The Wages Of Virtue (A Poor Man at the Gate Series, Book 8)

by Andrew Wareham

  Robert accepted the offer with a proper gratitude.

  "Before I leave, my lord, might I just beg a few moments with a senior man of the Party?"

  Liverpool had hoped that he would, gave a very gracious assent, and put him into the company of one of the anonymous, black-coated gentlemen.

  "I believe my father had been used to offer something in the way of loans to the Party's funds, sir."

  "He did indeed, my lord, annually, and very much appreciated, allowing us to make the best use of the talents of members who became financially embarrassed."

  "Was you to send a brief note to Sir Iain Mostyn, for his personal attention, then I am sure that existing transfers could continue to be made to a named account in the most discreet fashion, and, in fact, it might be that Sir Iain would wish to add his mite."

  The black coat achieved a real smile - evidently a rare expression.

  "Good men wishing to come to the aid of the Party are always very welcome, my lord - and one might venture to suggest that bankers can be the best of men!"

  A brief exchange of courtesies and Robert was escorted to the door, black-coat saying, as an apparent afterthought, that the affairs of the late Lord Castlereagh had now been wholly wound up - a certain low individual, resident in Paris, having been found dead in a back-street.

  The last of the extortionists had evidently been tracked down and had received his final payment.

  Robert commented that it was good to hear such news and, whilst on the topic of villainy, the assassin who had attempted his father's life, and had certainly shortened it, had lately come to an end in the Mississippi River, attached to some very heavy weights.

  They parted rather pleased with each other, and knowing that it might be possible, if ever the much-to-be-regretted occasion arose, to seek or offer urgent assistance.

  "So, Sir Iain, I can no longer grace these halls - I must farewell the business of banking, very reluctantly, I would add."

  "And I am reluctant too to see you go, Lord Andrews, but it is probable that you should never have undertaken so active a role in the first instance. I hope this does not mean that I must see less of you, my lord."

  "It very definitely does not, sir! We shall be in Town to visit and to patronise the best shops as soon as the period of strict mourning has passed, and we shall expect to see you at Thingdon Hall very often - you must, at very least, see your grandchildren frequently. The dowager will be making use of the Gift estate and my lady and I, and the children, of course, will move into Thingdon Hall in a few days. I will wish to purchase a respectable, but not too large, Town House for the dowager, sir, and would be obliged if you could have an eye kept out for any coming onto the market."

  That would be done, was no burden at all.

  "I have, incidentally, my lord, overstepped the line to an extent, while you were in no way to conduct business. A gentleman from Norfolk, a squire, I understand, sent a note to inform you that a small package of land - three fields totalling barely forty acres - had come up for sale, their boundary almost contiguous with that of the Lodge and suitable to be part of a Home farm. I sent a man to buy them - they came in at just under six hundred pounds - and they are now part of the Lodge Estate."

  "Thank you, Sir Iain - I would have been sorry to miss them. It is my intent to buy more as they become available, to build up my little sister's inheritance bit by bit and to provide good food for the pair. I must write my thanks to the gentleman who gave us the word - my father mentioned his name but I am damned if I can bring it to mind!"

  Sir Iain turned to his files, dug out the letter.

  "Wakeley, it would seem - no title. Should we see if there is anything to be done for him? It would be to the Dowager Lady Andrews' advantage if he was well-disposed to the family."

  "He has naval sons, I believe, currently at sea, so he must have some small amount of influence already."

  Word reached Robert four days later that Wakeley had an uncle and a brother who had attained flag rank and had been able to find captains of their acquaintance to take the boys aboard. The midshipman, the younger, had only three years served, could not be promoted until he had six years under his belt and had passed his eighteenth birthday; it was peacetime and the rules were being enforced. The elder was a lieutenant, second in a frigate on the West Indies station, and the Admiralty had been persuaded to hint to the Admiral Commanding that the young gentleman should be considered for a vacancy as commander of a sloop at the earliest opportunity; they could confidently expect to hear that he had been promoted within a very few months.

  Robert would pass the message to Frances, who could be relied upon to meet Mr Wakeley and mention their efforts, as good friends and neighbours and expecting no return of favour at all.

  The knocker was off the door in Mount Street, signifying that the family was not at home despite Robert's observed presence in Town. It was a common enough reaction to bereavement when the closest relatives were forced to attend to business but had no desire to be seen in Society. Despite that a footman arrived with a note for Robert's attention.

  "Lady Jersey would beg the privilege of a short conversation, if my lord would be so good. What does Silence want of me? What scandal have I to offer?"

  Lady Jersey's nickname came from the incessant flow of chatter with which she tried to disguise her penetrating intelligence - so unbecoming to a grande dame of Society! He had to see her, to pay an early visit, or he would become a target of her overworked tongue.

  "Lord Andrews, so good of you to pay a call in your circumstances. I was, as you know, a friend of your mother's, and I am acquainted with the dowager, and so I am venturing to ask how the lady does."

  "She is grieving, ma'am, having a strong affection for my father, but she has the gift of a child to allay her sorrows. She is to remain at Thingdon Hall for the while before travelling into Norfolk, to the Lodge Estate which is hers and will be the inheritance of her daughter, Verity. Part of the inheritance, I should say - my sister will be well-off, ma'am! There will be a Town House, to be purchased as a suitable residence becomes available in a proper location - the dowager will, I trust, be a near neighbour of yours, ma'am."

  "And if she should be moved to wed again, my lord?"

  "Then I hope I shall like her husband, ma'am! Her incomes are hers for life, will not be withdrawn from her under any circumstance."

  "And what of the Stars, my lord, also recently bereaved?"

  "Lord Star is in Town now, ma'am. We are to take our seats in two days, together, shoulder to shoulder as ever. Some of the family are drifting off into their own spheres of life - into farming and manufacturing - but Lord Star is mindful both of obligation and friendship and will lead his family as he should."

  "I am so pleased - your fathers were so very close and it is delightful to see the link continue."

  "The families are joined by marriage, ma'am, though only the one now."

  "Your young brother is doubly bereaved, so very unfortunate for him."

  "It is, ma'am, and I worry for him, because he is indeed very young. Fortunately he has his work and the highly successful firms of his own that he has created in addition to the family enterprise."

  Lady Jersey had attained all she wanted - she was ahead of the gossip amongst the Society ladies, could marvel at the great loyalty and sense of kinship the Andrews displayed - the dowager, a second wife of recent standing after all, was to be clasped to the bosom of the family, was to share in their wealth and well-being, and the infant half-sister was to be one of the clan, and would no doubt make her bow to Society in due time, very well dowered. Such a shame about the youngest - Joseph, by name - so tragically widowed at such an age, but undoubtedly to remarry before too many years were past, and wealthy in his own right; that should cause a few mamas to prick up their ears!

  Joseph had returned to his house in the hills between St Helens and Wigan and was finding it lonely, bleak, empty. Only now that Mary was gone did he realise how much he
had loved her - he had always known that she had a great feeling for him, but he had never realised the extent to which she had defined his own life. She had always been there, giving and demanding, occasionally to the extent of irritation, but now that she was absent forever he missed her, and did not know what to do.

  His work suffered as well - he had to make time to organise himself, could no longer put a hand out and have a folder slapped into it; he had to discover his own information.

  He travelled down to Roberts, nerving himself to make a first appearance and run the gauntlet of condolence.

  There was a wreath on the door to the offices, black crape on the gate, the premises in mourning.

  "The hands insisted, Mr James. They said it was only right to grieve for the best-paying employer in Lancashire. They have done the same at all of the Star mills, I am told."

  Alec Fraser was dressed in unrelieved black, but he generally was so it made little difference.

  "I must say how very sorry I am, Mr James - little though you will welcome such words so often repeated, sir! I have to say as well that I was both grateful and amazed to have been remembered in your father's Will - I did not, could not, expect such a thing."

  "My father had a great respect for you, Mr Fraser. For different reasons he felt the same for Sir William."

  Fraser was less delighted by the reference to his rival.

  "I fear that I am about to trespass on your private grief, Mr James, but I believe that you may be in need of the services of a secretary, sir - ideally a young man entering into a career in engineering who would benefit greatly from five years or so at your side."

  Fraser had received a message from Thingdon Hall, an instruction to seek out such a young man and then to attempt to persuade James that he needed him. As his one-time tutor he felt that he still had some vestige of authority, respect at least, that might make it possible for him to carry out the task.

  "He would have to live in, Mr Fraser."

  "And thus would have to be sufficiently the gentleman to fit in, Mr James. A civilised Scottish man would fit the bill."

  "He would - for there are no young English educated engineers, for lack of a place for them to be trained in their skills."

  Any engineer of English extraction had to learn on the job, must be well into his thirties before he had picked up his skills.

  Joseph noticed that Fraser was uncomfortable, was trying to find the right words for his next proposal.

  "Am I to assume that such a gentleman is to hand, Mr Fraser, that you have ventured to seek out my assistant?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I am sure - I know from the past - that your intentions are of the best, Mr Fraser - and I must admit that you may be right. Is he here in the works?"

  Fraser sent the office boy scurrying to fetch Mr McGregor.

  "He took his degree last year, Mr James, and has since laboured unpaid for an uncle who has a small foundry in Glasgow. He has a cousin who works in the shipyard and who asked me last month whether there was any vacancy he might fill. I brought him down to look him over and it seems to me that he might be a valuable man for the firm."

  McGregor was short, thin but well-muscled, gave the impression of a man who had never quite managed to eat his fill, but really did not care too much about the body. He displayed an alert intelligence and a great eagerness to accept any opportunity.

  "Aye, sir: to present you with an efficient, working office that can serve your needs; to produce your drawings to design standard; to discover information; to make up working models if the need arises. I can do all of those things, sir, and will be very pleased to do so, and I write in a clear hand, sir, can keep legible records."

  "Then you will do for me, Mr McGregor. I will make domestic arrangements today - that is, I shall have them made. Today is Tuesday - can you take up the post before the end of the week?"

  He could and would.

  "Thank you, Mr Fraser - I shall do my very best, sir."

  "You will, Mr McGregor - and I can assure you that it will need to be just that to keep up with Mr James."

  Fraser thought back to his own initiation into the Hall.

  "Ye must dress the part, Mr McGregor. You will be taken to my tailor and he will kit you out as you should be - the firm to foot the bill. Can you ride?"

  "Yes, sir. My father is a farmer, owns one hundred and fifty good acres. I am third son."

  The father might clear a pound an acre from top-quality, lowland arable in Scotland, probably a little less; McGregor would have gone through university on a shoe-string, would never have had two pennies to rub together. Time to sweeten him.

  "You will need to accompany Mr Joseph, so will ride frequently. Because of that, and because you will work long and irregular hours, your salary will be two hundred pounds English per annum, and the firm will provide your horse and riding boots and leathers."

  A good pair of boots and well-fitting leathers could cost forty pounds.

  "You will be living-in, gratis, and your hotel or inn charges will be met by Roberts. Eventually, you will move up in the firm, will be given greater responsibilities and will receive more appropriate remuneration. I will say to you, in confidence, that I entered the employ of the family as tutor to Mr Joseph, and that I am now senior man in the foundries and pits, owning my house in freehold and salaried at four thousands and in receipt of bonuses besides. There is no reason why you should not match me, sir - you have the same opportunity."

  All that was required was intelligence - which he already had - and work.

  "I believe, sir, that I may have 'fallen on my feet', as they say. I can assure you, Mr Fraser, that I shall do all I can to meet your expectations."

  "Good. One piece of advice, sir - do not work yourself into a sick bed. You must make time to eat and to sleep, and even occasionally to take an hour or two off for relaxation."

  Fraser wondered if he should offer McGregor the address of a reliable and healthy house of assignation, but decided that it might cause offence - he could discover that for himself if the occasion arose.

  "Whilst I think of it, Mr McGregor, will you have any problems with Sunday travel? Mr Joseph has no great respect for the teachings of the church - any church - and will often be on the move as it suits his convenience and with no concern for the day of the week."

  McGregor had been brought up to the chapel in its most rigorous forms; he had backslid at university, attending the Church of Scotland when he could not avoid service, and had maintained no religious observance since. A very few seconds told him that he would travel on the Sabbath with no hesitation at all, except that he might not choose to arrive at his parents' home on that day.

  If Robert was to embrace conventionality as a Peer of the Realm, then he must become an agriculturalist - or at least show interested in the Land. He decided that he should spend a week in Captain Thame's company.

  "Home Farm first, my lord, because that is my direct care, and I wish to break into our cash reserves, possibly to a substantial sum."

  Thame led Robert to the stables, to the large boxes given over to the heavy horse stud.

  "Suffolk Punches, my lord - great, powerful, working horses, the best there are for the plough and the farm cart. Not so well suited to draught work behind drays and wagons in town, but ideal for simple pulling."

  Robert was aware of that - the big Sorrels had been a part of the background to life at the Hall.

  "'Chesnuts', they call them, my lord, no 'T', though why they must be different, I know not. The Hall's have always been the colour they call 'dull dark', some seventeen hands and nearly a ton in weight. Look at the more recent colts, my lord."

  Thame pointed to a pair of two year olds.

  "Some patches of white, Captain Thame, and they do not look to me as if they will reach seventeen hands."

  "Nor do I think they will make seventeen hundredweight, my lord! The blood has become thin, I fear; they have been bred too close. It is my wish to geld these t
wo - they should not breed. I would wish as well to bring in a stallion and, if possible, four good mares, my lord, so as to rejuvenate the stud."

  "Costing?"

  "A full five hundred guineas, I fear, my lord."

  "Well, that is a lot, but not too much to meet our need. We must have strong horses if we are to farm the land as we ought. Where will you buy?"

  "I will send the head groom to travel the markets, my lord. Ipswich and Norwich would be a first thought."

  "I seem to remember the Barneys as horse breeders on the Old Waste, do I not?"

  "Riding cobs, my lord. Good horses but too light for our need."

  "Let us talk to young Mr Barney - I would be surprised if he did not have advice, bearing in mind all my father said of him."

  "My mother's people are Romany, my lord - they sells me most of the young stock you see out in they old paddocks, my lord. Whiles I don't reckon they to 'ave none of the great 'osses theyselves, I'm damn sure they could tell us where to find 'em, and the best. They could put us onto the breeders rather than chance what do come up at market."

  "Would you do that for me, Barney? We need to build up our stud, so Captain Thame tells me."

  As a tenant Barney was only too pleased to do his landlord a favour, especially when he was new into his honours and had shown no sign of interest in the estate previously.

  "Is all well with you, Barney?"

  "Fair to middling, my lord. The Poor Law is like to cripple us, rising every year as it is, but prices are holdin' up so all's well enough there. I tell you what though, my lord - if so be we gets a really good 'arvest one year to drive the price of wheat down, then we're all goin' to be buggered! I'm better off nor most, with the 'osses to give a good income, but the others could be taken real bad."