The Godson Street Sagas. Chapter four. Escape

The Godson Street Sagas. Chapter four. Escape.

The interview the next evening was in one sense, though not in another, a total disaster.

The Duke had told the duchess the day before that he would horsewhip to within an inch of his life the young scoundrel who presumed to court his daughter. Pacing up and down in the library he had lost it altogether, wrenching volumes off the shelves and hurling them down onto the floor.

Cathy, although she was 18 years old, fully mature and the brightest of his children had been advised by her mother Anne to keep away from her father until his interview with the young George had ended.

“What will he do to George?” she asked her mother when Anne came upon her playing the piano in the music room. “He won’t hurt him will he?”

“Cathy, your father is furious with you and with your friend but he will not harm him. He has too much regard for the family’s good name. Has he had a word with you about, you know, not going ahead with the birth? It would be so much easier if there was not a baby on the way. Are you sure you want to keep it? I know a very careful woman who lives in one of our cottages on the estate. I know she has done this kind of thing before. Nobody need know. My dear you would be in very safe hands and once you are fully recovered we could look out for a more suitable match for you. Can I at least say to your father that you would consider it?”

Cathy was unable to make any coherent reply. It was true that she knew that George was not her match either in fortune or attainments. Life with him would start well, peak and then slip backwards. He would be incapable of earning any significant wealth through his own efforts and she feared, rightly as it transpired, that if her father was to offer him enough money to forget the whole relationship he would succumb. She would be on her own, without a partner to counterbalance the full weight of her family and she did not know if she would be able to withstand the pressure.

Raising herself from the piano she faced her mother.

“Tell my father that if George will not marry me then I will act as a daughter of the house should act in such circumstances.”

“Thank you, dear girl. I will tell your father to be gentle but firm. I am sure we can smooth this over without any one needing to know.”

Cathy resumed her practice at the piano until her mother had left the room.

That evening in the library at the fateful interview the Duke made it clear to George that under no circumstances would he allow the marriage to go ahead . He had then offered by way of consolation a not inconsiderable sum of money. The money would appear as an endowment from a distant relative to become available on his 21 birthday.

George did a calculation. Love on a crust, supporting a young mother and their infant child with the world turned against them or a useful bursary to be spent relaxing with his chums. He told the Duke that he looked forward to receiving a welcome birthday present. He made no inquiry concerning Cathy’s views on the matter nor of the likely fate of their unborn child..

It was only with the sternest self-control that Cathy, who had concealed herself behind a large (and still full) bookcase did not reveal her presence to the two of them when she heard her perfidious lover and her self-absorbed father agree their sordid deal. So much for family honour, it existed neither with the nobility nor with the gentry. She would see if honour could be found among elsewhere.

Waiting for the two partners in sin to depart on their corrupt ways she emerged from the library. She told a passing maid kindly to inform her mother that cognisant of her advice she was retiring to her room for the night and would not be down for supper.

In her room she examined her options. She seemed to have but a few and none were good.

By the time she fell asleep that night she had made a rough plan to run away.

BB. 2025