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His Honour Lord Augustus Julius Burnbridge (finaljudgement) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-09-21 19:29:00

Entry tags:

augustus_burnbridge, katherine_rochester, plot

Augustus Burnbridge; A Proposal.
Subject: A Proposal
Who: Augustus Burnbridge
Where: The Rochester House
Warnings: None
Open to: Katherine Rochester

Augustus would normally have taken a carriage across the city. But he had to walk today. Perhaps it was not the wisest of choices, but Georgina and her family did not live all that far away. A pleasant walk through a park, a few minutes down an attractive street, passed a church and it's attached school. It was enjoyable, but he saw very little of it. Instead, he walked the route a man distracted, knowing his way but unseeing, until he reached his goal, the Rochester's home. Georgina and Miles were not to be in, if everything had gone well. He paused on the threshold, wondering if he was too late, too early, or if he was doing the right thing.

He was, of course. He knew that. This would prevent further strain on Fabian, he would secure the family's survival. It would be right for Georgina and her family. There was no reason not to do what he was about to do.

And that was why he reached out and knocked on the door.

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finaljudgement
2008-09-22 03:29 am UTC (link)

With the nod of his head and a murmured thank you to the maid, he stepped into the house, and glanced about. He had been here before, when Georgina's children were otherwise distracted, and several times for dinner. But now, of course, Georgina was not her, and although she had invited him, he could not reveal that. Instead he must appear to have come of his own resolve, and in the back of his mind, he could not help but feel rude.

He stepped forward a little more, and glanced up at the staircase, where the subject of his affections would descend from. "Miss Rochester." He said, smiling slightly, "Have I disturbed you?"

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krochester
2008-09-22 04:53 am UTC (link)

As Katherine reached the landing, she saw Marie closing the door behind Lord Burnbridge, and her thoughts began to wander. She had heard her mother talk about him on more than one occasion, and they had met briefly in the past, but Katherine could not decide if he was one of her mother's lovers or not. It was entirely possible he was not, but she never could tell. And regardless, her mother never told her friends or her lovers to come by the house unannounced, and always let them know when she would be away, lest they decide not to listen to her.

Katherine gathered her thoughts and curtsied to her guest. "Lord Burnbridge," she acknowledged him, casting a wary glance at Marie, as if asking her to stay lest she need her, and the maid nodded back with an uncomfortable look of her own. "To what do I owe the honor?"

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finaljudgement
2008-09-24 03:14 am UTC (link)

He bowed in return, low and respectful. "The honour is entirely mine, Miss Rochester. I hope you will forgive me calling upon you without notice, but I wished to speak to you on a most important matter." He said, although he forced himself not to sound as grave as he might normally have done when saying such a thing. Perhaps this proposal would be easier than he imagined it would be. But he could not help feel nervous in the presence of the young woman, and her maid as well. He could be tempted to believe that what he was about to do was indecent, and that the maid was there simply to prevent him doing what he had come to do.

He cleared his throat, aware that he had been quiet for a moment too long. "Is there a place we could talk?"

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krochester
2008-09-24 05:16 am UTC (link)

Katherine pressed her lips together for a moment, an action both out of confused anxiety and ponderance. The judge certainly did seem rather serious, and he had not yet asked for her mother...he had asked to talk to her. "The lack of notice is no problem," Katherine replied, looking to Marie, whose expression depicted the same confusion that Katherine felt.

Swallowing, Katherine continued, "Of course, my lord. We can take tea in the parlor, if it suits you?" She glanced at Marie, who immediately hurried off to the kitchen to prepare tea, but not without one last anxious and uneasy look at Katherine, who nodded to her as if to tell her it was alright to leave.

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finaljudgement
2008-09-26 03:13 am UTC (link)

"It suits me very well. Thank you." He said, stepping a little further from the door, From the glances that had been exchanged from mistress to maid, he could not help but feel everyone was at least just as nervous as he was himself, but at least he knew the serious nature of his business, and Miss Rochester was yet to find out.

He glanced at her, as surreptitiously as he could. She was a beautiful young lady, thankfully not turned out in one of those fashionable, and hideous, dresses, but in a plain garment that was much more suited to her. Her hands, however, looked bruised. "Miss Rochester, whatever has happened to your hands?" He asked her, stepping closer yet to look at them with more concern.

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krochester
2008-09-26 05:25 am UTC (link)

Katherine nodded to the judge. "Of couse," she affirmed, turning as if to walk to the parlor. The entire exchange felt very odd, as if there was something she was missing. But Katherine pushed her discomfort slightly aside, trying to be a charming hostess. And then he noticed her hands.

She opened her mouth as if to respond, but could not find words in the moment. But, thinking quickly, she pulled them closer to her sides, replying as evenly as she could, "I was writing a correspondence to my cousins and the ink spilled. I am dreadfully clumsy, and I was trying to wash it off when you called." Perhaps it sounded childish, but it was at least a reasonable answer.

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finaljudgement
2008-09-28 03:56 pm UTC (link)

Augustus smiled, "Hardly clumsy, Miss Rochester. We all do such things occasionally." He tells her, letting her guide the way into the parlour. "I myself have ruined more than one letter by fault of the unsteady ink pot." He sat down when she invited him to, settling himself in Georgina's comfortable chairs, although really he supposed they belonged to Miles now. "I hope you managed to save your correspondence?"

"I... You will have to forgive me, Miss Rochester, as I know we have had very little chance to speak together before today. But I have come to see you on a deeply personal matter."

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krochester
2008-09-28 04:23 pm UTC (link)

"Of course," Katherine replied appreciatively, leading the judge to the parlor as they spoke. She allowed him to sit first, as her guest, and then took up a chair opposite his. "Well...well, yes, I managed to salvage it," she lied, adjusting her skirts anxiously. "It was not much to..." she started, but was silenced by the look on her guest's face as if he meant to speak.

And speak he did. Katherine leaned forward just a bit in her chair, trying to be cordial and accomodating to this man she barely knew. "I cannot forgive you, my lord, unless you tell me what is troubling you," Katherine explained evenly. Then, easily feigning genuine concern, she continued, "I do hope that all is well with you?"

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finaljudgement
2008-10-01 10:58 am UTC (link)

He smiled, still nervous. He had sent men to the hangmen with less worry than this. "All is well with me, Miss Rochester. More importantly, is it so with you? After the unfortunate death of your fiancée, you seem to have been quite withdrawn." He shifted slightly closer, moving to the edge of his seat. "Although we have not spoken much in company or in private, I have, to be truthful, worried greatly about you." Augustus said, hoping that he sounded at least somewhat believable. She was young and attractive, but had not caught his eye. But he could not afford to sound insincere or cold towards her if he wanted her acceptance.

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krochester
2008-10-01 05:46 pm UTC (link)

Katherine offered a lovely smile, but quickly faltered. She abhorred discussion of her fiancé for numerous reasons, none of them particularly reasonable to discuss in proper company, or even with herself. Swallowing, she responded as genuinely and evenly as she could, "I am quite well, thank you. If anything at all has plagued me after the event, it is a lack of good sleep. Perhaps that is the reason..." She trailed off. Worried greatly. He had worried about her? This was new for her mother's friends. "Well, it is indeed comforting to know that I am thought of and cared for," Katherine explained, trying to be as calm and responsive as she ought.

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finaljudgement
2008-10-05 05:01 pm UTC (link)

"Infinitely well thought of, you have my assurance of that." Augustus told her, re-folding his hands in his lap. "And just as highly cared for. In fact, Miss Katherine, it is because of that that I am here to speak to you today, if you do not think me too presumptuous." He told her, looking at her seriously, before wetting his lips. Now was the right time.

"I wish to extend to you an offer of marriage, Miss Katherine."

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krochester
2008-10-05 05:21 pm UTC (link)

"Well thank you, of course, Lord Burnbridge," Katherine replied quickly, allowing the man to speak but trying to be as friendly and cordial and respectful as she could. "Too presumptuous? I..." Katherine started, trying to be appreciative, but stopped dead, the color draining from her face. I wish to extend to you an offer of marriage. The judge's words echoed painfully in her head, and images of the last time she had been proposed to plagued her, nearly making her physically sick. No. No. This was not right.

"I..." Katherine started, unable to find words. She wanted to yell at him, command him to leave her home right now and crawl back in bed with her mother to comfort himself, but kept herself in check. "I..." No luck.

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finaljudgement
2008-10-05 05:26 pm UTC (link)

The atmosphere of the room changed suddenly. It was now even more stifling, even more uncomfortable then it had been moments ago, and it seemed to press in on him, to close around him. "I would not expect an answer from you immediately, Miss Rochester. I understand that we have never been the most intimate of acquaintances," This was not going to plan. "But I want to offer you the comfort and position in society you deserve."

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krochester
2008-10-05 05:33 pm UTC (link)

Katherine's heart felt...well, she didn't feel anything; it almost seemed as if it had stopped beating. This was wrong. This was very very wrong. She could never accept a marriage proposal from the judge. She had turned down a proposal before, and with no reason besides her own dangerous insecurities, and now, with every reason in the world to say no...

She felt sick again thinking of Eward, and put her hand to her chest. "That I...that I deserve? Lord Burnbridge, I hardly know you! How do you know what I deserve and what I don't, and that whatever you think is best for me can come from marrying someone I have never said more than two words to?" Perhaps it was harsh, but her head was spinning and emotions were nearly boiling over. Any second she would be physically ill.

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finaljudgement
2008-10-05 05:43 pm UTC (link)

Augustus paused, looking at her with an even more stern and serious expression. "I knew your father, Miss Rochester, and I know your family, and your standing in society presently is not what it aught to be. A young lady such as yourself requires certain things in life. I am willing to provide you with them." He got to his feet then, offended by her words and her mannerisms. "Successful marriages have been made between those whom have known each other less." He gathered his coat about himself, buttoning it up. "I shall bid you good-day, Miss Rochester." She was clearly much more like her brother than her mother realised.

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krochester
2008-10-05 05:49 pm UTC (link)

Katherine rose from her seat, rigid. "How dare you say that of my family? We want for nothing and yet you presume that offering me marriage will make it all better? I require nothing in this life that I cannot get for myself!" she snapped, almost angry now, mostly at herself. She did not know what she wanted exactly, but marriage to the judge was certainly not it.

"And are such marriages happy ones?" Katherine started, careful not to sound too much like her own writing lest he compare her rudely to Miles, or become suspicious. She sank back into the chair. "You can show yourself out, Lord Burnbridge. Have a pleasant day." Katherine would not look at him again, livid with him and with herself for having been so blind about his intentions in coming that day, and about what mistakes she herself had made.

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finaljudgement
2008-10-06 01:06 pm UTC (link)

He couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise as she spoke. There were a great many things in the world that a woman was unable to provide for herself, but no doubt Miles had had a negative influence on his sister. Or perhaps it was their mother- a woman who, by all accounts, was not unable to turn situations to her advantage.

"Not all so-called love matches are happy, Miss Rochester. Life will teach you that." He explained, re-fastening his coat and moving out of the parlour, past the maid and her tray of tea. "Thank you very much for your hospitality."

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