Little Lord Fauntleroy 1: An Unexpected Visitor (2024)

On a hot July morning, a carriage drove through a run-down section of New York City. Inside the carriage sat a tall, thin Englishman named Mr. Havisham.

"I've been the earl's lawyer for forty years," he said to himself. "But I've never had an assignment like this." The elderly man scowled as he surveyed the rows of narrow brick houses on the dirty streets.

"The earl wants me to find his grandson and take the boy back to England." Mr. Havisham shook his head. "I can't believe Lord Fauntleroy, the earl's heir, lives here in this shabby neighborhood!"

The Earl of Dorincourt was a wealthy, bad-tempered man who hated America and Americans. He suffered from gout, a painful disease that only increased his foul moods. He'd had two sons. His older son, Bevis Errol, had been a constant disappointment. The earl had briefly approved of his younger son, a captain in the army. But then Captain Errol went to the United States and married an American woman. The earl was sure she'd only married him for his money. Furious, the earl cut off communication and refused to give the couple any money.

That was many years ago. In the meantime both Bevis and Captain Errol had died. This meant that Cedric Errol, the captain's nine-year-old son, was Lord Fauntleroy.

"I can't imagine how rude and ignorant the boy is." Mr. Havisham shuddered. "And I dread dealing with his greedy mother."

The carriage passed a grocery store, turned the corner, and stopped in front of a modest house. A servant led Mr. Havisham into a plain but neat parlor. While he waited, he looked around the room.

"There's not much here, but everything—the furniture, the pictures—is in good taste," Mr. Havisham thought. "Of course that's probably the captain's influence and not his wife's. He wouldn't have wanted things that looked cheap even if they were inexpensive."

A few minutes later, a woman in a black dress entered the room.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Mrs. Errol said.

"I . . . I mean . . ." For a moment the lawyer could barely speak. He hadn't expected the widow to be so young or so pretty. Her simple dress was in perfectly good taste. Perhaps she was responsible for decorating the parlor after all. Mr. Havisham looked into her sad eyes.

"The earl was wrong," Mr. Havisham thought. "I'm a good judge of character. This woman didn't marry Captain Errol for his money. She loved him and still mourns him after all these years."

When Mr. Havisham explained why he had come, Mrs. Errol turned pale.

"Do you have to take Cedric away?" Mrs. Errol clasped a hand to her mouth. "We love each other so much! You don't know what he means to me. He's all I have since his father died. Cedric was so young when that happened . . . why does he have to go now?"

Mr. Havisham cleared his throat. The tears in Mrs. Errol's eyes made him uncomfortable.

"The earl feels it's time for Lord Fauntleroy to begin training for his future role. Obviously that's not something he can do here." The lawyer looked around the humble room. "Cedric will live with the earl in Dorincourt Castle."

Mrs. Errol's voice trembled. "He's too young to be so far away from me."

"Of course you will accompany your son to England."

Mrs. Errol relaxed slightly.

"The earl will provide a house for you near the castle as well as a suitable allowance. Lord Fauntleroy will be permitted to visit you. But I must emphasize . . ." Mr. Havisham paused. "The earl doesn't feel kindly toward you. He does not want to see you, and you are forbidden to enter the castle grounds."

Mr. Havisham was afraid Mrs. Errol would sob and make a scene. But she simply went to the window. For a few minutes, she stood with her back to him. Then she turned.

"My husband was very fond of Dorincourt Castle," she said. "He loved England and everything English. He would want Cedric to know his old home. And he would want Cedric to receive the best possible education for a future earl."

"I'm glad you agree!" Mr. Havisham was pleased with how easily the conversation had gone. He was also impressed that Mrs. Errol hadn't asked about the size of her allowance.

"Cedric has always been loved in this house. I'm sure the earl won't teach him to hate me." Mrs. Errol's voice broke. "I only hope his grandfather will love him."

Mr. Havisham stayed silent. He couldn't imagine the grumpy, old earl loving anybody.

Little Lord Fauntleroy 1: An Unexpected Visitor (2024)

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