"Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers." Horatius

----

IV.

As Joe Parish laid down in his bed that night and stared at the canopy ceiling above him, he thought back on the battle of words that he'd entered into with Perrie earlier that evening.

What was it about her that brought out the worst in him?

Was it her tempestuousness? Was it her stubborn pride? Was it the very fact that she was so indulged that she would not know discipline if it walked right up to her and stamped itself on her forehead?

Joe decided it was all three.

He rolled onto his side, closed his eyes, and groaned, burying the right side of his face in his pillow as he wished that his father had found him a different tutor. Joe had been apprehensive at first when he had learned that he was being sent back to Ashwood having left it two years previously after completing the schooling there. But seeing as Perrie was off learning how to be a lady, Joe had temporarily deluded himself into thinking that she might return a little less like the annoying imp she had been when he had known her.

But alas, Joe was wrong. And it was because Perrie was so indulged that she could continue to be the irritating imp that she was.

Because she brought out the very worst in him, Joe shamefully enjoyed teasing her and giving back whatever, she gave him. He had often had to think his quickest when he'd been around Perrie and seeing her again today had made his mind work hard. He didn't know what it was about winning, but he never had a thrill like besting Perrie Beresford.

Joe, however, needed to be on his best behaviour. He could not afford to lose his gentlemanly demeanour in front of the duke again, lest it be reported back to his father, and the Viscount Evesham would receive another letter informing him of his youngest son's failed vocation.

His sparring battles with Perrie would need undoubtedly continue. Perrie couldn't help herself. Joe would simply have to endeavour to be more clandestine in the shots he fired.

Joe suddenly felt a hard jab in his left arm, and he jumped about a foot in the air, screaming in fright, as he instantly became aware that he was not alone in his bedroom.

His heart beat erratically as his eyes focussed on the glow of a candle, and the shape of a small figure.

"What on earth is the matter with you? Did you not hear me? I practically burst into your bedroom about to set you on fire by Mama might have killed me for it!" Perrie snapped accusingly.

Joe scrambled out of his bed, immediately trying to eradicate the feeling of danger and dread that had immediately consumed him. They were feelings that he'd had to become accustomed to over the past year or so, but that didn't make them any easier.

He was in no danger from Perrie. Then again, she had just threatened to set him alight. Taking a few deep breaths, Joe was able to properly concentrate on Perrie, and from the glow of the candlelight, he could see the look of fury in her blue eyes. Her dark brows were furrowed deeply as she glared at him, and her dark hair had been let down from the pins that contained it during the day. It hung in soft curls to her hips.

She dressed in a long white nightgown, and upon comprehending Perrie's state of undress, Joe immediately panicked at the thought of the volume Perrie might have been using when she had burst into his bedroom. Would her parents have heard? Would they come to see what was the matter? What would they say if they discovered their precious daughter in his bedroom in such a state?

"Get out!" Joe suddenly ordered, pointing at the door that Perrie had left open.

"No," Perrie retorted stubbornly. She then turned her body and shone the candle at the rear of her nightgown, to show him a large, rather horrid looking stain.

Joe could be panicked, and still be amused by his own pranks at the same time. But at least he had snuck into Perrie's bedroom and planted his contaminated bowl of soup while she had not been in there! Alice had been so kind as to take Joe on a guided tour of the house weeks ago. Upon taking him inside Perrie's bedroom then, Joe had half expected to find a portrait of himself with darts and arrows in his face, but he was disappointed.

"Get out!" he insisted again. "If you are discovered in here, it will be me who gets the blame!"

"And rightly so!" Perrie seethed. "Though you trespassed first!"

Did she not have a care for things such as reputations? Of course, she wouldn't. Perrie wouldn't know the meaning of the word 'consequence'. She had never suffered one in her entire spoiled life. Though Joe had given plenty during their formative years, Perrie had been just as terrible, but she had never once been punished. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd been caned after something she had done.

Devious little imp.

"You weren't in the room when I trespassed!" Joe seethed. "What do you think is going to happen if a servant spots you in here?"

Perrie's stubborn gaze tightened. "They'll see what you did to my nightgown and be infuriated that you created such a mess in my bedroom."

Good God, was the naïve. What on earth were they teaching these girls at these fancy schools? Joe wondered if he would have received such a delicate education had he been allowed to attend the same schools as his brother. But being a boy growing up with village children, he knew more than most at a much earlier age.

"No, they'll see an unwed young lady in the bedroom of a man in a rather scandalous state of undress," Joe stepped forward in an attempt to intimidate her pride. It was not at all difficult to dwarf her when he stood so close to her. His shadow dulled some of the light from Perrie's candle. "And your father, to save your reputation, would have to seek a special license, and we would have to marry."

Perrie recoiled in utter shock, taking a clumsy step backwards. Joe couldn't help but smile smugly at the reaction he had elicited from her.

"Papa would never make me marry anyone!" Perrie sneered after a moment to compose herself.

"He would if your reputation was compromised," Joe clipped back, folding his arms across his chest.

"Well, I wouldn't marry you, not for a hundred thousand pounds!" Perrie insisted.

"Your father couldn't pay me a million pounds to endure you for the rest of my life, Little Imp, so I suggest you leave to save us both the possibility of a miserable marriage."

Perhaps Joe was lying there. A million pounds would certainly do the trick. He would establish Perrie in a shack in Siberia and he would live the life he would be entitled to after enduring any sort of marriage to Perrie Beresford.

Perrie lifted her little first and pointed her index finger at him. "Stay out of my bedroom."

"Stay away from my soup," Joe countered simply.

The expression on her face was priceless, and this was exactly what kept Joe in their silly game. The reaction he got from her was what prevented him from growing up and acting his age of twenty years. Joe loved the look on Perrie's face when he had gotten under her skin.

Ever since he had first seen it on the day that she had begun attending the Ashwood village school, after he had teased her about her name, Joe had been quite determined to see that look whenever he could.

Though her face had changed a little, a lot really, from the first time he had seen Perrie look over her shoulder at him. It had changed from when he had last seen her at age fifteen. Her face was no longer as round as it once was. It was now more heart-shaped, her cheekbones more pronounced and mature. Her nose might have been a little longer, and her lips were slightly fuller. Her porcelain complexion was flushed, and Joe knew that he was to blame for that. Perhaps the only thing that hadn't matured about her was her height.

And her personality.

Perrie audibly hissed, before she snapped, "I really want to set you on fire."

The threat of murder should not have made him laugh, but it did. Joe let out a hearty chuckle. "It would not be the first time that you have tried to kill me. You would undoubtedly get away with it like you did last time."

Perrie cocked her head.

"The pond?" Joe prompted.

Recollection flooded Perrie's face as she no doubt began picturing the same scene that he was from several years earlier.

It had been the first time that Joe, and any of their classmates, had been invited to Ashwood. Well, he supposed that was a lie. Perrie had struggled to make friends at school. Joe, admittedly, had not helped, but it was her blatant ignorance that prevented her from forging connections with the other village students.

But that particular day had been a hot one, and a swim in the pond at Ashwood House had been took good an offer to pass up. Joe could not remember the particulars of the day. They had been swimming, and sparring as they regularly did, and something he'd said had made Perrie climb onto his shoulders and attempt to drown him.

"I did not get away with that!" Perrie protested indignantly. "My father made me write you an apology letter!"

Perrie had written him a letter. Joe had been heartily amused as Perrie had been forced to read it aloud in front of him. He was certain that he still had it somewhere. "My father probably would have sliced my writing hand off and would have wrapped it in ribbon for you had I done something like that."

"And I was punished to the end of the decade!"

Joe sniggered. "Oh, were you not allowed any new ribbons at all? How ever did you endure it?" Joe's heart had properly settled by then, and his feelings of dread and danger had left him as he settled into the familiar routine of sparring with Perrie. Though he was still aware that she was in his bedroom, and she needed to go. He reached out for her and settled his hands on her shoulders, before he easily manoeuvred the waif of an imp around and guided her to the door. "Go and change," Joe instructed. "You look ridiculous. Don't you know that you are supposed to eat soup, not sit in it?"

"I told you that if you touched me, I would cut you!" snapped Perrie angrily.

But Joe ignored her, shutting his bedroom door in her face and locking it for good measure. He would remember to do that next time.

***

13 May 1825

Dear Joe,

How are you, brother? I hope this letter finds you well. Father told me of your newest pursuit, and I pray you are finding it to your liking, and it suits your new needs.

I understand, however, that your new vocation has taken you back to Ashwood. I sincerely hope the familiar surroundings of where you spend your formative years brings you a sense of tranquillity after everything. From what I recall you telling me when we were children, you might be once again in league with an old foe.

Sharpen your mind and tongue before you sharpen your swords. I know you, brother.

By the time you will receive this letter, I will have finished my second year at Cambridge, and I will be returning home for the summer. Should Father allow it, I hope we may be reunited at some point before I have to return for the new term in September.

Please tell me when a convenient time would be, and I will convince Father.

I have missed you, brother. There is so much to say.

Know that I love you the most out of anyone. Please never forget that.

Your brother,

Ed

"Who is that letter from?"

Joe looked up from his brother's letter in the direction of the question, which had been nosily asked by Perrie as she peered at him with curiosity. Perrie's swords seemed to have dulled that morning, or at least she was on her best behaviour in front of her father as they all sat down to breakfast.

"Perrie, Mr Parish's correspondence is none of your business," the duke scolded gently.

He always scolded gently. He was one of the most decent and gentle men that Joe had ever encountered, and it was upon meeting him that Joe thought he understood the term 'gentleman'. However, he could resent it a little when it came to Perrie. She was allowed free roam as her father was quite at the mercy of her pretty blue eyes and angelic smile.

Joe had long theorised that fathers had a preference for their firstborns. But then ... he had not noticed the duke treat any of his other children dissimilarly. Perhaps it was only a theory relevant to Joe's experience.

"It is from my brother, Edmund," Joe replied as he folded the letter. He was endeavouring to take heed of Ed's words and lower his own swords. There was no harm in divulging the sender of his letter.

"Oh," Perrie replied calmly as she delicately sliced a piece of her ham. Before she put it in her mouth, she added, "From what I heard last night, I understand your brother is older than you?"

"Yes," confirmed Joe with a nod. He was a second son. He assumed that someone like Perrie would know all about second sons, and all about the merits of being a first born, or at least the firstborn son. "He's been away at Cambridge. I haven't seen him for a few years."

"Cambridge? My old haunt," the duke interjected jovially. "Your brother is certainly receiving a good education."

Joe nodded. "Yes, he is."

"And you will be his steward when you are finished shadowing Papa?" Perrie probed.

Joe could see the confusion on Perrie's face, and he had seen it mirrored on her father a time or two before the duke understood the reason why. He knew that it was odd to those outside the know as to why a man of Joe's rank would resort to such a career avenue. But then, he supposed that he was never meant for great things. His father had seen to that.

----

Ah, I love being cryptic. I love it so much. Because I know exactly what's going on and you don't and I find that just delightful. 

But our enemies seem determined to stay enemies at the moment. What am I going to do about that, I wonder ... 

Happy New Year! 2023. Wow, how are we here already? I had a great night, and a not so spectacular New Years Day where I woke up with my first hangover in five years omg. I'm too old for tequila nowadays - learn from my mistakes! 

I hope you all had a terrific new year, and I hope this year will bring you only good things!! 

Vote and comment xxx