An Aristocrats guide to Gentlemen and Goldfields

Chapter 1

Edward

I lay dozing under one of the many tall oak trees that were at intervals across our expansive estate. The sun was out and it had become quite comfortable. I flicked a page absentmindedly in leather bound tome. I was meant to be reading. But frankly I had better things to look at it.

Across from me, polishing one of the coaches stood a rugged Scottish Adonis. Lucas Fraser, a tall, well taller than me at least, broad shoulders with muscular arms that had grown through physical labour. There was a reason I had spent much of youth secretly and not so secretly pining after him.

“Lucas. Aren’t you finished yet” The gruff shout from the curmudgeonly Head coach man, Mr Griffith

I rolled my eyes, so many of the staff were old and bitter. Lucas like myself had grown up around Harrison Hall, the large estate in Somerset. Although in my case he wasn’t born into privilege. His Mother had been Nanny to my twin sister Kitty and I. Lucus had been educated alonside us, largely I suspect to keep us on task. He was probably my dearest friend, emphasis on dearest. There were days where running off with him to Scotland, India or other parts of the Queens realm sounded delightful.

“I’m just polishing it Sir. Otherwise i’ve finished” Lucas answered, the Scottish lilt drifting through his words. It drove me at times to bedlam, or at least stained bed sheets.

“Have the stalls are mucked out?” He snapped, I could already imagine the spital presumably with bits of chewing tabacco mixed in flying out with aggravation.

“Yes Sir” Lucas replied.

“Then go have lunch. I’ll find you in an hour. The Master needs to be picked up from the station.” Mr Griffith answered tugging on his waistcoat and stomping away.

I shook my head and turned a page. Noticing as Lucas pulled a bottle from out behind one of the wheels and took a swig. Before walking toward me. “I can’t take much more of this” Lucas commented as he sat down next to me, a mangled tree root between us.

“Give it to the winter. One of the staff is bound to die, and you’ll get a promotion” I commented dismissively. As I replaced the bookmark in my page.

“I don’t think I’ll last that long Edward” Lucas said taking another swig of the liquid.

“Drinking during the day. Mrs Creedy will have a fit” I grinned rolling onto my back.

“If I get caught. I shall blame you” Lucas grinned cockily and offered me the bottle. His smile was gorgeous, so disarming.

“She would believe that. Although your mother wouldn’t” I pointed out as I took a swig of rum.

“Well. I spoke to your father on Wednesday, before he last went to London. I’ve offered my resignation.”

“You’ve what?” I sat up suddenly practically spitting out the rum I had been attempting to swallow.

“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in servitude” Lucas insisted.

“Really? It’s better than some are doing. Better than half of London for that matter” I said irritation rising.

“Look. I’ve already paid for passage. I’m going to Melbourne, the gold rush. I’ve been reading about it, all these Men finding gold. If I struck rich I could be set for life.”

“Or die destitute in the process.”

“Cheery aren’t you” Lucus commented amused. “But what else there for me here.”

I went to speak but paused, “I suppose if Father has his way and sends me off to University. I could have you attend me as a Vallet. However...”

“Precisely nothing” Lucas nodded.

He’d already decided. The stubborn git, I felt sick with frustration. Why was he allowed to go off and find his fortune and I was stuck here. The spare heir incase my brother chokes, although given how fat he was getting that was quite a possibility. But honestly it wasn’t fair. “What of us? Hmm?”

“Ed” Lucas sighed. I bristled, i dested being called Ed. The only ones who said were Lucas and Kitty. She only did it because it riles me up. “Your a toff. You have other friends.”

“Then please kindly point them in my direction” I snapped getting up and grabbing my book. “Well. I suppose if you leaving than I wish you well” I muttered, although my tone suggested otherwise.

“Don’t have a fit. How else would this go?”

“I don’t know!” I said gesturing. “But you are on of the few people who makes all of this tolerable.”

Lucas visibly tensed, his face flushed red. “That was a mistake.”

“Was it?” I said stopping cooly. “I didn’t think so.” I went off in a strop, ignoring Lucas’s calls behind me.

(Maybe insert Manor description)

I slammed open the front doors shaking my head. “The imbicille” I said wanting to break something.

“What’s got you in a flap?” Katherine asked as she swept down the stairs. My twin sister was undeniably pretty, she had narrow face with brown eyes and plump lips, brown hair was curled and assembled into some unfathomable hairstyle. Her dress was a pale blue made up of layers over of petticoats puffed outward.

“Ed, Come off it. Don’t make a scene” Lucas called after me. Frankly it made me seethe even more than I already had.

“Mr Fraser, household staff are to use the Side Entrance” Mr Boyle the Butler intoned appearing at the sound of the ruckus.

“Dismissed Mr Boyle” I said turning anger in my eyes. “I am busy having an argument with Lucas, I don’t have any desire to be interrupted over trifles of etiquette” I snapped. Mr Boyle looked rather shocked by attitude and stepped back suddenly.

“Edward” Lucas said shaking his head.

“If your quite content to go off and throw away our friendship.”

Katherine folded her arms and smiled as she leaned against the bannister. “You know are the only person in the whole household who doesn’t know. Because we all know you’d react like this” She commented cooly. I wanted to slap her. But she was stronger than me so it had never been worth it.

“Lucas? Is that true? Well?”

Lucas remained silent, and shuffled his feet. “Yes. Purely because...”

I looked at the roof above, trying to compose my thoughts. “Well then. I’ll make sure to see you off” I said and headed upstairs, desperate to find a room I could unleash my frustrations in.

“I wish you a terrible voyage!”

❧

Katherine

❧

"Not too tight” I requested to the ladies maid as she pulled the corset, “If I could breathe, I would appreciate it.”

“Yes Ma’am” She nodded as she tied off the lacing. I ran my hand down the front. It was a rather plain corset, but it had served me well and the ivory boning was rather sturdy. I looked at my reflection in the mirror my nickers covering my legs, while the corset supported my rather average bust. My dress a pink morning dress covered in embroidery, It was slipped over me and tied up. I swirled checking how comfortable I felt before slipping into the shoes Allette had laid out for me.

There was a knock on the door, the familiar wrapping of knuckles signalling that it was “You mustn't let him in. Mrs Creedy is furious with him” Allete hissed.

“It’s Lucas, he’s hardly some cad” I said looking at her sighing.

“People will talk, You’re a lady ma’am”

“Am I? How dull?” I chuckled and opened the door, ignoring the squeaking protests from my ladies maid. Lucas stood their his reddish hair looked suitably unkept and a cotton shirt far simpliar than his usual Household attire. “Has my father at least provided you a coach to the station?” I asked.

“Me Dad is going take me in the wagon. See me off” Lucas said his hands shoved into his pockets.

“I wish you weren’t going. Ed is already intolerable” I commented.

Lucas gave me a sympathetic smile, “He’s hurt. I don’t blame him. Out friendship would have always ended up like this.”

“Perhaps. And ours?” I asked smiling innocently.

He grinned, and I tried not to swoon. “Your destined for better things. One of these days a handsome man is going to come along and sweep you off your feet.”

I practically gagged in discomfort, “hardly, I have no desire to end up like my sister. Doing everything possible to keep my husbands wandering eye interested.”

“There are times when you and Edward aren’t that different” Lucas chuckled.

“It’s stubbornness. Family trait” I commented haughtily.

“I should leave before Allette has a fit” Lucas said waving to her politely. She nodded back, refusing to make eye contact.

“I suppose. You’ll write?”

“I’ll try. I don’t know how long it’ll take for any to arrive” Lucas cautioned.

I nodded and held my hand out, he gripped it tightly, his calloused fingers running over my palm. “Be safe. I’ll pray for you.”

Lucas smiled appreciatively, his cheeks flushing slightly. “Goodbye Kitty.”

“Goodbye” I replied, my stomach tightening as I felt my heart ache. I leaned close and kissed his cheek gently. “Goodbye Lucas.”

He nodded stoically. Pressed his hands into his pockets and walked down the corridor.

I stood in the doorway and felt my eyes water, I dabbed at them gently with a handkerchief. I was envious that he could walk away, start a new life. I knew I’d never be afforded that luxury.

I withdrew back into my room and composed myself. Allete didn’t speak on it, I was appreciative of that. She tidied and left the room and I sat on my bed for a while, considering things.

Chapter 2

I’d Rather Be Me

It turns out when your dearest friend of nineteen decides to leave for the antipodean continent. It’s a rather traumatic experience.

Who ever knew?

It also only seemed to highlight to my father how far I had fallen from the tree. Particularly in regards what a sensible Englishman should be.

The one saving grace I discovered were secret mens clubs and copious amounts of alcohol. Because it turns out a rich boy with money to throw around is delightfully popular. But it was nothing but a passing fancy, a distraction. Something to fill the emptiness lingering since Lucas had absconded. Sure there was the occasional letter but it was a poor substitute.

Kitty had long since stopped letting me complain to her. But frankly given she was the only other person who was friends with him. It came of as rather cold hearted. Lucas wasn’t dead, he ought to be here at home. With us. I didn’t give a care if he we had to hand him half a farm to make him stay. But I needed him. He kept me sane, made me laugh and godforbid he was a joy to stare at.

I had more dreams about caressing his naked body than I had prayers to god. Who is fine, but frankly he’s obviously screwed up making me. If he could at a minimum have given me the ability to fein even a passing interest in women it would save a lot of face.

Instead I was forced to deal with ‘The Incident.’

On an occasion when I elected to accompany my father to London for the opening of parliament. London was still frightfully cold, and on an evening I had gone out to a club. It was on the seedier side of town, so much so I had paid a handsome to wait nearby if I needed a quick escape.

Over a few drinks. I met a thin young man, he worked as an Accountant in Kensington. He was boyishly cute with thick sideburns, his hair was quiffed. It wasn’t long before I had begun kissing him, my hands reaching under his shirt. By late evening and under the influence of many drinks. I brought him back to my Family’s London appartments. We had buggered each other until we fell asleep. However in the morning on the footman, who frankly seemed so ancient I was impressed he was still alive. Came in to open the windows and allow light in. I may have been half asleep but the look of horror at the sight of the shirtless man snoring next to me had obviously been too much. He had walked out, with little composure, and then keeled over in the hallway outside my door. The shock of my desire for men causing the old man to give up the ghost.

My father was rightly horrified. So was the man I slept with, who was terrified the incident would cost him job. It wouldn’t of course my father was too proud for the incident to drift further than the stables.

But it unfortunately meant my father now looked at me in a different light. I was now tarnished and a problem. His suggestions for university had increased, to straighten me out. Mother who was equally horrified and on several occasions had commented that she didn’t know what she’d done wrong to birth a Nancy.

In all honesty bringing me to my wits end. At a certain point even my bravado was beginning to slip and a stay in bedlam looked more favourable than my parents continued worries.

I had begun making plans, which for me was especially difficult. I wasn’t much of overthinking everything into mania. But with the fleeting letters from Lucas.

Which I will disclose sounded frankly rough. Nevertheless it would be a clean break, a growing colony with the name of our Queen. It all relied on my fathers reaction. It was breakfast, mother hadn’t come down and neither had my brothers wife. The table was set neatly with its polished cutlery, the fire was already crackling in the grand fireplace. My father who was showing his age, sat in a chair, his jacket barely closing around his fat middle. His hair which was thinning and a red round face. My brother who had been tall and narrow, was starting to resemble my father in width and looks which concerned me greatly. Although he still had most of his hair. Good living was one thing, but the Idea I could end up resembling them horrified my greatly. Stout would never be a term used to describe me.

“Good morning” I offered sitting down, as I nodded toward my father.

“Morning Edward. I heard you were up late.”

“In the library. Hardly anything to worry over” I said through gritted teeth, as I looked up and saw my brother following.

“Morning Father” Kitty said sweetly, as she kissed my fathers cheek and walked past me. “I saw your notes” she hissed as she sat.

I tensed in my chair and she grinned like a tiger from a circus. “Just a passing fancy” I said staring her down as subtly as possible.

She stared unflappably back at me. I detested how well she knew me. “There’s a party at the Williamson’s estate on Saturday, Kitty you ought to come. Their son is looking for a wife and he’s expressed interest in you” My brother suggested as he cut into a peice of bacon

I smiled as Kitty’s expression soured like she’d bit into a lemon. I hardly blamed her, the Son in question was well known for ending up in opium dens and unsuccessfully gambling huge swathes of fortune. “Perhaps” She said regaining composure. “I don’t know if I feel up for a party. Women’s business.”

While it was midly entertaining to watch the colour drain suddenly from my brothers face. As he stuttered and muttered awkward protests. Kitty was lying through her teeth.

“Oh you must. You could show off that new dress your father spent all that money on” Mother said as she walked in.

“Mother I.”

“Nonsense Katherine you cannot avoid it forever. Men don’t bite” Mother said as she sat down. She was perhaps a little dowdy, but her clothes were always elegant and hair was perfect. She was always determined to have all eyes on her. And I absolutely adored that about her. “Good morning Mummy” I smiled at her sweetly.

She smiled indulgently at me. “Good morning Ed your looking quite handsome this morning.”

“Thankyou Mummy I do try” I smiled as I smiled at Kitty.

Who rolled her eyes back at me.

Behind her waddled in my older sister, her Husband some utter bore called Archibald had sent to her stay for a few weeks while he sailed to France. I suspected it was to gamble and sleep with women who didn’t look like they were growing a horse inside of them. Like Kitty my older sister had been effortlessly beautiful. However since having my rather tedious nephews, she started to look less effortless and more obviously trying.

“I didn’t expect you to be down for breakfast?” I commented to them both.

“Well it isn’t often your all home” Mother smiled back at me.

“Yes” I scratched at my neck, now my task was sounding less and less easy by the moment. “Well perhaps that’s good. Yes. Erm well...” I stood to my feet. “I have an announcement I wish to make.”

“Please tell you have a fiancé” My brother commented sneering.

“No. If you’ll kindly let me finish” I curtly answered pressing my palms to my hips. “Are you done? Good. Now as I was trying to say. I have decided that I am going to leave for Victoria.”

“The Queen?” My mother said confused. “Your joining the army?”

“No. Mother. The colony of Victoria” I replied simply. “Given recent events, I’ve been considering that it might be a just course in action”

“You mean The Incident?” Kitty smiled at me cocksure.

“What incident?” My pregnant sister frowned.

“The one where little Eddie was found in bed with a young man. That drove an elderly man to the grave?”

“Don’t be crude. It was all a misunderstanding” Mother insisted. But even I could tell she was deluding herself over it.

I looked at my father who had until this point remained silent. “And what would you do?”

“Well my intent is to setup at the Goldfields. Perhaps a business of some-kind, certainly I know there is money to be had” I said firmly. That was the bit I hadn’t really figured out. “But I wouldn’t intend to come back. Unless something were to happen to you two of course.”

My father nodded his chin wobbling. Considering it.

“Father. You can’t indulge him, he barely survived Eaton. Edward will be sent back in a coffin.”

“Hardly. I’ll keep him out of trouble” Kitty insisted.

“You what?” I said practically choking.

“I’ll obviously coming. I’m hardly going to let you go halfway around the world without me.”

“Both of you. Calm down, neither of you are going anywhere. Ed sweetie. We’ll get you a nice wife, and you’ll forget all about this nonsense” Mother insisted.

“Where’s the food. I’m aching” Kitty commented.

“Edward. May I speak with you” Brother said standing up, and gesturing to the door.

I nodded and followed him. Looking at my sister in confusion. Why would she want to join me, I was doing it to exile myself. Not as a pleasure jaunt.

Brother led me down the corridor to the sitting room. The servants had been hovering outside the dining room. Brother gestured to them to begin serving in our absence.

“You wanted to talk?” I asked innocently.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to exile yourself. I think you ought to be seeing a priest or perhaps a stay in (Psyhchiatric care)

“Oh you are witty” I muttered rolling my eyes. “I have spent more than enough of my youth praying for the urges to go away. But I have come to realise that I am unable to change it. It’s how I am, God made me this way for a reason perhaps as entertainment” I muttered.

“God wouldn’t want you” Brother sneered.

I laughed, I couldn’t help it. “Don’t act so religiously pias. We both know my measly acts of buggary compare to the women you’ve paid for pleasure. I’m sure they were worth every pound.”

Brother huffed at me. “Father has always been to soft with you. No wonder you’ve ended up like this. Too spoilt.”

“Yes yes. Please keep insulting me. How clever of you” I said rubbing asking away dragging a finger over the chair. “Is there a point to this. Hmm?”

“I’ll make sure father allows you to leave. He is an old man, but it’s obviously the best thing for the family. For you to leave on your terms”

“Quite” I said pressing back on my heals.

“I don’t think I ought to let him give you any money.”

“If he doesn’t give me my inheritance. I will make sure to beg in the town streets. Be a nuisance and a wart on our family legacy” I replied darkly. “You know it’s better to do it. Let me slip away quietly. Allow mother and father to think that their precious son is doing it willingly. That I may come home one day” I said with a wistful smile.

“Katherine comes home after a year”

“Katherine isn’t coming with me at all” I replied simply. “She has the hope of being normal. I’m aware that my desires are deviant. I might be her twin, but I’m not dragging Kitty down with me.”

“Katherine is absolutely joining you” Kitty said from the doorway. She promptly walked over and slapped brother hard across the face. “You are an absolute arse. I can’t believe you’d even say things like that to Ed. He might desire men, but he’s hardly a criminal.”

“Insolent brat!” Brother raged at us, cradling his cheek.

“I didn’t slap you. That was all her.” I pointed out unhelpfully.

“Do you want my help?”

“I didn’t need it?”

“Yes you did. Your a mess, honestly you couldn’t survive in the wilderness for a day alone.”

“Thank you for your pronouncement”

“Are you two finished. So your both going to leave, Kitty you ought to stay. I’ll have a marriage arranged.”

“If you do try. I will happily put my shoe in your ass” Kathrine glared. “Shall we have breakfast. Mother is quite pressed.”

“Come along Ed. We must discuss our plans.”

“My plan. My plan” I said frustrated, following after her.

Chapter 3

Kitty

Mother wasn’t impressed, and too his credit neither was father. The idea of both Edward and I sailing off into the unknown with the intention of never returning scared them. I understood that they’d grown up with stories from The Times, Australia the far-off land where all our hardened criminals were exiled to never return. Mother was in my ear talking of ruffians and gamblers and men who had no morals.

It wasn’t that different to home. I wasn’t naïve and too many of my aristocracy acted with less morale fiber than our poorer counterparts. Men tended to believe they were beyond approach. Victorian morals might have been what they labored on about in church. But only the ones convenient to preventing women to succeed.

Mother had been against this since I got a copy of The Westminster Review from father. I don’t actually think he knew what he purchased for me, but inside the words of Harriet Taylor Mill spoke to me. How as a female I was expected to be domestic taken on womanly duties, bare children and tend the home. Certainly, being from a rich family, I was expected to marry well and be there to plan balls, parties and support my future husbands' status. I noticed most between myself and Edward, as Children while our personalities differed, we grew up alongside each other. We were dressed similarly until he was Breeched and forced in trousers, I remember him crying on many occasions when he wasn’t allowed to be dressed like I was. We were both educated to read and write at school, and at home this was encouraged by Mrs. Fraser, but while my brother went on to receive a more formal education at Eton. Where he brought home books on history, mathematics, geography and literature. I was taught more feminine pursuits.

We were forced onto different paths, which was nonsence. I was smarter than him, and he knew it. Honestly if I had been interested in the same sex. I’m not, men are stupid but they can be attractive when not acting like imbeciles. But if I had been, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to get caught. My brother was far too precious to have attempted this if circumstances hadn’t forced his hand. I still had absolutely no idea what he planned to do when he got there. I did ask, but he was evasive which was typical.

“We’ll settle down, we have money. We’ll invest in something” he said as he went through his clothes. Tossing shirts into a pile.

“Do you know where we’re going?”

“Melbourne and then Ballarat. We are to sail from Liverpool I believe” He explained.

I sat down on the side of his bed arms crossed, “when?”

“I believe a boat leaves later this week. I sent a letter enquiring about tickets, and they said it would be fine as long as I arrived in good time. First class obviously” He added quickly.

“Obviously” I laughed, I wouldn’t be that fussed. But I knew him to well, the thought of him in steerage was an entertaining thought.

Mrs Fraser a kind Scottish woman who had been retained in the household long after we became to old to have a Nanny. Assisted me with packing. “Now how many dresses are you taking?” She asked firmly.

“I don’t want to take too much luggage” I considered, as I knew Ed would take every excuse to avoid physical labor.

“Well take a couple of dresses, your nice one that your father bought and a few others. I worry about the boat, it’ll be an awful long time for you and Arthur to be cooped up” Mrs Fraser commented as she folded up some underwear.

“We will make it work” I offered.

Mrs Fraser raised an eyebrow at me, “The pair of you? Really?”

“We can.”

“You maybe. I worry about Edward” Mrs Fraser said honestly.

“He’s scared, and frustrated” I commented. “I understand that?”

“Oh?” Mrs Fraser prompted.

“Being someone else for the sake of everyone around you.”

Mrs Fraser hugged me warmly. “Your a rather smart young woman.”

I grinned. “It certainly isn’t Edward” I commented smirking.

“Given I caught him sneaking one of your old dresses out of here, I wouldn’t put it past him” Mrs Fraser smiled. “Keep him safe, and from doing anything stupid.”

I considered for a long moment staring at my open suitcase. “I think this is whole trip is a mistake for him. He’s going to find Lucas, and I don’t know what he expects to find. Perhaps I do know, but I’m don’t think Ed wants to admit it.”

“And what do you think you’ll find?”

I didn’t answer, but I felt my face become hot. As memories of Lucas chasing and making me laugh. That time on my sixteenth birthday when he’d lured me down to the elm trees that sat in the garden. Down near the edge of the property, the lantern he gripped in his hand. The fog clinging to the ground, as it parted for each footstep. Our breath making clouds that hung in the air. The way Lucas held my hand tightly and fiercely. The way his shirt was tighter as his body had filled out.

“Where’s Ed?” I had asked so long ago.

“Bed probably” Lucas said with a cheeky grin.

“What if someone finds us?” I had hissed, the idea of caught not stoking the fear it perhaps should have.

“We won’t be” Lucas said as he rested the lantern between the branches, resting precariously. He looked around and smiled. “I heard you went to your first hall. All those boys falling over themselves. May i have the pleasure of a dance mi’lady” Lucas said sounding as pretentious as possible as he bowed mockingly.

“You’ve been listening to Edward too much, he’s exaggerating” I had stared at him annoyed.

“He’s jealous” Lucas replied shrugging. He moved closer to me. “I’m jealous.”

I remember that feeling of elation