and Barbara, James, and Dorothea were left alone.

“My mother-in-law has told us a little of your history, my dear Dorothea—for so you have become in such a short time, and little Mary quite dotes on you already. I wonder, can James and I be of further assistance to you? Can you confide in us? And, pray tell, what are your plans after arriving at Newcastle?”

“I do assure you, Miss Rose,” added James, “that we have only a wish to be of help to you, not to pry into private and delicate matters.”

Dorothea felt their kindness exceedingly and told them so. She recounted her history as briefly as possible, told them about her early childhood and school, explained that she had only recently been made aware of her probable true parentage, that she had been forced into a marriage she did not believe to be valid because her purported father wished to play a cruel trick on the Bertram family, and that she had therefore run away.

“The rest you know,” she concluded. “What a fortunate chance that I should meet dearest Mrs Hughes! I shall always be deeply indebted to the whole Hughes family. Not only have you rescued me, but you have also restored my belief that humankind can be true and honourable and noble.”

James and Barbara protested that they had done nothing out of the common way; of course, Dorothea exclaimed that they had been wonderfully kind, and this exchange continued for some time. All sat thoughtfully silent for a few minutes after the heartfelt courtesies were concluded.

Eventually, James spoke. “Your plan is to go where from Newcastle–to your friends near Morpeth?”

“Yes,” said Dorothea. “They are not too far away. I have written to Anne but have not heard from her as yet. I suppose the post is slow at this season.”

“I shall accompany you as far as Morpeth, then,” said James decisively. “It will mean leaving a day early, for I must be at my ship at the appointed time, but I am convinced that my dear Barbara would not have me do otherwise.” He turned to his wife with a smile.

She smiled back. “Indeed, I would not. My dear Dorothea, your tale almost breaks my heart. You did not choose to come into the world, and your life has, it seems, been regarded as a plaything by wicked people who wish either to forget your existence or to use you in an evil game.

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