The story of Amberleigh these past six months has been an interesting
one with a colourfully woven tapestry of its residents’ lives.
From a distance it would seem no different from any other village and
yet upon closer examination there have been moments of delight, a
look into the past, heartbreak, expectation as well as loss and yet
life goes on. To live in a village is to know everyone and their
business and yet it would seem that is not always the case. Over the
next few weeks we shall take a peek into the lives of some of
Amberleigh’s residents’ beginning with Lady Elizabeth Marlowe and
Jenny Wrey.
Shortly after Old
Mary returned from London she suspected Lady Elizabeth Marlowe was
with child. A happy occasion to be sure, but the birth of
Elizabeth’s daughter Sophia nearly cost her her own life and so
this was also a time to be greatly concerned. Old Mary did not know
if she could safely deliver Sophia and also keep Elizabeth from dying eight
years ago. It was a very intense evening, one she did not think she
would be repeating. Old Mary is as worried as Elizabeth for the
birth of the babe. Elizabeth puts on a brave face for all to see but
privately she and her husband Charles are very concerned. To date,
illness of a morning has been the only complaint but in time when
Elizabeth’s confinement arrives, that will be a very anxious time
indeed.
Having Mary Thomas
pregnant at the same time has been a comfort to Elizabeth and they
have become close friends sharing this experience. Their babes are
due within weeks of one another and both mothers-to-be hope their
children will grow up as dear friends.
Jenny Wrey, who is
affectionately called Jenny Wren by nearly everyone in the village is
worried for Elizabeth. They have been friends since they were
children, Jenny’s mother being the housekeeper at Elizabeth’s
childhood home in Bexford. The two were ever together. Elizabeth
even taught Jenny to read and write so they may send letters to one
another when Elizabeth was visiting with friends and family. It was
also Elizabeth who begged her father to send Jenny to the Burlington
School so that Jenny may stay with her when she eventually married
and ran her own household. Elizabeth is the one who bestowed the
name Jenny Wren upon her friend as everyone in the village knows,
however they do not know it was because Jenny was wont to call
Elizabeth “Magpie” for she liked to collect things wherever she
would go. Pretty shells, shiny pebbles, interesting leaves; there
was always something that took her fancy.
Our dear Jenny Wren
has had her own share of upset these last months. Her sweetheart
Calvin Spafford is in His Majesty’s Army. Calvin, not able to read
or write had someone write his letters to Jenny for him. Then one
day a letter came apologizing for having to give Jenny the unpleasant
news that Calvin had met and married someone else recently. Jenny
was devastated feeling her future was now lost to her and she would
be a spinster forever. Captain Venning came to see her when the
regiment set up camp outside Cheltenham to tell her how sorry he was
to have to be the bearer of such news, apologising it must come by
letter. He felt he must tell her before the regiment reached
Cheltenham in case she might see Calvin and his bride together.
Captain Venning was concerned for her welfare but Jenny did not want
his pity; she felt angry when others thought Captain Venning would
make a nice replacement for Calvin. Old Mary was kind to Jenny and
knew how to comfort her for which she was ever so grateful. Captain
Venning, however, seems to believe it is his duty since he wrote
Calvin’s letters, to look after Jenny until she has recovered from
this great shock.
Where will the
stories twist and turn from here? We pray Elizabeth shall deliver
safely of a sister or
brother for Sophia and William in the new year. Will Jenny Wren meet
Calvin again after his ill use of her? Now that his regiment is
nearby, it is certainly a possibility.
