The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (18 page)

“
My Lord Breyton, I am sure that you are referring to the workhouses? The
only
legal means of the government to provide for the poor these last few years? Where the people must work hard, but never earn enough to move out on their own? Where the food is unpalatable and the living conditions miserable? Where family members are separated from one another and may never see each other again?”

The Marquess took a moment to think, in the rounded booth, as he lit a cigar. “It is the workhouses that I am referring to, yes, to be sure. The workhouses were never meant to be a welcoming place, with excellent cuisine and comfortable accommodation. People must prefer
not
to live there. Should the workhouses be pleasant places, we could never build enough of them! Men and women would simply fall back on that provision rather than work. The point is for the people to make their livings on the outside of these places, to search earnestly for work, to accept offers of employment, to find more pleasant and profitable ways to provide for their families. Then they must teach their young to carry on family businesses. That way they do not become a burden on others and bring down all those around them. That is what makes a society work.”

“
They must work, while we do not? We inherit more than we can spend in our lifetimes, and money comes into our coffers from the rents charged on the working class! We are handed multiple grand houses and land and furnishings and precious stones and metals everywhere; look at your own home, My Lord. And the poor have no way to make a living!”

“
Are you suggesting that I tear down my house and dole out the pieces to the poor?” Breyton looked at his minions for support. “As I said, God blesses whom he will.”

“
Of course not, My Lord, and I cannot accept that God made any man to suffer,” entreated Wills. “I am suggesting that the poor have not the advantage that you or I have had to provide for ourselves. Do not consider them all to be lazy, sir. I have seen men...and women and children...digging in the sewage that was the Thames for bits of something to sell! Or pleading for work, when there is none. I cannot hire them all, but I intend to hire many to work the charity houses that I intend to build.”

“
And who would oversee their work? Who would watch to make sure that your fine managers do not steal the resources, sir...my daughter?” He once again checked to be sure that the other men were nodding enthusiastic support.

“
Sir, I intend to find honorable and honest men to oversee these homes, and I intend to pay them well enough that they wish to continue in their positions. These would be men who have lived in the conditions that they will help us to improve, men that have seen misery and sorrow and who care to help others to escape it, or to at least have their most urgent needs met.” Wills respectful tone contrasted with the sarcasm of the Marquess.

“
Then you intend to sell Handerton to buy charity houses once you have your hands on it?”

“
No, My Lord, I intend to run a charity financed by the efforts of individuals who are interested in the welfare of the people. There are many respectable ways to raise funds. I would have preferred that the Queen’s government, as well, find a more humanitarian method of caring for its own citizens, people who have expressed their wishes that they had gainful work to do. I am sure you are very well aware that Her Majesty the Queen herself has expressed a desire for improving the living conditions of the poor.”

“
Have you nothing more to say than what you have expressed from your seat at Westminster? I have heard all that before. Please remember that both you and Her Majesty are young, that you are new at this business of running the world, and take counsel! Time will mellow your idealism, sir, and help you to find your way without endangering the very foundations of our country! You would have the lower classes feeling confident enough to rise up against us!” Breyton felt angrier by the minute. “Your mother’s effort to bring abandoned orphans into our homes and social functions is more than enough! Soon she will have our sons dancing with filthy women in tatters! They will be seducing our sons, trying to bear their children to take money from us and ruining the happiness of our son’s marriages! It has happened before!”

“
Sir, my mother is trying to do no such thing. She is hoping to introduce one perfectly suitable young woman into society as her companion only. I cannot say that I understand it, myself, since society objects, but my mother wishes it, and it is entirely harmless.”

“
It certainly is not harmless, sir!” He stopped for a moment to try to compose himself. “I hear tell, Lord Wilfred, that this young woman turned down marriage to a perfectly suitable commoner. I am sure that you know, as well as I do, that she has set her sights higher. She wants a title!”

“
Please, sir, that is not the case. My Uncle has told me that she has simply expressed loyalty to her position as the companion of my mother.”

Breyton seemed to hear none of what Wills had to say. “She is not to be brought into society again! Lord Holmeshire, just why have you waited so long to set a marriage date with my daughter? Do you find her...less attractive?”

“
Not at all, sir. She is a beautiful young woman that has made me very proud, and we intend to marry soon. I was simply busy with other things for some time.”

“
Other things? Like traveling? Visiting mistresses? Bringing home children for her to raise? Refurbishing her home without her? You intend to marry soon only now that you have destroyed her pleasant view of life and won her over to sobbing philanthropy!”

Wills spoke slowly and firmly, while remaining respectful. “You can fully trust, sir, that Lady Genevieve is the only woman whose bed I will ever have visited.” Breyton scoffed, but Wills continued. “Nicholas is the son of a deserving man who is not able to raise him. I will not bring home more children, and Genevieve will not have to take on any more care of Master Nicholas than she chooses to. He is fully my responsibility, and I am quite able to care for him with the help of my staff.”

“
And he has been made your heir, I have heard?”

“
Only until Genevieve has a son, sir. He will then continue last as my heir after our sons.”

“
And so my grandsons might then be murdered for my money! What a fine way to run a family, sir.” Lord Breyton put down his cigar. His changed position indicated that he was not long to remain in his seat. “I am unhappy, sir, that I have no son of my own. Should I leave everything to you, I would surely care to know where it would go after you. Therefore, I did some investigation with Chancery to find out who this Nicholas is that you brought into your home, as well as to visit my daughter in my home. As it turns out, sir, there is no record whatsoever of this Nicholas in Chancery! You have simply taken a child, from who knows where, to raise as your own son. That is, if he indeed is
not
your son! I shall further investigate this for the sake of law and order! And, sir, Genevieve has told her mother that the two of you should never have been matched. That you are too different from each other, and that we were foolish to pair you so young. I can see that she is right, as ashamed as I am of my own youthful naivety. And now, Holmeshire, you have taken a refined and sensitive young lady into the worst of humanity, exposing her to danger, taking her clothing for another woman and bringing her face to face with a dying baby. My daughter is above this sort of ‘outing,’ and she is above this sort of future. Mr. Bernard Spencer, here, is my solicitor.” Spencer nodded with a wavering smile, and Breyton continued. “He has begun work to dissolve the engagement between you and my daughter and subsequent bequeathal of my properties to you BEFORE HANDERTON SHOULD BE TURNED INTO A CHARITY HOUSE! You may send your solicitor to visit him, if you will.” Spencer handed Wills a card. “I hope Spencer does not require the services of a barrister in court, although he will likely be hiring one at least in the matter of Master Nicholas!”

At that the four men arose and left the hotel, leaving Wills to sit alone with his brandy, Breyton’s cigar and some troubles.

***

The nanny and maids were sitting together in the day nursery, waiting for their tea to arrive. Nicholas was out having fun with Helena. Gwyn and Lizzy were belaboring the fact that Anne was spending far too much time working on Emma’s clothing these days, and they did not care for it. What was she really doing, and where was her mind these days? Lizzy frequently asked. Surely she had something up her sleeve!

Anne, who was now wearing her bouquet ribbon around her wrist forever, was taking the verbal beating as a matter of course, knowing that she could find no way to pass messages to her love without having to endure at least that much punishment. She was thankful that the girls were enjoying each other’s company and did not choose to follow after her every movement. Meetings with Simon were found to be impossible, but, oh, how she loved the letters her Romeo left! She could not sleep for thinking of the things she was next going to write to him. If only she did not share a bed with Lizzy, she could write letters all night!

Suddenly, the nursery door opened, and who should enter but the caustic Mr. Grantham and two tall footmen. The girls were struck with fear and jumped to their feet! They felt they should say something respectful, or perhaps defensive, but not one of them could utter a word. What was happening? Had they come to accuse them of something? To order them to do something? To give them a lashing? Surely it was to be severe, for it would take three of them to accomplish it!

Mr. Grantham walked over to Anne and put out his arm. “I would like to escort you down to tea,” he remarked with finality and then looked at the door, ready to head in its direction. She looked at him for a moment. Was this a joke? Or some kind of a test? Was she to be taken to a dungeon and chained to the wall? Perhaps her letters had been discovered! What could she do? What
should
she do? She looked at the girls; their faces offered no explanation or suggestion, just a measure of repressed alarm. She walked to his side and trembling, put her hand through his arm.

As they stepped toward the door together, the footmen came further in and offered their arms to the nanny and maid, which arms were also accepted with a great deal of anxiety. Out the door went the three pairs, and to the stairs.

Silence reigned as they descended to the first floor, past the statues that surely knew what this meant but would not tell, and down more flights to the dungeon. The kitchen. The servant’s hall. There the long table was set for tea with the servant’s flatware, and the maids, footmen and stable hands were lined against the wall in silence.

The three women were stood at their respective seats, according to their rank this time, by their escorts, and Grantham ordered Simon, who was thoroughly bewildered, to leave his position and stand next to Miss Anne. He followed orders well and took his place, feeling nervous inwardly, but to all appearances remaining ever the savior that Anne needed at her side.

At that cue, all the other servants went to their places and awaited Grantham, at his, to sit down, after which all were seated. Food was passed, drinks were poured and polite remarks were made when speaking was necessary. Actual discussions were found to be impossible while this new sort of behavior was being rehearsed. At the conclusion of the perplexing experience, Grantham informed the women of the next meal time. He said that they would not be escorted again and would they please arrive on time.

Back up to the nursery they went, exchanging astonished looks with each other; not one of them had a word to say after their release was granted. And Simon went off to his duties just as stunned.

***

Charles crawled out of their downy bed fairly late each morning to perhaps look for employment. One morning, Benedict was somehow awake first and up with a cup of coffee in his hands from the kitchen below.

“
What’s your plan, son?” he demanded, trying to quench a headache.

“
Well, sir, should it warm a bit I might go out to the mills today. It seems the farms do not need anybody right now; strange in the summer, I say. I’m ‘oping Lucy can provide money enough to buy me an apprenticeship some day.”

Benedict put down the cup and folded his arms. “Son, that means of making our fortune would take a million years. I have a better plan.” Charles cocked his head to the side and smirked in doubt. His father continued, “It seems they do not appreciate my capabilities up there at the castle. What they are looking for is a strong young man who can dig up the ground,” he sneered in disgust, “or muck out the stables. The only way I can see to get you
inside
the ‘ouse is that you work on the grounds for a while, watch the fine dandies up there for some time and learn their ways and manners. That could take a while,” he cackled, and slapped his knee. “Then you can request to be moved inside and become a footman. You can just stand around and listen at dinner; you see what I mean?”

“
I do, Paw.”

“
I mean, I would rather be inside there, myself, working things out, but it seems I cannot get in; you'll ‘ave to do it.”

“
I understand, Paw. I do. Well, should it warm up a bit today I’ll go on up the ‘ill and see what ‘appens.”

“
Should it warm up, nothing, boy! You cannot get in there with a lazy attitude. Now get to looking your best and go on up!”

“
All right, Paw, I will; let me ‘av some breakfast first, and settle down!”