Castel WATERFORD the home of the William 6th Earl Waterford was an old building which had been done up in the previous reign. Thus it possessed all of the modern convinces. Very much against the wishes of the previous earl the new water closet had been installed in a number of rooms. The original castle had been built many centuries earlier and had come into the possession of the Earl’s family in the reign of queen Elizabeth of blessed memory having spent a vast fortune the 5th earl had made the stately home as comfortable as possible for its inhabitants. So much so that the current Earl of not forced on occasion to leave it would have spent the entire year here hunting and fishing for the great park presented enough deer great birds and other varieties of game to keep the earl happy content for a very long time of the fishing His Lordship had led Sir Thomas to understand that no where else would one find Salmon and trout of such multitudes that would make a man gasp to see so many and of such great size.
It was to this retreat that Sir Thomas found himself in the company of his lordship now preceded. His children Tom, John Mary and Sophia had recently joined Sir Thomas in London taking passage on a yacht that the Earl had at his disposal for official duties they set sail from London for Ireland on a brisk Autumn day in 1813.
“T’is indeed wonderful to be once more at sea” said Sir Thomas who stood beside his father upon the pop deck. I fancy papa that you enjoy sailing far better then I do “replied Tom whose knuckles showed white from clasping on the taft rail. “Tom a man if he is to make his way in life must endure all types of displeasures and temperaments if he is to gain his fortune and a name for himself. My son mark well my words for one day you will realize that they are most probably the most valuable thing I will have ever given you” said Sir Thomas. “Indeed Sir you have always given me good advice and I count it as advice worth keeping” said Tom “Papa do come and see there are some great ships coming over the horizon I wonder if the Victory is among them said John who was standing on the other side of the deck surveying the ocean to the south.
“Splendid I see there are a number of ships of the Line” said Sir Thomas who had lifted a glass to his eye. “I do not see the Victory amount them but there is the Xenophon see she fly’s the flag of Sir Howe Parker Admiral of the red” said Sir Thomas. “Now when I was a young man not much older then you John I was serving aboard ship of the line there is none quite as splendid as ship of the line. However I must confess that life aboard a frigate is much more to my liking for the ship is close and one gets to know ones men intimately” said Sir Thomas.
Virginia Lady Waterford put aside the brush and pellet the canvas before her portrayed the scène of the sea and cliffs which extended from Castel Waterford. Brushing aside a stray hair which had fallen across her face once more began to concentrate on the canvas
Virginia had a fair complexion like most of her ancestors she took great pride in her complexion the great care she took with her hands was noticeable by there softness her roses and peaches complexion betrayed years of care. She was not a person who had ever had to work hard a day in her life for when she required something she had but to ask her governess. Who would in due season produce the required item.
It pleased her to know that shortly her father would once more be at home; for she loved her dear papa immensely of course her mother seldom left the castle and really traveled more then a day’s journey from the great house. For her ladyship had a fear of been caught away from home in a wild and dangerous country… These fears could be traced back to an incident in her ladyship’s youth when traveling in Europe she had been caught in a great thunderstorm which had resulted in an ever present fear of nature.
Her ladyship was of that race of people who had come over two centuries earlier from Scotland having been settled for generations her family had weathered the various fortunes of the land of Ireland. Thus she was always suspsious of her countrymen and woman of low birth fearing that they wished to do her an injury or a mischief.
Of course the fact that her husband had a propensity for hanging quite a number of the Irish. Be that as it may Lady Virginia was content to spend her days in roaming the cliffs and downs with her governess, enjoying the wilds of nature of which her mother was so much afraid. It was remarkable that an individual who loved nature and love for the good of the people in the village such as lady Virginia was want to do. Could have sprung from the loins if the unlikely couple that were her parents.
For in the company of Lady Virginia the people of county Waterford tended to be themselves allowing her to gain a closer look at the way they really lived whilst when his Lordship was present they would show the greatest respect, a respect born out of fear for it was well known that his lordship the earl was quick to anger and one could if not extremely careful find oneself on the gallows or bound for the convict isle.
“Lady Virginia took up the brush and pellet once more and began to paint “Pray mistress Borden how long do you think it might be before papa will be her?” she asked longingly.
“My lady I have no way of knowing as you know it has been some days now since the last letter from his Lordship” said the governess. “Papa says he is bringing some guests Sir Thomas Sterley and some of his children I do hope there are some young ladies in the party” said Virginia.
“I am sure there might be some young ladies in the party” replied the governess “Indeed that would be such a pleasure to have some new company here some one who has been to London, I was so long last in London that I have quite forgotten how it was, mayhap the young ladies of the party will have some new dresses and news of the latest fashions in the capital” replied Virginia
