Lady Catherine's Fall Ch. 01

"Don't get ideas," She said as she banged her manacled wrist against her chastity belt, "Or that because I have sharp teeth and a strong bite."

"A kiss then, a gentle caress of your," I paused, she had donned a pig swill sack for a smock but it was loose and her breasts were clearly displayed.

"I cannot escape you so I shall ask only for a pastie, or a meat pie, and for that I shall allow that you may caress, suckle, do what you will." she said, "Otherwise I have sharp teeth and pointed elbows."

"Then a meat pie I shall bring," I agreed, "Or shall you accompany me?"

She rattled the chain attached from her manacled ankle to the pigsty wall, "I am afraid I am indisposed."

"So I understand," I answered.

"Do I know you?" she asked.

"You are Lady Catherine, yes?" I asked in reply.

"Yes, I was once on a past life, and you are?" she clearly had not recognised me, perhaps my hard labour had made a man of the boy she once knew..

"An admirer, and a meat pie you shall have," I promised, "And a jam tart if you please me."

"Don't mock, and where have you the money for pies?" she asked, "Pies not promises will win my affections."

I went away in search of pies, I bought a slice at the Red Lion and a jam tart and hurried back, to her.

She devoured the meat pie ravenously, "Oh that tastes so good, warm food." she said and when I gave her the tart she said, "You said if I pleased you? what are your terms.

"None, but should you desire more then entice me!" I suggested as she savoured the sweet water from my flask as she ate.

"Shall you play with my teats?" she asked, "As the yokels do?"

"I should be honoured," I said and I gently slipped her shift from her breast and bent my head.

Her teat stiffened as I touched it, "Oh please do not torment me with gentle kisses take what you will," she pleaded, "Bite me hurt me but do not love me for I cannot bear it."

"You do not welcome my attentions?" I asked.

"No, not this, let me relieve you swiftly I shall not bite I promise, you may use my lips." she said and I kissed her full on the lips and she recoiled, "No your member!" she cried, "I shall not bite."

I undid my breeches feeling unsure of myself, "Oh, my it's, ah it's bigger than," she said.

She looked so apprehensive, so lovely, I imagined for second how her passage might be, all golden fur and anticipation beneath the iron straps and it happened, uncontrollably my emission started, splattering her chin and nose and eyelids, "You beast you betrayed me!" she squealed.

I apologised, "You are too beautiful," I stammered, "allow me." I took my hand kerchief and moistened it and wiped the seed from her face, "You should have allowed my kisses," I suggested, "Promise me a long passionate kiss and you shall have a chicken leg and apple pie next time pass."

"And leave me all wanting, I think not, I should rather starve." she said, "But I shall steel myself to suckle you, for a pie, if you please?"

I left her to her labours, except I had a question, "Why did you steal the ring?"

"I never stole anything!" she insisted, "Francis gave it to me!" she insisted, it amused me so I wore it and then when I refused Francis his Mother insisted it were hers and had I stolen it!" she explained, "But why your interest?"

"Oh, I suppose, well I'm no great catch," I said, "But I own I should like to lay abed with you when your labour ceases."

She hit me, "That is twenty lashes," I said, "Now say you'll wed me and it will be forgotten."

"No, lash away, never." she averred.

"Then I shall petition your father!" I announced.

"You are cruel with these games," she insisted, "I shall rather eat pig's swill than endure your company and eat pies and tarts, chocolate even."

"Fare well then my beauty," I said and trudged away, but I returned on horseback, "Until the morrow," I said and threw her my horse blanket before riding away.

I went again to the Earl's house, riding horseback this time, all dressed like a Gentleman and I was accepted as such, and invited in directly, "Begging your pardon sir but whom should I tell his Grace for I cannot recall your name."

"Matson, John Matson," I replied, "I came once before." I explained.

The old fool was too impressed by my attire to realise who I was and invited me to wait in the parlour, and the Earl appeared presently, "Matson, son of Gerald Matson," he said, "I seldom forget a face.

"Indeed your Grace." I replied.

"Have you been ennobled?" he chuckled, "Or are you Black Ned the highwayman?"

I laughed, "No indeed, I am a failed adventurer who sought riches in the Americas and succumbed to sea sickness before I passed the Scillies but I had some luck mining in Cornwall, enough for a suit of clothes and a horse in any case."

"And your reason for calling?" he asked.

"Catherine," I replied.

"There is no Catherine here, I have disowned her entirely, what happens to her interests me not a fig." he said more with sorrow than anger.

"Then you have no objection if I woo her, offer wedlock perhaps?" I asked.

"You, a fraudster with a suit and a horse and no fortune, indeed you should be a perfect match, go to her, woo her fornicate should wish, I shall find the key to her chastity belt, if you have a shilling."

"Sir," I protested, but he was searching his pockets, and drew out a silver key.

"Here, now go wallow in the pig sty and fornicate to your hearts content." he said.

I found a shilling and placed it upon the table, "There was the matter of of a ring," I explained, "I have a great fondness for Catherine and would wish to have her innocence proven."

"Oh she had a penchant for rings," he explained, "It brought her downfall, an antique of the thirteenth century by its marks I believe, hugely valuable, hugely embarrassing, so I shall ask you to kindly never darken my door again should you consort with her, and now if you will excuse me," he said quite quietly as he stood to leave, and to my surprise as he left the room he pocketed my shilling.

It was quite strange, indeed very strange to be given a free hand with the Lady Catherine, indeed although the light was fading I went to see her forthwith, but she was sleeping contentedly under my horse blanket so I let her lie.

I said not a word to Father or Mother but next day I bought roast chicken leg, and an apple pie and some special chocolate with soft centres containing fine wines which I took to her, but the Earl's pig man was chastising her for possessing a horse blanket.

"She is keeping it safe for me," I informed him as I approached, but already he had struck her several times across the shoulders with a rough branch he had broken from a tree nearby.

"And who be you?" he asked.

"Two pence for you to make yourself scarce," I explained, "I am come to woo the maid."

"Ha!" he laughed but twopence was sufficient for him to quench his thirst in ale and as I proffered it so he grasped it and hurried away.

"You came back?" Catherine exclaimed.

"Indeed ," I agreed, "Are you pleased to see me?"

"If that's the smell of chicken," she smiled, "Tell me are you John, Gerald Matson's son?"

"I am and it is indeed," I agreed, "But there is a price." I handed the chicken to her and Catherine gnawed hungrily upon the chicken leg and peered at me. I dangled the key to her chastity belt. She stopped chewing.

"How?" she asked, "How did you?"

"Your father sold it for a shilling." I told her and her eyes welled with tears, she sobbed softly, "I shall claim you when you are released, first you shall bathe and then we shall find a soft bed and then I shall claim you."

"Do you not desire me?" she asked, "Now, like this?"

"I can wait," I admitted, "But can you resist me," I produced the pie, and then the chocolates.

"No!" she admitted, "I cannot."

I just smiled and enquired about the ring, "It was antique," she replied," A Mr Allenbroke testified as to its antiquity, it seems they can tell from the marks when the ring was made, for myself I thought it but a trinket."

"And where is the Ring now?" I asked.

"I know not." she explained.

I went not to the house but sought instead the Judge Grant. He knew of my father and so he allowed me an audience for ten minutes as he was very busy, yet he called his man to cancel his appointments when I explained the situation and that I was enamoured of Catherine and I had grave doubts about the evidence against her.

"Did they have the provenance, the chit from the Jeweller's?" I asked.

"From my recollection a Mr Allenby of Allenby and Gough, the jewellers to Lord and Lady Gower produced a record that the ring was resized some years ago for Lady Fowler's ancestor," the Judge remembered, "And he read the assay marks with a spy glass and indeed gave a precise date of manufacture some hundreds of years prior."

"So it sounded correct," I agreed, "Except Assay stamps don't give the century merely the year it may be thirteenth or fifteenth or sixteenth century from the style, but not from the marks sir."

"You have sowed a seed of doubt Mr Matson," The Judge agreed, "A seed no more, but I shall make enquiries, indeed I shall."

I thanked him for his time and went home. Father was in an irritable mood, and after dinner he tackled me, "You say you have a fortune?" he asked.

"Indeed," I agreed, "A small one."

"As long as it was honestly obtained," he said, "Every wench in the County will pursue you if this is known." he averred, "How I wish I had a tenth of a fortune to spend," he said.

"Then I shall repay what you lent me and more, a hundred pounds, but keep it between us." I insisted. He smiled broadly.

"Tis good to hear John but it will be even better when it is in my hand."

I found him a silver ingot from my room, "A deposit," I insisted, yet we both knew it was far more than I owed.

I went to see Catherine again, the swine herd had whipped her again when she bit his appendage while he sought to take advantage and her blanket was stolen so I found her a blanket and a hot meal, and I worried that the winter weather might yet see her perish.

"Don't John," she said as I sought to kiss her, "My mouth is foul with the Swineherds emissions."

"Poor poor Catherine," I said.

"If you will you may," she whispered softly, "Claim me as your own."

"Claim you?" I asked.

"Take away the iron," she invited, "If you will."

"Not until you are proven innocent," I agreed.

I stayed with her and regaled her with tales of Cornwall, "Did you get my ring?" I asked, "I made several, but I despatched the first to you by messenger, I engraved With my Love JM inside it, just a simple trinket."

"No, I never received any trinket, Francis gave me a fine antique ring and then denied the gift which is why I languish here," her eyes welled with tears, "So please never speak of rings again."

I told her something about my fortune which I admitted to being in excess of two hundred pounds, after the repayment of fathers loan.

"So I shall not enjoy finery as Mrs Matson," she laughed, and then she went deathly white, "I am so sorry, I presume too much."

"Will you marry me?" I asked, "I shall not kneel because of the pig muck but please say you will Catherine."

She laughed, her eyes full of tears and incongruous in her filth, and she said so sweetly, "If you can love me then that is my fondest wish."

I went home with the failing light leaving her to gather sufficient hogs around her to keep her warm through the long cold night.

"His Honour Judge Grant wishes to see you John," Father announced when I returned, "He said it was of the greatest urgency."

I went to his chambers with the greatest speed and once there I was at once ushered into his presence, "Ah Matson," he said, "The ring, I do believe young Fowler may have given it to Miss Maisey Fellows, Theodore Fellows gal, the merchant do you know."

"Sir?" I said.

"I make enquiries sir, when my decisions are questioned I make enquiries," he said "And I have spoken to Mr Fellows and he has agreed we may question Maisey."

"Indeed?" I queried.

"I shall send for her directly," he said and shouted for his man, "And tomorrow at Ten o'clock we shall meet at Mr George Ratner's emporium, a short walk away," he ordered, "Ten sharp mind."

I went directly to the George Inn where I put up and in the morning, and when I was woken with a wonderful breakfast served in bed I dressed and with a flurry of activity I quickly found myself hurrying to the Ratner emporium, the Judge greeted me, "In the back room," he ordered, "And listen."

Miss Fellowes was a striking young woman, she strode into the shop on Haven Street accompanied by her maid and her Mother, "How dare you summon me," she snapped, "Mama has invited Mr Fowler this evening."

The judge smiled, "It is your ring," he said, "Antique silver, very rare,"

"A present from Mr Fowler," she said, "What of it?"

"We believe one like it was stolen from Winchester Cathedral." the Judge said misleadingly, "May I see?"

She pulled it from her finger, "It may have been but Mr Fowler gave it to me." she insisted.

"And your dowry Miss Fellowes the Judge enquired.

"A thousand pounds or in that region," the Mother explained.

They handed the ring to Mr Spey, Mr Ratner's man and by turns they examined it minutely, "It may well be the one." Mr Ratner agreed, the hallmark, do you see, oh four, we had better see where Mr Fowler obtained it."

"May I see?" I asked, ordinarily all rings looked much the same but this was little different to those Barrington and I had cast at Wheal Grace and when they allowed me the use of the glass and I also examined the ring, although I knew very well, it was the Truro hallmark.

It did look very familiar, and plain, I expected a dazzling array of diamonds but this was simply plain, I peered closely, there was an inscription HM and suddenly it hit me that it was my own ring,

"Ah, Cornwallis," Mr Sprey agreed, "Like the Winchester ring." before I could gather my thoughts.

The judge gave Miss Fellowes a receipt for the ring and asked that he might interview Mr Fowler later, and so it was that with the Fowlers gone Mr Ratner turned to Sprey and in the presence of the Judge he said, "I would say this century."

"That is the Truro Stamp," I averred, "See the nick along the bottom line, I have stared at that enough times."

"Indeed Mr Matson?" Mr Sprey asked, "In what capacity?"

"Miner, extractor, and a very poor Silver-smith," I replied, and taking my own ring I said, "See here, a ring I made myself," and as they looked I added, "With the Truro stamp."

They peered and peered again, and took their books and peered in them and then at the ring again and then Mr Sprey said, "Indeed, that is the new Truro Assay office stamp, and that is no antique, indeed the two rigs could have come from the same cast!"

"They did," I said, "The Fellows one was inscribed with my love HM, the HM is still visible the rest gone where the ring was re sized." I paused, "I sent it to Catherine anonymously as a token." I admitted.

We ate our dinner in the servants quarters at the Emporium, the Judge, myself, Mr Ratner and Mr Sprey the Jeweller, and afterwards we were joined by Lieutenant Gervais and five soldiers of the militia and we went to the Fellowes abode and there we waited for Mr Fowler.

Mr Fowler had barely walked in the house when the Judge approached him, "Mr Fowler, I have to question you about an antique silver ring."

"What ring?" he asked.

"This one," the Judge announced as he pulled the ring from his pocket.

"It was mother's" he said, "Why?"

"Then we shall interview her, come." he ordered, and turned to me. "Mr Matson, I suggest you proceed homewards and meet me at my chambers at nine tomorrow."

I went home and I fretted and I was thoroughly bad company and indeed I slept badly and I eventually rose at dawn.

The Judge was indisposed when I attended, and his manservant sent me down to the courthouse in Frenshaw square where a goodly number of people were already there and I became aware that the court was rapidly filling, the older Mr Fowler father of Francis Fowler was in the seats behind me looking grim and at once angry and worried,and then when I was seated for a half hour the Judges clerk ordered "All Rise," and the Judge appeared.

"If it pleases the first case is Rex versus Fowler. Perjury." the clerk announced. "Fetch the prisoner."

"If it pleases your worship," an insignificant little lawyer announced.

"No it doesn't please me bring Franics John Hunstanton Fowler." he ordered and when Fowler appeared from the cells escorted by militia the judge wasted no time, "Where did you obtain this ring?" he asked, "Or must I summon Miss Fellowes to testify you gave it to her."

"It was mother's, a family heirloom," he lied.

"So let us call Mrs Fowler." he ordered.

"I must protest," the lawyer complained.

"Silence!" the Judge ordered, "Mrs Fowler, if you please."

She strode in from the waiting room, "So where did you obtain this antique ring?" he asked.

"From my mother and from her mother before her," she lied convincingly.

"And this is the one?" he asked and had the clerk show her the ring.

"Yes, this is the one I gave dear Francis for his beloved." she replied.

"The one the Lady Catherine stole?" the Judge asked.

"Why yes!" she agreed.

"Then how do you explain the Truro oh four Assay mark." the Judge asked.

"My Lord," the lawyer insisted on being heard, "Truro is an ancient Assay office and one cannot tell in which century a piece was marked, merely the year from nought to ninety nine but no more."

"I thank you," The Judge replied, "And when did the Truro office cease to stamp with the Cornwallis stamp and begin to use Truro."

"I have no idea," the Lawyer confirmed.

"Mr Ratner, can you enlighten us," the Judge asked.

"Some ten years ago sir." he replied.

"You fool Francis," Mrs Fowler cried.

"I ah," Francis sought desperately for an answer.

"You lied that this is an antique ring and lied also that Lady Catherine stole the ring" the Judge suggested.

"No," he protested uselessly.

"Enough!" the Judge ordered, "I order that Francis John Hunstanton Fowler and Lady Hermione Desdemona Ruth Fowler be detained securely until this Friday week when they shall be tried for perjury, and that Miss Catherine formerly Lady Catherine Howarth be arrested and brought before me for retrial on charges of theft also on Friday, I shall receive applications for bail for both matters in my chambers after this hearing.

I slumped in my seat, the business of the trial of Manningham, Lord Grey's Gamekeeper for theft of pheasants and Mister Johns for the theft of a Horse which he had apparently not stolen at all washed over me until at length the Judge retired.

I approached and offered bail for Catherine, "How much do you offer?" he asked.

"I have twenty guineas here, sir," I offered.

"Ten will suffice," he said, "I shall send word, but she will need clothing so spend your ten guineas wisely."

I had little time so I a few servants smocks were all I could obtain, and I was at Trentham Gaol when the Militia brought Catherine back. She was dressed in a Militiaman's tunic, "I have come to stand bail" I announced and when I paid the bail the guard released her manacles.

"You?" she said, as I handed her a clean smock, "And where shall you take me?"

"Home?" I suggested.

"Have you soap, towelling?" she asked.

"No but I have funds." I announced.

"Then take me to soap and water." she demanded.

I had funds indeed but she was unwelcome in any shop so I purchased such for her and a hair comb and soft leather slippers then we rode together to the river to Boulby bridge where the road crossed the Trentham river on numerous small low arches and after tethering the horse she slipped over the parapet and casting aside her smock she slipped into the breast deep crystal clear water.