Death of a Fop (Bow Street Consultant series Book 1)

by Sarah Waldock

  She stalked out.

  “Mr Churchill would like you to join him in the book room, ma’am” said Fowler some hours later.

  Jane entered the book room and raised an eyebrow.

  “I apologise for calling your management into question Jane” said Mr Churchill. “I am shocked at how much Frank has squandered. However, as his wife I should have thought you would have had some influence over him. Alas, my poor sister! There is bad blood there; indeed I am wondering whether to continue the allowance at all, or whether to cut off root and branch; no scandal should attach to a Churchill of Enscombe.”

  “I will not diminish myself to plead for my daughter or the unborn child in my womb,” said Jane coolly, “but as a mother I shall do my utmost for their wellbeing; and as I am a handsome woman I do not doubt that Jane Churchill of Enscombe might readily make her way and rapidly find a wealthy protector around Covent Garden.”

  Jasper Churchill spluttered in outrage and horror.

  “Jane, you cannot mean it! To ruin yourself!”

  “Why Mr Churchill, it is not as though I am a maid unblemished; I felt very blemished by Frank’s insistence on his marital rights after I had barely birthed” said Jane. “What is there to lose? Nothing. And much to gain in keeping my children in a way that I wish them kept. Of course I also have the satisfaction, should I have to take this course because you have proved ungenerous to your great niece and great niece or nephew, of making sure that the name Churchill of Enscombe is synonymous with the unfortunate calling I should have to embrace.”

  Mr Churchill was almost gobbling with outrage.

  “Jane, this is blackmail!” he cried.

  “Mr Churchill; it is” said Jane.

  “You are…. you are….”

  “I am a mother, Mr Churchill; there is nothing I would not do for my children” said Jane. “And as the unfortunate profession at its upper end – which I feel sure I could penetrate – pays vastly more than a governess’ wages, who would not in any case be engaged if she had her own children, why, my duty is clear.”

  “You shall have the allowance continued in full” said Mr Churchill in a furious voice.

  “Thank you Mr Churchill,” said Jane submissively, “then there is no need for me to consider any further course of action concerning future employment.”

  That she had no intention of carrying out her threat – had only thought of it because she had been so angry – was neither here nor there. He had not dared to call her bluff. And in truth Jane did not see why he should be permitted to turn up full of censure for what was a fault in Frank’s upbringing; indulged by his uncle and trammelled but mollycoddled by his aunt his weak nature had been exacerbated by a mixture of indulgence and being kept tied to his aunt by leading strings. Left to make his own way, and free of his aunt’s demanding nature, he had let his inclinations towards profligate pleasure run wild, and the sudden stiffening of his uncle towards him over that outrageous debt, instead of making some push to find out why he needed so great a sum was, Jane felt, irresponsible. She had some anger towards herself too that she had not tried to be firmer with Frank from the first; but that of course was why he had married her; he knew she would be grateful for being rescued from the fate of being a governess and so would be compliant and ready to fall in with all that he said, being as unlike his aunt as could be. And she had been grateful; and it was no basis for love or marriage.

  Caleb spluttered almost as loudly as Mr Churchill when she reported the conversation to him.

  “Jane-girl you would not….. why, I have thought about your situation and it occurred to me that letting the house would bring you almost a thousand a year, surely; and as Frank bought it with his own monies, it devolves to you, his widow, not the estate of Enscombe!” he said.

  Jane smiled her demure smile.

  “No Mr Armitage; I should not take so drastic a course. Besides, I believe I should think that there is a good man who would offer me his name instead,” she gave him an upward glance under her lashes, “but I lost my temper; I believe for the first time in my life, for I am generally of equable mien. I should have been faithful to Frank and tolerated his faults as a wife must when she has made a terrible mistake in her marriage; but after having been humiliated by him in so many ways – yes, I will admit it in as many words to you – to be accused of profligacy, to have Frances and my unborn child accused of being like to have bad blood, it was too much; and the worm has turned. It seems to me that upbringing has more to do with how a child may behave than purely blood and I was so angry that he condemned Frances and baby without trial, guilty without a chance of proving themselves innocent.”

  “Which is according to the Code Napoleon; and nothing good ever came out of France” said Caleb. “I am glad that you stood up for yourself and the children; I should have had a few things to say to this precious uncle of Frank’s if I had been there.”

  “Yes Mr Armitage; and I might too have leaned upon your strong presence and permitted it of you” said Jane “But I am determined that, bar the ordinary levels of gratitude for a good deed, that may be repaid, I shall never again be ruled by gratitude. And I would not accept an offer of marriage in the spirit of giving my children and myself a home and a father with income. I had rather be able to contribute to the household.”

  “Well, Mrs Churchill, there we have a problem with my pride,” said Caleb, “for if I were to offer for a beautiful woman whose house may bring in an income many times what I am paid, what then am I to do?”

  “I should have thought that any woman would be glad of a father to her children, those that were and those that were not yours also, who would give them time and love” said Jane. “It seems to me that a man who is an honest family man and who will give himself as well as take is a man who is a prize beyond mere monetary measure.”

  “And any man who finds so generous a woman who could love outside her estate and give aid and succour to a man to the extent of darkening the daylights of an assailant with a glimmer-stick would consider her beyond the price of rubies as the Good Book says” said Caleb.

  “Good; then when I am out of mourning we need not discuss any economics save how much we must needs put towards a household” said Jane. “When I am in half mourning you may commence to court me.”

  “I thought I already had” said Caleb.

  “Indeed; but I am taking no notice of such contumely” said Jane demurely.

  Jane was glad that Mr Churchill intended staying in his own house at Richmond rather than wishing to stay with her; his presence in the house must needs be oppressive. Moreover, though he had met Dorothy briefly he had as yet no idea who she might be and seemed to be under the impression that she was some young relative of Jane and Miss Bates. Jane somehow suspected that if Dorothy’s identity as Frank’s mistress were to be revealed to Mr Churchill he would leap to the conclusion, as he seemed indeed inclined to leap from fact to conjecture without intermediate proof, that Dorothy had in some wise corrupted Jane to lead her into a path of vice rather than Jane having rescued the poor girl from a life that would ultimately end up in misery and untimely death; for Dorothy was never going to be what Mr Armitage called a ‘High Flyer’. This would of course lead to more argument and unpleasantness such as Jane disliked intensely; though she was determined that she should stand up for poor Dorothy. Fortunately Mr Churchill seemed all that was conciliatory; and Jane suddenly realised, with a flash of insight, that he had, like Frank, been very much at Mrs Churchill’s beck and call and his hectoring manner was a reaction to her death; and that Jane standing up to him had reminded him sufficiently of his dead wife’s own strong will that he was, at least for the moment, behaving with the same meek manner that he had been wont to show to the late Mrs Churchill.

  She managed to smile wryly to herself and considered how diverting she might find the situation if she were watching it as an outsider; as Emma Knightley doubtless might do. She debated whether or not to write to Emma of this; since Emma
had become less censorious since her marriage to Mr Knightley; but decided against it. Emma must indeed be shocked at Jane’s brazen blackmail of Mr Churchill; indeed Jane was shocked at herself. Anger had its uses when harnessed but indeed was a dangerous emotion to carry one away far beyond the bounds of propriety!

  It was however useful to know that one might have the ability to show anger and to stand up for oneself and one’s children without even stammering or blushing if the need arose. It was an ability to be cherished; but kept firmly and securely in check.

  Chapter 21

  Jane took the ‘Morning Post’ and the ‘Spectator’ as her newspapers; and generally read one or the other over breakfast and saved the other for teatime. Her eye was caught by the headline ‘Notorious Highwayman Strikes Again!’ and she picked up the ‘Morning Post’ to read further.

  “It was a sad night for the Honourable Mr – and his good lady on returning from a day with relatives to be held up and robbed on Hampstead Heath by a Highwayman believed to have been the notorious ‘Sparkler Jack’ so named because his invariable demand is ‘hand over the sparklers’. Sparkler Jack has so far eluded arrest and this publication wishes to know what the Bow Street Runners are doing about the recent wave of jewellery robberies of which ‘Sparkler Jack’ is but one contributor Mrs – has lost a fine emerald necklace with good large stones and a curious and singular gold setting as well as the couple having lost between them several rings, and Mr – ‘s pocket watch, jewelled fob and snuff box.”

  The paper also carried the notice of Frank’s obsequies; “The funeral took place on Saturday of Mr F – C – who came to an untimely end last Sunday night” she checked to make sure that there had not been too many details; good, the Officers of the Law had not released too much to the papers.

  Jane folded the paper to highlight the story and beckoned Fowler to her.

  “Take this up to Mr Armitage if you please” she said. “I fancy he may wish to see it.”

  Caleb came down to the dining room adjuring Fowler not to hover over him like a duenna with a debutante accidentally come to the Hell Fire Club.

  “I wager that Sparkler Jack is a part of the gang,” he said excitedly, “but now they are short a jarksman to forge new provenance. I am almost minded to persuade that clever-mouthed Mr Despard to play a may game with them; save that I fancy his mouth is too clever for his own good and he may yet give himself away. If I could only catch Sparkler Jack making the transfer to that slippery jeweller…but it will not be done obviously, nothing so simple as a visit to the shop.”

  “Why not?” asked Jane “Surely the bold approach is the best? For where does one expect to see jewellery if not a jeweller’s shop? It conceals by being obviously!”

  Caleb laughed, and then pulled a chair to sit down rather suddenly and shakily.

  “Mrs Churchill, it is as well that you have never decided to go in for crime; for it is quite plain that you have a talent for boldness that would surpass most of our peevy and timid criminals” he said. “Those who are on the bridle lay – the high Toby, highwaymen, call it as you will are tedious shy about their transactions; they do not risk having their faces seen. I would doubt that our shy friend Sparkler Jack is even known by physiognomy to our Froglander.”

  “I thought he was Dutch” said Jane.

  “He is” said Caleb. “It is a name by which the Dutch are known; perhaps because they caved in so readily under the Frogs to become part of their damned republic and then empire.”

  “I see,” said Jane, “and though they must trust each other to gain their dubious living, the one does not trust the other to see his face?”

  “Do not for one moment suppose any kind of trust, Mrs Churchill” said Caleb. “There is mutual benefit; no trust. And fences have turned in those who bring them geegaws to sell before now; the notorious Jonathon Wilde made a career of buying stolen property to return for what he described as a ‘finder’s fee’ and if the thieves displeased him he would write a cross by their name; if this occurred twice then he would turn them in. It has given us a new phrase, the double cross, to cheat or betray someone from a position of supposed trust. No Bridle Cull would consider trusting a fence without other considerations being involved, familial connection for example; though these cullies would many of them sell their own brothers. The word ‘chum’ which is used to describe confederates may be translated as ‘friend’ but I assure you ‘crony’ would be closer. Sparkler Jack will wait for a good opportunity to hand over the baubles in the darksmans. And probably to a third party at that; maybe that spry little fellow who got away from us the other night, who strikes me as a bene cracksman; probably also a sneaksman. He has the build, from what little hand I had on him, to get in small places, and to readily hide all day in small places until the household is asleep no doubt too, though that’s a specialist piece of crookery. And of course here we are being led by the usual maundering of a newspaper into assuming that the Bridle-cull is going to sell to the head-cully; or is even aware of him. There’s more than one fence around.”

  “I suppose what needs to be determined,” said Jane, “is whether or not any of the items stolen by Sparkler Jack have ever been recovered or whether they have disappeared into the underworld. If the latter, is it not indicative of them being reset by our Dutchman?”

  Caleb slapped his thigh and winced as the movement of his body jarred his arm.

  “You’re right; and that was why I’d got Sparkler Jack associated with our other little bit o’ lay here” he said “Because nothing he has ever stolen has been identified – save one dubious identification that was held unproven where a snuffbox had a cameo set in it and the cameo may – or may not – have been seen and recognised set into a necklace. Gold and silver are readily melted down of course; and stones are anonymous enough in a new setting. Fobs may be re-carved, the tops of snuffboxes, etuis and vinaigrettes cut down or set in a setting the original owner is unlikely to notice them. And tattlers – pocket watches – are often sufficiently unremarkable or may have covers switched or new ones put on, to change them sufficiently that anyone claiming to identify them may be readily confused.”

  “It is indeed a large and enterprising industry; but I imagine that the loss of the Avon Necklace must still have been a significant loss” said Jane.

  “More to the point, Jane-girl, it’s dangerous. It’s identifiable. And Dorothy will get her reward from Her Grace of Avon; but I have asked that it not be made public nor any reward given until our man is caught; and I spoke to Her Grace and she is amenable to that” he nodded to Dorothy who was listening wide eyed.

  “’Ow much will I get?” breathed Dorothy.

  “Never you mind, my girl” said Caleb “Or you’ll go shouting your mouth off about it. Enough to make it worth your while handing it over see!”

  Dorothy pouted; but did not press the issue.

  “Oh Mr Armitage, you will help Dorothy not to spend it unwisely?” asked Miss Bates.

  “That I will, Miss Bates; for I suggested that it be invested in the funds for her, that will give her enough to live on if she is not extravagant and any sewing she does may supplement it” said Caleb.

  “You are wise and kind,” murmured Jane as Dorothy discussed how much she might get excitedly with Miss Bates, “for she is quite feckless about money and would spend it all in one day if given the chance; this way it does not matter if her earnings are never good if she may have enough for subsistence.”

  Jane had forbidden Annie to take Frances out to the park at all for the immediate future but to permit her to take the baby only into the garden, which was fully enclosed. She did not tell Annie that it was for fear of Frances being abducted, her return perhaps conditional on handing over the Avon necklace; but permitted the nursery maid to think that with sudden showers prevalent at this time of year returning once a shower started might risk the health of little Frances. Which indeed it might; but Jane did not think Annie stupid enough not to keep an eye on the weather
. However it served as a good excuse; and the outing each fine day was quite brief and Jane too attended. Frances was not much impressed by the great out of doors and protested being bundled up in warm outdoor clothes; but Jane felt that fresh air was essential for healthy lungs on warmer days. Having been a sickly child herself, she did not want to see Frances suffer childish complaints if she might help it, when the day was neither windy nor damp that the child might benefit from the mildness of the better days that held some promise of spring to come.

  “My dear Mr Armitage, tell me truly if you think I make a great to-do about nothing over the safety of Frances?” she asked him, when a locksmith had been procured to repair the bolt on the coal hatch and indeed to add a second bolt.

  “Mrs Churchill, I believe you very wise to take such precaution over your precious baby” said Caleb. “These people will stop at nothing to get what they desire. And whilst I believe that the villain may only come to threaten at first, yet I must recall that Dorothy was not merely threatened. This was why I suggested that it be well not to take her to the park. That you go out with her too is but an added precaution that I do not consider unnecessary; Annie is just a young girl likely to lose her head if any would-be abductor climbed over the wall. Indeed I am minded to watch out of the window too if you will apprise me of when you will be out with her. ”

  “I pray you will indeed keep close watch and employ Frank’s pistol if need be,” said Jane, “and if any snatch up my baby I had rather she died shot at your hands than carried off into who knows what slavery.”

  “Jane-girl, I’m a tolerable shot; it will not come to that” said Caleb gently. “My barking-iron suffered a flash in the pan that terrible night; I hurled it at the one Fowler shot and wrestled with the other for want of anything better to do. When my ball discharges I may expect to be as accurate as any man living that does not make a living duelling. I will kill any man who tries to carry off Frances to indentured slavery or any such fate.”