Storm's Silence

Little James had never seen anyone look so cherubic in all the six years of his life. He stared in awe as the infant, the little girl, cooed in her mother's lap, her big, round eyes looking up at him. She had her mother, Lady Gallington's, kind and beautiful eyes and yet there was something different about Georgiana's eyes. He had loved Lady Gallington – Georgiana’s mother - just like he had loved his mother, all the time. Lady Gallington had always been kind and loving - giving him sweets, letting him eat the liquorice sticks their cook had made, and also let him read the book Lord Gallington had in his library. Now that the newest addition to the family was here, James couldn't help but think she would be just as kind as her parents. And he knew she would love him just as much too. He was eager to know how soft the little, delicate infant would feel in his arms – something he didn't he would yearn for as he slowly grew up. ‘Mama, can I hold her?' he asked his mother, Duchess of Devonshire; she smiled at him and nodded. James grinned excitedly. He had never held a babe before and he was slightly afraid that he wouldn't hold her properly or he would make her cry. James eagerly climbed up a chair and carefully brought his arms around the fragile little girl. Georgiana Gallington, the first child and the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Gallington, had the Devonshire heir wrapped around her tiny little fingers ever since she was born. He held her close to her, and in that moment, a six year old boy swore, albeit silently, to protect Lady Georgiana Gallington with all he could, even if it took his life. He had no idea she would soon grow up to be a pain in his backside. He had counted her birth as the most beautiful thing that happened to him. ****************************** ‘Mama!' The four year old Georgiana looked upset. Well, she was always upset. Georgiana was now of the age where she would learn the most and she would be just as curious. It was worrisome for her parents because her curiosity always meant trouble following her. Just the previous week, her curiosity had led her to losing herself in the middle of the jungle that surrounded the Highclere estate. They both trusted James to keep the excited child out of trouble – but even he could only do so much; especially when he always melted whenever Georgiana pouted at him. Lady Gallington sighed; she was very tired. In the past four years, she had given birth to three other daughters, and no matter how much she loved all three of them, she was worried that she couldn't provide her husband an heir. It was either having a distant cousin inherit their title and leave their daughters destitute, or a betrothal. None seemed to be a better option. If it was about herself, Elise Gallington knew that she would always choose her freedom over money – and she knew even her daughters would want to do so. But as a mother, she wanted only the best of care for their daughters. And, she was worried that she would have to sacrifice her eldest daughter just for that reason. Just in four years, Georgiana had proven to have quite a strong mind and a betrothal would never let her grow in the way Lady Elise Gallington wanted her to. If only Eleanor's birth hadn't been so complicated, she could've at least hoped to give birth to a boy, someday. She sighed again. Georgiana ran towards her mother, gathering up her skirts, looking as if she was about to bawl her eyes out any moment. It had been a regular occurrence these days because little James was slowly developing a resistance against her infamous heart-melting pout. 'Mama! Jamie did it again!’ her lips pouted and she clutched her mother's skirts. ‘What did he do, love?’ 'He didn't want me to climb a tree! And when he let me, he pulled me down before I could even sit down! He is an arse!’ Georgie had grown up to be quite a handful and Elise couldn't help but blame her husband for that. When she had given birth to her daughter, Elise had always thought that Adrian would never be a part of her daughter's upbringing – just like her own father never was. But Adrian constantly proved her wrong by spoiling each of his daughters rotten. It still didn't change the truth; Elise Gallington was now barren and was in no condition to produce an heir. She had always thought her husband would find a way. He was a Marques, after all; he could have had their marriage annulled and marry another for an heir. Adrian never did that. He had constantly reassured her – in many different ways that Adrian Gallington would always be pledged to Elise Gallington, because she was his Lady and he was deeply in love with her and their daughters. ‘Georgie,' Lady Gallington cooed – a contrast to the way she had cringed when she heard her daughter saying a curse word, 'that word is not supposed to come out of your mouth ever again; it is not a word young ladies should use.’ ‘Okay, Mama.' Georgie nodded – although her mother knew better; the little girl was going to keep that word saved to her memory. Lady Gallington's mind went far away again as she looked at her daughter, who she was certain would grow to be a beautiful maiden one day and would attract a lot of suitors. Perhaps, she would find a suitable husband then, who could have the entire estate as his dowry. But that wasn't the way things happened in their country. Now she could only hope that Adrian lived a long life – something she had always wished. Elise was a hopeless romantic at heart and living and dying with the love of her life by her side was the best thing she could ever imagine doing. She wanted the same for her daughters, too. She wanted them to enjoy the kind of love she and Adrian shared. Georgiana had already won the attention of the heir to the Devonshire estate, James. He was a darling lad, full of cheerful laughs, mischievous and twinkling eyes. She could already see him turning into a handsome, rakish, young man who would break her daughter's heart. The hard fact was: no matter how infatuated little James looked with little Georgiana, no one could predict the events of the future. She could only hope for everything to turn to be the best for her daughters. ************************* ‘Do you fancy that girl?’ James was silent. He didn't understand why he had to tell his father about Georgiana. His father was better handling the estate matters, scolding the help, and earning money – sometimes even playing with him when he had the patience to do so. James definitely did not like how he was being interrogated. Especially since the interrogation was about Georgie. ‘I asked you something, James. Do you like Georgiana Gallington?' His father’s voice was stern and was filled with disappointment. ‘Yes, Father.' If anything, James had learnt that being honest always was the best quality in a man. He wanted to be the best of best men for Georgie. James didn’t like the way his father's features contorted into a frown. The future Duke of Devonshire never liked disappointing his father and always behaved his best. He always did what his father had demanded, but now when he wished to do something his own way, his father was disappointed. He really didn't know what was there to be disappointed in being friends with Georgie. She was a sweet little girl, with a temper as short as James' hair. It wasn't as if he was asking his father to get him betrothed to her. He was ten years old, now, for heaven's sake! 'That little hoyden is only going to bring trouble for you, James.' His father started in a voice that made him feel as if his father was talking to a daft person, 'You are the heir to my estate, and you are going to marry a wealthy bride who could add to our wealth. The Gallingtons might be wealthy now, but you see, they have no heir. Once Lord Gallington dies, all of his estate is going to be inherited by a distant cousin. We don't want to be left feeding unwanted mouths, boy, so you will stay clear of that girl. Do you understand?’ 'No!’ And that was the first time ever that James Edward Dewitt had defied his father – the first time he had disappointed him and the first time he had argued with him. ************************* It was difficult for Georgiana to understand why she was so hurt at Jamie's sudden departure. Jamie had always followed her around, and had always insisted on protecting her, as he always told her. But ever since she had seen him galloping away on his horse, she had had this heavy feeling weighing down in her chest. She had just been taking a stroll along the path to Devonshire when she had heard loud voices. It sounded like someone was fighting, loudly. It was the first time she had heard Jamie speaking so loudly. It had scared her; Jamie had always spoken quite kindly and lovingly to her - always – and his loud booming voice had startled her. It had made her wonder if there was a side to Jamie she had never seen. Georgie hugged her knees to her chest. In all the seven years of her little life, never had she thought that she would long to see Thunder galloping across her fields again. Thunder was Jamie's horse, a beautiful beast, and the only horse Jamie trusted Georgie to ride on. It had been a week since he had been around. Strange as it was for her, she felt like she missed him; a lot. It had never occurred to her that the constant, overbearing presence of a boy who always annoyed her would ever be something she missed. 'What are you doing here, Georgie?' The calm, soothing voice of her mother made her look up at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life. Her mother was an angel: the kindest woman she had ever seen and Georgie always dreamed to be like her mother one day – kind, beautiful and strong. 'Where is Jamie, Mama?' Georgiana asked her mother in a small voice, 'I want Jamie! Where is he?’ Elise didn't know how to answer her daughter. If the rumours were true, then Jamie had run away from home, or rather, his father had thrown him out due to his continuous acts of defiance. If anything, Lord Devonshire didn't tolerate defiance, not even from his own son. He had always been a short tempered man, and now Jamie was at the receiving end of it. Even though Lady Gallington knew that Lord Devonshire would come to regret his decision one day, she also knew that James was a stubborn boy. There was no way he was coming back. She couldn't tell that to her daughter, she couldn't see her even more heart broken than she now was. 'He will come back soon, love. He will come back for you.' Lady Gallington said to her daughter, pulling her into her arms hoping that what she said would come true – if not soon, then perhaps someday as her daughter's knight in shining armour. ************************************************************************************ I never did go back for her. It was the first thought that had entered Mr James Dewitt's mind as soon as his eyes fell on the letter his mother had sent to him. Each time his mother sent a letter to him, each time she told him she wanted to see him again, he always thought of the little seven year old hoyden with beautiful brown eyes he had vowed to protect as a boy. For him, going back to the Devonshire had always meant going back to get a glimpse of her. As he slowly grew up and struck off the number of birthdays of hers he had missed, he always wondered how that girl was doing. Did she have other boys chasing her for her attention? Was she smart – did she still like arithmetics and was curious about everything she heard about? Unfortunately for him, he never got a chance to see her again. Much to his regret and grief, Lady and Lord Gallington had met an unfortunate demise in a carriage accident. They had always been kind to him. Had he not been too impulsive and prideful the day he left home, he would've had certainly went to them for shelter and help. And now he couldn't even say Goodbye. It also meant that the Gallington estate was no longer Lady Georgiana's home. Bloody hell! She wasn't even a Lady Georgiana Gallington anymore. He had been quite worried, about everything: if the new home provided enough comfort to the sisters, was she too far away from him or not, and if her relatives treated her well or not. He could have found her out but he didn't want to - just her address and James knew he would itch to meet her as soon as possible. It was better to sat in the dark. She would be one and twenty now, married to a rich Lord having lots of children. It was a thought neither James could come to believe, nor something he could bear. Ever since she was born, Jamie had always thought Georgie belonged to him, but the unexpected events that took place thereafter led James to break one promise he had thought he'd never break. It was one thing that he knew would plague him for the rest of his life. He had not been there when Georgie's parents had died, and she had to look after her three sisters. He had not been there when the only home Georgie ever knew had been taken away from her. She was probably sent to live with some of her relatives who might not have even bothered to take her in. He wondered if his parents did something to help her and her sisters. He knew that had the situation been reversed, he would've had been sheltered, loved and cared for by the Gallingtons as if he was their own. He realised they didn't - the Devonshire estate was large enough to house four more young girls but he hadn't heard a single word from his mother about her He stopped thinking about her immediately. He had learned to harden himself against emotions long ago and he was not going to let a girl he had not seen since years bring it down. He wrote down a polite letter to his mother, turning down her invitation. He could not stand the sight of his father ever since that unforgettable day; he never opened a single letter his father sent to him. Apparently, he was still the heir to Devonshire, but he didn't need the title, not anymore. He had amassed an entire fortune with hard work and labour, and he was not going to let it all go just for a measly title.