Watercress: Welcome aboard! No, the other French states would still love to be independent.
morningSIDEr: England is left in a strong position, but that can actually be a bad thing!
Dewirix: Yes, it certainly would take a miracle. The only one in any position to do anything is Burgundy, and as you'll see they don't have the legs. And yes, the name is rather suggestive. Heh.
blsteen: And I for one would like to welcome our English overlords!
Avindian: Me either! It is like dismantling the HRE or winning 'naval race versus England'...a moment when the game changes.
loki100: Thanks! And yes, this is no walk in the park.
Arakhor: Yes, I thought it made sense they would claim it...however empty the claim is. It does look a lot like Aquitaine, but that was more by luck than design, though I admit I was hoping to do it this way. And yes, I missed the of there. Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to use it.
quicksabre: I believe he and his family were taken to England to live out their lives as 'guests' in a Welsh castle. Just to make sure they didn't feel like running off. Mary didn't execute them though.
Chapter 13 – A Midday Meal
21/1/1820
John and Victoria returned to the dining room to find that Lady Mendenhall was waiting. The table was laid with the finest porcelain from the Empire’s territories in China, and a large meal had been prepared.
“John, my apologies for not being here last night. I had many matters to catch up on. I trust you are settling in well?”
“Yes, thank you. Victoria showed me around the grounds, and I was just examining your collection again. Am I right in saying that it is the real crown of France you have in there?”
“Correct, in the condition it was in 1479. A rather sad end to such a valuable thing.”
“But how did you come by it? Surely our Kings and Queens would have wanted to keep it?”
Lady Mendenhall waved airily. “A lot of things were lost during the Civil War and the Republic. The family acquired it late in that time. It’s been with them ever since.”
“So…what is it that you do with all these items? They must be worth a great fortune.”
“They are, but I have no reason to sell them. I am preserving them for the future. You know how little has survived from the time of Rome, from before the Norman Conquest? Though neglect or malicious intent valuable items are lost. That is the nature of life, so if I can ensure they survive then I am preserving the past. And, after all, who else has a royal crown in their museum?”
“Are they not a target for thieves though?”
She paused, considering. “Perhaps. Though even if they knew where this house was they would have a hard time breaking in. No one has tried, to the best of my knowledge.”
“I suppose there are few places to go on these islands.”
“Not which are secret from me, no,” her Ladyship commented.
Victoria meanwhile had come to kneel down beside Lady Mendenhall, while Tempest hovered behind her.
Lunch continued with a very pleasant fish soup with fresh bread. As John ate he kept looking over at Lady Mendenhall.
Apparently she saw, despite his attempts to be covert. “Something wrong, John?” she asked curiously.
“May I ask a question, Lady?” he replied. When she nodded he paused, deciding which to ask first, and how to be tactful about. “I see so much art around this house, of natural and human scenes, yet none of you, your family.”
Tempest stirred, but her Ladyship merely smiled. “I have never been one for pictures of myself. Mere vanity. There are of course some of the family, but for the most part they are in America.”
“Where? Do you have family there?” John asked, not sure why he was being so insistent.
“We are a much diminished group, I fear. America is something of an ancestral home for me. I own large possessions in Jamaica, New Britain and Mexico.” She looked around at Tempest. “The map, Tempest dear. Show John where, that way he’ll see that they are real.”
John felt a little bad for pushing. He got no chance to apologise because Tempest had appeared with a map which she laid on the table. It showed British America, which stretched from the Amazon jungle to the Arctic. Around New Britain, on the north shore of South America several areas were marked. In Mexico and Queensland, on the south cost of North America, other areas were marked.
“My lands there are considerable as you can see, John.”
“Lady, I didn’t mean to be rude,” John said.
Lady Mendenhall rose and walked over, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You weren’t, John. You, like many others are curious as to how this woman can not only own so much, but also administer it. The question always seems to be more ‘why hasn’t she married yet’ over ‘she provides employment to ten thousand workers and their families’.”
John seemed to have touched a nerve inadvertently. This was perhaps the first time that he had seen her truly passionate about something. “My apologies, Lady Mendenhall.”
“As I said, none needed. I am very pleased you are here. Now, I will be meeting with the Governor of Kirkwall this evening and more tomorrow, so I must leave you to entertain yourself once more. Victoria will stay with you and provide you any service you need. In a few days things will be quieter and we can investigate your academic progression further.”
Rising, Lady Mendenhall left John alone with Victoria. He still felt rather foolish as he glanced at the map. It raised many questions.
“Sir?” Victoria asked.
John pulled himself together. “Yes, let us go. I have things I want to do.”