The Lady's Wish by Audrey Abbott

Author:Audrey Abbott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-08-11T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

November 1815

London, England

William anticipated a lengthy wait, but was not prepared for what was to transpire. Their suit would be brought before an Ecclesiastical Court and not a civil court. This meant that a special attorney had to be secured. The court convened quarterly at St. Alfrege Church on Greenwich Church Street in London. The next court would convene in January.

Anne and William waited impatiently for a confirmation of the date. If they did not secure a docket date in January, they might have to wait until April. They also awaited the selection of the special counsel.

Meanwhile, other issues consumed their attention. Anne and Penelope and their Aunt Martha busied themselves with a few worthy causes. It was common for wealthy ladies to support and promote any number of charities. Many focused on housing, feeding, clothing, and educating the poor. Too many lived in deplorable conditions, especially in large cities such as London.

Aunt Martha chaired a group of ladies interested in the welfare of homeless girls and young women. So many girls arrived in London daily, fleeing rural poverty or the mind-numbing labor of domestic weaving. Seeking employment in the city as domestics in large houses, the girls found the work just as dreary and poorly paid. Often if a girl were sacked, she wandered the streets, and without a good reference she could end up begging or worse. It was the “or worse” that secured Aunt Martha’s interest.

But another cause captured Anne’s attention even more. That was the plight of homeless children. There were many so called orphanages operating in the city, but they were often poorly run and the children were ill fed, poorly clothed, and often mistreated. There were rumors of physical and even sexual abuse. Anne shuddered at the thought. Who would harm a child in such a perverted manner?

Not often discussed in the elegant chambers of the wealthy and the influential, there were still prominent individuals devoted to seeing that these issues were exposed and eradicated. Anne willingly found herself on a committee looking into regulating orphanages and providing decent care for the hapless children.

Meanwhile, William felt it necessary and prudent to pay a visit to General Braithwaite. William and Anne arrived at the Army’s headquarters at Horse Guards. Attired in his uniform, Major William Ferguson escorted Anne up the many stairways and through the myriad hallways until arriving at the general’s suite of offices. William found Sergeant Barton again guarding the entrance.

“Barton, is General Braithwaite in? If so, will you please announce Major William Ferguson and the Lady Anne Westmeare. The sergeant gave Anne an appraising, but discreet look. He opened the door and ushered them into the first office, then he disappeared within the maze of rooms beyond. Every head in the room sprang up simultaneously and stared at Anne. Virtually every man turned to peer at her companion with a look of envy and appreciation. Anne withstood the scrutiny of the gathered soldiers and officers, managing a slight blush that elicited an almost universal sigh from the men.

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