Timely

Lord Aynsley made his decision to refuse an invitation to the local New Year Ball at   Oakwood Manor. Nevertheless, Oakwood held many fond memories for him from happier times past. That was where he first met his beloved late wife of twenty-five years, Lady Jane, who was attending her first ever New Year Ball. 

At this significant moment of the year old memories were stirred.

‘New Year balls can be tiresome,’ he mused to himself, ’as one is obliged to be in a state of exaggerated bliss for the duration.’

‘And furthermore,’ he thought. ‘At the grand old age of fifty, nay, now that the year has turned, I shall soon add one more year, making me fifty -one and I don’t wish to display my loneliness to the local gentry or indeed the peasantry.’

Though he managed a wry smile at the thought, there was nevertheless a certain sorrow in his middle-aged heart.

Glancing in the mirror in his upstairs library, he was proud of his physique and the fact that his fine locks had, thus far, no more than a hint of grey at the temples.

‘M-m-m .’ well preserved, he muttered. ‘Perhaps I should have reversed my decision and gone to Oakwood to charm the ladies with my good looks.’

‘Sir,’ Butler James interrupted his reverie as he passed the bureau door which was ajar,’ are you dining in residence tonight or attending the Ball at Oakwood?'

‘In residence for dinner this evening, James. Time to embrace the passing of the years.’

James hesitated for a moment, unsure as to how to reply to his Lordship’s response.

‘Lady Eleanor is in residence at Oakwood for the New Year festivities,’ James proffered.

Butler James sneaked a peek at Lord Aynsley to attempt to gauge his response.

‘Eh, Lady Eleanor is in residence, James ?’ Lord Aynsley queried.

Not wishing to appear too enthusiastic at the news  Lord Aynsley asked,' have you been officially informed of her arrival or is it mere speculation?’

‘I understood you had been informed by the young trainee butler, Joseph. who was on duty  yesterday and received the handwritten note. I shall retrieve it for you. Sir.’

‘James,’ Lord Aynsley said,’ ready the horses and prepare the carriage so I can pay a courtesy call on Lady Eleanor. Eleanor has not visited these parts since the passing of her spouse, Lord Edgin.’

James was delighted to see the change wrought in his master at news of Lady Eleanor’s return.

 

While James made his way to the stables to speak with equerry, Tom, about preparing the carriage, Aynsley stood longer than usual in front of the mirror, before donning the black hat that Eleanor loved. But first he had to blow some cobwebs off the leaf before setting it atop  his greying locks.

On this final day of 1845 the afternoon air was chilly with a hint of frost. A patch of blue lit up the western sky.

Lord Aynsley had a distinct air of contentment as he made his way to the carriage.

Soon the bay mares set off at a lively trot. Lord Aynsley gazed out of the carriage window, where the sheep were being gathered into the fold as the lambing season drew ever nearer.

Lord Aynsley was surprised to experience a distinct frisson  of excitement at the prospect of renewing acquaintance with Lady Eleanor.

Lord Aynsley had to remind himself to take control of his emotions before their encounter.

On arrival at Oakwood, he saw Lady Eleanor in the distance walking among the bare sycamores as they had done together many times in their tenderest youth. Few women, in his opinion, had the elegant gait of Lady Eleanor.

Lord Aynsley shifted nervously in the carriage, checking and rechecking his cravat and top hat, making sure they sat just at the right angle.

‘Silly old fool, Aynsley,’ he muttered to himself,’ No fool like an old fool.’

By now the carriage had drawn up on the cobblestones at the main entrance to Oakwood.

Eleanor had disappeared from view among the trees.

Lord Aynsley alighted from the carriage at the entrance and paced up and down to steady his nerves.

‘Good afternoon, Lord Aynsley,’ Lady Eleanor called to him from a distance.

He halted at the familiar sound of her voice. The years seemed to roll back to when  they were two besotted lovers. They could never be united in Holy Matrimony. Eleanor’s father considered the ten year age gap to be too great for his only daughter.

Having parted the ways  both were now in different stages of widowhood.

‘Darling Lady Eleanor.’ Lord Aynsley blurted out as he saw her approach. Taking her silken gloved hand in his own he held it close to his heart.

Lady Eleanor discreetly wiped away a tear from her cheek. A warm smile spread across her face.

‘Time and circumstance will never more divide us,’ Lord Aynsley whispered quietly.

As Butler James watched from the stable door in the distance, a warm smile lit up his countenance.

‘It’s a Happy New Year for his Lordship.’ he murmured.

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