I feel sad today. :(

“Alright I will get up!” Fiona said with a lazy annoyed whine.

“You best hurry my lady, or else your father will bang your door down and get to you one way or another!” she warned.

“Your right of course Martha, I have got to get out of here before father gets impatient and demands that the door be removed.”

Fiona got up and dressed as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

***

Twenty minutes later they grabbed their belongings and headed down the secret stairway. Lighting the lantern they moved quickly through the cold eerie tunnel. As soon as they reached the end of the passageway Fiona creaked open the heavy door. Moving quietly not wanting to raise suspicion to their activities they made a bee line for the stables.

Both ladies with bags in hand came to a screeching halt knocking into each other as they reached the carriage house. Damn! Lord Sacksville in all his glory stood right out in front!

Lord Sacksville knew his hellion daughter well and made sure personally that none of the carriages were available.

“What are we going to do?” whispered Martha in a horrified gasp!

“Be quite Martha he might hear us!” she said in a barley contained whisper.

It was then that Fiona spotted Timmy frantically waving at them holding up the horses’ reigns.

“Quick Martha there is no time to lose follow me” she said with a sly impish grin.

Timmy who knew what the Lord was up to made sure that Fiona’s horse was made ready and brought around to her usual spot.






Martha disgruntled rubbed her backside as she dismounted Fiona’s horse. Traveling from Kenwood estate to London on horseback was not something she ever wished to do again.

“Are you alright?” Fiona asked as she whipped her leg over the side of the horse tangling herself in her skirts and almost landing on her backside in the process.

“Right as rain my lady, and speaking of that were both soaked to the bone from this blasted drizzle! We could catch our death in this dreadful weather!” she cried.

“Stop that Martha! Nobody is catching anything, a little rain won’t hurt and besides I am sure that Nell has something we can change into.” She said hopefully.


Fiona tied the horses’ reigns around the pole in front of the little shop that sat below Nell’s flat. Motioning for Martha to follow they headed around the side of the building and up the wet slick stairs.


Until next time

"Do you know the Muffin Man? The Muffin Man, the Muffin Man.
Do you know the Muffin Man, Who lives on Drury Lane?"

"Yes, I know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man;

Oh, yes, I know the muffin man, who lives on Drury Lane."

"Then two of us know the muffin man, the muffin man,"



Until Next Time

Pretty, witty Nell

To the King's house to see 'The Maiden Queen', a new play of Dryden's, mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the strain and wit; and the truth is, there is a comical part done by Nell, which is Florimell, that I never can hope ever to see the like done again, by man or woman.The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girl, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes me, I confess, admire her.

{Pepys' praise}

Until Next Time

Early bird

Lady Fiona woke early, with a blinding stream of light coming from her bedroom window making her wince and roll the opposite way. The massive thick green drapes were never opened this early in the morning but Martha was on a mission to help her young charge. A rather large thick woman in her early fifties with the vitality of three women rolled into one, was indeed a formidable foe to behold.
She packed all of Fiona’s bare necessities she would need for at least a couple of days, toiletries, petticoats, bustier, dresses, and most importantly the clothes she wore when she frequented the numerous taverns and theaters. “Why this young lady feels the need to visit such dangerous seedy places is beyond the norm, such a beautiful woman aught to be settled down with a baby or two by now, but it is not my place to be saying such things” Martha mumbled to herself as she finished up the last bag and sat it down by the armoire. Fiona smiled to herself as she burrowed deeper into the soft warm bed. Martha always said what was on her mind no matter how improper or inappropriate it may be. Practically raised by her personal maid she felt like Martha was more of a mother to her then her own mother was. The proper frigid Lady Eleanor never showed affection; such improper things were shunned and never displayed in public. Fiona ran to Martha whenever she needed to be cuddled or her knee needed to be cleaned when she was a young child; her mother was never there. “My Lady, it is time to get up your father will be here soon, we must be on our way,” Martha said as she pulled the blankets off of Fiona’s head.

Until Next Time

Tangled web we Weave

“Martha, Martha!!! There’s a lot of upheaval goin on upstairs come quickly!” gasped Mary the servant girl as she ran into the kitchen. “What child, what is goin on?” Martha asked clanging her fork down onto her plate as she quickly stood. “It’s Lady Fiona, they are sending her away to America! I could hear Lord Sacksville shouting at her!” Mary said frantically. “Oh my! Where is she Mary?” Martha asked as she headed for the dining hall. “She ran upstairs to her room” shouted Mary. As Martha ran past the dining hall she reached the bottom of the staircase in time to hear the Earl pounding ferociously on Lady Fiona’s bedroom door. I better hurry no time to lose, she thought as she headed for the garden.

***
Martha pulled at the tangled cold ivy revealing the old withered door. Not wanting to make to much noise and alert the nosey grounds keeper she opened it as careful as she could. Stepping inside she felt around for the extra lantern that was left in case the other was not brought back. As she lit the wick a warm glow filled the passageway. She held the lantern above her head as she closed the door and made her way towards the stone stairway, careful to avoid the drop off. She hated this cavern fearing a dreaded Scots ghost might come up out of the 50-foot drop to drag her down to its murky depth. Such superstitious nonsense she knew but nevertheless a fear that touched its icy breath on her neck as it wrapped its haunted chill up and down her spine.
Martha hurried up the stone steps to Fiona’s bedroom, careful not to fall. Pushing on the panel it creaked open to a brightly lit room. She could see Lady Fiona out cold on the floor in a crumpled heap.
“My Lady, My Lady, wake up its Martha” she said as she reached Fiona and shook her shoulders. “Oooohhhh my head” Fiona said as she came to. Martha helped her to the bed and gently tucked her in. “Martha I have to get out of here, my father is sending me away. Help me gather some of my things; I am going to Nell’s house” Fiona said in a weak feeble voice, as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Until Next Time