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SHARPE’S Justice
Richard Sharpe and the
Peace of the Congress of Vienna
Screenplay Written by Patrick Harbinson and Bernard Cornwell.
Novel Adapted by Paul Kaster
Chapter 4
END OF NOVEMBER
LONDON
Jane Sharpe lies in bed. It is another day, that she wallows in her house. She anticipates another day that she will spend alone when John goes out. It is several weeks since John received the news that Sharpe was coming to London.
Each day after the first two weeks, John became more nervous and talked less. Each mail delivery to them, he opened cautiously as if the contents would attack him. When he did go out, it was to practice with the sword and pistols. Upon his return, he was still downcast. “I practice and practice, but seem to get no better Jane.”
“John, you don’t have to fight Richard. We can go away. Please, let us.”
“No my dear, I cannot run. I am a gentleman. I would be seen as a coward and be ruined.”
“Who will know?”
“I will.”
Jane did not relent, but each time they discussed this, John held to his same answer.
On this day, John awoke early. He had dressed and taken a walk. When he returned, Jane and he ate breakfast, but now have nothing planned. He would have liked to talk more with Lady Anne Camoynes. But without Jane to join them.
Since the card game, he has been mulling Lady Anne’s comments. Anne seems to be in the know about things. She seemed truly uniformed about Sharpe’s posting, but also very interested that he would go to Yorkshire. What can be her interest? Johnny is sure that last year, Anne bedded Sharpe in order for Lord Fenner to learn what Sharpe would do regarding his missing battalion.
While Rossendale ponders the questions of Lady Anne and Sharpe and how this affects Jane and him, he stares out the window. While he is in thought, he hears the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“Come”
Miss Walsh, Jane’s maid, enters the room with an envelope. She looks to Rossendale and smiles. “A letter for you sir” As with most women, she finds John attractive. Since he has come to the live with Mrs. Sharpe, she has often wondered if John saw her as attractive.
Rossendale looks to her and the envelope in her hand, “A bill, you mean.” He points to the corner of the dressing table. “Put it over there.”
Miss Walsh places the envelope on the dressing table.. Ignoring Jane through all of this she curtsies. “Will there be anything else?” She asks Rossendale and smiles to him.
Jane replies sternly as she suspects Miss Walsh is flirting with John, “No, nothing else. Leave us.”
After turning to Jane, then back to John, Miss Walsh leaves and closes the door behind her.
Rossendale is reluctant to opens the letter. As his debts have mounted, those holding his markers, have become more impatient. They have taken to sending to him bills of services and the amount that he owes. And, when they expect to be paid. After considering which bill this may be, he picks up the letter. He shakes the folds from the paper and begins to read.
After reading the first paragraphs, he turns towards their bed and smiles. “Jane”
The letter is not a bill, but is instead a letter from a solicitor in Lancashire telling him that his Aunt Agatha has died and left her estate to him.
“Five hundred acres? Is that as big as Kent?”
“No, sweetness.”
“But it is big enough.”
“Bless aunt Tabitha.”
“Now we are rich.”
“Now we can pay off Richard.”
Rossendale doubts that he can secure enough income from Aunt Agatha’s estate, but ..“Yes, I suppose we could borrow against….”
“Yes…”
“The lawyers advise I travel up at once to inspect the property.”
“Then I will come with you.”
“My dear the journey will be long and arduous.”
“Arduous? John, unlike you I have followed the English army half across Europe.”
John smiles as he admires Jane’s vigor to join him. Or does she want to go to make sure that he secures the money instead of wasting it on some further scheme?
“I’m sorry. I don’t doubt that you are a hardier traveler than I. But, I fear the property may be somewhat ….neglected and we will not be far from where Sharpe is posted.”
Jane puzzles on how Richard will be near to them.
“I thought it was in Yorkshire.”
John tries to hide his frustration with Jane’s lack of knowledge of basic known facts about geography of England. He pauses before stating, “Lancashire and Yorkshire are contiguous, my dear.”
“Contiguous?” Jane frowns. “And I thought we were rid of him.”
“Yes…. But, behind every silver lining there is a cloud, my love.”
“Richard would never have thought of that.”
“Nevertheless, I am going with you. The sooner we may leave, the sooner we may resolve the money and be able to avoid him showing up here.”
“But for now….” Jane rolls the comforter that covers her to the side to invite John to join her in bed. John comes to the bed to sit beside her. Jane reaches up pull him to her so that she may kiss him. Perhaps they can find something to occupy the day until they can prepare for the trip to Lancashire.”
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