Robert B. Darnly

“Damn him! Damn Lord Sterling!” shouted Lord Darnly. He quickly returned home from his brief meeting with Lord Sterling. As his butler collected his coat at the main door, Lord Darnly continued to stomp through the halls of his manor. The morning was an unsuccessful attempt on securing any chance of getting cousin Lewis home safety. The shame he would cause the entire family and their heirs if he were to be captured for his crimes. Lord Darnly entered his bedroom, quickly ripping off his wig and throwing upon his bed. Not knowing that he had accidentally tossed it on top of his little spaniel bitch, Moll. A whelp came from the bed. “What? What was that? Oh, do come here Dearest.” He said picking Moll up in his arms. The creature’s body quivered until it felt safe in his arms. Though he was not found of dogs, especially ones this small, he grew attached to Moll. It had belonged to Mistress Lilly. He had purchased it for her because she adored it so. He had fond memories of her play with it in his gardens and begging for her attentions every time she would come home late from the theater. With a sigh, he looked into the little dog’s face. “I am a fool, you know. All I wanted was to give her the world. Why must she be so stubborn?” The dog barked a reply. “That so?” He said patting it on the head. “I cannot stand not hearing from my associated. Tess at least writes and as for Pinon, he best send word soon. I do not care how they do it, just bring Lilly back!

As the morning crept on, the rain has turned into a lingering drizzle. Lord Darnly traveled by coach to visit Lord Sterling that morning with news from Port Royal. He felt somewhat anxious to get the matter over and done with. Lord Darnly, who remembered there was a time that he enjoyed the company of Lord Sterling, now was forced to confront him against his better wishes. It was not so long ago the two of them were best of mates, yet pride, foolishness, the glint of gold, and a woman soon drew a wide craig between them. The coach stopped in front of the manor house. Lord Darnly looked up at the well maintained building. With a sniff, Lord Darnly shrugged off his ‘bad’ thoughts and let the footman open his carriage door. He was escorted to the main hall where he waited to take audience. “Foolish.” Lord Darnly muttered to himself as he held the letter in hand. Lord Darnly did not have to wait too long before the butler collected him and took him to Lord Sterling’s study. There, in front of a roaring fire, sat Lord Sterling. “I understand you have news from Port Royal. Good, then make it quick, Lord Darnly. I am a very busy man.” And with that Lord Sterling extended a seat next to him. Lord Darnly’s fits now clenched the letter tighter. “Very well.” He said taking the seat offered. “But I must confess that the matter does not concern your son, but a distant family member.” “Who now?!” Muttered Lord Sterling in disgust. “The letter was written by Lady Tess St. Claire informing me of our cousin, Lord Lewis Hutchinson. He has taken up sport with the locals, I fear.” Lord Sterling pursed his lips in pause. “Sport, Darnly? Oh, do speak clear! What ever do you mean?” “I fear he has been making habit of hunting the locals for sport.” Lord Sterling sat there in shock. “Seems Lady Tess has informed me by this letter that he’s quite good at it too! She also states that she plans to make sure he escapes the magistrate’s wrath as soon as possible.” “How? When does she say he plans to return to England?” “She doesn’t exactly state when, but she does state how.” “Well, do go on!” Lord Sterling shouted. “Upon the Archangel, Sir”

It was well into the dead of night when a messenger came knocking on Lord Darnly’s door. Darnly stirred awaken from the loud knock at the front door. From his bed, he could hear the Steward’s footfall come down the hall towards the front door. Whispers were exchanged. It was difficult to hear his Steward and the stranger as the wind and rain continued to thrash about the roof and the windows. Soon there was silence. The foot fall of the Steward soon came closer to the master bedchamber. “Who was that, Simon? Who would be out on a night like this?” The Steward came forward towards the bed presenting a letter upon a silver tray. “A messenger, my Lord. He said that it was one of your advisories. He said it was most urgent.” Lord Darnly took the letter from the silver tray and opened it quickly. As his eyes skimmed over the dark black ink, his facial expression changed. “Good…God!” He whispered to himself. The quickly looked up at his Steward. “You may go now Simon. I shall be taken my morning meal this morning then I plan to visit with Lord Sterling before noon. Cancel the rest of my appointments please.” With a nod, the Steward bowed and exited the master bedroom. With one more glimpse of the letter, Lord Darnly then crumbled it in his hand. “It shall be a very interesting day, to say the least!”

The manor house now lay quite and had an eerie feel to it. Lord Darnly walked past the once happy nursery to which over flowed with the sound of laughter and cries of the young child. The hallway now dark and the room cold, lifeless now that the child was gone. Lord Darnly held up his candle has he tried to examine the room by the dim light. The crib lay empty, the toys now placed upon shelves and the room’s curtains drawn shut. With a deep breath, he took one-step into the room. His trips to the nursery were rare for he never made it a habit. Visits were mostly enticed by the maidservant. She would report to him on a daily basis to tell him of the child’s well being, but she strongly encouraged his visits. She mentioned that it would be ‘good’ for the boy to see a male figure to bond to. Lord Darnly did agree to this, but then every visit seemed like a chore. The child reminded him too much of Captain Sterling. Every day the child’s likeness seemed to capture another feature or hold a stronger resemblance to the man he hated. The painful truth was that even though he knew that the baby was Lilly’s, he could hardly manage to look at baby Hector without seeing Captain Sterling looking back at him. And every day the feeling in his stomach would pitch and swell causing him to feel anger and frustration that he now had to wait until Lilly came back to him. She would have never left in the first place had Captain Sterling put her in such a condition! Suddenly the sound of a crying baby shook his very being. Lord Darnly quickly closed the door to the nursery and took another deep breath. His face now pale and his hands began to shake. “You have brought this on yourself.” He muttered as he quickly walked back towards his office.

A letter posted in lofty script bared the name Lilly McKinney. It was a letter full of sorrow, trouble and woe. A handwritten confession with no happy ending. “It will break her heart.” He muttered as he watched the footman ride off to deliver the post to the harbor. Anguish soon fell upon his face. “What is done is done.” And his face soon fell into his hands only to weep heavy as he felt his heart breaking.

“You must send word to her at once!” Shouted Lord Sterling. “Her child has past away and you haven’t the decency to inform her of the dreadful news? Lord Darnly’s fits now were clinched with every word Lord Sterling threw at him. “By God, man...” He said finally throwing his hands up in frustration. “”Tis my son’s child, too!” Poised in his large sitting chair, Lord Darnly lent forward and inched Lord Sterling closer. “Yes, your son’s child, ‘tis true. But the young babe that lies in the cold dark earth is no more Tess St. Claire’s child as it ‘tis mine.” With a strong looking of disbelief, Lord Sterling stood back for a moment. “What say you? What revolting game are you playing here?” “’Tis not a game, William I assure you. I fear that my horrible deeds have now taken a dreadful turn. The child belongs to the actress, Lilly McKinney; the woman whom your son favored so.” Lord Sterling shook his head with doubt. “You sir are most vile, indeed. To do such a thing and over a woman who cares nothing for you!” It was then Lord Darnly quickly stood from his chair. “Hypocrite! Shall I remind you of one lovely creature that we both favored interest in? Yes, sir. Tis true! It was not long ago that we both fell in love with her, yet you were the one who broke the very heart of the woman we both loved and pursued. And in the end, you cast her away into the streets with no means nor support for her and her bastard son. Do not claim yourself righteous, William. You are a horrid man...as am I.”

Lord Darnly sat secluded in his study with nary a candle to give comfort. The manor was deathly quiet except for the low muffled weeping which be heard from the far end of the hall. Darnly drew a deep sigh and his face fell into his hands. He rubbed his eyes and drew another deep breath as to comfort him. Another glass of port passed his lips. This too, gave little comfort. What to do? He thought to himself. He had never been mindful of such things for they had never occurred to him. Life went on around him though he never was one acknowledge such unpleasantness. He drew open the top drawer of his desk. There wrapped in a linen handkerchief was a single lock of red hair. A sharp sudden pain struck Lord Darnly’s heart. Was this regret? Was this dread? He knew not. All he knew was that he was feeling much woeful pain more than any man should. A knock came at his study’s door. “Enter.” He said as he quickly placed the lock of hair into his pocket. As he looked up, it was the nursemaid. “I have made the arrangements, my Lord.” He could tell that even in the dim light she had still been crying. “Is there anything else, my Lord?” Lord Darnly’s face fell once again to a sullen state. “No. Nothing, thank you.” Once again, the house drew quiet, and cold. As the study door drew shut, Darnly pulled from his pocket the red lock of hair and he fell to his knees. “Lilly, I am truly sorry. This was never supposed to happen. What am I to do?” In the far end of the manor stood the nursery in a calm and peaceful state. The nursemaid stood over the child, giving comfort to where no comfort could be given. The soft sounds of a lullaby came from her as she prepared the child dress. “God Speed to you sweet Hector.” She whispered then drew the shroud over him.

His temper rose as he rummaged through his desk. He knew having the babe near to him was a double edge sword. It was part of Lilly, the woman he desired and loved the most, but also a part of that man whom he learn to loath with all his being. He slammed the drawer shut as he took a seat at his desk. He quickly picked up his pen and decided to put an end to this once and for all. “I shall not have my life, and my happiness be challenged by the likes of you, Captain Sterling!” He muttered to himself as he continued to post. He could feel his face turn crimson as his hands shook in anger. “You think you are above the law…above the King’s hand. You shall see! You and your crew will think differently once this letter is received.” He quickly signed his name and sealed the letter with his mark. “Fool!” Again he muttered to himself. “No one crosses me. No one!”

Lord Darnly took to sitting in the shade that day. The summer heat did not agree with him. “Blast this weather! Will this heat never end?” He muttered to himself. Not far from where he sat, Lord Darnly watched the nursemaid tend to the child. He lent forward to view him closer. There dressed in white linen and placed upon a wool drape, the child was content to amuse himself with the wooden toy he had in his possession. As he looked down at the child, Lord Darnly examined him closer. Though this was not the first time he set eyes upon him, he soon explored the features of the child that lay in front of him. Lord Darnly looked intensely at him as if trying desperately to find a trace of his appearance in the boy. First, his hair color was white blonde and very fine. Lord Darnly’s hair was thick and dark…what little was left of it. The boy’s eyes were the loveliest shade of blue. This, he was sure, the babe got from his lovely mother. Upon further examination, the nose was slender and tiny, the cheeks were pink and plump, and the boys ears, for the most part were close to his head and they did not stick out in the same awkward fashion as Lord Darnly’s. With a deep regrettable sigh, Lord Darnly shook his head. “This child is not mine.” Again, he muttered to himself. It was a fear that he did not wish to accept. Now sitting before him was the bastard son of the one man whom he despised. It was Captain Sterling who stole away the only woman he love, it was Captain Sterling who's name was now associated with his in slanderous gossip throughout London. Lord Darnly clutched his fist and pounded his knee in anger. “Damn that Man!” Moreover, with that shout the babe cried out. Lord Darnly gave the nursemaid a scowl. “Hush him! I shall not listen to his crying.” He said as he sat up from his place underneath the willow tree. “I shall return to my study. There is some important business I must conduct. See to it that he takes his nap and I am not to be disturbed. Is that understood?” The nursemaid nodded as collected the child in her arms. With that Lord Darnly returned to the house.

Lord Darnly stood in the main hall for almost an hour before Lord Sterling gave him audience. Memories of great parties, dances, and gatherings swam back into his memory. There was a time this house was filled with laughter and marry-making. Now, the halls stood quiet…deathly quiet. Soon the servant came forward and asked Lord Darnly to follow him. It was in the great study that Lord Darnly found Lord Sterling sitting near the window looking out upon his estate’s gardens. Lord Darnly bowed low and presented himself so. “I find this to be a very odd request.” Lord Sterling said still looking out the window, not giving Lord Darnly one moment of acknowledgement. “You have requested to see me and all this due to the fact you say you have news of my son. I must correct you, Sir….I have no son, not anymore.” Lord Darnly looked somewhat put off by Lord Sterling’s rudeness. “Well, the news in which I bring may bring you some hope or perhaps interest. I have heard that John Sterling, Captain of the Archangel has made his way to Port Royal.” “Is this your news?” Scoffed Lord Sterling. “Need I remind you that he has been dead to me these 6 years? I care neither for him nor of his life.” Lord Darnly moved closer, this time to stand in his path of site. “You say you do not care of him, but what of his son?” Lord Sterling’s face turned sour. “You mock me, Sir? The Whore in which he married only gave him one living child; a girl, as for the two boys …well, they died with their mother the same day they were born. If you have sometime to say to me, say it Robert. I have no patience for tomfoolery!” It was then Lord Darnly nodded his head towards to door where the nursemaid stood. Causally, she entered the room with the baby wrapped in her arms. It was then Lord Sterling stood up from his chair. He looked at the child cradled in the maid’s arms and saw the very eyes of his son. Yet, he was a cautious man, especially where Lord Darnly was concerned. “What is the meaning of this?!” He shouted at Lord Darnly. “What amusement do you cast my way? I have no patience for games!” Lord Darnly just smiled. “I play no games, Sir. It is your grandson, I assure you. The mother, whom is known in the court is very well known and was cherished by the King. She has given the child to me for..for safe keeping. I assure you, Lord Sterling that even though the mother truly loves her son, she wishes back into the arms of its’ proper family and raised as a Sterling. Come now William, this child would be the son you never had. You can raise him properly, make him into the proper young Lord he is.” Lord Sterling finally looked Lord Darnly in the eye. “So, who is the mother?” “Why, Lady Tess St. Claire, you else?” It was then Lord William finally smiled lightly.

The wrinkled letter was clutched tightly in Darnly’s hand. He sat near the blazing fire gazing into it. No words were spoken as he looked distantly into the flames which licked the night air. With a shallow breath he opened the letter again. Lord Darnly, Things have gone poorly. Reginald Killingsworth is dead and there is no sign of Mistress McKinney as of this letter. The Archangel is in dry dock and its’ Captain cannot be found. I shall send word shortly of details soon. Humbly Lady Tess St. Claire Darnly crumples the letter once more then tosses it into the fire. “I have lost patience with all of you fools!” He finally mutters. He looks over at the nurse with the boy in her arms. “Is he sleeping?” Darnly whispers to the nurse. She only nods. “Let’s see if Lord William Sterling would fancy a visit. I am sure he would like to know what his son John has been up to. This would make for an interesting family reunion, would it not?” Lord Darnly said taking a sip of port.

LORD ROBERT BARTHOLOMEW DARNLY aka (Darnly) Physical Description: Well into his years, (middle 50s) he stands about 5’8’. Hair color (shortened hair – though known to show signs of grey) Taken to wearing a wig, Dark brown eyes, and due to his rich lifestyle, he his overweight for his age. Occupation: Lord of Balleybytheway in Northumberland, member of the House of Lords and Parliament. Disposition: Those who know him; fear him. His manipulation of other men and power has gotten him where he is today. He has only befriended a few members of the House of Lords and Parliament. One such person was Lord William Sterling. Yet, the relationship was strained when Lord William cut ties with Darnly after a ‘personnel indiscretion’ with a lady friend they both admired. He has a temper and can be very hostile to those around him. He, like those of his kind, are known to be cruel and show malice whenever possible. Background: His bloodline is pure blue-bloods though out history. Even during the Reformation, his family did not experience the ill-fate of most of their other ‘cousins’. He grew up in the courts of England and France. Born in London, he is the first child of Lord Charles Darnly. His farther died in the war when Cromwell took to the ‘throne’. He is very possessive by nature. He fell for Mistress Lilly McKinney whilst watching her first performance in the Royal Theater. Since then, he has had complete control over her and her life…or so he thought. Now he has instructed his right-hand man, Reginald Killingsworth to fetch Mistress Lilly back from Port Royal and bring her home. He wishes to claim her as his wife.

Robert Darnly paused for a moment in front of the small room that now was the make shift nursary. He looked upon the infant boy and then to the nurse maid who tended to him. It was easy enough to 're-acquire' the child from his hideaway in the north country. No one would ever expect that it was his men who came under cloak of darkness and took the child from his resting place, killing the farmer and his wife then burning the farm down around them to hide the bodies. Robert Darnly's eyes fixed on the child again then walked away from the nursary door. "When you come back Lilly. You have a lot to explain."

-*

In the late hour of evening as he sat in his study writing letters to several of his associates. His hands ached with each pen stroke. The cold air of autumn was creeping in and White Hall soon would be a cold and lonely place once again. He looked up at the clock the across the way on the mantel, then at the window that looked out on Old London Towne. To him, London itself was not empty...but lonely. It offered nothing for him now. His courtesan had run off and the Empress knew nothing of her whereabouts. He thought only of Lilly’s smile and mischievous nature that he grew so fond of. As he reached for the ink, he accidentally knocked over the bottle. Started by his foolishness, he quickly grabbed the blotter and called for his maid servant. A gentle wrapping was heard at the door. As the door opened the young maid-servant to announce and escort his long awaited guest into the room. In the shadows of the study the elegant figure stood in front of Squire Darnly’s desk and waited for his acknowledgement. “The hour is late. I just assumed you were not coming.” His tone was not a happy one. She looked down at ink stained desk as the maid servant quickly made good of it. “I promised I would. I am here. What would you have me do?” He quickly looked up at this mysterious creature. “That’s enough…go now. Bring us back some sherry.” He muttered at the servant girl as he motioned her to leave the mess. “Do you know of me?” The elegant figure nodded slowly. “Good. Then you know what I am capable of. I am on a mission of sorts. I’ve sent a man by the name of Killingsworth to Port Royal some months back to obtain a ‘lost item of great value’. Mistress Lilly McKinney has been in hiding for some time, well…until I received word from Reginald Killingsworth that she was in the company of one, John H. Sterling. “Captain John Sterling?” Said the elegant figure looking surprised at Darnly. “The Captain of the Archangel? Is he still alive?” Looking some what surprised. “Oi, yes, still alive…but not much of a man left, I gather. His title stripped from him, I hear he’s poor as a church mouse!” He smiled at the thought. “Oh, but where was I? Yes, Killingsworth is a worthy employee and some would say advisory, but he, like most of his kind have a flaw or two. His is that he can become a pompous ass. He lets his emotions rule him. Thus, in doing so, he looses sight of the true purpose…a weakness I cannot afford. He cannot be trusted…fully. That is why I made inquires about …you.” Robert Darnly rested himself against the side of his desk and placed his hands together, almost in prayer, extending the two index fingers to his lips. “I’ve heard many things about you and your work. Tell me, are they true?” The elegant figure smiled slyly. “If you’ve heard such things from the living…they are all lies.” Robert Darnly chuckled to himself. Perhaps this creature would be the one who would be able to claim what was his and bring her back. “Name your price.” He said as he collected the contract from a leather binder, tucked under a wooded box. “Squire Darnly, it is bad luck to talk of such things.” Again Darnly chuckled. “You are so superstitious...you and your kind!” She took several steps closer as he turned the paperwork about to her. “Here…make your mark. I shall see to it that a carriage will take you to the Harbor first thing tomorrow morning.” As she took the pen in her hand here deep blue eyes cast their way up to his. “I am happy to be doing business with you, Squire Darnly. And it will be a pleasure to see Captain Sterling again.” She lent over the parchment on in her most elegant of hand, she signed her name….Tess.