Understanding the Latin Root Ambul

To become truly adept at understanding what you read, vocabulary acquisition is very important. You can certainly try to memorize list after list of vocabulary words by making  vocabulary flashcards, downloading the best  vocabulary apps, and completing  reading comprehension worksheets that focus on vocabulary, but youd still have gaps in your knowledge. One of the best, most efficient ways to increase your vocabulary is by understanding Greek and Latin roots, suffixes, and prefixes. There are  four really good reasons to learn them, and if you already understand that fact, then, by all means, take a peek at this Latin root ambul—and get started improving your vocabulary today. The Latin Root Ambul- Definition:  To walk, to take steps, to go around. From to wander; to go astray Pronunciation:  Ãƒ ¦m-bull Use the short vowel sound a.   English Words Using or Derived From Ambul Amble: To walk at a slow, easy pace. Meander. OR, when used as a noun, a slow easy walk or the ambling gait of a horse.Ambler: One who walks at a slow, easy pace or meanders.Ambulance: A specially equipped motor vehicle for carrying people or injured people, usually to a hospital.Ambulate: To walk about or move from place to place.Ambulant: Moving from place to place; shifting; itinerantAmbulatory: Of, or related to walking or moving; being able to walk or moveCircumambulate: To ceremoniously walk around or go about.Somnambulist: Someone who walks while sleeping.Perambulator (pram): A baby carriage.Preamble: Literally, to walk before. Modern usage: an introductory statement, preface, or introduction.   Alternate Spellings:  amble Examples in Context The dirty cowboy ambled up to the bar, spurs clinking on the wooden floorboards, and casually ordered two whiskeys: one for him, one for his horse.The dog groomers business has boomed since moving from a downtown office downtown to an ambulatory  grooming van.The new mom couldnt decide which perambulator would best carry the baby to the park while showcasing her posh style.Being a somnambulist isnt easy; you may wake up rummaging through the kitchen pantry with no memory of how you got there.  Never was there a more ambulant job than being a taxi driver in  New York.  The doctor said hed release her from the hospital as soon as she could ambulate on her own. Since the woman had no idea what the doctor meant (she didnt study her Latin roots), she removed the catheter and gave it a try. She didnt get to leave.After winning the grand championship, the MVP made a great show of circumambulating the field while the spectators cheered and whistled for their home team.

Does God Exist Essay - 1820 Words

Does God Exist? In this essay I am going to create a balanced argument from over the years which many people have used to base their beliefs on whether or not God exists. Furthermore the topic of God is such an important issue in the past few years due to the Iraq war and recent terrorist attacks. It is of importance because in the Iraq war we have a predominantly White-Christian country occupying a predominantly Middle eastern-Muslim country, each with opposing religious beliefs. Which if left to escalate any further could spark a world wide uprising of opposing fundamentalist groups. All because of this entity called, God. To prove whether God exists or not millions of people have created arguments to sway a mind in what they think†¦show more content†¦However atheist have a way to counter this argument with the use of a Geiger Counter. This is a meter that gives the infamous â€Å"Click† when radiation is present in an area. Alerting the senses that the area around them is radioa ctive. So far no theist has produced an instrument that makes a â€Å"Click† or any sort of alert, even through prayer, that God exists. In defiance of needing some sort of alert to prove that God exists, theists say â€Å"We can look around at Gods creation and have all out senses alerted by nature itself.† This argument is relatively new to the philosophers world and it has been dubbed The Atheists Nightmare. However it still relies on looking at nature itself as proof that God exists. This argument is based around the idea that a banana carries the characteristics of being created by an intelligent designer, simply because it is the perfect food for a human being. The basis of the argument is that they are five edges around a banana that fit exactly into the contours of the human hand. Which make it easy to grip and will not slip out of your fingers. Another feature is that it is colour coded so it is easy tell whether it is ripe or not. When the bananas skin is gre en it isnt ripe just yet. When the banana is ripe the skin will turn into its commonly known yellow colour, and when the banana has become over ripe it turns a black off putting colour. God in his infinite wisdom has also created a convenient â€Å"tab† at the topShow MoreRelatedDoes God Exist?1074 Words   |  5 PagesDoes God Exist ? 1. What role do arguments play in answering this question? I think arguments have played an important role in analyzing and understanding the depth of this question, for mankind. Although the question itself seems factual (either it does or it doesn t), yet no arguments have been able to answer this question conclusively, despite many debates going on for centuries. One possible reason for that inconclusiveness may lie in our intuition and the way, humans define God and existenceRead MoreDoes God Exist1417 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God exist? Does God exist? This seemingly simple question is in fact loaded with a myriad of twists and turns that scientists and theologians have debated for years without reaching an accepted conclusion. Part of the problem lies in the many definitions of God. Traditionally it is accepted that God is a supreme being, infallible, perfect, and existing outside of the material world of humanity. It is this definition that is generally used when debating Gods existence. There have been severalRead MoreDoes God Exist?1366 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween Jesus and his disciples before Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. The main philosophical question that arose to me when I saw this painting was if God exists. Depicted in the painting there is a higher being or God watching over Jesus and his disciples. There are many arguments and ideas for the existence of a higher being or God, some of the main ones are; Pascal’s Wager, the Ontological argument, the Cosmological argument, the Teleologic al argument, the Moral argument, and the argumentRead MoreDoes God Exist1483 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God Exist The question of God’s existence has lingered in the mind of man since the dawn of religion. The simple fact that billions of people consider themselves to have some allegiance to a deity means that this question deserves to be seriously considered. In this paper I will argue for the sake that God does exist and the reasons why. I will include many of the arguments found in our philosophy book and those covered in class as well as other subjects such as human suffering and the reasonsRead MoreDoes God Exist?668 Words   |  3 Pagesculture has its God. Christianity and Islam have their own god; the Romans and Greeks had their Pantheon. A lot of people believe in god have thought that there is more to life the material world around us. It seems arises naturally the world over by believing in god. Does God exist? I believe in God is exists by the philosophical argument: ontological argument, the first cause argument, the argument form design, and the moral argument. Arguments relate to the existence of God are in differentRead MoreDoes God Exist?563 Words   |  2 PagesDoes God exist? There is no evidence that any god exist, so I assume that there isn’t one. I do not believe in a heaven or a hell! Although, I wonder where did we come from? Where will we end up after death? Will we rot underneath the soil? There are over twenty different religions with answers; some similar, some different but overall, majority of them are bias. Bias, because none of them are proven. In today’s society, we humans have adapted through evolutions by using our surroundings such likeRead MoreDoes God Exist? The Existence Of God?1876 Words   |  8 PagesDoes God Exist? The existence of God is a question that has troubled and plagued mankind since it began to consider logic. Is there a God? How can we be sure that God exists? Can you prove to me that He is real? Does His existence, or lack thereof, make a significant difference? These loaded questions strike at the heart of human existence. But the real question is, can we answer any of them? These questions are answered in the arguments of St. Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal and St. Anselm ofRead More Does God Exist? Essay1145 Words   |  5 Pages Proof Of The Exsistence of God Either God exists or He doesnt. There is no middle ground. Any attempt to remain neutral in relation to Gods existence is automatically synonymous with unbelief. The question for Gods existence is really important. Does God exist? Theology, cosmological, teleological and ontological arguments are all have ways to prove the existence of God. With all of these great arguments how can one deny that there is a God. There is a God and with these reasons I will proveRead MoreDoes God Exist? Essay925 Words   |  4 PagesDoes God exist? The question of Gods existence is a perplexing one, the only evidence we have of God is what we are told from those who worship him, and unknowns can be debated logically if a higher being is in control. It has been written that in the beginning there was man and there was woman, and God put the two together to create a new race of beings. We are to assume then that God gave these beings a soul to distinguish them from other beings, for example, plants. The soul is often arguedRead MoreDoes God Really Exists? Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God Really Exists The idea of God has been one of the most debatable issues since the dawn of humanity and with it guided as well as deluded most lives in the pursuit for the truth. The impacts springing from the notion of God has from time memorial changed history, inspired more poetry and music including philosophy more than anything else, imagined or real. Peter Kreft once concluded that â€Å"The idea of God is either a fact, like sand, or a fantasy like Santa† (Lawhead, p. 334). Over the cause

Fraud Triangle Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Such crimes stress by way of example how the inadequacy of process and organisational controls lead to many opportunities for fraud to succeed. A significant contribution of Morales, Gendron and Guenin-Paracini (2014) is that it provides a concrete example of the operation of the fraud triangle in a specific work context. Meanwhile, one area that remains unexplored in the above source is how the insights into the fraud-prone individual in organisations can help deter fraud in white collar contexts (Morales, Gendron and Guenin-Paracini 2014). The fraud triangle literature is vast. As a theorem in psychology it is tightly bound with advances in the field, and in related fields such as criminology. As such, even studies that come from business and accounting-related journals can be mined for valuable insights into how the fraud triangle helps advance psychological research, and vice versa. These include studies by Aghghaleh, Iskandar and Mohamed (2014) and of Murphy and Dacin (2011) that look at the implications of the fraud triangle for business processes and organizational checks and balances. Among the key contributions of Aghghaleh, Iskandar and Mohamed (2014) and of Murphy and Dacin (2011) are that they stress the fundamental psychological underpinnings of the fraud triangle. We will write a custom essay sample on Fraud Triangle or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page The theory of planned behaviour or TPB attributed to Icek Ajzen in 1985 and as cited in Cohen, Ding Lessage and Stolowy (2010) is a theory in social psychology advances the proposition that the intentions behind the actions of individuals can be extrapolated with a high degree of precision from taking into account the individual’s subjective norms, the individual’s perception of his control over his behaviour, and the individual’s attitudes with regard to the behaviour. The TPB is used to dissect the opportunity aspect of the fraud triangle (Cohen, Ding, Lesage and Stolowy 2010).

How Sm Jaleel Went Global - 12239 Words

SM jaleel Company in trinidad diversification of its products FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY Ministry of Trade and Industry Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Developed by: The Food Beverage Industry Team Report Preparation: Arnold Babwah May, 2005 Preface The conceptual framework for this document is the result of a partnership approach between public sector agencies and the private sector. It attempts, within the context of the 2020 VISION for national development, to outline what must be done – given the current national, regional, and global situation - and seeks to make the most of the strengths and opportunities of the Food and Beverage Processing Industry while minimising the weaknesses and†¦show more content†¦Desmond Ali Independent Consultant – Food and Beverage Processing Ms. Annelle Joachim Business Development Company Limited Ms. Renata Tulsie Institute of Business, University of the West Indies Mrs. Margaret Taylor Caribbean Industrial Research Institute Mr. Winston Borrell Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. IV Abbreviations/ Acronyms †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ ADB : Agricultural Development Bank CARDI : Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute CARIRI : Caribbean Industrial Research Institute CSME : Caribbean Single Market and Economy CSO : Central Statistical Office EU : European Union FAO : Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FSAI : Food Safety Authority of Ireland FTAA : Free Trade Agreement of The Americas FTAs : Free Trade Agreements GMPs : Good Manufacturing Practices HACCP : Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points IICA : Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences MALMR : Ministry of Agriculture , Land and Marine Resources NAMEDVCO : National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation NEDCO : National Entrepreneurship Development Company Limited SCBD : Standing Committee on Business Development SME : Sm all, Medium Sized Enterprises

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six Free Essays

string(42) " when she realized what she’d said\." Jack had always prided himself on being able to spot the irony in any situation, but as he stood in the Belgrave drawing room – correction, one of the Belgrave drawing rooms, surely there were dozens – he could find nothing but stark, cold reality. He’d spent six years as an officer in His Majesty’s army, and if he’d learned one thing from his years on the battlefield, it was that life could, and frequently did, turn on a single moment. One wrong turn, one missed clue, and he could lose an entire company of men. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six or any similar topic only for you Order Now But once he returned to Britain, he’d somehow lost sight of that. His life was a series of small decisions and insignificant encounters. It was true that he was living a life of crime, which meant he was always dancing a few steps ahead of the hangman’s noose, but it wasn’t the same. No one’s life depended upon his actions. No one’s livelihood, even. There was nothing serious about robbing coaches. It was a game, really, played by men with too much education and too little direction. Who would have thought that one of his insignificant decisions – to take the Lincoln road north instead of south – would lead to this? Because one thing was for certain, his carefree life on the road was over. He suspected that Wyndham would be more than happy to watch him ride away without a word, but the dowager would not be so accommodating. Miss Eversleigh’s assurances aside, he was quite certain the old bat would go to extensive lengths to keep him on a leash. Maybe she would not turn him over to the authorities, but she could certainly tell the world that her long-lost grandson was gadding about the countryside robbing coaches. Which would make it damned difficult to continue in his chosen profession. And if he was truly the Duke of Wyndham†¦ God help them all. He was beginning to hope that his aunt had lied. Because no one wanted him in a position of such authority, least of all himself. â€Å"Could someone please explain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He took a breath and stopped, pressing his fingers against his temples. It felt as if an entire battalion had marched across his forehead. â€Å"Could someone explain the family tree?† Because shouldn’t someone have known if his father had been the heir to a dukedom? His aunt? His mother? Himself? â€Å"I had three sons,† the dowager said crisply. â€Å"Charles was the eldest; John, the middle; and Reginald the last. Your father left for Ireland just after Reginald married† – her face took on a visible expression of distaste, and she jerked her head toward Wyndham – â€Å"his mother.† â€Å"She was a Cit,† Wyndham said, with no expression whatsoever. â€Å"Her father owned factories. Piles and piles of them.† One of his brows lifted. Very slightly. â€Å"We own them now.† The dowager’s lips tightened, but she did not acknowledge his interruption. â€Å"We were notified of your father’s death in July of 1790.† Jack nodded tightly. He had been told the same. â€Å"One year after that, my husband and my eldest son died of a fever. I did not contract the ailment. My youngest son was no longer living at Belgrave, so he, too, was spared. Charles had not yet married, and we believed John to have died without issue. Thus Reginald became duke.† She paused, but other than that expressed no emotion. â€Å"It was not expected.† Everyone looked at Wyndham. He said nothing, â€Å"I will remain,† Jack said quietly, because he didn’t see as he had any other choice. And maybe it wouldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two of his father. A man ought to know where he comes from. That was what his uncle had always said. Jack was beginning to wonder if he’d been offering forgiveness – in advance. Just in case he decided one day that he wished to be a Cavendish. Of course, Uncle William hadn’t met these Cavendishes. If he had, he might’ve revised that statement entirely. â€Å"Most judicious of you,† the dowager said, clapping her hands together. â€Å"Now then, we – â€Å" â€Å"But first,† Jack cut in, â€Å"I must return to the inn to collect my belongings.† He glanced around the drawing room, almost laughing at the opulence. â€Å"Meager though they are.† â€Å"Nonsense,† the dowager said briskly. â€Å"Your things will be replaced.† She looked down her nose at his traveling costume. â€Å"With items of far greater quality, I might add.† â€Å"I wasn’t asking your permission,† Jack said lightly. He did not like to allow his anger to reveal itself in his voice. It did put a man at a disadvantage. â€Å"Nonethe – â€Å" â€Å"Furthermore,† Jack added, because really, he didn’t wish to hear her voice any more than he had to, â€Å"I must make explanations to my associates.† At that he looked over at Wyndham. â€Å"Nothing approaching the truth,† he added dryly, lest the duke assume that he intended to spread rumors throughout the county. â€Å"Don’t disappear,† the dowager directed. â€Å"I assure you, you will regret it.† â€Å"There’s no worry of that,† Wyndham said blandly. â€Å"Who would disappear with the promise of a dukedom?† Jack’s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to let it pass. The afternoon did not need another fistfight. And then – bloody hell – the duke abruptly added, â€Å"I will accompany you.† Oh, good God. That was the last thing he needed. Jack swung around to face him, lifting one dubious brow. â€Å"Need I worry for my safety?† Wyndham stiffened visibly, and Jack, who had been trained to notice even the smallest of details, saw that both of his fists clenched at his sides. So he’d insulted the duke. At this point, and considering the bruises he was likely to find staining his throat, he didn’t care. He turned to Miss Eversleigh, offering her his most self-effacing smile. â€Å"I am a threat to his very identity. Surely any reasonable man would question his safety.† â€Å"No, you’re wrong!† she cried out. â€Å"You misjudge him. The duke – â€Å" She shot a horrified look at Wyndham, and they all were forced to share her discomfort when she realized what she’d said. You read "The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six" in category "Essay examples" But she plowed on, determined girl that she was. â€Å"He is as honorable a man as I have ever met,† she continued, her voice low and fervent. â€Å"You would never come to harm in his company.† Her cheeks had flushed with passion, and Jack was struck by the most acidic thought. Was there something between Miss Eversleigh and the duke? They resided in the same house, or castle, as it were, with only an embittered old lady for company. And while the dowager was anything but senile, Jack could not imagine that there was any lack of opportunity to engage in a dalliance under her nose. He watched Miss Eversleigh closely, his eyes falling to her lips. He’d surprised himself when he kissed her the night before. He hadn’t meant to, and he certainly had never done such a thing before whilst attempting to rob a coach. It had seemed the most natural thing in the world – to touch her chin, tilt her face up toward his, and brush his lips against hers. It had been soft, and fleeting, and it had taken him until this moment to realize just how deeply he wanted more. He looked at Wyndham, and his jealousy must have shown on his face because his newly discovered cousin looked coolly amused as he said, â€Å"I assure you, whatever violent urges I possess, I shall not act upon them.† â€Å"That is a terrible thing to say,† Miss Eversleigh responded. â€Å"But honest,† Jack acknowledged with a nod. He did not like this man, this duke who had been brought up to view the world as his private domain. But he appreciated honesty, no matter the source. And as Jack looked him in the eye, there seemed to develop an unspoken agreement. They did not have to be friends. They did not even have to be friendly. But they would be honest. Which suited Jack just fine. By Grace’s calculations, the men ought to have returned within ninety minutes, two hours at most. She had not spent much time in a saddle, so she was not the best judge of speed, but she was fairly certain that two men on horseback could reach the posting inn in something less than an hour. Then Mr. Audley would need to retrieve his belongings, which could not take very long, could it? And then – â€Å"Get away from the window,† the dowager snapped. Grace’s lips tightened with irritation, but she managed to return her expression to one of placidity before she turned around. â€Å"Make yourself useful,† the dowager said. Grace glanced this way and that, trying to decode the dowager’s order. She always had something specific in mind, and Grace hated it when she was forced to guess. â€Å"Would you like me to read to you?† she asked. It was the most pleasant of her duties; they were currently reading Pride and Prejudice, which Grace was enjoying immensely, and the dowager was pretending not to like at all. The dowager grunted. It was a no grunt. Grace was fluent in this method of communication. She took no particular pride in this skill. â€Å"I could pen a letter,† she suggested. â€Å"Weren’t you planning to respond to the recent missive from your sister?† â€Å"I can write my own letters,† the dowager said sharply, even though they both knew her spelling was atrocious. Grace always ended up rewriting all of her correspondence before it was posted. Grace took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, the exhale shuddering through her. She did not have the energy to untangle the inner workings of the dowager’s mind. Not today. â€Å"I’m hot,† the dowager announced. Grace did not respond. She was hoping none was necessary. And then the dowager picked something up off a nearby table. A fan, Grace realized with dismay, just as the dowager snapped it open. Oh, please, no. Not now. The dowager regarded the fan, a rather festive blue one, with Chinese paintings in black and gold. Then she snapped it back shut, clearly just to make it easier for her to hold it before her like a baton. â€Å"You may make me more comfortable,† she said. Grace paused. It was only for a moment, probably not even a full second, but it was her only means of rebellion. She could not say no, and she could not even allow her distaste to show in her expression. But she could pause. She could hold her body still for just enough time to make the dowager wonder. And then, of course, she stepped forward. â€Å"I find the air quite pleasant,† she said once she had assumed her position at the dowager’s side. â€Å"That is because you are pushing it about with the fan.† Grace looked down at her employer’s pinched face. Some of the lines were due to age, but not the ones near her mouth, pulling her lips into a perpetual frown. What had happened to this woman to make her so bitter? Had it been the deaths of her children? The loss of her youth? Or had she simply been born with a sour disposition? â€Å"What do you think of my new grandson?† the dowager asked abruptly. Grace froze, then quickly regained her composure and resumed fanning. â€Å"I do not know him well enough to form an opinion,† she answered carefully. The dowager continued to look straight ahead as she answered, â€Å"Nonsense. All of the best opinions are formed in an instant. You know that very well. ‘Else you’d be married to that repulsive little cousin of yours, wouldn’t you?† Grace thought of Miles, ensconced in her old home. She had to admit, every now and then the dowager got things exactly right. â€Å"Surely you have something to say, Miss Eversleigh.† The fan rose and fell three times before Grace decided upon, â€Å"He seems to have a buoyant sense of humor.† â€Å"Buoyant.† The dowager repeated the word, her voice curious, as if she were testing it out on her tongue. â€Å"An apt adjective. I should not have thought of it, but it is fitting.† It was about as close to a compliment as the dowager ever got. â€Å"He is rather like his father,† the dowager continued. Grace moved the fan from one hand to the other, murmuring, â€Å"Is he?† â€Å"Indeed. Although if his father had been a bit more†¦ buoyant, we’d not be in this mess, would we?† Grace choked on air. â€Å"I’m so sorry, ma’am. I should have chosen my words more carefully.† The dowager did not bother to acknowledge the apology. â€Å"His levity is much like his father. My John was never one to allow a serious moment to pass him by. He had the most cutting wit.† â€Å"I would not say that Mr. Audley is cutting,† Grace said. His humor was far too sly. â€Å"His name is not Mr. Audley, and of course he is,† the dowager said sharply. â€Å"You’re too besotted to see it.† â€Å"I am not besotted,† Grace protested. â€Å"Of course you are. Any girl would be. He is most handsome. Pity about the eyes, though.† â€Å"What I am,† Grace said, resisting the urge to point out that there was nothing wrong with green eyes, â€Å"is overset. It has been a most exhausting day. And night,† she added after a thought. The dowager shrugged. â€Å"My son’s wit was legendary,† she said, setting the conversation back to where she wished it. â€Å"You wouldn’t have thought it cutting, either, but that was simply because he was far too clever. It is a brilliant man who can make insult without the recipient even realizing.† Grace thought that rather sad. â€Å"What is the point, then?† â€Å"The point?† The dowager blinked several times in rapid succession. â€Å"Of what?† â€Å"Of insulting someone.† Grace shifted the fan again, then shook out her free hand; her fingers were cramped from clutching the handle. â€Å"Or I should say,† she amended, since she was quite sure the dowager could find many good reasons to cut someone down, â€Å"of insulting someone with intention of their not noticing it?† The dowager still did not look at her, but Grace could see that she rolled her eyes. â€Å"It is a source of pride, Miss Eversleigh. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.† â€Å"No,† Grace said softly. â€Å"I wouldn’t.† â€Å"You don’t know what it means to excel at something.† The dowager pursed her lips and stretched her neck slightly from side to side. â€Å"You couldn’t know.† Which had to be as cutting an insult as any, except that the dowager seemed completely unaware she’d done it. There was irony in there somewhere. There had to be. â€Å"We live in interesting times, Miss Eversleigh,† the dowager commented. Grace nodded silently, turning her head to the side so that the dowager, should she ever choose to turn her head in her direction, would not see the tears in her eyes. Her parents had lacked the funds to travel, but theirs had been wandering hearts, and the Eversleigh home had been filled with maps and books about faraway places. Like it was yesterday, Grace remembered the time they had all been sitting in front of the fire, engrossed in their own reading, and her father looked up from his book and exclaimed, â€Å"Isn’t this marvelous? In China, if you wish to insult someone, you say, ‘May you live in interesting times.'† Grace suddenly did not know if the tears in her eyes were of sorrow or mirth. â€Å"That is enough, Miss Eversleigh,† the dowager said suddenly. â€Å"I am quite cooled.† Grace shut the fan, then decided to set it down on the table by the window so she would have a reason to cross the room. Dusk hung only lightly in the air, so it was not difficult to see down the drive. She was not certain why she was so eager to have the two men back – possibly just as proof that they had not killed each other on the trip. Despite defending Thomas’s sense of honor, she had not liked the look in his eyes. And she had certainly never known him to attack someone. He’d looked positively feral when he lunged for Mr. Audley. If Mr. Audley had been less of a fighting man himself, she was quite certain Thomas would have done him permanent harm. â€Å"Do you think it will rain, Miss Eversleigh?† Grace turned. â€Å"No.† â€Å"The wind is picking up.† â€Å"Yes.† Grace waited until the dowager turned her attention to a trinket on the table next to her, and then she turned back to the window. Of course the moment she did, she heard – â€Å"I hope it rains.† She held still. And then she turned. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I hope it rains.† The dowager said it again, so very matter-of-fact, as if anyone would wish for precipitation while two gentlemen were out on horseback. â€Å"They will be drenched,† Grace pointed out. â€Å"They will be forced to take each other’s measure. Which they will have to do sooner or later. Besides, my John never minded riding in the rain. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.† â€Å"That does not mean that Mr. – â€Å" â€Å"Cavendish,† the dowager inserted. Grace swallowed. It helped her catch her patience. â€Å"Whatever he wishes to be called, I don’t think we may assume that he enjoys riding in the rain just because his father did. Most people do not.† The dowager did not seem to wish to consider this. But she acknowledged the statement with, â€Å"I know nothing of the mother, that is true. She could be responsible for any number of adulterations.† â€Å"Would you care for tea, ma’am?† Grace asked. â€Å"I could ring for it.† â€Å"What do we know of her, after all? Almost certainly Irish, which could mean any number of things, all of them dreadful.† â€Å"The wind is picking up,† Grace said. â€Å"I shouldn’t want you to get chilled.† â€Å"Did he even tell us her name?† â€Å"I don’t believe so.† Grace sighed, because direct questions made it difficult to pretend she wasn’t a part of this conversation. â€Å"Dear Lord.† The dowager shuddered, and her eyes took on an expression of utter horror. â€Å"She could be Catholic.† â€Å"I have met several Catholics,† Grace said, now that it was clear that her attempts to divert the subject had failed. â€Å"It was strange,† she murmured. â€Å"None had horns.† â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"Just that I know very little about the Catholic faith,† Grace said lightly. There was a reason she often directed her comments to a window or wall. The dowager made a noise that Grace could not quite identify. It sounded like a sigh, but it was probably more of a snort, because the next words from her mouth were: â€Å"We shall have to get that taken care of.† She leaned forward, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers and looking extremely put out. â€Å"I suppose I shall have to contact the archbishop.† â€Å"Is that a problem?† Grace asked. The dowager’s head shook with distaste. â€Å"He is a beady little man who will be lording this over me for years.† Grace leaned forward. Was that movement she saw in the distance? â€Å"Heaven knows what sorts of favors he shall demand,† the dowager muttered. â€Å"I suppose I shall have to let him sleep in the State Bedroom, just so he can say he slept on Queen Elizabeth’s sheets.† Grace watched as the two men on horseback came into view. â€Å"They are back,† she said, and not for the first time that evening, wondered just what role she was meant to play in this drama. She was not family; the dowager was certainly correct in that. And despite Grace’s relatively lofty position within the household, she was not included in matters pertaining to family or title. She did not expect it, and indeed she did not want it. The dowager was at her worst when matters of dynasty arose, and Thomas was at his worst when he had to deal with the dowager. She should excuse herself. It did not matter that Mr. Audley had insisted upon her presence. Grace knew her position, and she knew her place, and it was not in the middle of a family affair. But every time she told herself it was time to go, that she ought to turn from the window and inform the dowager that she would leave her to talk with her grandsons in private, she could not make herself move. She kept hearing – no, feeling – Mr. Audley’s voice. She stays. Did he need her? He might. He knew nothing of the Wyndhams, nothing of their history and the tensions that ran through the house like a vicious, intractable spiderweb. He could not be expected to navigate his new life on his own, at least not right away. Grace shivered, hugging her arms to her chest as she watched the men dismount in the drive. How strange it was to feel needed. Thomas liked to say he needed her, but they both knew that was untrue. He could hire anyone to put up with his grandmother. Thomas needed no one. Nothing. He was marvelously self-contained. Confident and proud, all he really needed was the occasional pinprick to burst the bubble that surrounded him. He knew this, too, which was what saved him from being entirely insufferable. He’d never said as much, but Grace knew it was why they had become friends. She was possibly the only person in Lincolnshire who did not bow and scrape and say only what she thought he wished to hear. But he didn’t need her. Grace heard footsteps in the hall and turned, stiffening nervously. She waited for the dowager to order her gone. She even looked at her, raising her brows ever so slightly as if in a dare, but the dowager was staring at the door, determinedly ignoring her. When the men arrived, Thomas walked in first. â€Å"Wyndham,† the dowager said briskly. She never called him anything but his title. He nodded in response. â€Å"I had Mr. Audley’s belongings sent up to the blue silk bedroom.† Grace shot a careful look over at the dowager to gauge her reaction. The blue silk bedroom was one of the nicer guest bedchambers, but it was not the largest or most prestigious. It was, however, just down the hall from the dowager. â€Å"Excellent choice,† the dowager replied. â€Å"But I must repeat. Do not refer to him as Mr. Audley in my presence. I don’t know these Audleys, and I don’t care to know them.† â€Å"I don’t know that they would care to know you, either,† commented Mr. Audley, who had entered the room behind Thomas. The dowager lifted a brow, as if to point out her own magnificence. â€Å"Mary Audley is my late mother’s sister,† Mr. Audley stated. â€Å"She and her husband, William Audley, took me in at my birth. They raised me as their own and, at my request, gave me their name. I don’t care to relinquish it.† He looked coolly at the dowager, as if daring her to comment. She did not, much to Grace’s surprise. And then he turned to her, offering her an elegant bow. â€Å"You may refer to me as Mr. Audley if you wish, Miss Eversleigh.† Grace bobbed a curtsy. She was not certain if this was a requirement, since no one had any clue as to his rank, but it seemed only polite. He had bowed, after all. She glanced at the dowager, who was glaring at her, and then at Thomas, who somehow managed to look amused and annoyed at the same time. â€Å"She can’t sack you for using his legal name,† Thomas said with his usual hint of impatience. â€Å"And if she does, I shall retire you with a lifelong bequest and have her sent off to some far-flung property.† Mr. Audley looked at Thomas with surprise and approval before turning to Grace and smiling. â€Å"It’s tempting,† he murmured. â€Å"How far can she be flung?† â€Å"I am considering adding to our holdings,† Thomas replied. â€Å"The Outer Hebrides are lovely this time of year.† â€Å"You’re despicable,† the dowager hissed. â€Å"Why do I keep her on?† Thomas wondered aloud. He walked over to a cabinet and poured himself a drink. â€Å"She is your grandmother,† Grace said, since someone had to be the voice of reason. â€Å"Ah yes, blood.† Thomas sighed. â€Å"I’m told it’s thicker than water. Pity.† He looked over at Mr. Audley. â€Å"You’ll soon learn.† Grace half expected Mr. Audley to bristle at Thomas’s tone of condescension, but his face remained blandly unconcerned. Curious. It seemed the two men had forged some sort of truce. â€Å"And now,† Thomas announced, looking squarely at his grandmother, â€Å"my work here is done. I have returned the prodigal son to your loving bosom, and all is right with the world. Not my world,† he added, â€Å"but someone’s world, I’m sure.† â€Å"Not mine,† Mr. Audley said, when no one else seemed inclined to comment. And then he unleashed a smile – slow, lazy, and meant to paint himself as the careless rogue he was. â€Å"In case you were interested.† Thomas looked at him, his nose crinkling in an expression of vague indifference. â€Å"I wasn’t.† Grace’s head bobbed back to Mr. Audley. He was still smiling. She looked to Thomas, waiting for him to say something more. He dipped his head toward her in wry salute, then tossed back his liquor in one shockingly large swallow. â€Å"I am going out.† â€Å"Where?† demanded the dowager. Thomas paused in the doorway. â€Å"I have not yet decided.† Which meant, Grace was sure, anywhere but here. How to cite The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six, Essay examples

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six Free Essays

string(42) " when she realized what she’d said\." Jack had always prided himself on being able to spot the irony in any situation, but as he stood in the Belgrave drawing room – correction, one of the Belgrave drawing rooms, surely there were dozens – he could find nothing but stark, cold reality. He’d spent six years as an officer in His Majesty’s army, and if he’d learned one thing from his years on the battlefield, it was that life could, and frequently did, turn on a single moment. One wrong turn, one missed clue, and he could lose an entire company of men. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six or any similar topic only for you Order Now But once he returned to Britain, he’d somehow lost sight of that. His life was a series of small decisions and insignificant encounters. It was true that he was living a life of crime, which meant he was always dancing a few steps ahead of the hangman’s noose, but it wasn’t the same. No one’s life depended upon his actions. No one’s livelihood, even. There was nothing serious about robbing coaches. It was a game, really, played by men with too much education and too little direction. Who would have thought that one of his insignificant decisions – to take the Lincoln road north instead of south – would lead to this? Because one thing was for certain, his carefree life on the road was over. He suspected that Wyndham would be more than happy to watch him ride away without a word, but the dowager would not be so accommodating. Miss Eversleigh’s assurances aside, he was quite certain the old bat would go to extensive lengths to keep him on a leash. Maybe she would not turn him over to the authorities, but she could certainly tell the world that her long-lost grandson was gadding about the countryside robbing coaches. Which would make it damned difficult to continue in his chosen profession. And if he was truly the Duke of Wyndham†¦ God help them all. He was beginning to hope that his aunt had lied. Because no one wanted him in a position of such authority, least of all himself. â€Å"Could someone please explain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He took a breath and stopped, pressing his fingers against his temples. It felt as if an entire battalion had marched across his forehead. â€Å"Could someone explain the family tree?† Because shouldn’t someone have known if his father had been the heir to a dukedom? His aunt? His mother? Himself? â€Å"I had three sons,† the dowager said crisply. â€Å"Charles was the eldest; John, the middle; and Reginald the last. Your father left for Ireland just after Reginald married† – her face took on a visible expression of distaste, and she jerked her head toward Wyndham – â€Å"his mother.† â€Å"She was a Cit,† Wyndham said, with no expression whatsoever. â€Å"Her father owned factories. Piles and piles of them.† One of his brows lifted. Very slightly. â€Å"We own them now.† The dowager’s lips tightened, but she did not acknowledge his interruption. â€Å"We were notified of your father’s death in July of 1790.† Jack nodded tightly. He had been told the same. â€Å"One year after that, my husband and my eldest son died of a fever. I did not contract the ailment. My youngest son was no longer living at Belgrave, so he, too, was spared. Charles had not yet married, and we believed John to have died without issue. Thus Reginald became duke.† She paused, but other than that expressed no emotion. â€Å"It was not expected.† Everyone looked at Wyndham. He said nothing, â€Å"I will remain,† Jack said quietly, because he didn’t see as he had any other choice. And maybe it wouldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two of his father. A man ought to know where he comes from. That was what his uncle had always said. Jack was beginning to wonder if he’d been offering forgiveness – in advance. Just in case he decided one day that he wished to be a Cavendish. Of course, Uncle William hadn’t met these Cavendishes. If he had, he might’ve revised that statement entirely. â€Å"Most judicious of you,† the dowager said, clapping her hands together. â€Å"Now then, we – â€Å" â€Å"But first,† Jack cut in, â€Å"I must return to the inn to collect my belongings.† He glanced around the drawing room, almost laughing at the opulence. â€Å"Meager though they are.† â€Å"Nonsense,† the dowager said briskly. â€Å"Your things will be replaced.† She looked down her nose at his traveling costume. â€Å"With items of far greater quality, I might add.† â€Å"I wasn’t asking your permission,† Jack said lightly. He did not like to allow his anger to reveal itself in his voice. It did put a man at a disadvantage. â€Å"Nonethe – â€Å" â€Å"Furthermore,† Jack added, because really, he didn’t wish to hear her voice any more than he had to, â€Å"I must make explanations to my associates.† At that he looked over at Wyndham. â€Å"Nothing approaching the truth,† he added dryly, lest the duke assume that he intended to spread rumors throughout the county. â€Å"Don’t disappear,† the dowager directed. â€Å"I assure you, you will regret it.† â€Å"There’s no worry of that,† Wyndham said blandly. â€Å"Who would disappear with the promise of a dukedom?† Jack’s jaw tightened, but he forced himself to let it pass. The afternoon did not need another fistfight. And then – bloody hell – the duke abruptly added, â€Å"I will accompany you.† Oh, good God. That was the last thing he needed. Jack swung around to face him, lifting one dubious brow. â€Å"Need I worry for my safety?† Wyndham stiffened visibly, and Jack, who had been trained to notice even the smallest of details, saw that both of his fists clenched at his sides. So he’d insulted the duke. At this point, and considering the bruises he was likely to find staining his throat, he didn’t care. He turned to Miss Eversleigh, offering her his most self-effacing smile. â€Å"I am a threat to his very identity. Surely any reasonable man would question his safety.† â€Å"No, you’re wrong!† she cried out. â€Å"You misjudge him. The duke – â€Å" She shot a horrified look at Wyndham, and they all were forced to share her discomfort when she realized what she’d said. You read "The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six" in category "Essay examples" But she plowed on, determined girl that she was. â€Å"He is as honorable a man as I have ever met,† she continued, her voice low and fervent. â€Å"You would never come to harm in his company.† Her cheeks had flushed with passion, and Jack was struck by the most acidic thought. Was there something between Miss Eversleigh and the duke? They resided in the same house, or castle, as it were, with only an embittered old lady for company. And while the dowager was anything but senile, Jack could not imagine that there was any lack of opportunity to engage in a dalliance under her nose. He watched Miss Eversleigh closely, his eyes falling to her lips. He’d surprised himself when he kissed her the night before. He hadn’t meant to, and he certainly had never done such a thing before whilst attempting to rob a coach. It had seemed the most natural thing in the world – to touch her chin, tilt her face up toward his, and brush his lips against hers. It had been soft, and fleeting, and it had taken him until this moment to realize just how deeply he wanted more. He looked at Wyndham, and his jealousy must have shown on his face because his newly discovered cousin looked coolly amused as he said, â€Å"I assure you, whatever violent urges I possess, I shall not act upon them.† â€Å"That is a terrible thing to say,† Miss Eversleigh responded. â€Å"But honest,† Jack acknowledged with a nod. He did not like this man, this duke who had been brought up to view the world as his private domain. But he appreciated honesty, no matter the source. And as Jack looked him in the eye, there seemed to develop an unspoken agreement. They did not have to be friends. They did not even have to be friendly. But they would be honest. Which suited Jack just fine. By Grace’s calculations, the men ought to have returned within ninety minutes, two hours at most. She had not spent much time in a saddle, so she was not the best judge of speed, but she was fairly certain that two men on horseback could reach the posting inn in something less than an hour. Then Mr. Audley would need to retrieve his belongings, which could not take very long, could it? And then – â€Å"Get away from the window,† the dowager snapped. Grace’s lips tightened with irritation, but she managed to return her expression to one of placidity before she turned around. â€Å"Make yourself useful,† the dowager said. Grace glanced this way and that, trying to decode the dowager’s order. She always had something specific in mind, and Grace hated it when she was forced to guess. â€Å"Would you like me to read to you?† she asked. It was the most pleasant of her duties; they were currently reading Pride and Prejudice, which Grace was enjoying immensely, and the dowager was pretending not to like at all. The dowager grunted. It was a no grunt. Grace was fluent in this method of communication. She took no particular pride in this skill. â€Å"I could pen a letter,† she suggested. â€Å"Weren’t you planning to respond to the recent missive from your sister?† â€Å"I can write my own letters,† the dowager said sharply, even though they both knew her spelling was atrocious. Grace always ended up rewriting all of her correspondence before it was posted. Grace took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, the exhale shuddering through her. She did not have the energy to untangle the inner workings of the dowager’s mind. Not today. â€Å"I’m hot,† the dowager announced. Grace did not respond. She was hoping none was necessary. And then the dowager picked something up off a nearby table. A fan, Grace realized with dismay, just as the dowager snapped it open. Oh, please, no. Not now. The dowager regarded the fan, a rather festive blue one, with Chinese paintings in black and gold. Then she snapped it back shut, clearly just to make it easier for her to hold it before her like a baton. â€Å"You may make me more comfortable,† she said. Grace paused. It was only for a moment, probably not even a full second, but it was her only means of rebellion. She could not say no, and she could not even allow her distaste to show in her expression. But she could pause. She could hold her body still for just enough time to make the dowager wonder. And then, of course, she stepped forward. â€Å"I find the air quite pleasant,† she said once she had assumed her position at the dowager’s side. â€Å"That is because you are pushing it about with the fan.† Grace looked down at her employer’s pinched face. Some of the lines were due to age, but not the ones near her mouth, pulling her lips into a perpetual frown. What had happened to this woman to make her so bitter? Had it been the deaths of her children? The loss of her youth? Or had she simply been born with a sour disposition? â€Å"What do you think of my new grandson?† the dowager asked abruptly. Grace froze, then quickly regained her composure and resumed fanning. â€Å"I do not know him well enough to form an opinion,† she answered carefully. The dowager continued to look straight ahead as she answered, â€Å"Nonsense. All of the best opinions are formed in an instant. You know that very well. ‘Else you’d be married to that repulsive little cousin of yours, wouldn’t you?† Grace thought of Miles, ensconced in her old home. She had to admit, every now and then the dowager got things exactly right. â€Å"Surely you have something to say, Miss Eversleigh.† The fan rose and fell three times before Grace decided upon, â€Å"He seems to have a buoyant sense of humor.† â€Å"Buoyant.† The dowager repeated the word, her voice curious, as if she were testing it out on her tongue. â€Å"An apt adjective. I should not have thought of it, but it is fitting.† It was about as close to a compliment as the dowager ever got. â€Å"He is rather like his father,† the dowager continued. Grace moved the fan from one hand to the other, murmuring, â€Å"Is he?† â€Å"Indeed. Although if his father had been a bit more†¦ buoyant, we’d not be in this mess, would we?† Grace choked on air. â€Å"I’m so sorry, ma’am. I should have chosen my words more carefully.† The dowager did not bother to acknowledge the apology. â€Å"His levity is much like his father. My John was never one to allow a serious moment to pass him by. He had the most cutting wit.† â€Å"I would not say that Mr. Audley is cutting,† Grace said. His humor was far too sly. â€Å"His name is not Mr. Audley, and of course he is,† the dowager said sharply. â€Å"You’re too besotted to see it.† â€Å"I am not besotted,† Grace protested. â€Å"Of course you are. Any girl would be. He is most handsome. Pity about the eyes, though.† â€Å"What I am,† Grace said, resisting the urge to point out that there was nothing wrong with green eyes, â€Å"is overset. It has been a most exhausting day. And night,† she added after a thought. The dowager shrugged. â€Å"My son’s wit was legendary,† she said, setting the conversation back to where she wished it. â€Å"You wouldn’t have thought it cutting, either, but that was simply because he was far too clever. It is a brilliant man who can make insult without the recipient even realizing.† Grace thought that rather sad. â€Å"What is the point, then?† â€Å"The point?† The dowager blinked several times in rapid succession. â€Å"Of what?† â€Å"Of insulting someone.† Grace shifted the fan again, then shook out her free hand; her fingers were cramped from clutching the handle. â€Å"Or I should say,† she amended, since she was quite sure the dowager could find many good reasons to cut someone down, â€Å"of insulting someone with intention of their not noticing it?† The dowager still did not look at her, but Grace could see that she rolled her eyes. â€Å"It is a source of pride, Miss Eversleigh. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.† â€Å"No,† Grace said softly. â€Å"I wouldn’t.† â€Å"You don’t know what it means to excel at something.† The dowager pursed her lips and stretched her neck slightly from side to side. â€Å"You couldn’t know.† Which had to be as cutting an insult as any, except that the dowager seemed completely unaware she’d done it. There was irony in there somewhere. There had to be. â€Å"We live in interesting times, Miss Eversleigh,† the dowager commented. Grace nodded silently, turning her head to the side so that the dowager, should she ever choose to turn her head in her direction, would not see the tears in her eyes. Her parents had lacked the funds to travel, but theirs had been wandering hearts, and the Eversleigh home had been filled with maps and books about faraway places. Like it was yesterday, Grace remembered the time they had all been sitting in front of the fire, engrossed in their own reading, and her father looked up from his book and exclaimed, â€Å"Isn’t this marvelous? In China, if you wish to insult someone, you say, ‘May you live in interesting times.'† Grace suddenly did not know if the tears in her eyes were of sorrow or mirth. â€Å"That is enough, Miss Eversleigh,† the dowager said suddenly. â€Å"I am quite cooled.† Grace shut the fan, then decided to set it down on the table by the window so she would have a reason to cross the room. Dusk hung only lightly in the air, so it was not difficult to see down the drive. She was not certain why she was so eager to have the two men back – possibly just as proof that they had not killed each other on the trip. Despite defending Thomas’s sense of honor, she had not liked the look in his eyes. And she had certainly never known him to attack someone. He’d looked positively feral when he lunged for Mr. Audley. If Mr. Audley had been less of a fighting man himself, she was quite certain Thomas would have done him permanent harm. â€Å"Do you think it will rain, Miss Eversleigh?† Grace turned. â€Å"No.† â€Å"The wind is picking up.† â€Å"Yes.† Grace waited until the dowager turned her attention to a trinket on the table next to her, and then she turned back to the window. Of course the moment she did, she heard – â€Å"I hope it rains.† She held still. And then she turned. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I hope it rains.† The dowager said it again, so very matter-of-fact, as if anyone would wish for precipitation while two gentlemen were out on horseback. â€Å"They will be drenched,† Grace pointed out. â€Å"They will be forced to take each other’s measure. Which they will have to do sooner or later. Besides, my John never minded riding in the rain. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.† â€Å"That does not mean that Mr. – â€Å" â€Å"Cavendish,† the dowager inserted. Grace swallowed. It helped her catch her patience. â€Å"Whatever he wishes to be called, I don’t think we may assume that he enjoys riding in the rain just because his father did. Most people do not.† The dowager did not seem to wish to consider this. But she acknowledged the statement with, â€Å"I know nothing of the mother, that is true. She could be responsible for any number of adulterations.† â€Å"Would you care for tea, ma’am?† Grace asked. â€Å"I could ring for it.† â€Å"What do we know of her, after all? Almost certainly Irish, which could mean any number of things, all of them dreadful.† â€Å"The wind is picking up,† Grace said. â€Å"I shouldn’t want you to get chilled.† â€Å"Did he even tell us her name?† â€Å"I don’t believe so.† Grace sighed, because direct questions made it difficult to pretend she wasn’t a part of this conversation. â€Å"Dear Lord.† The dowager shuddered, and her eyes took on an expression of utter horror. â€Å"She could be Catholic.† â€Å"I have met several Catholics,† Grace said, now that it was clear that her attempts to divert the subject had failed. â€Å"It was strange,† she murmured. â€Å"None had horns.† â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"Just that I know very little about the Catholic faith,† Grace said lightly. There was a reason she often directed her comments to a window or wall. The dowager made a noise that Grace could not quite identify. It sounded like a sigh, but it was probably more of a snort, because the next words from her mouth were: â€Å"We shall have to get that taken care of.† She leaned forward, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers and looking extremely put out. â€Å"I suppose I shall have to contact the archbishop.† â€Å"Is that a problem?† Grace asked. The dowager’s head shook with distaste. â€Å"He is a beady little man who will be lording this over me for years.† Grace leaned forward. Was that movement she saw in the distance? â€Å"Heaven knows what sorts of favors he shall demand,† the dowager muttered. â€Å"I suppose I shall have to let him sleep in the State Bedroom, just so he can say he slept on Queen Elizabeth’s sheets.† Grace watched as the two men on horseback came into view. â€Å"They are back,† she said, and not for the first time that evening, wondered just what role she was meant to play in this drama. She was not family; the dowager was certainly correct in that. And despite Grace’s relatively lofty position within the household, she was not included in matters pertaining to family or title. She did not expect it, and indeed she did not want it. The dowager was at her worst when matters of dynasty arose, and Thomas was at his worst when he had to deal with the dowager. She should excuse herself. It did not matter that Mr. Audley had insisted upon her presence. Grace knew her position, and she knew her place, and it was not in the middle of a family affair. But every time she told herself it was time to go, that she ought to turn from the window and inform the dowager that she would leave her to talk with her grandsons in private, she could not make herself move. She kept hearing – no, feeling – Mr. Audley’s voice. She stays. Did he need her? He might. He knew nothing of the Wyndhams, nothing of their history and the tensions that ran through the house like a vicious, intractable spiderweb. He could not be expected to navigate his new life on his own, at least not right away. Grace shivered, hugging her arms to her chest as she watched the men dismount in the drive. How strange it was to feel needed. Thomas liked to say he needed her, but they both knew that was untrue. He could hire anyone to put up with his grandmother. Thomas needed no one. Nothing. He was marvelously self-contained. Confident and proud, all he really needed was the occasional pinprick to burst the bubble that surrounded him. He knew this, too, which was what saved him from being entirely insufferable. He’d never said as much, but Grace knew it was why they had become friends. She was possibly the only person in Lincolnshire who did not bow and scrape and say only what she thought he wished to hear. But he didn’t need her. Grace heard footsteps in the hall and turned, stiffening nervously. She waited for the dowager to order her gone. She even looked at her, raising her brows ever so slightly as if in a dare, but the dowager was staring at the door, determinedly ignoring her. When the men arrived, Thomas walked in first. â€Å"Wyndham,† the dowager said briskly. She never called him anything but his title. He nodded in response. â€Å"I had Mr. Audley’s belongings sent up to the blue silk bedroom.† Grace shot a careful look over at the dowager to gauge her reaction. The blue silk bedroom was one of the nicer guest bedchambers, but it was not the largest or most prestigious. It was, however, just down the hall from the dowager. â€Å"Excellent choice,† the dowager replied. â€Å"But I must repeat. Do not refer to him as Mr. Audley in my presence. I don’t know these Audleys, and I don’t care to know them.† â€Å"I don’t know that they would care to know you, either,† commented Mr. Audley, who had entered the room behind Thomas. The dowager lifted a brow, as if to point out her own magnificence. â€Å"Mary Audley is my late mother’s sister,† Mr. Audley stated. â€Å"She and her husband, William Audley, took me in at my birth. They raised me as their own and, at my request, gave me their name. I don’t care to relinquish it.† He looked coolly at the dowager, as if daring her to comment. She did not, much to Grace’s surprise. And then he turned to her, offering her an elegant bow. â€Å"You may refer to me as Mr. Audley if you wish, Miss Eversleigh.† Grace bobbed a curtsy. She was not certain if this was a requirement, since no one had any clue as to his rank, but it seemed only polite. He had bowed, after all. She glanced at the dowager, who was glaring at her, and then at Thomas, who somehow managed to look amused and annoyed at the same time. â€Å"She can’t sack you for using his legal name,† Thomas said with his usual hint of impatience. â€Å"And if she does, I shall retire you with a lifelong bequest and have her sent off to some far-flung property.† Mr. Audley looked at Thomas with surprise and approval before turning to Grace and smiling. â€Å"It’s tempting,† he murmured. â€Å"How far can she be flung?† â€Å"I am considering adding to our holdings,† Thomas replied. â€Å"The Outer Hebrides are lovely this time of year.† â€Å"You’re despicable,† the dowager hissed. â€Å"Why do I keep her on?† Thomas wondered aloud. He walked over to a cabinet and poured himself a drink. â€Å"She is your grandmother,† Grace said, since someone had to be the voice of reason. â€Å"Ah yes, blood.† Thomas sighed. â€Å"I’m told it’s thicker than water. Pity.† He looked over at Mr. Audley. â€Å"You’ll soon learn.† Grace half expected Mr. Audley to bristle at Thomas’s tone of condescension, but his face remained blandly unconcerned. Curious. It seemed the two men had forged some sort of truce. â€Å"And now,† Thomas announced, looking squarely at his grandmother, â€Å"my work here is done. I have returned the prodigal son to your loving bosom, and all is right with the world. Not my world,† he added, â€Å"but someone’s world, I’m sure.† â€Å"Not mine,† Mr. Audley said, when no one else seemed inclined to comment. And then he unleashed a smile – slow, lazy, and meant to paint himself as the careless rogue he was. â€Å"In case you were interested.† Thomas looked at him, his nose crinkling in an expression of vague indifference. â€Å"I wasn’t.† Grace’s head bobbed back to Mr. Audley. He was still smiling. She looked to Thomas, waiting for him to say something more. He dipped his head toward her in wry salute, then tossed back his liquor in one shockingly large swallow. â€Å"I am going out.† â€Å"Where?† demanded the dowager. Thomas paused in the doorway. â€Å"I have not yet decided.† Which meant, Grace was sure, anywhere but here. How to cite The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Six, Essay examples

The Water Planet Vocabulary Example For Students

The Water Planet Vocabulary Term Definition Water Uses Household purposes, agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation. Irrigation The process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops. Water Living Water is essential for living things to grow, reproduce, and carry out other important process. Photosynthesis Plants making food from using the energy in the sun, water, and carbon dioxide(CO2). Water distribution 97% salt water, 3 % fresh water. Water vapor Gaseous form of water. Groundwater Water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers. Polar molecule A molecule that has electrically charged areas; for example: water. Surface Tension The tightness across the surface of water that is caused by the polar molecules pulling on each other. Capillary action Combined force of attraction among water molecules and with the molecules of surrounding materials. Solution A mixture that forms when one substance dissolves another substance. Solvent The substance that does the dissolving in a solution. Solute The substance that gets dissolved in a solution. Universal solvent Water is called this because it is a polar substance that can dissolve most substances. Hydrophobic Water fearing; non-polar molecules; does not like to mix with water; for example: oil. Hydrophilic Water loving; polar molecules; likes to mix with water; for example: sugar. Specific heat The amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of a certain mass of a substance by 1?C (water has a high specific heat; requires a lot of heat to warm it up). Water cycle The continuous process by which water moves through the living and nonliving parts of the environment; this process is driven by the suns energy. Transpiration The process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves. Cloud formation Form as water vapor cools and condenses on tiny dust particles in the air. Precipitation Water that falls to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. A global process The worldwide amounts of evaporation and precipitation balance each other out keeping the total amount of fresh water on Earth fairly constant.

People are not free to make moral decisions free essay sample

Is it right to say that our actions are determined, or are they free? Hard determinists argue that when we make a moral decision, we have no free will. This is significant because if we do not choose our actions we cannot be held morally responsible. Given our experience of decision making this determinist position is hard to accept and perhaps the compatabilist approach of soft determinism is more valid. Soft Determinists recognise that we can make a decision freely that is coerced but the choices in themselves may be determined themselves. This contrasts with libertarianism, which states that we freely choose our actions and rejects determinism. To fully examine whether we are in fact free or not to make moral decisions, we must first analyse what particular factors affect our decision making. When we debate over a decision we consider/ weigh up our options, we know that we have a choice and only we can make that choice, this is known as a libertarian view. Libertarians believe that we have full responsibility of our actions and nothing else affects our decision, however genes, environment, lifestyle and our upbringing affect or sometimes might determine our choices. Determinism objects libertarianism and believes that our choices are influenced by factors other than the will of the individual, events and actions are predetermined by other events therefore freedom of choice is an illusion. Free will is the term made up of ‘autos’ meaning self and ‘nomos’ meaning rule. Many philosophers such as Kant say that you can only be responsible for actions that you undertake of your own will, this is opposed to Determinism. Libertarianism is the belief that humans are free to make moral choices and therefore morally responsible. â€Å"By liberty we can only mean a power of acting of not acting according to the determinations of the will†. David Hume. In the definition of libertarianism a distinction between the persons character or personality and his/or her moral self. It is this moral self or will that is free. â€Å"Your destiny is allotted to you, but you shall choose it for yourselves†. Plato. There are many arguments that support libertarianism, the most predominant of these being the argument from experience, this states that we all experience making choices, such as the very fact that I am sat here writing this essay is the result of a choice, I did have another option so I could’ve chose otherwise. We are also aware of going through a decision making process, we can weigh up our options and act upon this. Libertarians also believe in the necessary cause stating that for Y to happen X must have caused it, without X Y will not happen. This is a determinist understanding, However Libertarians recognise that causes are contingent and not necessary, they may or may not cause Y, this is a libertarian view. However opposed to this Determinists would argue that if free will exists then what actually causes our actions, surely our actions are caused by something, for example what about our past experiences and emotions? Also a determinist would argue is it part of human nature to assume that we are free and what exactly is moral responsibility, and how is this separate from our personality. If it comes from the soul then what causes the soul. Hard determinism states that people do not have free will to act in moral situations. It also states that everything has a prior cause which precedes it; everything is a product of the cause which is unchangeable and fixed. Therefore we cannot be held morally responsible or blameworthy for their actions because their actions are determined. When we think that we are making a moral decision, hard determinists believe that this is an illusion that we are free but in fact we are not and the decision that we made was already determined. John Locke’s example of the man in the locked room shows that we believe that we are free but we are actually not. However libertarians would argue that we had the choice whether or not to go into the locked room. Psychological determinism is another form of Hard Determinism. This suggests that our characters are determined by our upbringing and experiences. There are many influencing factors on human behaviour such as hereditary, society, culture and environment. Freud taught that our early years have impact on our actions in the future, there is also much evidence to support this view such as Pavlov’s dogs which operant conditioning demonstrates that we can mould our behaviour through rewards and sanctions, it also demonstrates how our behaviour is determined. However a libertarian would argue that just because you can condition one element of decision making doesn’t mean that all behaviour is determined, we always have a choice. Theological determinism is also another form of hard determinism. This is the view that the causal chain can be traced back to an uncaused causer, as shown in Aquinas’ Cosmological argument, and this uncaused causer is God. If God is, as suggested by Calvin through his predestination view which suggests that God has already determined a plan for us so we are either damned (going to hell) or elect (going to heaven) , an omnipotent and omniscient God then we cannot have free will as our actions must be predetermined because of this. There are many criticisms for this view that Libertarians would address as it conflicts with biblical teachings as in Genesis it states that God gave us free will and also for theological determinism to be accepted, libertarians would also argue that there is no proof of this God, so in their view we still have a choice. A form of Hard Determinism that contrasts and argues this view is scientific determinism; this approach states that science tells us that for every physical event there is a physical cause. If we consider the mind to be material activity in the brain, so then our thoughts are also pre determined. Another form of hard determinism is Biological determinism which states that our characters are determined by our genes, this is partly true as genes do give us our characteristics such as what we look like, even our IQ, all this can determine our behaviour for example the violent gene as evidence can be traced back to the genome (e. g. a violent gene recognised by the Italian supreme court). However libertarians would argue that because there is only 0. 2% variation in our DNA, so this doesn’t seem efficient enough to explain all the variations in human behaviour, it’s not just our genetic makeup that influences our behaviour, and they would argue that we always have a choice. Soft determinism states that we are morally responsible for our actions; this approach allows libertarianism and hard determinism to be compatible. It states that as long as no one forces you to make a decision then you are free, this can be described as internal freedom. However soft determinists make a distinction between internal and external causes, these explain why freedom and Jeremy moral responsibility are not only compatible with determinism but actually require it. Soft Determinism, unlike hard determinism, allows for moral responsibility, for example if person A does not save a drowning child because person A cannot swim, he is not morally responsible. However, if he chooses not to because of his personality, a combination of his conditioning, an upbringing and so forth, then he is to be held responsible. Soft determinists believe that all human actions are caused and when we say that a person acted freely we are not saying that there was no cause but rather they were not forced to do it, here they act as free agents even though their actions are still caused. A main philosopher associated with soft determinism is Hume whom was a soft-determinist. He stated that all things are necessary and believed that some things are uncaused or happen as the result of chance. Hume also believed that we are free, he goes on to say that we dont blame people for things they do ignorantly, and blame them less for things that are not premeditated, and any sense of moral blame can only come if something we do is the result of our character. Hume believed that free will, and moral responsibility, require determinism. Soft determinists are criticised by hard determinists for failing to realise the extent to which human freedom is limited and also by libertarians for failing to recognise the true extent of freedom. Whilst Soft determinism offers a ‘middle ground’ between hard determinism and libertinism an agreeable account of moral freedom, a line still has to be drawn between that which is determined and that which is open to choice. The major fault with soft determinism is that they have to try and agree on what is a determining factor and what is not and the complexities of genetics, psychology makes such a line difficult for them to draw. So In conclusion, through the arguments expressed in this essay, I believe that perhaps a Soft Determinist approach is more susceptible towards moral decision making, as although it allows us to make our own decisions, they are to an extent determined due to numerous factors such as our upbringing, environment and culture, however it also allows us to accept responsibility for our actions whatever they may be.