01x02 - Part 2

[bunniefuu]

- You, my dear, have received

an offer of marriage.

- A what?

- From an incredibly

wealthy gentleman

with an old and

prestigious title.

- Good heavens!

I do not know His Grace,

or any Grace, for that matter.

This family's happiness

is worth every sacrifice.

- Then you mean to

accept the duke's offer?

- Dearly beloved,

we are gathered here

together in the sight of God

to join together this man and

this woman in holy matrimony.

- Is your name

really Persephone?

- It is.

Did you not think to ask?

- I had expected someone

rather long in the tooth;

- So had I.

- Give the poor girl a chance.

It's not her fault

you've ended up

with every man's

idea of a perfect wife.

- 24 hours into this

ill-conceived marriage

and my wife is already sobbing.

[gentle instrumental music]

- [Persephone] "Dear Persephone,

we've been home for two days now

and I am nearly

dead with boredom!

Athena spends all her time

practicing country dances.

[Persephone giggles]

I do not think she

will find a husband

dancing like she does.

No gentleman would

want to marry someone

who dances like a cow.

I am running

around like a heathen

and terrorizing

the neighborhood.

It's lovely.

I wish you were here so we

could be heathens together.

When can I come

explore your towers?

You did promise.

I will have my birthday

in London, Daphne says.

I will invite you.

If the duke wants

to come, he can too,

even if he never

did talk to me once

while I was at his castle.

Please write to me.

Be sure to put the

guinea under the seal.

Your sister, Artemis."

[footsteps approaching]

- You seem in good

spirits this afternoon.

- I've been reading a letter

from my youngest

sister, Mr. Windover.

- We are practically

brother and sister;

we needn't be on

such formal terms.

- Do you miss

your family, Harry,

being here as long

as you have been?

- I consider Adam my brother.

Being here is being with family.

- How is it that the

two of you are so close?

He is so hostile towards you.

[Harry chuffs]

- Adam is hostile

toward everyone.

It is just the way he is.

- Does he never show any

tenderness of feeling?

[Harry chuckles]

- Not in the two

decades I've known him.

- Then you forged a friendship

with someone who

was already adversarial?

- Adam saved my skin.

I was something of a runt,

and the other boys

at Harrow found

that grounds for torturing me.

Adam put a stop to that.

- They took orders from him?

- They were afraid of him.

They still are.

Everyone is.

- But he would've only been

seven or eight years old.

- Seven.

Oh, he was a force

to be reckoned with.

By the time he was a

shell, he ran Harrow.

- Shell?

- The youngest year.

Some of the boys, now

grown gentlemen, of course,

still whimper when they see him.

- To be so utterly terrifying

when he was only a child.

- Well, it wasn't that, exactly.

He was,

still is,

remarkably intelligent.

And he is authoritative,

the kind of man

few people question.

Even at seven he was

very much that way.

And he is utterly unafraid.

- There is nothing

that frightens him?

Nothing that intimidates him?

- Mm.

- Why won't he ever look at me?

- What do you mean?

- Never mind.

- He never looks at you?

[Persephone sighs]

Hmm, that is out

of character for him.

Adam usually faces

problems directly.

- I am a problem, then?

- A poor choice of

words on my part.

A great deal has changed lately.

Adam does tend to get more,

I don't know,

prickly when he

has a lot on his mind.

- So you're saying I

shouldn't give up yet?

- If I'd given up on

Adam for being grumpy,

we wouldn't be friends.

- How long did it take

for him to stop being

prickly with you?

- He still is.

Adam would never admit it,

but he knows I

refuse to be bullied,

and I think he respects that.

He keeps trying.

But I think he

hopes it'll never work.

- So he doesn't like people

who are intimidated by him?

- He doesn't respect them.

- That is a little different.

- It is a great deal

different to Adam.

Adam likes his mother.

- But he doesn't respect her?

- Mother Harriet, I have called

her that since I was a boy,

has made something of a

hobby out of pitying Adam.

- And he doesn't like that?

- Ha, it frustrates him.

Frustrates him.

- Mm.

If Adam does not like

people to be afraid of him,

why does he go to such lengths

to make certain they are?

- I have my theories,

but Adam's motivations

are not a topic

I am willing to discuss.

- I am attempting

to find my place here

and claim a degree of

equanimity with my new husband.

I need help if I am to have

any hope of understanding Adam.

- Most people do not even try.

But he is worth sorting

out, Persephone.

I promise you,

he is.

He really never looks at you?

Something about

you has ruffled him.

Nothing ruffles Adam.

[door clicks]

[door thuds]

[footsteps retreating]

[John speaking indistinctly]

[horse grunting]

- Stay.

Go around, walk past.

One more.

[hooves clopping]

Jus' so, Yer Grace.

She's a bit skittish

this morning,

it bein' so cold an' all.

- Haven't you a horse that

isn't skittish about cold?

- Well, Atlas

behaves in the cold.

- [Persephone] Who

named the horse Atlas?

- His Grace did.

- And His Grace does not

think it a ridiculous name?

It being Greek and mythological?

- Named 'is own mount, Zeus.

That be one o' them

heathen gods an' all.

[Persephone chuckles]

- Such names are not

ridiculous for horses.

- Then I had best search

the forest for a sorceress

to transform me into a horse

lest I spend the rest

of my life doomed

to a constant state

of ridiculousness.

- You would make an

atrocious horse, Persephone.

- On that, we can agree.

- What brings

you out this early?

- I was hoping to

attempt to ride again.

- How long have you

been out of the saddle?

- 10 years.

- 10 years!

And you were going to

attempt to ride Alibi?

- Ah, no, Yer Grace.

The Duchess were just askin'

if the filly were

ailin' or upset.

I was thinkin' Atlas would

be good for Her Grace.

- That's a good choice.

- Are you really going

to try riding again?

- To be perfectly honest,

I'm not certain one

could accurately call

my previous experience riding.

Our neighbors, the Uptons,

allowed me to ride a pony of

theirs on occasion as a child.

If memory serves, it was aged

and did little more

than shift its weight.

- Stay, stay.

She's calm an'

steady, Yer Grace.

She'll not hurt you.

- May I feed her a carrot?

The Uptons' pony

was fond of carrots.

- Well, perhaps the poor

thing waddled so much

because he was overfed.

[Persephone laughs softly]

That's it, calmer.

That's it.

[Persephone laughs]

- If she and Atlas part company,

see to it that John has her

brought up to the castle.

- Don't you even

want to see her try?

- [Adam] I've seen enough

people quit in my lifetime

without witnessing

the same thing again.

- I think she'll surprise you.

[soft music]

- [John] Ey, [indistinct].

- Have them over?

- [John] Yeah.

[soft music continues]

[soft music swells]

[John speaking indistinctly]

[soft music continues]

- You've had quite a

few riding lessons now.

Are you feeling more

confident in the saddle?

- Quite a bit more.

Tomorrow I intend to attempt

to jump the castle wall.

Atlas doesn't know yet.

- Eh.

Just my luck

that I'll miss that.

- Miss it?

- I am for Hawick

in the morning.

- Are you certain you

couldn't leave tonight?

- Do you go to Scotland often?

- I have an aunt

and uncle in Hawick.

They're always asking

me to come for a visit.

- And I am always

asking you to leave.

How is it that their

requests are adhered to

and mine are ignored?

- Because I know you do

not actually want me to go.

- I have never been to Scotland.

- You live a stone's

throw from it now.

Perhaps you and Adam

could gad about

Hadrian's Wall sometime.

- I do not gad about.

- I have not ever

been to Shropshire,

though I hear it is beautiful.

- I admit to being very

biased on the matter,

but I think it is the most

beautiful area of England.

All my family does.

Athena waxes poetic

about it quite often.

Evander's letters regularly

mention missing Shropshire.

- Have you heard from either

of your young navy

brothers recently?

- The last letter I

had from Evander

indicated the Triumphant,

the ship they are serving on,

was not far from Spain.

- There's a great

deal of activity

in that part of the

world just now.

- I worry over the

boys almost constantly.

And I worry about my

sisters, and my father.

About quite a few

people, truth be told.

- Well, rest assured,

Persephone,

you needn't worry

about me while I'm away.

My aunt and uncle will fuss

over me more than sufficiently,

leaving you ample energy

for gadding about with Adam.

- I do not gad about.

[Harry chuckles]

[tender music]

[disquieting music]

[cutlery clinking]

[disquieting music fades]

Good afternoon, Adam.

- I will not intrude on

your solitude for long.

This has arrived,

and I wish to explain.

- Please sit, Adam.

- I'm fine.

- I'm not asking for your

comfort, but for my own.

I have no desire to

strain my neck looking up

as you loom over me.

- Now will you open the parcel?

- You said you

wanted to explain.

- After you open it.

[paper rustling]

[gentle music]

[Adam sighs]

You cannot ride without

a proper riding habit.

I ordered it because

you need one

and I did not think you

knew where to obtain it.

- You ordered this for me?

- I don't know that it is the

color you would have chosen.

But, well, blue

seemed a good option.

You'll need it when you ride

regardless of its color.

- You must have great faith in

my ability to learn to ride.

Thus far I am proving

a very poor pupil.

- Quite a bit better yesterday.

- You watched me?

- With Harry gone, I have

a lot of time on my hands.

Your boots will

take longer to arrive.

- Well, you've ordered

boots for me as well?

- Well, your house slippers

are hardly

appropriate for riding.

- I haven't been

wearing slippers.

- You might as well have been.

- I don't know

what to say, Adam.

- It's not necessary

for you to say anything.

I only wished to explain.

- Thank you, Adam.

This is probably the most

beautiful thing I've ever owned.

- And it'll be warm.

- You chose a good

color. I do like blue.

- Oh, I, um, I nearly forgot.

This has arrived

for you as well.

I shall leave

you to your letter.

[sullen music]

Persephone?

- There's been a battle at sea.

Near Cape Trafalgar.

Um, the Triumphant

sustained heavy losses.

- Your brothers?

- Linus's fate is unknown.

[sullen music continues]

Evander is dead.

[rain pattering]

[thunder rumbling]

[Persephone sobbing]

[morose music]

[Persephone continues sobbing]

[thunder rumbling]

- She's in pain,

and I can't do a

blasted thing about it.

I haven't the first

idea where to start.

When mother was distressed,

she just left Falstone.

[thunder rumbling]

Persephone hasn't left yet.

So, what do I do?

I don't want her

to be miserable.

I need her

Duke's don't need people.

Mother has always preferred

being away from me.

Persephone will as well.

[wolves howling]

[Adam breathes heavily]

[wolves continue howling]

[door clicks]

[tender music]

- Adam?

Adam, I think I hear wolves.

[wolves howling]

[tender music continues]

[wolves continue howling]

[tender music continues]

[wolves continue howling]

I'm trying to be brave, Adam.

[tender music continues]

[tender music fades]

[birds chirping]

[footsteps retreating]

[Adam inhales heavily]

[sullen music]

[Persephone sobs]

[sullen music continues]

- I need my family.

[Persephone sobs]

- You didn't bring a coat.

You'll contract an

inflammation of the lungs.

Everyone in London will

accuse me of poisoning you.

[Persephone laughs]

You'll be warmer inside.

Look, with Harry still gone,

the castle will be quiet.

And you can find a private

spot to go and, uh,

and do whatever it is

you do after you cry.

- I usually sleep.

And wake up with a headache.

- Sounds awful.

- Generally, I

can't help myself.

- It's falling off of you.

You'll be warmer

if you just button it.

- You really don't

want me to be cold.

- I don't want you

to be miserable.

[wolf howls]

[door clicks]

[door creaks]

[wolves howling]

- [whispers] Adam.

[wolves continue howling]

[whispers] Adam.

[Persephone blows candle]

[wolves continue howling]

[soft music]

[soft music fades]

[Adam clears throat]

- You've missed your

riding lesson this morning.

- I'm afraid I overslept.

- And how is your head?

- My head?

- You said last night

that your head hurts

after you've been crying.

- It does ache a little.

- There is an

apothecary in Sifton.

It's quite competent.

I could send one of the

grooms for some powders.

- I don't need any powders

just now, but thank you.

- John has indicated

that Atlas can be saddled

whenever you would like to

have your riding lesson today.

- I'm not sure

I'm up for a ride.

- Are you certain you do

not wish for some powders?

I could have some here

before the weather changes.

- Rest is what I need most.

But, again, thank

you for offering.

- Yes.

[footsteps clacking]

- [Barton] Urgent

message for Your Grace.

[paper rustles]

[tense music]

- Tell the stables to prepare

my swiftest traveling coach.

And send someone

to Sifton for Mr. Johns.

- [Barton] Yes, Your Grace.

- Are you leaving, Adam?

- Almost on the instant.

Tell Mrs. Smithson to prepare

Mr. Windover's usual room.

- Is something the

matter with Harry?

- He's taken exceedingly ill

at an inn between

here and Hawick.

- What are you intending to do?

- Go retrieve him, of course.

If the stables will ever

send my carriage, that is.

- It looks like it might snow.

- It's precisely why I wish

to make an immediate start.

- But is it safe?

If the weather worsens, you

might become stuck on the road.

- I can reach the

inn before then.

- How will I know you're safe?

- If I do not return tonight,

you can assume that I am

waiting out the weather

at whatever

flea-infested hostelry

Harry has decided

to take ill in.

- I will assume no such thing.

Simply not returning

will tell me nothing.

You could just as

easily be half frozen

on the side of some road

or devoured by

wolves or ill yourself.

- I've driven these

roads for years.

I've never once broken down.

- You must promise

me you will be careful.

If you don't, I will worry.

- Why would you worry about me?

- Why wouldn't I?

- No one worries

about me, Persephone.

- Someone does now.

- Don't.

- I'm afraid I can't help it.

- Like crying?

Worrying will probably give

you a headache as well.

- Then spare me the headache

and promise me

you will be cautious.

[tender music]

- I will be cautious. I promise.

[tender music swells]

[thunder rumbling]

[tender music fades]

[perplexed music]

[door thuds]

[perplexed music continues]

Where is the owner

of this establishment?

[perplexed music continues]

- I'm Smith.

What can I do for you, guv'nuh?

- There is a gentleman staying

at this inn, Mr. Windover.

Where is he?

- Huh.

How much is

knowin' worth to you?

Is that your way of

begging me pardon?

- I beg no one's

pardon. Where is he?

- Settle the cove's

bill, then I'll tell you.

- His bill will be settled

in the usual manner,

upon departure.

- Afraid I'll be adding

to the bill, then.

Inconvenience, you see.

But, iffen you're in a mind

to toss a few extra pounds in,

you might save yourself

some blunt in the end.

[Smith spats]

- A few extra pounds?

What do you feel you

are currently owed?

- Can't say really.

Goes higher all

the time, doesn't it?

Reckon a few shillings been

added since we've been talking.

- Where is the gentleman

who's staying here?

- I'll call your

account due, Hooper.

- I ain't got a shilling.

[coin clinks] [Hooper exclaims]

A half-crown.

- Where is the gentleman

who's staying here?

- First door on

your right, guv'nuh.

- Blast it, Hooper.

[door creaks]

[liquid trickling]

[Adam exhales heavily]

- If you're dead, don't

expect me to eulogize you.

[Harry chuffs]

- Even to tell me to

shut up one last time?

[Harry coughing]

- What instructions did

the physician leave?

- [inhales] Haven't seen one.

- Was one not sent for?

- I made repeated

requests, Your Grace.

But I was prevented

at every turn by-

[tense music]

- Why did you not allow a

physician to be summoned?

This gentleman is clearly ill.

- I ain't running

a charity, guv.

He'd nothing to

pay a doctor with.

And his manservant, there,

is poorer than he is.

- So you left him

to grow more ill,

perhaps to the point of

endangering his life?

- Poor people die all

the time, don't they?

- How many have died in this inn

waiting for help that

was never going to come?

- The sick and

dying don't fight back.

Makes it easier

to settle their bill.

- By picking their

pockets, no doubt.

- Adam.

Can we go back to the castle?

- From the looks of you,

we'd do better to go

directly to a cemetery.

[Harry chuckles]

- Likely a good idea.

- Let's get Mr. Windover

to the carriage.

- [Croft] Of course.

[Harry groans]

[Harry coughing]

- How much do you imagine

you are owed by Mr. Windover?

- Considering everything, I'd

settle up for five pounds.

- Five pounds?

Nothing you have

provided or could provide

is worth a tenth of that.

- I reckon you can afford it.

- And do you demand

such exorbitant sums

from people who can't afford it?

- Someone will always

walk away poorer, guv.

I'm just making

certain it ain't never me.

- Your five pounds.

- Here's hoping we can do

business again in the future.

- We will.

[door thuds]

[rain pattering]

[tender music]

- You've taken Evander.

Please do not take

my husband as well.

[tender music continues]

[Persephone exhales heavily]

[carriage approaching]

[tender music continues]

- Take him to his chambers.

[Harry coughs]

Is Mr. Johns here?

- Yes, Your Grace.

[Adam exhales heavily]

[tender music continues]

- I told you I'd be careful.

- I suppose I

should've believed you.

- Yes, you should've.

- You look cold.

- I'm freezing.

- You should change into

something warm and dry.

Mr. Johns will see to Harry.

- Are you to be my

voice of reason, then?

[Persephone flinches]

- Your hand is cold.

- I'm, [clears

throat] my apologies.

If you'll excuse

me, I've been told

I ought to change out of

this cold, wet clothes.

- I'm glad you've

returned, Adam.

[tender music continues]

Does Mr. Johns feel that

Mr. Windover will recover?

- He does, now that

Mr. Windover is here.

He had begun making a turn

for the worst at that inn.

I, I shudder to

think of the outcome

if His Grace hadn't rescued him.

- While His Grace may have

carried out the rescue,

your letter is the reason

we knew it was necessary.

We are all indebted

to you for that.

- Mr. Windover is a good man.

- Yes, he is.

Adam.

Mr. Johns believes

Harry will recover.

- I suspect Harry is

too stubborn not to.

What is he in need of?

- The apothecary is providing

powders and a tisane.

Aside from that, he says

Mr. Windover needs rest.

- Then we will allow you

to see to his comfort.

- I haven't had a chance

to check on Harry myself.

- Bringing Harry here

was the best thing

you could've done.

Allowing him to sleep will

be the next best thing.

- I suppose I should listen

when offered such sage advice.

- I agree.

[tender music]

You've been out in

the cold all day, Adam.

You should get

some rest as well,

or you might very well

end up as ill as Harry.

[tender music continues]

I will have the kitchen

send you up a tray.

[tender music continues]

[wolves howling]

[Adam sighs]

[door clicks]

[door creaks]

[wolves continue howling]

Adam?

[wolves continue howling]

Oh, Adam, you've

married a coward.

[tender music]

[wolves continue howling]

[tender music continues]

[Adam sighs]

- At least she doesn't snore.

[thunder rumbling]

[wolf snarls]

[horse neighing]

[ominous music]

Persephone!

[trees rustling]

[wolf whimpers]

Persephone!

[wolf snarls]

Persephone!

[door clicks]

Persephone- - Adam.

Uh, what?

[Adam sighs]

- Ridiculous.

[door thuds]

I'm behaving like a

ridiculous lack-wit,

panicking over a dream.

- [Persephone] Adam?

- What?

- Harry seems a little

better this morning.

- I am glad he is improving.

- So am I.

- Are you planning

on riding this morning?

- I am.

- [Adam] I would

rather you didn't.

- [Persephone] But I'm-

- I would rather you didn't.

- I won't if you really

don't want me to.

- Good, I think it would

be best if you did not.

[Adam breathes heavily]

What in the blazes

is wrong with me?

- Oh!

- I get that a lot.

[chuckles softly]

- Ah, w-we've been

worried about you.

- It's all been a

ploy to get attention.

[Harry coughs]

Why were you so displeased

when you were

looking in the mirror?

- Oh, it was nothing.

- That wasn't nothing.

- Do you think

I'm ridiculous?

- Ah, lard buckets.

Adam's been talking

again, hasn't he?

- He looked me over,

studying me very closely.

Then he said "Ridiculous."

- He once described St.

James's Palace as ridiculous.

It's his favorite word.

- He is so confusing.

- [laughs] All part of

his charm, Persephone.

[disquieting music]

- How did he come to have

such extensive scars?

[disquieting music continues]

- Adam's born with a stub

where his right ear

was meant to be.

A succession of surgeons

came to the castle over the

first few years of his life

attempting to find it.

- The scars, then,

weren't the result

of an accident?

- They were

attempting to "fix" him.

But, in the end,

he still has no ear,

his hearing is still a

little muffled on that side,

and he's been left scarred

in more ways than one.

[Harry coughing]

- You need to rest.

- I'm fine.

- And I won't keep you from it.

If there is anything

at all that he needs,

do not hesitate to ask.

- Thank you, Your Grace.

[gentle music]

[gentle music swells]

[gentle music fades]