The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (19 page)

***

“
Winifred, we have been the best of friends since we were small girls, and I am always pleased to receive an invitation to tea when you are present. But I have something to tell you that I fear may cause some discomfort between us.”

The anxious Marchioness and her daughter had just been seated in Helena’s stately home and were served crumpets on regally patterned plates. Caught between two factions, and genuinely angry of her own accord, she fanned herself rapidly to mitigate her distress. How does one scold a friend who has done nothing wrong? And yet it must be done. How does one take sides on a matter of prominence and preserve approval of the loser? How difficult this would be!

She bumped the table and sloshed the cups of bergamot tea quite improperly, but she did not notice. “Are you aware of the excursion that Lord Holmeshire took Genevieve on the other day?”

“
No, I cannot say that I have talked to Wills in a few days.” Winifred smiled, but with concern. “He is terribly busy, I am afraid. But all for the good of the people.”

“
I am afraid that he came unannounced to our home and took Genevieve from her friends, from our ball committee work and dragged her through the worst of London!” exclaimed Grace, selecting her words exactly as she had been required to by the Honorable Lady Embry. “He even took her out of the carriage into the crowds, exposing her to great danger, and absolutely broke her heart over things that she could not have ever helped. The world is the way it is, and a young girl should not be made to feel responsible for it. I believe he expects her to invest her future assets to changing the world, as he had her take off her brocade cloak for a dirty woman to wear in the mud!”

Winnie’s eyes had opened wide, and her mouth now fell open. She looked for confirmation at Genevieve, who sat quietly, listening.

Grace went on, maintaining the required firmness due to her dismay, “Lord Breyton has decided that, in harmony with Genevieve’s wishes, her engagement to Lord Holmeshire is to be ended. We cannot have our daughter put in harm’s way, and our fortune threatened, when she has such a bright future ahead of her. There are many eligible men of suitable position who will be able to give Genny the future she deserves as the daughter of a marquess. We are searching already.”

Winnie was speechless, with both hands plastered to her mouth. Helena and Emma were astounded, but appeared to be in some doubt as to the way matters had transpired. The tea was in the saucers, and no one was concerned in the least.

“
Lady Embry and I have begun to realize that it is probable that it is Lord Holmeshire who has hired men to follow my daughter, as if she were apt to misbehave in some way.” There was a long pause, with Winifred speechless, unable to fathom the accusations. “Have you no reply? What is your view?” asked Lady Breyton.

Genevieve waited, but at length, having heard no comment from the astonished threesome, made a declaration. “Given that nobody seems to have anything more to say, and in view of the fact that my father has ordered me not to marry Lord Holmeshire
against my will,
I would like to state my intentions.”

Lady Breyton did not expect this rebuttal and swung around to face her daughter with her mouth improperly agape. Genny continued, “I grew up quite unaware of the harshness of the realities that so many people must live with. Whether I should marry Lord Holmeshire or not, I shall involve myself in charity. I shall spend any money I have, either way, to build houses to help the poor. Father has threatened to withhold income from me, should I not cooperate, and so all I have to offer at this time is Chenbury, which he has already put in my name. Therefore, should I not be allowed to see Wills in the future, I request you, Lady Holmeshire, to ask him to use his money to outfit the house for the use of the poor in any way that he needs it. Whether for offices or for shelter, Chenbury is available to him.”

“
Chenbury! A shelter!” Grace could not believe her ears.

Genevieve ignored her mother’s astounded gape and reached for a sugarloaf. Removing its blue wrap, she continued, “And please tell him for me, dear Lady, that should he wish to elope, I will watch for him outside my window. I do not expect it, however, as he would have troubles in his career from it.”

Everyone sat in stunned silence, Grace processing her daughter’s words repeatedly in her mind to determine whether they had actually been spoken. She wished to reach out and pull them from the air!

But Genny spoke up again, “One last thing, Miladies; should I be thrown out of my father’s house, I shall move into Chenbury and administer my charity while living in a small suite in the midst of it. And should I not have an income, I will starve there and shan’t see my parents. Should he move to take Chenbury back, I shall come to Holmeshire, married or not.”

Lady Breyton was destroyed and utterly defeated; what could she do? No young lady behaved this way! Most were married by Genevieve’s age; Lord Holmeshire was to be blamed! She could not bear a moment more of this tea party and stood up to leave, not having touched her cup. “Come with me, Genevieve, we have things to discuss.” Genevieve obediently stood up and followed after her mother, but she stopped at the door, turned around and blew everyone a kiss. Helena solemnly returned the gesture, while the other women sat stunned.

***

Shortly before dusk, Charles knocked on the great oak door at Holmeshire Hall. Barreby appeared, and his eyebrows raised at the tall young man in shabby dress.

“
Sir, my name is Charles Scott. I am the brother...”

“
Of Alexander Scott,” concluded Barreby, nodding his head and frowning.

“
Yes sir. That is, I am the brother of Alexander Scott.”

“
Yes. I request you, Mr. Scott, to knock on the servant’s door.”

“
Yes, sir, that I will do.” The door slammed shut. Charles drifted his way around the house, searching for the service door, poking at interesting ancient stonework and tugging down climbing vines, interested in the marks they left on the wall. When he finally arrived at the entrance, a kitchen maid was waiting for him, displeasure having been passed her way from Barreby over the situation.

“
Please step inside, sir, Barreby has given up the wait and left. I will call him for you.” Barreby chose to be quite slow to return, and the young man was found flirting with the maid, who was trying, indignantly, to do her work.

“
Mr. Scott,” he demanded, “I believe you are married?”

“
I am, sir, I did not mean any ‘arm.”

“
Flirting is not allowed amongst the staff.”

“
I believe, then, that you are offering me a position ‘ere in the ‘ouse.” His head bobbed in affirmation of the post he was about to accept.

“
No, I am not. We have no positions available. Is there some other matter that you have come about?”

“
Oh no, I ‘av arrived to offer my services, sir. I was told that you ‘av want for stable ‘ands or gardeners?”

“
No, we do not.”

“
I would be ‘appy, then, in that case, to work inside the ‘ouse, perhaps as a footman.”

“
Oh, would you? Why is it that you Scotts wish to establish yourselves here? I shall send a letter to your wife, should we require a replacement for a footman, and ask her to find me a man who is not married for the position! Most of the pay is food and accommodation.” Barreby was tiring fast of these men.

“
I see.” Charles struggled to find some crack in the situation to pry apart. “You may all owe your positions to my brother, Alexander Scott, you know!”

“
What? Your brother?” exclaimed the maid, with widened eyes, “Oh, forgive me, sir,” she conceded to Barreby, who then spoke quite firmly as the cook and kitchen maids, astonished, carried pots of food and plates past them, staring at the invader.

“
Though we owe him plenty, sir, our positions are likely safe. We do not, regardless of that, have any positions to fill, and we are preparing to take our meal here, so I ask you to take your leave. I shall remember you if I can provide anything for you.”

“
You could provide a meal, sir, if you please, since it is at this time being set out.”

“
I shan’t, Mr. Scott. Go to your wife for a meal. Good night.” Barreby stood his ground, waiting for the request to sink into Charles’s mind, which worked slowly at finding a way to turn matters around. He said again, “Good NIGHT!” Charles finally understood and gave up for the day.

***

That night the Trent and Holmeshire families quietly ate a sublime dinner; the shocks and trials of life were not discussed in that pleasant setting. Shopping for stylish hats, a charming operetta, virtuous society and the wonderful seafood medley were the topics of conversation. However, they concluded their meal quickly and retired to meet in a sitting room, refusing a tray of candies to sweeten the discussion to come. The servants cleared up the family’s table and then went down the stairs quietly to dine at their own.

In the long, narrow servants’ hall, Simon was nodded toward Anne’s seat near the head of the table, and they all sat down to a repeat of an unusually polite meal. This time, a few ventured benign comments, offered bread or gravy or mentioned the summery weather.

The meal was nearing a peaceful end when some began to rise suddenly from their seats and stand at attention. Anne and Lizzy were frightened, not understanding the change in circumstances. Others, confused, looked around to see the reason for it and were startled to see His Grace hovering over the remaining staff, arms folded and lips pursed. They, too, jumped to their feet.

“
I see that Grantham has made some improvements in the atmosphere at the dinner table here, and I’m glad to know of it,” he began. “I tolerate very few persons at
my
table who cause me trouble, while trying to swallow my food, with such rude and snobbish declarations as I have learned occur regularly at this one downstairs! I am quite surprised if you can enjoy the excellent food provided for you and mortified that my butler has not managed this better in the past!”

He looked at Grantham, whose sheepish retreat showed only in a deep breath as he maintained his commanding appearance.

“
I have requested spies to inform me of the atmosphere in the kitchen and household from bottom to top, and I have discussed my unhappiness with what I learned in a meeting with my top staff. I chose to come down here tonight and make it clear to each and every one of you that should you not maintain order and efficiency in a tolerable sort of way, you will be dismissed! Let us assume that when guests arrive from other houses, whether they are nobles or their servants, they are to be treated as guests and not as intruders. Now, it is quite out of the ordinary for a prince to appear in the kitchen to address his household. And this Prince never will again. Should the situation come to be beyond what I expect my steward to handle one time more, I will simply replace the lot of you. I am gravely disappointed to learn that my butler did not have better control of his staff, and he will be the first to go, should I find him to be incapable of this highly responsible position! The cook and housekeeper are also to maintain peaceable relations amongst their staffs. Lest any of you should, subsequent to this discussion, lose respect for those in authority over you, having seen them reprimanded, and fail to obey them, you will go along with them.”

The Duke took a deep royal breath and everyone else held theirs, hoping he was done. However, he shifted positions and softened his tone of voice. “As you know, I was one of several sons of King George III. Of the lot of us, perhaps you are aware that none fell in love with a bride suitable to our position early in life. Some fell in love, indeed, but due to their station in life were unhappily kept from marriage to the one they cared for. I remained single, not having found someone I cared to share my life with and refusing to marry someone I disliked. Perhaps that was the best way, as was shown by the experience of my brother, King George IV, and his tumultuous, miserable life. In my later years, as you know, I found the absolutely perfect woman. How happy I was that she was agreeable to becoming my wife, that she was acceptable to the King and that I was free to marry her! I have lived in the greatest happiness ever since. I know that such intoxication does not befall every man, though it is not a favor meant for princes only. Having seen within my family the great disasters that develop from prying lovebirds apart, I refuse to be a part of such an evil thing. The damage to persons is too great when a rule of society becomes a sword between hearts that have become hopelessly entwined. I know the rules of great houses, albeit I do not always live by them. I know of the obligation for order and discipline and expect it here. But should ever a case of deep regard develop between a man and a woman in my service, it is to be handled in such a way as to allow them to court away from this house and to make their own decision regarding marriage. This new arrangement cannot become a problem for the orderly running of the household, or the couple must find work elsewhere. I expect the entire lot of you to keep this directive known within this house only, as it is not regular, and I do not wish to start some sort of blaze within another household.”

He shifted his position again. “I expect that Mr. Jones, here,” and he nodded toward Simon, “will need some fair amount of time off; he will be allowed one hour each afternoon, arranged according to what is needed in this household, to walk out with his lady for the remainder of this Season.” He then addressed the blushing couple personally. “And you may continue your covert communications as before. The fragrance used is one of my favorites.” And he turned and left. Everyone was quite dazed. Nobody dared snicker, but for a few of the footmen an hour later in Simon’s room. That was quite merciless, although he slept it off with a happy heart.