Britwitch
Classically curvy
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2004
- Posts
- 23,086
The old Great North Road ran along the eastern edge of the county through the towns of Newark, Tuxford and East Retford, and for centuries it was the main route from London to York and beyond. Many of the old coaching inns still survive from those days, like pearls on a string. With a constant ebb and flow of human life, the old Great North Road has ghosts and legends all of its own.
Wealthy travellers on the road proved a magnet for footpads and highwaymen and many were relieved of their valuables with the cry "Stand and deliver! Your money or your life!"
The penalty upon capture was swiftly dealt out. To hang, at either York or Tyburn, was their fate. But even such a grim end didn’t stop the stages and carriages of the wealthy from coming under frequent attack.
The peaceful village of Oakwood, in Yorkshire, owed much to the stately home on whose grounds it had been founded. Not far off of the Great North Road and within a couple of hours ride of York, it saw it’s far share of passing nobles from the South as they travelled to the walled city. Although the village was known to those outside of it not because of it’s association with Oakwood Hall but because it was rumoured that a highwayman known only as ‘The Shadow’ sheltered there In recent months tens of coaches and carriages had been plundered by this man, large amounts of gold and valuables removed from the travellers in the process.
Of course, when asked by those enforcing the law, the villagers denied any knowledge although the rumours and myths flew around the tavern thick and fast on a night time. The Lord of Oakwood Hall had been charged by those in York to see if he couldn’t find the outlaw who was apparently hiding somewhere on his doorstep. It was all very dramatic and romantic with most of the young women of the village hoping for a glance of the supposedly dashing gentleman thief.
All except Amelia.
Amelia Harding was the ward of the Lord of Oakwood Hall and she had other things on her mind than shadowy figures preying on the wealthy in the night. Her own father, a good friend of the Lord, had died the previous year leaving her guardianship to him. While she was a young lady who would one day be presented at court in London, she still found the opulent surroundings of Oakwood Hall a little daunting at times. Her home had been relatively small in comparison with little more than a cook and a housemaid to deal with the household along with a gardener and his apprentice who also looked after their horse. Oakwood had an entire fleet of staff, which seemed a little much for a man living on his own but she knew it wasn't her place to question such things.
At 20 she had not yet come of age, chestnut colour curls and waves hung down her back in a soft curtain to her waist which she usually wore pinned up although curls usually escaped to frame her face. She had wide, bright green eyes and with her lightly freckled skin she looked younger than her age although her body was as developed as women far older. She had inherited her mother’s delicate frame but it was adorned with rounded hips and a generous bust, something she was never able to hide beneath the tightly corseted dresses she wore.
She avoided walking through the village alone, knowing how the dresses emphasised her natural physique, earning her more than the odd lecherous glance in her direction. Nothing ever came of them however, she was almost always escorted by a maid or one of his Lordships servants. Occasionally even by the Lord himself.
While Amelia did not hope for a sighting of ‘The Shadow’ she had more interest than most in his movements. For she was the only person to know ‘The Shadow’s true identity, something she spent a great deal of her time trying to make sure stayed a secret.
Sat in the great library of Oakwood House, Amelia let her eyes wander out of the window and across the sculptured lawns and gardens sprawling into the woods beyond. The library was a haven for Amelia, she had always loved to learn of the world beyond the walls around her. Hungering after knowledge of the new world and the countries that spread out around the globe. She would read for hours at a time and she was thankful that her guardian did not disturb her.
He was kind and good and she felt herself very lucky to have left with such a man to watch over her.
Hearing the chimes from the clock she shut the volume she had been glancing through and replaced it on the shelf before heading down towards the dining room where her guardian would be waiting for her to join him for dinner. She smoothed the voluminous skirt and pushed a stray tendril of her curling hair back from her face before stepping into the large dining room and curtseying slightly before raising her face to smile at the man before her.
“Good evening, my Lord…I trust you have had a good day…?”
Her tone, as always, was genuine for she truly cared for him. He was younger than her father had been when he had been taken away from her and she felt a real sense of affection towards him. He had been nothing but thoughtful and kind since the day she'd arrived to stay with him.
She had heard stories of wards being married off soon after being taken in by to prevent guardians having to 'put up with them' for longer than they wished. Lord James had made no such attempts to rid himself of her and seemed to genuinely enjoy her presence. She made sure she didn't bother him while he was working at business and kept largely to herself unless he expressed a desire to spend time with her.
He was a handsome man, with a strong sense of goodness within him. Amelia often wondered why it was he was still a bachelor when it was unlikely he would be short of admirers. Part of her hoped to see him settled down with a wife before her own time to marry came around. He deserved to have someone to love him and take care of him as he took care of so very many. Amelia knew of his charitable work and of how well he looked after his servants and their families. Perhaps once the colder, darker nights had set in she might suggest he host a ball. It would give him a chance to promote his most recent charitable causes and give her a chance to introduce him to some of the ladies of the area.
"Do you have plans tomorrow, m'Lord...?" Amelia asked after a moment. "If not, I thought it might be pleasant to take a walk through the gardens before the weather becomes too inclement...but only if you have time..."
Wealthy travellers on the road proved a magnet for footpads and highwaymen and many were relieved of their valuables with the cry "Stand and deliver! Your money or your life!"
The penalty upon capture was swiftly dealt out. To hang, at either York or Tyburn, was their fate. But even such a grim end didn’t stop the stages and carriages of the wealthy from coming under frequent attack.
The peaceful village of Oakwood, in Yorkshire, owed much to the stately home on whose grounds it had been founded. Not far off of the Great North Road and within a couple of hours ride of York, it saw it’s far share of passing nobles from the South as they travelled to the walled city. Although the village was known to those outside of it not because of it’s association with Oakwood Hall but because it was rumoured that a highwayman known only as ‘The Shadow’ sheltered there In recent months tens of coaches and carriages had been plundered by this man, large amounts of gold and valuables removed from the travellers in the process.
Of course, when asked by those enforcing the law, the villagers denied any knowledge although the rumours and myths flew around the tavern thick and fast on a night time. The Lord of Oakwood Hall had been charged by those in York to see if he couldn’t find the outlaw who was apparently hiding somewhere on his doorstep. It was all very dramatic and romantic with most of the young women of the village hoping for a glance of the supposedly dashing gentleman thief.
All except Amelia.
Amelia Harding was the ward of the Lord of Oakwood Hall and she had other things on her mind than shadowy figures preying on the wealthy in the night. Her own father, a good friend of the Lord, had died the previous year leaving her guardianship to him. While she was a young lady who would one day be presented at court in London, she still found the opulent surroundings of Oakwood Hall a little daunting at times. Her home had been relatively small in comparison with little more than a cook and a housemaid to deal with the household along with a gardener and his apprentice who also looked after their horse. Oakwood had an entire fleet of staff, which seemed a little much for a man living on his own but she knew it wasn't her place to question such things.
At 20 she had not yet come of age, chestnut colour curls and waves hung down her back in a soft curtain to her waist which she usually wore pinned up although curls usually escaped to frame her face. She had wide, bright green eyes and with her lightly freckled skin she looked younger than her age although her body was as developed as women far older. She had inherited her mother’s delicate frame but it was adorned with rounded hips and a generous bust, something she was never able to hide beneath the tightly corseted dresses she wore.
She avoided walking through the village alone, knowing how the dresses emphasised her natural physique, earning her more than the odd lecherous glance in her direction. Nothing ever came of them however, she was almost always escorted by a maid or one of his Lordships servants. Occasionally even by the Lord himself.
While Amelia did not hope for a sighting of ‘The Shadow’ she had more interest than most in his movements. For she was the only person to know ‘The Shadow’s true identity, something she spent a great deal of her time trying to make sure stayed a secret.
Sat in the great library of Oakwood House, Amelia let her eyes wander out of the window and across the sculptured lawns and gardens sprawling into the woods beyond. The library was a haven for Amelia, she had always loved to learn of the world beyond the walls around her. Hungering after knowledge of the new world and the countries that spread out around the globe. She would read for hours at a time and she was thankful that her guardian did not disturb her.
He was kind and good and she felt herself very lucky to have left with such a man to watch over her.
Hearing the chimes from the clock she shut the volume she had been glancing through and replaced it on the shelf before heading down towards the dining room where her guardian would be waiting for her to join him for dinner. She smoothed the voluminous skirt and pushed a stray tendril of her curling hair back from her face before stepping into the large dining room and curtseying slightly before raising her face to smile at the man before her.
“Good evening, my Lord…I trust you have had a good day…?”
Her tone, as always, was genuine for she truly cared for him. He was younger than her father had been when he had been taken away from her and she felt a real sense of affection towards him. He had been nothing but thoughtful and kind since the day she'd arrived to stay with him.
She had heard stories of wards being married off soon after being taken in by to prevent guardians having to 'put up with them' for longer than they wished. Lord James had made no such attempts to rid himself of her and seemed to genuinely enjoy her presence. She made sure she didn't bother him while he was working at business and kept largely to herself unless he expressed a desire to spend time with her.
He was a handsome man, with a strong sense of goodness within him. Amelia often wondered why it was he was still a bachelor when it was unlikely he would be short of admirers. Part of her hoped to see him settled down with a wife before her own time to marry came around. He deserved to have someone to love him and take care of him as he took care of so very many. Amelia knew of his charitable work and of how well he looked after his servants and their families. Perhaps once the colder, darker nights had set in she might suggest he host a ball. It would give him a chance to promote his most recent charitable causes and give her a chance to introduce him to some of the ladies of the area.
"Do you have plans tomorrow, m'Lord...?" Amelia asked after a moment. "If not, I thought it might be pleasant to take a walk through the gardens before the weather becomes too inclement...but only if you have time..."
