An Outlander/Jane Eyre crossover
Chapter 3: Wolverton Hall
An imposing grey stone building, Wolverton Hall looked like the kind of place that would be draughty even in the summer. A thick wood bordered it on two sides and in the pale morning sun it almost melted into the landscape. Boots crunching on the gravelled forecourt, Jamie headed towards the front door. Made of oak, it held a sizeable wrought iron dragonās head as a knocker. Rapping with the metal ring, he took a fortifying breath and waited.
The minutes ticked by and Jamie wondered if the servants had been given the day off. At length, the door opened and he was greeted by a man in his mid-thirties wearing a fine blue coat. Jamie stuck out a hand but way of introduction.
āJames Fraser, pleased to make your acquaintance, Sirā
The man in the blue coatās eyes widened as he took Jamie in.
āGood heavens man, what happened?! Are you all right?ā
No overcoat, arm in a sling, suit torn and muddied: Jamie looked quite the sight. As first impressions go, it was a terrible one. His face fell, convinced heād be turned away from the house before even starting his new job.
āI ah...got into a spot of bother on the way here from Lerwick. But if ye have a laundry I can use...ā
āOh donāt worry about any of that, Iāll have one of the maids sort some clean clothes for you. Do you need a doctor?ā
āNo, Iām fine; really, Mr...?ā
āAbernathy, Joseph Abernathy. Iām the butler here at the hall.ā
To Jamieās great relief Mr Abernathy had a kind face and, smiling, ushered him into the house.
āNow, if youāre sure youāre all right Mr Fraser, at least let me take your bag for you.ā
āThank ye, Mr Abernathyā
Jamie followed his host through to a wood-panelled parlour. Hunting trophies adorned the walls and suspended from the ceiling was a candelabra at least triple the size of a carriage wheel. Mr Abernathy poured Jamie a glass of whisky and bid him to wait while he went to speak to the cook about lunch.
Settling into a plush leather armchair, Jamie sipped his drink - enjoying the heat it brought to his belly. His chair was positioned beside a sizeable fireplace, the fire within crackling and popping as it warmed the room considerably, allowing his bones to begin to thaw from the chilled morningās walk. Despite this, Jamie noticed a definite coldness to the house. It felt like heād walked into a museum rather than a family home.
After being provided with fresh clothes and a bowl of warm water to clean himself up, lunch was served in the butlerās sitting room. Jamie was presented with a steaming bowl of stew and a large chunk of crusty bread, his empty stomach grumbling from the mere site of it. The meat it contained was was juicy and tender, leaving Jamie struggling to remember when heād eaten a cut that wasnāt sinewy and requiring several minutes of chewing in order to swallow it. Those times, he dared to hope, were in the past and he wolfed the meal down, eagerly accepting seconds.
While they ate Mr Abernathy told him about Wolverton Hall. Built by Lord Jonathan Randall in the 1720s, it had remained in the family ever since. The present occupants were the English widow of the late Lord Franklin; Lady Claire and their son Fergus. Eight years old and with a mop of wild brown curls, he was a cheeky lad with a good heart. The information put Jamie at ease considerably.
āIs the family home at present?ā
āNo, her ladyship and Master Fergus are away on business. Weāre not expecting them back until early next weekā
Jamie breathed a sigh of relief. His shoulder would be healed by then; the last thing he wanted was his new employer to think he was unfit to perform his duties.
After lunch, Mr Abernathy showed Jamie to his new room. At the workhouse, bed was a canvas cot in a room with twenty seven others. At the blacksmithās it was a mattress on the floor separated from the workshop by a thin sheet. Walking into his quarters at Wolverton Hall, he was dumbstruck. A canopy bed, writing desk, window overlooking the kitchen garden and a fireplace all to himself. As far as rooms in large houses went, it was perfectly standard, but to Jamie it was a palace.
The rest of the afternoon was spent touring the house and grounds. Marvelling at the fine stable of horses kept at the Estate, Jamie was in awe that all this finery was for the use of just two people. Assuring Mr Abernathy that he was well enough to ride, he saddled a grey speckled mare that afternoon and trotted through the wooded paths surrounding the house. There was so many new areas to discover and despite the chill in the air, Jamie was excited to begin work. It gave him a little thrill to know that heās be back in the saddle again, especially riding horses as fine as those kept at Wolverton Hall.
As he lay down to sleep that night (on what he was quite certain was the softest bed heād ever rested upon), Jamie reflected on the day. Despite their short acquaintance, heād decided Mr Abernathy would be a source of congenial company; something that had been sorely lacking in his life for many years. The Butler was clearly a man of intelligence and Jamie had enjoyed discussing a number of subjects with him over supper. Originally from America, Abernathy had met the Randalls whilst they were travelling through Europe, and having no fixed plans himself had accepted an offer of employment. That had been eight years ago and in spite of the remoteness of the location, he found the situation suited him perfectly.
āPlenty of time for reading, Fraser. My mind can travel, even if my body does not. Do you read?ā
Jamie had nodded in the affirmative and theyād spoken of their favourite tomes; Mr Abernathy offering to show him the library the following day.
āItās an extensive collection, plenty of things to keep oneās wits sharp. Lady Randall is an erudite woman and would be pleased to have another reader in the household Iām sureā
āWhat else can you tell me of Lady Randall? Iām afraid I know very little of my new mistressā
Abernathy smiled at mention of the lady of the house, telling Jamie that when heād first met Lady Randall she was one of the funniest and liveliest people heād come across. Hailing from Oxford, which is where sheād met Lord Randall, theyād married when she was just 17. Doing some quick maths, Jamie was surprised that a woman the mistressā age would be shut away in one of the remotest corners of the country. Intrigued, he wondered if perhaps sheād not recovered from the death of her husband to such a degree that she chose to shut herself away from the world? Keen to understand what heād be dealing with, he pressed the butler further.
āI hope it isnāt out of place for me to ask, but did the passing of Lord Randall affect her deeply? Does she mourn him still?ā
Mr Abernathyās fork hit his plate with a clang. Collecting himself he quickly stood and began clearing the table.
āYes very much. A wonderful man was Lord Randall. A great loss to us allā
It had been clear to Jamie that Abernathy was lying, but the butlerās diverted gaze told him that the subject was closed. Lying in bed hours later, Jamie pondered the reason for Abernathyās reaction. Had Lady Randall been driven mad by grief? Was he worried that Jamie would leave if he knew the true state of his mistress?
Jamie did not have too much time to ponder this, as with a full stomach and a comfortable place to sleep for the first time since heād been forced from his beloved Lallybroch, he was soon drifting into a blissful slumber. When dreams came however, they were not of Wolverton Hall but the golden eyes and gentle touch of the mystery woman in the forrest. Jamie smiled in his sleep.
