The Victoria Era

An Uplifting

I sat silent in the living room stroking the abandoned cat that now sat in my lap. Marie sat playing with frays on the carpet and Liam sat in the chair opposite to me staring at the floor as if it had just told him the most interesting story ever told. A knock at the door lifted me from my daze a little and I trudged over to the door. Henrietta stood across my threshold with worry written all over her face. " Miss Clarissa, I- I didn't mean to come uninvited, but I just had to see you. I do not work today. I was concerned about Caleb and Raven. And I have some news..." She said cautiously.
In the same daze I led her to my garden. Many of the flowers had wilted and the whole garden seemed as though it was dead.
"What news, Henrietta?" I said tiredly.
"I am to have dinner with Mr. Wilksin tonight. My family and I. But I came to ask if there were to be any charges against Caleb." She said.
"No and we received the same invitation." I shakliy handed her a note. "It will be everyone he associates with our families. It is tonight..." I looked around at the dying flowers, shaking.
"Miss Clarissa, you're shaking! Please sit down. Can I fetch you something to drink?" She said with the same characteristic kindness she always maintained.
"No, no, dear." I looked to my hands. "This has been such an insane week. I feel as if a switch were flipped."
"Miss Clarissa, I hate to be hasty, but I must go. I'll see you tonight!" And with that she left me in my garden. I spent a while in my garden, contemplating what had come of this last few weeks. My life had done a complete 180. I had gone from a quiet girl who only ever talked to her family to a girl who knew everyone. It wasn't as glamorous as I thought it would be. It was so much safer just staying with my brothers and my sisters but now I had a duty to the people I had affected.  I pulled out a book and let my troubles drown out by the sweet sound of Italian literature. Liam came to fetch me after a while and told me he had run into Raven and convinced her to come to dinner that night. I became excited for the dinner. Maybe the ball hadn't turned out as spectaculary as expected but this dinner may at least explain things and get life back on track. Once it was time to go we left promptly.
We pulled up to the Wilksin Manor. It looked exactly as it did the night of the ball: huge, grand, and extravagant but now there was an eerie loneliness about the place that gave it the disturbing feeling of an abandoned graveyard. We were brought into the dining area where a massive feast was laid out for us but still no smiles stretched across our faces. We were all sat down and Mr. Wilksin came out. "I know this meeting was not going to be a joyous one but please do not appear as gloomy as you may feel." He lit a pipe and slowly eyed everyone. "Come now, what is the issue?"
"Sir, mostly we are just concerned about the state of Mr. Grace. It has caused much worry throughout all our families." Henrietta spoke for us as the rest of us were all too nervous or too depressed to speak.
Mr. Wilksin frowned and called an attendant over, whispered in his ear and sent him off. A moment later a familiar voice warmed my heart. "Hello, everyone." Caleb said hobbling in on crutches.
"Caleb!!!" I screamed, leaping up. I ran to hug him but he put his hand up.
"No hugs for now, Clarissa or I will topple over." He laughed a little.
"We were very lucky. His artery was missed and all he has is some muscle damage. With therapy he will regain his former strength." Mr. Wilksin said.
"Good to hear." James said.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Wilksin." Henrietta said.
"It is my pleasure. Now, I have heard of your recent escapades but I went to hear the truth. Would someone care to share with me your story of the month?" Mr. Wilksin asked curious.
"Mine?!" Henrietta exclaimed blushing.
"All of yours. You have caused quite a fuss in the area, Madam. All of you," he motioned to the group. "have been the talk of the town."
"Where to start?" she giggled. "Clarissa?"
"How about the day I first visited your shop." I suggested.
"Well, I was working as usual and then Miss Grace popped in for some ribbon..." she retold the story so passionately that it sounded new all over again to us. It didn't seem like it was our lives but the story of those who were in one of the romantic Italian novels I read. "Am I missing anything?" she concluded.
"I do not believe you have. Mr. Wilksin?" I said noticing him staring intensely at us.
"Well, I do nor know what to say. You're story is one full of twists and turns. This Alistar, is he arrested?" He asked. Henrietta looked at Caleb while James steadied her. "Is there something I do not know? Is everything alright?"
"On the night of the ball there was a ...um... conflict. Well, I'm not qualified to say." Henrietta stuttered.
"Madam," he leaned forward and stared at her with piercing eyes. If you do not tell me I will be unable to aid you."
"Go ahead and tell him, Henriette." I said slowly.
"That night, Alistar threatened to kill Mr. Grace and Miss Raven. So in self defense they both projected violence upon him. They wouldn't have done that if it weren't for the fact that Alistar had a gun." She said tightening her grip on James' hand.
Mr. Wilksin laughed leaning back. "Have I shown a desire to hurt your families in any way? I think not! Families, I am here to tell you these people will be shipped off and your troubles with them."
Henrietta, still in a mild panic, exclaimed, "That's wonderful. We all appreciate your generosity and understanding, Mr. Wilksin. It wasn't easy. And speaking of families, my father is being detained on business for the night and my mother has other engagements. They won't be attending. They send their apologies."
"Detained? What for?" Mr. Wilksin said generally concerned.
"Goodness! He's not actually in custody. He only jokes about being a prisoner of his work. It's a term we use a bit too freely in our family. My uncle, a merchant, has just returned from India, and as partners they have much to discuss. I'm sorry if I alarmed you." Henrietta explained.
"Ah, I see. Now," he said standing and looking out the window. "is there anything else I can do?"
"Sir, you have done--" Caleb started.
"I do not need a man of guilt talking to me on such a matter." Mr. Wilksin said cutting him off.
"Sir, may I ask why you are doing so much for us?" I asked speaking up.
Mr. Wilksin paused and puffed on his pipe thoughtfully. "It is not often, in a world such as the one we habit, that you find good people. When you do, you must care for them greatly."
"Mr. Wilksin..." Henrietta started but clearly didn't know what to say.
"Is there any way we could repay you? It doesn't seem right to take so much." James said.
"The only way to repay me is to promise me you won't lose your hearts and won't let any obstacle take you from here. In Wilksin, you will be under my watch and protection." Mr. Wilksin spoke wisely. He was a strange man. There was something very endearing and knowledgeable about him but there was also something very cold and foreboding about him.
"Thank you, Sir." Henrietta said.
"Do not mention it." He said dismissively.