The Regency Theory (2/?)
Title: The Regency Theory (2/?)
Spoilers: None really, this is Regency AU.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~2000
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters blah blah. I’m not making any money from this blah blah. The words, however, are entirely MINE!
A/N: I’m glad people are enjoying this as much as I enjoy writing it! Here’s the second instalment. I’m trying to keep everything short and sweet (I hope!). Comments = Love!
The Regency Theory (2/?)
Sheldon regained consciousness what seemed like hours later; it was pitch dark outside, seeing as how he was lying on a bed near a window. He was cold, shivering actually, and he snuggled further under the covers.
This was not his bed, though. A strange bed in a strange place. He tried to move his head but the sudden, intense pain hit him like a hammer to his skull. He moaned involuntarily.
“Oh, you’re awake.” The voice was soft and lilting, with a countrified accent. Perhaps he had been discovered by one of his tenants. “That was right stupid what you did - riding through a hailstorm. Would have thought someone renowned for his intelligence would know better.”
Oh no, he thought through the throbbing in his head. He bloody well knew that voice. Soft and lilting, his arse. He took a deep fortifying breath and opened his eyes. Masses of golden curls - unbound and haphazard, for the girl was almost shockingly hoydenish - framed a winsome young face, sparkling jade eyes and a too-cheeky grin.
“Miss Penelope,” he muttered, none-too-happy at this particular turn of events.
“My lord.” The impishness of her smile infused her voice, and it hurt his head even more just to look at her.
“Of all the people to find me.”
“Come now, your lordship; your gratitude quite overwhelms me.”
“Where is the vicar?” He ground out impatiently. He wondered why the girl was tending him and not her father.
“Papa is away in the neighbouring parish. He’ll be gone for a week.”
Something that felt a lot like dread settled like a stone in Sheldon’s stomach. “And Mrs. Ives?” he asked of their housekeeper.
“Mrs. Ives is gone to her sister in Dorset; there was an emergency. She left last morning. In a carriage.” The wretched girl told him with a sly smile. Sheldon tried to scramble into a sitting position but the pain was too much. And why did his entire body ache when he was so soundly hit on the head, he wondered, when a ghastly thought hit him.
“Dear God - are you unchaperoned?” He glanced wildly about the room, as if expecting someone else to materialize out of thin air. “Where is your sister?”
“With her husband, of course. Do you not recall that she married last month?”
“So who is here with you? How could your father leave you thus?”
“Mrs. Ives received word about her sister soon after Papa left. She could not tarry. But never you fear, your lordship, there is always Natterly.”
“Your pathetic excuse for a butler? The man is almost blind as well as being deaf as a doorpost! He’s also almost a hundred.”
“I happen to love Natterly - and he’ll give you the what’s what if you try anything, so don’t even think it, your lordship.” The impertinence was back full force.
“Good God, girl! I need to get out of here before anyone finds out.” Sheldon threw off the blankets covering him, and instantly felt the chill straight through to his bones. He began shivering almost uncontrollably as she angrily covered him again.
“Where the devil is my shirt?” He spewed furiously, and then blinked, and bellowed. “And where the hell are my trousers? Tell me that you did not undress me!”
“I did not undress you.”
“Then who did? Natterly is incapable!”
“Well, of course I undressed you, you dolt! I was just trying to protect your manly sensibilities - oh, that, and save your stupid life!” She was yelling at him now, as she had yelled at him on numerous occasions before, all brimstone and green fire blazing from her eyes, her face mere inches from his. “I don’t honestly know how long you were there under that tree. Eddie found you. Or rather, he spied Newton and then he stumbled over you! The poor boy was beside himself, thinking you dead! Good grief - can you imagine Stephen as the Viscount? He could single-handedly bring down the monarchy if he was let loose in London. It’s for that reason alone that I even attempted to save you!”
“Your stable boy found me?”
“That’s right. He and I got drenched dragging your sorry hide back here. In case you haven’t noticed, there was a storm raging and the rain was coming down in sheets. You were unconscious for almost an entire day with a raging fever and you’ve had the chills and the rain’s yet to stop. I was afraid you would catch your death. I stripped you down and put every available blanket on you, and spared no wood to keep the fire stoked in this room but your chills have not yet abated. Be grateful, you foolish man!”
“Insolent chit! I am Houston! How dare you address me in such a manner?” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. It was ungrateful of him, he knew, but something about Penelope Carstairs had always rubbed him the wrong way. She turned her heel to leave. “Penelope - Penny, wait!”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“By God, it’s a miracle! Lord high-and-mighty apologizing to the likes of me - a mere vicar’s daughter!”
“You do not make it easy for me to be civil to you! You never have.” She stopped at that, knowing he was right. She returned to his seat by his bedside. “Could I please have some water?” She poured him a glass and supported his head while he drank thirstily. They were silent for a few minutes after that, he lying quietly in bed and she sitting, reading.
“Natterly says the rains will stop tomorrow. He says he feels it in his bones.”
“Ridiculous. Usually one feels the onset of rain, not its withdrawal.”
“Well, Natterly’s special.”
“Indeed. In more ways than that.” She stifled a giggle at that and he too, felt a small smile creep across his face.
“Do not be cruel.”
“I was merely stating the obvious. I have the highest respect for the man, ancient as he is - he must be doing something right to have lived this long.”
“What an odd thing for you to say.”
“Why?” He turned to look at her.
“You sounded very human just then.”
“I am human. Are you trying to imply that I’m animalistic?”
“No - even that would be better, I think, than the general impassiveness you usually display.”
“I am not a man given to emotional outbursts.”
“Unless you’re arguing with me.”
“Unless I’m arguing with you. But that is only because you are the only person insolent enough to dare to engage me in a battle of words and wills.”
“You’re the only person I know who could be deemed a worthy opponent. I don’t know why everyone is so afraid of you, now that you’ve become Viscount. You’re still the same person you always were. Annoying, fiendishly intelligent, and generally a pain in my...”
“Penny! Need I remind you of your breeding? Your father should have remarried years ago - you are sorely in need of a wise, womanly hand to guide you in propriety. You have Mrs. Ives duped, certainly!”
“Your mother has always been kind to me.”
“But she is no longer a constant in your life, especially now since Mama spends nearly all her time in London, planning Melissande’s matches.”
“How does Missy fare?”
“Poorly; you know how headstrong she can be. And Stephen does not help with his general devil-may-care attitude.”
“I do so miss them.”
“Yes, Missy asked me to deliver a letter and some sweetmeats for you and your sister. I believe Stephen penned a few words in her letter as well. Couldn’t be bothered to write his own missive.” She laughed; the act was quintessentially typical of Sheldon’s younger brother. He smiled as well, but sobered almost immediately. “Penny, no one can know that you have nursed me back to health. Especially in the absence of your father and Mrs. Ives. You will be ruined, and it will go badly for me as well.”
“Neither Natterly nor Eddie will divulge anything to anyone, not even to Papa.”
“I hate the thought of lying to him; he is the vicar after all.”
“Would you rather suffer through the inevitable lecture?”
“Good God, no!”
“Then I suggest you keep quiet about it, your lordship.”
“I hate it when you call me that. You make it sound like a curse.”
“You’re the titled one. You’re Houston, you’re important and a peer of the realm. You’re in the Parliament. Everything’s different now.” She was beginning to sound shrill, as if overwhelmed by the recent changes in his life. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I was truly sorry to hear about your father. I never got a chance to talk to you at the funeral - you almost immediately left for London.”
“Yes, duty called. I had to take my father’s seat in the House. I have no patience for politics but he was so dedicated to several causes for the betterment of this country that it would be a disservice to his memory to ignore his obligations.” He sighed. “I would much rather have been holed up in my shed,” he said quietly, wishing with every fibre of his being that his father was still alive and well. Papa had always been so hale and hearty that Sheldon had hardly even stopped to consider a life without the man who had guided him, his education and given him the confidence and security to pursue his love of science. Gone too now were the carefree times where he could spend an entire day tinkering with his inventions and theorizing about light refractions, secure in the knowledge that his father would always be there for him.
“I would have preferred that too,” Penny replied, her voice thoughtful and soft. “You’ve been away for months. Even when you were here at the Manor for a time, it was as if you were away. You didn’t even stop to visit us.”
“I met your father in town, though.”
“But you did not meet us! And neither did you attend Josephine’s wedding.” She sounded quite put out by the fact. Surely she had not been disappointed by his absence? He shrugged off the thought as preposterous; they were barely what could be termed as friends. She and Stephen were of an age - they were the ones who had been inseparable childhood friends.
“My family was in attendance, though. I did not mean any insult - I’ve just been busy.”
“With the pursuit of science?”
“No, unfortunately. But now that the bill my father worked so hard on was passed, I have the time to dedicate to my experiments. It’s why I came home.”
“And here I was thinking you had missed me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That would require thinking of you with something other than vexation.”
“So you do admit to thinking of me with vexation?” A dimpled grin greeted his steely-eyed stare.
“I admit nothing... except to being very sleepy at the moment. Perhaps you should return to your bedchamber.”
“Oh? Would you not like me to sing you to sleep?”
“You forget I have heard what passes for singing from you. If your father was not the vicar, you would have been chucked out of the church choir at the first opportunity.”
“So, that would be a no then?” Penny chuckled.
“Good night, Penny.”
“Good night, Sheldon,” she replied cheekily, blowing out the candle at his bedside. She walked to the door and picked up the candlelebra on the dresser.
“Penny?” Sheldon stopped her before she could close the bedroom door.
“Thank you for rescuing me and nursing me back to health.” She beamed at him, her lovely face full of affection.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Sheldon closed his eyes and as he drifted off to sleep, to the sounds of a soft, lilting voice calling to him in his dreams.
***
Spoilers: None really, this is Regency AU.
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~2000
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters blah blah. I’m not making any money from this blah blah. The words, however, are entirely MINE!
A/N: I’m glad people are enjoying this as much as I enjoy writing it! Here’s the second instalment. I’m trying to keep everything short and sweet (I hope!). Comments = Love!
The Regency Theory (2/?)
Sheldon regained consciousness what seemed like hours later; it was pitch dark outside, seeing as how he was lying on a bed near a window. He was cold, shivering actually, and he snuggled further under the covers.
This was not his bed, though. A strange bed in a strange place. He tried to move his head but the sudden, intense pain hit him like a hammer to his skull. He moaned involuntarily.
“Oh, you’re awake.” The voice was soft and lilting, with a countrified accent. Perhaps he had been discovered by one of his tenants. “That was right stupid what you did - riding through a hailstorm. Would have thought someone renowned for his intelligence would know better.”
Oh no, he thought through the throbbing in his head. He bloody well knew that voice. Soft and lilting, his arse. He took a deep fortifying breath and opened his eyes. Masses of golden curls - unbound and haphazard, for the girl was almost shockingly hoydenish - framed a winsome young face, sparkling jade eyes and a too-cheeky grin.
“Miss Penelope,” he muttered, none-too-happy at this particular turn of events.
“My lord.” The impishness of her smile infused her voice, and it hurt his head even more just to look at her.
“Of all the people to find me.”
“Come now, your lordship; your gratitude quite overwhelms me.”
“Where is the vicar?” He ground out impatiently. He wondered why the girl was tending him and not her father.
“Papa is away in the neighbouring parish. He’ll be gone for a week.”
Something that felt a lot like dread settled like a stone in Sheldon’s stomach. “And Mrs. Ives?” he asked of their housekeeper.
“Mrs. Ives is gone to her sister in Dorset; there was an emergency. She left last morning. In a carriage.” The wretched girl told him with a sly smile. Sheldon tried to scramble into a sitting position but the pain was too much. And why did his entire body ache when he was so soundly hit on the head, he wondered, when a ghastly thought hit him.
“Dear God - are you unchaperoned?” He glanced wildly about the room, as if expecting someone else to materialize out of thin air. “Where is your sister?”
“With her husband, of course. Do you not recall that she married last month?”
“So who is here with you? How could your father leave you thus?”
“Mrs. Ives received word about her sister soon after Papa left. She could not tarry. But never you fear, your lordship, there is always Natterly.”
“Your pathetic excuse for a butler? The man is almost blind as well as being deaf as a doorpost! He’s also almost a hundred.”
“I happen to love Natterly - and he’ll give you the what’s what if you try anything, so don’t even think it, your lordship.” The impertinence was back full force.
“Good God, girl! I need to get out of here before anyone finds out.” Sheldon threw off the blankets covering him, and instantly felt the chill straight through to his bones. He began shivering almost uncontrollably as she angrily covered him again.
“Where the devil is my shirt?” He spewed furiously, and then blinked, and bellowed. “And where the hell are my trousers? Tell me that you did not undress me!”
“I did not undress you.”
“Then who did? Natterly is incapable!”
“Well, of course I undressed you, you dolt! I was just trying to protect your manly sensibilities - oh, that, and save your stupid life!” She was yelling at him now, as she had yelled at him on numerous occasions before, all brimstone and green fire blazing from her eyes, her face mere inches from his. “I don’t honestly know how long you were there under that tree. Eddie found you. Or rather, he spied Newton and then he stumbled over you! The poor boy was beside himself, thinking you dead! Good grief - can you imagine Stephen as the Viscount? He could single-handedly bring down the monarchy if he was let loose in London. It’s for that reason alone that I even attempted to save you!”
“Your stable boy found me?”
“That’s right. He and I got drenched dragging your sorry hide back here. In case you haven’t noticed, there was a storm raging and the rain was coming down in sheets. You were unconscious for almost an entire day with a raging fever and you’ve had the chills and the rain’s yet to stop. I was afraid you would catch your death. I stripped you down and put every available blanket on you, and spared no wood to keep the fire stoked in this room but your chills have not yet abated. Be grateful, you foolish man!”
“Insolent chit! I am Houston! How dare you address me in such a manner?” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. It was ungrateful of him, he knew, but something about Penelope Carstairs had always rubbed him the wrong way. She turned her heel to leave. “Penelope - Penny, wait!”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“By God, it’s a miracle! Lord high-and-mighty apologizing to the likes of me - a mere vicar’s daughter!”
“You do not make it easy for me to be civil to you! You never have.” She stopped at that, knowing he was right. She returned to his seat by his bedside. “Could I please have some water?” She poured him a glass and supported his head while he drank thirstily. They were silent for a few minutes after that, he lying quietly in bed and she sitting, reading.
“Natterly says the rains will stop tomorrow. He says he feels it in his bones.”
“Ridiculous. Usually one feels the onset of rain, not its withdrawal.”
“Well, Natterly’s special.”
“Indeed. In more ways than that.” She stifled a giggle at that and he too, felt a small smile creep across his face.
“Do not be cruel.”
“I was merely stating the obvious. I have the highest respect for the man, ancient as he is - he must be doing something right to have lived this long.”
“What an odd thing for you to say.”
“Why?” He turned to look at her.
“You sounded very human just then.”
“I am human. Are you trying to imply that I’m animalistic?”
“No - even that would be better, I think, than the general impassiveness you usually display.”
“I am not a man given to emotional outbursts.”
“Unless you’re arguing with me.”
“Unless I’m arguing with you. But that is only because you are the only person insolent enough to dare to engage me in a battle of words and wills.”
“You’re the only person I know who could be deemed a worthy opponent. I don’t know why everyone is so afraid of you, now that you’ve become Viscount. You’re still the same person you always were. Annoying, fiendishly intelligent, and generally a pain in my...”
“Penny! Need I remind you of your breeding? Your father should have remarried years ago - you are sorely in need of a wise, womanly hand to guide you in propriety. You have Mrs. Ives duped, certainly!”
“Your mother has always been kind to me.”
“But she is no longer a constant in your life, especially now since Mama spends nearly all her time in London, planning Melissande’s matches.”
“How does Missy fare?”
“Poorly; you know how headstrong she can be. And Stephen does not help with his general devil-may-care attitude.”
“I do so miss them.”
“Yes, Missy asked me to deliver a letter and some sweetmeats for you and your sister. I believe Stephen penned a few words in her letter as well. Couldn’t be bothered to write his own missive.” She laughed; the act was quintessentially typical of Sheldon’s younger brother. He smiled as well, but sobered almost immediately. “Penny, no one can know that you have nursed me back to health. Especially in the absence of your father and Mrs. Ives. You will be ruined, and it will go badly for me as well.”
“Neither Natterly nor Eddie will divulge anything to anyone, not even to Papa.”
“I hate the thought of lying to him; he is the vicar after all.”
“Would you rather suffer through the inevitable lecture?”
“Good God, no!”
“Then I suggest you keep quiet about it, your lordship.”
“I hate it when you call me that. You make it sound like a curse.”
“You’re the titled one. You’re Houston, you’re important and a peer of the realm. You’re in the Parliament. Everything’s different now.” She was beginning to sound shrill, as if overwhelmed by the recent changes in his life. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I was truly sorry to hear about your father. I never got a chance to talk to you at the funeral - you almost immediately left for London.”
“Yes, duty called. I had to take my father’s seat in the House. I have no patience for politics but he was so dedicated to several causes for the betterment of this country that it would be a disservice to his memory to ignore his obligations.” He sighed. “I would much rather have been holed up in my shed,” he said quietly, wishing with every fibre of his being that his father was still alive and well. Papa had always been so hale and hearty that Sheldon had hardly even stopped to consider a life without the man who had guided him, his education and given him the confidence and security to pursue his love of science. Gone too now were the carefree times where he could spend an entire day tinkering with his inventions and theorizing about light refractions, secure in the knowledge that his father would always be there for him.
“I would have preferred that too,” Penny replied, her voice thoughtful and soft. “You’ve been away for months. Even when you were here at the Manor for a time, it was as if you were away. You didn’t even stop to visit us.”
“I met your father in town, though.”
“But you did not meet us! And neither did you attend Josephine’s wedding.” She sounded quite put out by the fact. Surely she had not been disappointed by his absence? He shrugged off the thought as preposterous; they were barely what could be termed as friends. She and Stephen were of an age - they were the ones who had been inseparable childhood friends.
“My family was in attendance, though. I did not mean any insult - I’ve just been busy.”
“With the pursuit of science?”
“No, unfortunately. But now that the bill my father worked so hard on was passed, I have the time to dedicate to my experiments. It’s why I came home.”
“And here I was thinking you had missed me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That would require thinking of you with something other than vexation.”
“So you do admit to thinking of me with vexation?” A dimpled grin greeted his steely-eyed stare.
“I admit nothing... except to being very sleepy at the moment. Perhaps you should return to your bedchamber.”
“Oh? Would you not like me to sing you to sleep?”
“You forget I have heard what passes for singing from you. If your father was not the vicar, you would have been chucked out of the church choir at the first opportunity.”
“So, that would be a no then?” Penny chuckled.
“Good night, Penny.”
“Good night, Sheldon,” she replied cheekily, blowing out the candle at his bedside. She walked to the door and picked up the candlelebra on the dresser.
“Penny?” Sheldon stopped her before she could close the bedroom door.
“Thank you for rescuing me and nursing me back to health.” She beamed at him, her lovely face full of affection.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Sheldon closed his eyes and as he drifted off to sleep, to the sounds of a soft, lilting voice calling to him in his dreams.
***