It was a cold winters day at De Pfeffel hall, ice formed on the window pane and obscured the view as Lady Roxanne stared pensively out at the tree lined avenue that led into the estate.
It was three years since her uncle had passed and left the hall to her. Three years of cruelty and neglect as Baron John had gleefully told her on the night that the duke had died that his was the whip hand, the estate and all contents belong to him as her husband.
At least the baron wasn't physically abusive she reassured herself, if anything he had no interest in the physical realm at all. They had copulated once on their wedding night five years ago to consummate the marriage but had not had conjugal relations since, their only touches now where reserved for when they dined out at one of the interminable banquets that he forced her to attend.
The baron had dined alone, slept alone and spent most of his days in either the coffee houses of London or buried deep within his accounting ledgers trying to ring every last penny from his business ventures. His cruelty was a subtle neglect, a meanness of spirit and deed that left Roxanne cold. For the first two years she had tried to be all a good wife could be however it was made clear once her uncle had passed that she was merely now a trophy to be shown off to his friends.
She sighed and turned back to her tea that sat on her dresser table. She flinched slightly as she felt the small golden coin that she kept in her bodice dig into her breast bone. Sir Joseph's lucky florin had sat close to her heart for five years and was in many ways an anchor to the past and reminder of a happier time.
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Sir Joseph stared at the warehouses as the ship approached the dock, Deptford carried the whiff of fish and tar which smelt strangely sweet after six months of smelling brine and sweat on the voyage back from India. The shouts of the costermongers selling their wares and the sail makers singing echoed around the dock causing Joseph to smile inwardly, it felt good to be back in England and the years spent in the sub continent had confirmed in his heart that something was missing and that something was here.
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Sir Joseph spied Sir Richard at the end of the dock and waved to catch his attention. He then beckoned the stevedore who was carrying his portmanteau and directed him towards the coach that Sir Richard was standing by.
"How goes it Richard" he shouted as he approached "still winning at the tables I presume?"
"Unfortunately not cousin" laughed Richard "the cards have not been kind lately."
"Pish, Richard I know full well you always win more than you lose" said Joseph as he boarded the carriage.
Richard feigned a wounded look. "My cousin knows well that I rarely gamble.... much."
As Sir Joseph settled into the seat his countenance became serious. "What of the matter I broached in my last letter, have you news to share?"
"Aye cousin I have kept a watching eye on De Pfeffel hall these past years and can report that the lady in question finds herself all but relieved of any claim to the property and estate of the late duke." Sir Richard sighed "t'was as you feared Joseph, the baron uses her only for enriching his own fortune."
Joseph stared out at the streets going slowly past the carriage window, his mind rolling the possibilities back and forth looking for a solution. "I have some small savings that may be used to fight my ladies case in the courts, surely any man of compassion can see the justice in her cause?"
"Joseph, I do not want to be cruel but any justice there may be will be swept aside by practicality and the need to maintain the status quo" answered Richard "neither will any consideration of divorce be countenanced if that is your hope."
"But...." Started Sir Joseph.
"No cousin" warned Richard "you have set yourself on a path that ends badly for someone and I only pray that is not you."
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Lady Roxanne was sat up in bed sipping her tea when there was a knock on the door. "Milady may I come in?" came the maids' timorous voice.
"Enter, please" answered Roxanne as she set the bone China cup and saucer down on the bedside table. The maid entered holding a crumpled piece of paper out in front of her as if it was on fire.
"A letter my lady, for you my lady" she said as she dropped the letter on the bed and almost fled.
"Thank you, Agnes" Roxanne said to the maids retreating back. Agnes was a good and attentive maid but as nervous as a mouse around Roxanne, fearing her ladies hot temper.
Lady Roxanne opened the letter and her breath caught as she saw the name at the bottom of the page, he's back she thought to herself as her heart swelled with the thought of seeing him. She read the letter four times to sure she had memorized every line before she burnt it in the grate and swiftly dressed herself in anticipation of the coming night.
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The night was clear and the moons rays slanted through the trees exposing the cloaked figure standing by a horse, holding the reins in one gloved hand. The horse snorted and released a cloud from its nostrils into the chill night.
