Chapter 10 - A Sprig of Lavender

As this is a Regency story, there is bound to be some AU-ness and OOC-ness. Please bear with me. Emphases are in italics and titles of books &ca are underlined. This story places great stress on the significance and meanings of flowers.

Extensive footnotes follow the chapter. Readers who are antipathetic to them have been warned.

Language of Flowers

Chapter 10 – A Sprig of Lavender

Four days and eight bouquets of throatworts later, Hermione Granger was still in shock. She owned that she was not frightened by Lord Sterne's discovery of her secret, but she would rather know for certain that he could remain perfectly silent on her writing. Hiero Gravitas was doing very well in the London scientific community. His papers were read by nearly all the students in Oxford and Cambridge; Ars Chemica had even granted a monthly twenty page article space to him for a generous portion of ₤20 a year. Hermione was unwilling to surrender all that she had worked for. However, she noted with some unease that Lord Sterne made no attempt to reveal her secret to the on-dit columns. She had been scanning the pages of The Daily Prophet for days and there was nothing except the 'scandal' of the opening of a new branch of Lord George and Lord Frederick Weasley's shop at Oxford Street. She was surprised that the morning newspaper had written this about her:

The most unexpected debutante of the Season has been seen turning many heads with her witty conversation. Though initially predicted by the Almack's patronesses to be 'unremarkable', Miss Granger appears to have outshone even the beautiful but penniless Lady Ginevra Weasley. The editor has it on excellent authority that she has attracted the attentions of not one worthy admirer BUT two. Miss Granger has been seen riding in the parks and pleasure gardens with Lord Villiers, the dashing young blond heir to the dukedom of Mallefille. The Duchess is reputedly pleased with her son's choice. Meanwhile, Lord Sterne, the taciturn and disagreeable scholar long rumoured to be enamoured of the late Lady Potter, has been seen escorting Miss Granger to several societal events. Lately, he has been seen visiting Lord Orthod's residence so as to spend more time with the unusual young lady.

Miss Granger could not fault the newspaper for its accurate report. She did receive Lord Sterne daily, as did her father. She had also frequently met Lord Villiers on his assignations with Lady Ginevra. Her natural presence of mind had rendered necessary the revelation of all to her father. Though Lord Orthod was inclined to disbelieve his daughter, her eager face and earnest eyes soon convinced him otherwise. He was not taken aback that she had elected to assist in her friend's romance, for it was in her nature to be loyal to her friends. Despite his private misgivings of Lord Villiers, Lord Orthod gradually found that the young man had some redeeming characteristics. He had undergone many changes under the positive influence of Lady Ginevra and the guidance of Lord Sterne; where Lord Villiers was previously a rake and an out-and-outer, he was now thoughtful and self-reflective. In fact, Lord Orthod had a long interview with Lord Villiers in which he gave the young man much advice and encouragement. While the Baron could condone his daughter's hand in the romance between Lady Ginevra and Lord Villiers, he could not fully approve of her 'pretended' romantic liaison with Lord Sterne. He may be a short-sighted old man, but Lord Orthod could sense that there was something more in their interactions than they could discern themselves. Oddly, his daughter and Lord Sterne were oblivious to it. He had attempted to bring it to Hermione's attention, but had thus far only incurred her dismissive laughter.

"My dear," began Lord Orthod, as he placed the political news section of the paper on the table. "You must do something about Lord Villiers."

"What do you mean, Father?" his daughter asked, sipping a cup of tea and carelessly tossing aside the society pages.

"Have you told the boy to declare himself to her family yet? I know that Offaly and his wife will be discreet."

"They will be discreet," said Miss Granger with conviction, "but their youngest son would not."

"Utter tosh! He loves his sister very much and would be happy for her!"

"Ha!" she exclaimed with a ladylike snort. "He loves her, of that I do not doubt. But he is indiscreet. He is already prejudiced against Villiers. He wouldn't even let me walk in my gardens with Villiers! He cannot be trusted to keep his tongue idle. Harry cannot restrain him all the time!"

"But surely, the Duchess of Offaly can!"

"She can – yes! But her husband cannot!"

"There has to be some resolution," cried the exasperated Lord Orthod.

"Frederick and George Weasley are aware of their amour," said Hermione thoughtfully, "and they are very circumspect – at least, they have remained so. I will talk the matter over with Sterne when he arrives."

Lord Orthod raised a brow and surreptitiously coughed his approval. "You can trust him, my pet, he is a nice man."

"Nice?" she laughed in ironic disdain. "He is very uncivil. He declared himself so."

"Did he? What a singular creature!" he replied as he returned to his newspaper.

"Oh, Father!" she exclaimed teasingly. "You are out of humour." Rising to kiss him on the forehead, she continued, "I will be in my study if you need me."

No sooner had she left the breakfast room when Finnigan entered it with a card for the young mistress.

"Who is it?" asked his Lordship with disinterest.

"Lady Sybill Trelawney," answered Finnigan.

"Indeed," said the Baron blandly, chastened that his presupposition on the morning guest had been incorrect. "Send her up to Miss Granger's study."

"Very good, my lord." The butler was about to leave when he was recalled.

"And Finnigan, send Lord Sterne straight up to my daughter's study as soon as he arrives."

"Very good, my lord," muttered the expressionless butler before he sent the lady caller up to his young mistress's study. Upon knocking sharply on the door of Miss Granger's book room, he promptly left the caller to her own devises. There was something about the lady in the pale puce walking dress that he did not like.

"Come in," came the slightly disembowelled voice from the room. Lady Sybill Trelawney did as the voice bade and found herself in a moderately sized room filled with books on every shelf and nearly every surface. She looked carelessly at the crammed shelves that lined from floor to ceiling and noticed a side door on the left adjoining another room. After adjusting her eyes to the various tomes in the room, Lady Sybil settled her gaze on Miss Granger, who was seated in the centre of the room at a desk piled high with books. The scholar lifted her eyes shortly from her writing and open book and soon cast her gradually hardening countenance towards her guest.

"Lady Sybill," she began, rising stiffly and beckoning to a seat opposite the desk. "Do sit down. Will you have some refreshment?"

The newcomer's lower lip trembled slightly as she took the indicated seat. "Thank you, but I do not mean to impose." She continued in a quivering voice, "I will not be long."

"As you wish," answered the personage Lord Sterne dubbed la femme savante. "Your general manner informs me that you are nervous. Would you mind stating your business? Or is this a rare social call?

"Do you have the inner eye too?" asked Lady Sybill with much surprise, suddenly losing her anxiety.

"No, it is pure observation and deduction. Now, how can I help you?"

"By returning Sterne to me!" cried the older woman almost desperately.

"Sorry?" exclaimed Miss Granger as she knocked down her ink stand. She hoped that she had misheard the request.

"Return Lord Sterne to me," said Lady Sybill slowly, carefully enunciating each syllable.

Miss Granger smirked as she arranged her hands in a steeple at her chin. "I did not know he belonged to you. Come to think on it, I was under the impression that he is his own man. Did he sell himself to you at an auction? I am curious. May I see the title deed?"

"How can you poke fun at this matter! I love him and if you give him up; he would realise that I am ideal for him and..."

Interrupting the near hysterical lady, the scholar schooled her features into a mask of gravity. "Yes, you believe he will fall in love with you and marry you. A very interesting story, Lady Sybill but hardly probable. You see, Sterne does not return your regard. It's all part of being his own man, you see. It's a Lockean premise, shall I explain?"

"He does not return my affection yet."

"Your delusions are very amusing," replied Miss Granger, setting her ink stand upright again.

Lady Sybill's eyes flashed dangerously as she rubbed the numerous bangles on her arms in anger. "They are not delusions! I see all and know all."

"What if I were to demonstrate to you that you are doing three people great disservices? What if I proved to you that your course of action would result in the unhappiness of three people?" sighed Hermione, choking back a laugh

"I suppose you mean yourself and Sterne," came the sullen reply.

"Not at all, I do not appear in the schema of the affairs," said the scholar with a smile as she placed a paperweight on her papers. "Now listen and perhaps you will be sensible."

"I do not have to listen to your talk! You lack true sight!" cried the enraged woman.

"Oh no! I see moderately well, thank you. Do you want Sterne to be unhappy? For he will be unhappy if he is bound to you. You will want him all to yourself and will strive to keep him by your side. He will indubitably want to be free to be himself, but due to his deference to your wishes, he swallows his pride and subverts his spirit to your will. He will become paler, thinner and miserable. When you see him in such a condition, you would be unhappy too. Consider poor Lord Lupin – he is practically wearing the willow for you. Do you see how he moons outside your father's house every afternoon hoping to catch a glimpse of you? He has threatened to shoot the young Mr Nott because he had called you an ape-leader."

Colouring with delight that anyone would consider fighting a duel for her sake, Lady Sybill gasped in horror as the implications of Lord Lupin's actions dawned on her. Wringing her gloved hands and allowing her eyes to return to their normal size, she muttered in a scandalised yet pleased tone, "No, he did not."

"He did! He asked my father to act as his Second if the need arose." Then she lowered her voice in mock mortification. "But it came to nothing when Nott apologised."

Lady Sybill coloured again. "I did not know he was in earnest. He seemed so much like a practised flirt."

"Ah, my lady, he has long had had a tendre for you."

"Yet he is not Sterne!" whined Lady Sybil slightly.

"No, he is not. Tell me, have you any points of similarities with Lord Sterne? Do the two of you meet on any level?"

"What do you mean?"

Miss Granger straightened herself in her seat hoping that Lady Sybill had not realised as she just did that she had many similarities with Lord Sterne. Choosing to mask her realisation with a smile, she asked, "Have you any common interests? Books, philosophy, alchemy?"

"No – nothing!"

"Precisely! And if you persist in this course of action, Lord Lupin, Lord Sterne and your ladyship would be each done a great disservice. It would be most unjust."

"Indeed, it would," purred a low silky voice that had just let himself into a study via the adjoining door on the left.

"Lord Sterne!" Lady Sybill greeted in some embarrassment, as she rose and dropped a curtsy.

"Sterne," murmured Miss Granger, extending her hand to him, which he received with a flawless court bow.

"Miss Granger," he murmured, pressing her ink-stained fingers reverently to his lips. It was a gesture that the young lady interpreted as show for the benefit of Lady Sybill Trelawney.

Turning to Lady Sybill with his impassive expression, he curled his lips into a twisted smirk. "You see it is true; I will be the last man on earth to make you happy. Lupin, however... He's a man who shares your passion for dancing, long walks, divination lectures given by Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel. In fact," he paused and fished out his pocket watch so as to surreptitiously check his keen desire to throttle her. "If you hurry your team of horses, you will find him at a lecture in an hour. I have sent him word to escort you home after the event." He bowed at Lady Sybill when he saw her cheeks colouring and led her to the main door; Miss Granger, on her part, rang for her abigail to show the lady to the door.

Having accomplished his task, Lord Sterne collapsed into the chair Lady Sybill had just vacated and gave Miss Granger one of his thoughtful smirks. "Thank you for resolving my chief problem. How fortunate for you that Finnigan informed me of your interlocutor's presence!"

"It is payment in kind, for you have kept my secret," she answered coolly.

Playing thoughtfully with his watch fob, he cast her a disparaging look. "I am a gentleman of superlative honour."

"No, sir," she answered dispassionately, conjuring a lavender blossom, which she pinned to his coat. "You're only a nobleman."

"Only?" He quirked a brow in interest. "I am disappointed!"

"I'm not," she said and leaned forward to pluck something from the shoulder of his coat. "Have you been tramping in Hyde Park? There's a beetle on you," Opening a window and throwing the insect outside, she continued, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

She closed the window sharply and watched the beetled buzzing frantically outside as if it was desperate to be in the room again. "I am talking about my article for the next Ars Chemica."

"It is not a novel approach, but the presentation is interesting. It is a little too academic – could appeal to the Oxford circle though."

"I'll redraft it in the afternoon. Do you want to see the emulsions?" she asked, gesturing to the door on the left.

"I've examined them in yond workroom before rudely interrupting your discussion with Lady Sybill. They appear to be in order. Noting a faraway look in her eyes, Lord Sterne asked, "Is something the matter, Miss Granger?"

"There are conflicting emotions I am sensing within myself," she revealed quietly with a lopsided smile.

He curled his lips in contempt and narrowed his eyes before saying between his teeth, "Pray, enlighten me with your vile emotions."

She laughed scornfully. "They are not directed at you. You may rest easy on that score. No. it is regarding my secret."

"What about it?"

"You have showed me that you are an honourable man, so I feel I must discuss this matter with you."

Lord Sterne raised a brow and hardened his eyes. "I was under the impression that I was only a nobleman."

"So you are, Sterne. You cannot help but be noble in spite of everything you have seen and done. Explain to me why I am relieved yet perturbed with the present situation between us." He waved a hand dismissively, which Miss Granger took as a gesture encouraging her to continue. Ignoring his distracting habit of tracing his lips with his finger, the young scholar pressed forward, "On the one hand, I am relieved to have someone with whom I can discuss my work and my research."

"The sentiment is admirably expressed. I am sympathetic to it, for I am afflicted with it too."

She glared at him for daring to interrupt her. "Then, on the other hand, I am still suspicious of you."

"Rightly so, I am a dangerous person," he admitted, carelessly flicking aside a lock of his hair. "I am capable of murder and other things that are unfit for the ears of a lady."

"What a comforting thought! I was beginning to think you were reformed like Villiers," she laughed ironically.

He narrowed his eyes at her and resisted the impulse to fence her in her seat. "Points to note, my young protégée, I was never like Villiers. I did not ever lead Villiers's dissipated lifestyle. However, unlike him, I am already beyond redemption."

"Forgiveness of the self is very important, Sterne," she answered, patting his hand before pressing it earnestly. "Recall our idol, Socrates – we try to live like him. The contemplative life predicates on our abilities to let go of our past horrors. We are like him in our lives. We are a part of society yet apart from it. We must strive to understand society and ourselves and in so doing, we isolate ourselves. We know that we are incomplete as human being but we are supposed to differ from the masses in our abilities to accept it and live with it. Only when we have arrived on such a level can we truly help others."

The lecture drew a weak smirk from his Lordship and he withdrew his hand from hers. "Let us go for a walk in your garden. Villiers will be here in an hour," commented Lord Sterne, watching his companion transfigure a crushed paper ball into a parasol.

"As will Ginny," she answered, checking the parasol for holes.

"We have to do something about them."

"What? Buy them a special license? Do you know a bishop?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. My godfather's nephew, Wulfric Dumbledore."

"The Archbishop of York? The Wulfric Dumbledore who married the widowed Lady Arabella Figg?" she asked, her eyes agog in incredulity.

The reply came as they passed a ragged robin bush. "The very same."

"We would only use it as a last resort. I was thinking that they should tell the Duke and Duchess of Offaly."

"Why the sudden decision?"

"I spoke to my father."

"You mean he spoke to you."

"Which is the same thing in this household."

"Not by my analysis. But pray, do not let me interrupt you. You may continue," said the Marquess with a smirk.

"My father and I felt that it was time the Duchess, at least, approved of the romance."

"So that she can keep her husband and youngest son in check."

"That is the general idea."

"She is a prudent woman! We will discuss the matter with Villiers and Lady Ginevra when they arrive."

"Will they find the plan inimical?" she asked with sudden doubt, as he led her into the garden.

"Who knows? However, I am certain the lady will not be adverse to it."

"Let's take another turn around the strawberry beds. I thought I saw a few blossoms coming into being."

Lord Sterne assented by leading her to the strawberry beds and continuing their discussion on her next Ars Chemica article.

Footnotes:

Readers, you will notice that the title of the chapter contains the name of flowers/plants. This is significant to understanding the plot. While some of you may be familiar with the language of flowers, I beg you to allow for differences in interpretation. Some flowers/plants have one meaning during the time of the Regency and another during the Victorian era. My guess is that those of you familiar with this language are acquainted with the Victorian interpretation rather than the Regency one.

Naturally, there is also a deeper meaning beyond that of the flowers. What it is – I leave it to you to uncover.

(1) Lavender stands for "distrust". View it here http://3media.initialized.org/photos/2003-07-10/06%20Lavender%20flower.JPG. The title of this chapter draws attention to the flower, not the character of Lavender Brown. However, if you wish to apply the meaning of the flower in looking at the name of Miss Brown, by all means – help yourself.

In the past, parts of the lavender flower were used to flavour food "to comfort the stomach". One medieval herbalist remarked that lavender was particularly good "for all griefs and paines of the head and brain". There is a superstition belief that if lavender grew in the garden, the daughter of the house would remain a spinster.

The historic use and recognition of lavender is almost as old the history of man. As an herb, lavender has been in documented use for over 2,500 years. In ancient times lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptian's, Phoenicians, and peoples of Arabia. Ancient Romans used lavender oils for bathing, cooking, and scenting the air, and they most likely gave it the Latin root name (either lavare-to wash or livendula- livid or bluish) from which we derive the modern name. The flower's soothing, "tonic" qualities, the insect repellent effects of the strong scent, and the use of the dried plant in smoking mixtures also added to the value placed in the herb by the ancients. Romans men also anointed themselves heavily with scents, lavender among them, at public bathhouses.

Lavender is oft mentioned in the Bible, not by the name lavender but rather by the name used at that time -spikenard. In the gospel of Luke the writer reports: "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment."

Another ancient Christian reference to lavender involves how it got its scent. The plant is believed to have been taken from the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve. However, the powerful perfume came later. According to legend the clothing of baby Jesus when laid upon a bush to dry by Mother Mary bestowed the scent. This may explain why the plant is also regarded as a holy safeguard against evil. In many Christian houses a cross of lavender was hung over the door for protection.

Perhaps first domesticated by the Arabians, lavender spread across Europe from Greece. Around 600 BC lavender may have come from the Greek Hyeres Islands into France and is now common in France, Spain, Italy and England. The 'English' lavender varieties were not locally developed in England but rather introduced in the 1600s right around the time the first lavender plants were making their way to the Americas. In Medieval and Renaissance Europe the washing women were known as "lavenders" and they used lavender to scent drawers and dried the laundry on lavender bushes. Also during this time lavender was grown in so called "infirmarian's gardens" along with many other medicinal herbs by monasteries. According to the German nun Hildegard of Bingen who lived from 1098-1179, lavender "water", a decoction of vodka, gin, or brandy mixed with lavender, is great for migraine headaches.

That it actually did ward off disease may have contributed to its holy reputation. During the Great Plague in London in the 17th century, it was suggested that a bunch of lavender fastened to each wrist would protect the wearer against the deadly disease. Furthermore, grave-robbers were known to wash in Four Thieves Vinegar, which contained lavender, after doing their dirty work. They rarely contracted the disease. In 16th century France, lavender was also used to resist infection. For example, glove-makers, who were licensed to perfume their wares with lavender, escaped cholera at that time.

Royal history also is filled with stories of lavender use. Charles VI of France demanded lavender filled pillows wherever he went. Queen Elizabeth I of England required lavender conserve at the royal table. She also wanted fresh lavender flowers available every day of the year, a daunting task for a gardener if you consider the climate of England. Louis XIV also loved lavender and bathed in water scented with it. Queen Victoria used a lavender deodorant and, Elizabeth I and II both used products from the famous lavender company Yardley and Co. of London.

Lavender is a unique fragrance produced by the combination of 180 different constituents and is widely used in the perfume industry to add a top or middle note to commercial products. In the world of professional sniffers it has a green, hay like sweetness and gives "fruity aspects" in perfumes and other scented products. For commercial use lavender is widely grown in England and the Provence region of France is widely renown as a world leader in growing and producing lavender.

In the United States and Canada it was the Shakers who first grew lavender commercially. A strict sect of English Quakers who most likely had little use for lavender's amorous qualities (they were celibate), they developed herb farms upon their arrival from England. They produced their own herbs and medicines and sold them to the "outside world." Later a New York advertising firm picked them up and sold the simple products worldwide.

As an herbal medicine lavender is and has been very widely used. For soothing, relaxing qualities few herbs can be claimed as effective. Constituents of the oils found in lavender can treat hyperactiviety, insomnia, flatulence, bacteria, fungus, microbial activity on gums, airborne molds, and (in mixture with pine, thyme, mint, rosemary, clove, and cinnamon oils) Staphyloccus -aka "Staff"- bacteria. Compounds in the plant have even shown promise as a treatment for certain cancers. In mice these compounds reduced the size of breast cancer tumors. Lavender may even be useful against impotence. In a study of men the scent of pumpkin and lavender rated as the scent found most arousing.

Lavender and love are an ancient match. In an apocryphal book of the Bible we again hear of the use of lavender. Here the story tells us that Judith anointed herself with perfumes including lavender before seducing Holofernes, the enemy commander. This allowed her to murder him and thus save the City of Jerusalem. This overwhelming power of this seductive scent was also used by Cleopatra to seduce Julius Cesaer and Mark Antony. The Queen of Sheba offered spikenard with frankincense and myrrh to King Solomon

In Tudor England, lavender brew was being sipped by maidens on St. Lukes day to divine the identity of their true loves. "St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me, In my dreams, let me my true love see." So went the chant. Lavender in the pillows of alpine girls brought hope of romance, while lavender under the bed of newlyweds ensured passion. Finally, this famous nursery rhyme "Lavender blue, dilly dilly" was written in 1680 and talks of "Whilst you and I, diddle, diddle...keep the bed warm." Lavender inspired loving strikes again.

(2) The throatwort is also known as the fig-wort in some cultures. You will notice from the pictures http://www.californiagardens.com/images/Trachelium_caeruleum_aspect_c.jpg and http://www.flowers.org.uk/images/flowers/aut03_tracheliumclose_lrg.jpg that the plant has diverse great, strong, hard, square brown stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow large, hard, and dark green leaves, two at a joint, harder and larger than Nettle leaves, but not stinking; at the tops of the stalks stand many purple flowers set in husks, which are sometimes gaping and open, somewhat like those of Water Betony; after which come hard round heads, with a small point in the middle, wherein lie small brownish seed. The root is great, white, and thick, with many branches at it, growing aslope under the upper crust of the ground, which abides many years, but keeps not his green leaves in winter. It grows frequently in moist and shadowy woods, and in the lower parts of the fields and meadows. It flowers about July, and the seed will be ripe about a month after the flowers are fallen.

Some Latin scholars during the High Middle Ages called the throatwort/fig-wort, "Cervicaria" because it is appropriated to the treatment of ailments in and around the neck. However, by the 15th-16th century, the English gave it the name "throatwort" because it was found suitable to treating throat complaints. Culpepper's The Complete Herbal (that I am quoting in its medieval English) says, "Venus owns the herb, and the Celestial Bull will not deny it; therefore a better remedy cannot be for the king's evil, because the Moon that rules the disease, is exalted there. The decoction of the herb taken inwardly, and the bruised herb applied outwardly, dissolves clotted and congealed blood within the body, coming by any wounds, bruise or fall; and is no less effectual for the king's evil, or any other knobs, kernel, bunches, or wens growing in the flesh wheresoever; and for the hæmorrhoids, or piles. An ointment made hereof may be used at all times when the fresh herb is not to be had. The distilled water of the whole plant, roots and all, is used for the same purposes, and dries up the superfluous, virulent moisture of hollow and corroding ulcers; it takes away all redness, spots, and freckles in the face, as also the scurf, and any foul deformity therein, and the leprosy likewise."

(3) Ragged robin stands for "wit".

A European perennial plant (Lychnis flos-cuculi) having opposite clasping leaves and panicles of reddish or white flowers with deeply lobed petals. It is also called cuckooflower. View it here http://www.woodlanereserve.co.uk/IMAGES/Ragged-Robin.jpg

(4) Strawberry blossoms represent "foresight".

View it here http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Flower%20Essences/devi16b.jpg and http://www.aviewfromthefield.com/images/p010520h.jpg

(5) Ape-leader is Regency slang for an old spinster or an old maid. Once you had gone through 4 to 5 Seasons and still remained unmarried, you were deemed an ape-leader. In those days, they had their first Season at 16 or 18, depending on the young lady's rank, fortune, family, Father's desire to launch her, ability to find a suitable sponsor for the Season, state of her education and so on. Why were old spinsters/old maids called ape-leaders? It was believed and widely preached in church by the hellfire-and-damnation pastors that women who did not marry would be punished after death. Their punishment after death for failing to procreate would be to lead apes in hell.

(6) Out-and-outer is Regency slang for a person (usually a man) of high spirit, awake on every suit, and with enviable abilities.

(7) A rake is a somewhat subjective term often used in historical romances to describe the hero. Webster defines a rake as "a dissolute person; a libertine" -- in other words, not a very nice character. In romance novels, however, a rake seldom exhibits behaviour that puts him beyond the pale. The term "rake" is most often used in the same way as "playboy" or "womaniser" but without the other implications of drinking, debauchery, and general lechery which inform the literal definition. A typical rakish hero will often have a number of women in his past, but the love of one special woman will cause him to give up the field forever. My understanding of "rake" is a cad or blackguard who threatens a young lady's reputation for propriety and chastity. These men are usually characterised by high spirits and carelessness for the consequences of their actions.

(8) When I say "abigail" here, I mean lady's maid. In this case, the term is always spelt with a lower case 'a'. The task of such a person was to dress her mistress, style her hair and chaperone her mistress around town or in company. A lady would always call her abigail by her last name/surname only. This is the etiquette and I have kept to it. Ironically, the title and the name "Abigail" is Hebrew for "father rejoiced" – why is this ironic? You will see why when I reveal Millicent Bulstrode's parentage...

(9) On-dit is French for "we tell". In the context of Regency speech, it meant gossip about the town that is usually published in the newspapers.

(10) Hermione tells Sybill Trelawney that property rights are Lockean in their premises. This follows a conversation about theft, returns and property. John Locke continues Hobbes and Machiavelli's thoughts in his work Two Treatises of Government. The Second Treatise of Government, subtitled An Essay Concerning the True Original Extent and End of Civil Government, stands today as an extremely influential work that shaped political philosophy and provided a basis for later political doctrines, such as those set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Ironically, we can say that because of this, his ideas are now embedded in a living constitution, and his ideas continued the teachings of Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes. The Second Treatise is Locke's most famous work. The First Treatise is devoted to the war against divine monarchy, and pretty much like Hobbes' latter half of the Leviathan. In the Hobbesian state of nature, which is a state of war of all against all; what's interesting about Hobbes is that this is the way we are – it's not cynical to be like this – it is part of our nature. It's natural that we want to preserve ourselves and this preservation; this motion in our lives is based on this conception of natural rights and reason.

Locke frequently uses the term "rights" and appeals to conscience and "calm reason", all of which reflect his assumptions about justice and morality. Locke explicitly makes clear his stance on property in chapter 5 (entitled 'Of Property') of The Second Treatise. This chapter is the most important section of Locke's Second Treatise and it is also very important for the cause of modern liberalism. This would be better explained with an illustration – bear with me – my prelim readers and betas did not see how Locke fits into this.

Let's say, first come first serve – let's say, Miss X is feeling particularly hungry today and the moment I say, "The cake is all yours, share it" and you adopt the first come first serve principle. What if she decides to eat half the cake? What would the rest of you say? Unjust! Right? Unfair! So, we are speculating whether the original separation of the earth into different parcels presuppose some kind of universal consent on how to divide the property? Do you all need to come together and decide how to share the cake or the land? Then Locke says, "That's crazy." Why? Because of this – imagine yourself in the state of nature and you want this piece of land, do you have to ask everybody, "Can I have this? Is it okay to have this?" This is crazy, right? By the time you get universal consent, you'll die. So that's the problem Locke will have to resolve. Given that ideally that the land is to be distributed to all equally, how do I get a piece of nature without having to ask everybody for permission?

Now, he will come to some particular things, and by this, he means fundamental things that are also necessary for our survival – food from nature. How do you make this food from nature, exclusively yours. How do I make it my property without having to ask permission from everybody else? The solution is very simple, refer to #27, it says, "Every man has a property in his own person." If you look at this assertion, it implies that we all own ourselves, that we are our own properties in our own person, so we are our own private property. In the exercise of my own property, I have my own person; and by that exercise, by the use of my labour, which is the extension of my property, by exercising my labour on nature, I come to have an exclusive right to that part of nature. Imagine this bottle is an apple and it is hanging on this desk, which is an apple tree. The apple tree is common, which means that everyone of you has a right to it. How can I get the apple to be my property? By exercising my labour, which is the extension of my property (my arm and hand). I mix my labour with nature in other words. And that makes this exercise of my labour an effort to go to the apple tree, seize the apple tree and pluck it out and the apple then becomes mine. And I don't have to ask anybody for permission. That means that once I have exercised my labour, this apple now is mixed with my labour and it has my individual personality on it, my thumbprint is on it. And if you try to take this apple from me without my consent, you put yourself in a state of war with me. You can go for the other apples on the tree, but not this apple that is mine because it has a bit of my personality on it because I took it by exercising my labour on nature. So this apple and my person are not simply natural things anymore. This is a very elegant solution.

Remember that in the state of nature, there are a lot of these sorts of things. This then is a reasonable way of accounting for how in the state of nature, which was given to mankind in common, I can acquire a part of nature for myself without the consent of everybody else. The law of natural thus operates in this manner. BUT, ask yourself this – so there is this apple tree with lost of apples and I'm hungry, can I pluck all the apples I want and carry them away? Locke says, "No". Why? Because there is a limit to how many apples I can acquire given that there is a law of nature, which is the RULE OF REASON operating in the state of nature. There are limits to acquisition. There are two principles limiting acquisition in the state of nature and we can find it in #27 and #33. The first principle laid out in #27, we must always leave what is "enough and as good for others", which is the cake principle that I mentioned earlier. You can't just take half of it, you must leave enough and as good for others. So, if there are 10 guys you divide the cake into 10 equal parts and you take one slice, and therefore you leave enough and as good for others. The second principle is that you must let anything in your possession spoil or waste. So there are 40 of us here and there are 80 apples on this tree, this means that we can all have 2 each. I am not allowed to take 3 because I must leave as good as enough for others. BUT, while I have these two apples and I pluck them from the tree, I still keep to the law of nature; I'm not depriving anybody of his fair share of it. But on the other hand, I can only eat one because I am quite full, so what am I going to do with this other apple? I cannot keep it – if it spoils in my care, I have violated a law of nature. So this is the spoilage proviso – you can only take what you need and leave as good as enough for the others. As such, even though you are entitled to 2, and you know that you only need one, you had better take one. Why? Because if the other apple spoils in your care, you have violated a law of nature. And that would mean that you deserve punishment. So these two principles of leaving as good as enough for others and the spoilage proviso limits acquisition.

Interestingly in Hermione's mention of the Lockean premise of property to Sybill, the latter insists initially that Severus was stolen from her. This also, ironically, fits in with Locke and property. How and why? If I steal from you, I violate the law of nature because I put myself in a state of war with you. The law of nature permits you to punish me, so the law of nature still applies. You are not in a state of war with me because you are still working under the rule of reason – you are abiding by it. You not unjust, rather I, the criminal, I am the one that is unjust. I put myself in a state of war with you. In your apprehension of me, you are actually doing a legitimate act because you are authorised by the law of nature to punish criminals. So you have NOT violated the law of nature; you have not put yourself in a state of war with me, I put myself in a state of war with you. So if I get hurt, I get what I deserve. If you are trying to catch me and I punch you, you don't get what you are deserving. I shall leave out the explanation on property and money as it has no bearing to the understanding of Hermione and Sybill's stilted conversation of thefts, return and property.

(12) Some readers might take offence at the phrase "tendre" used here. I understand that some might look on it as a bastardisation of the French. I know the original phrase is "tendre penchant". In Regency English, the term "tendre" is usually understood to mean a strong liking for. The term "tendre" was used by W. M. Thackery, who wrote, "You poor friendless creatures are always having some foolish tendre" in Vanity Fair. So you see, in English, it is perfectly acceptable.