The Jacobite Murders

by G. M. Best

  She ignored this barbed comment, choosing instead to ask Jones another question. ‘What is your precise relationship with Squire Woodforde?’ she said, wishing that Henry Fielding had explained to her more about the young man’s background.

  ‘None by blood. I owe everything to his and his sister’s charitable nature because, twenty-one years ago, it made them take pity on a poor abandoned infant.’

  ‘You intrigue me, sir! Tell me more.’

  ‘At that time Squire Woodforde had just returned home late after many months away on business in London. After a short supper, he retired much fatigued, to his chamber. Imagine his surprise when he pulled back the bedclothes and beheld an infant wrapped in some coarse linen cloth and fast asleep. Once he had overcome his initial shock, he rang for his housekeeper. When she arrived, she was understandably not amused and she told him that some strumpet must have left the child in the hope that he would care for it. She told him that he should let her take the babe away and lay it at the door of the churchwarden.’

  ‘It was correct advice,’ interjected Burnett.

  ‘But not advice he took?’ said Lady Overbury, ignoring the patronising interruption.

  ‘No. He said that he was afraid that I might catch a chill if she did that at such an unseasonable hour. She replied that it would be very fortunate if I died in a state of innocence before I had a chance to grow up to inherit the sins of my parents. Fortunately for me Squire Woodforde rejected such stern counsel and ordered her to procure clothing for me and send out for a woman who could provide pap.’

  Lady Overbury tried to disguise her surprise. ‘He was certainly behaving in a very Christian manner for few gentlemen would have acted so.’

  ‘Yes, and the next morning he proved even kinder. He presented me as a gift to his sister, Miss Bridget, and asked her to take charge of my upbringing until he could discover more about my parentage.’

  This time Lady Overbury could not hide her amazement. ‘A rather startling present. Most brothers would give an item of jewellery if they wished to please their sister!’

  ‘That is true, but Miss Bridget was no ordinary woman. She agreed to care for me and commended her brother’s kindness to a deserted child.’

  ‘And did they discover more about your parentage?’

  ‘An investigation was undertaken by the housekeeper into the characters of all the female servants in the house but this proved fruitless. Then enquiries were made among the inhabitants of the parish and the finger of suspicion came to rest on a young girl called Jenny Jones, who had been employed to help nurse Miss Bridget through a recent illness. When accused, she admitted to being my mother and to depositing me in Squire Woodforde’s bed. Miss Bridget was very taken aback, saying that she had esteemed Jenny as a very sober and upright girl and no wanton trollop.’

  ‘And who was your father?’

  ‘That Jenny Jones refused to say, but it was assumed it was the local schoolmaster – a man called George Partridge. He had been giving her lessons and the two were known to have become very friendly.’

  Burnett sniffed to indicate his moral disapproval. ‘I have been told that Mr Partridge stoutly contested his innocence but none believed him. My uncle dismissed him from his employ as a schoolmaster and arranged for Jenny Jones to have employ as a maid in a neighbouring county so that she could make a fresh start.’

  ‘I hope that she made the most of this opportunity to redeem herself.’

  Burnett took pleasure in shaking his head. ‘No, the common harlot disappeared shortly afterwards and none has seen her since.’

  Jones looked pained at these words and was unsure how to soften the harsh image that had been generated by his companion. In the end he simply said, ‘I would like to report that my mother’s later behaviour justified this act of kindness, but with regret I cannot.’

  ‘She never made any attempt to contact you?’

  ‘No, but her want of natural affection for me only seemed to make Squire Woodforde and his sister all the more determined to show me every kindness. He named me “Thomas” after himself and became my godfather and Miss Bridget brought me up almost as if I had been her son.’

  ‘A woman can sometimes find pleasure in adopting a child when she has none of her own,’ replied Lady Overbury, thinking that the squire’s sister had done well to obtain such a handsome son, whatever his parentage.

  ‘That is probably true, your ladyship,’ said Burnett rather coldly, ‘but I think you should know that Miss Bridget did have a child of her own. I am her son, born just over a year after these events.’

  Lady Overbury apologized profusely for her error. She was understandably cross at herself for having committed such a blunder but even more annoyed with Henry Fielding for not having provided her with the proper details of John Burnett’s parentage. As a result she decided to drop the conversation about the two men’s backgrounds. Instead she asked them to undertake a further search of the house. It was therefore only later in the day that she managed to catch Tom Jones alone and resume the topic, asking him to properly explain his relationship with John Burnett. ‘I am not clear,’ she said, ‘whether you act as his servant or whether you are friends?’

  ‘I am neither his servant nor his friend, your ladyship, though we have known each other since infancy. He sometimes avoids my company altogether, but there are occasions – this being one of them – when he finds me a useful person to have with him.’

  ‘I think, Mr Jones, I need to know a little more of your history together if I am not to cause needless embarrassment to you both.’

  Jones nodded his agreement and gave her the explanation that she sought. ‘It was scarce a few weeks after my arrival in Squire Woodforde’s house that Miss Bridget announced to her brother that she wished to marry a captain in the dragoons called John Burnett. None viewed it as a wise choice. This soldier was handsome enough but he had not a penny to his name and his appearance reflected that. His dress was plain and out of fashion and it was known that he was rather too fond of drink and, when under its influence, rather vulgar in his behaviour. Miss Bridget was then about forty years old and lacking in any beauty so Squire Woodforde was under no illusion that it was her fortune rather than her person that he was after. He told Miss Bridget that the captain would be prepared to wed the witch of Endor if he thought it would bring him wealth.’

  ‘That was hardly a tactful way of expressing the matter!’

  ‘Perhaps so. It made no difference. Miss Bridget insisted on the marriage, judging that she should be entirely answerable only to herself for her conduct in the matter.’

  ‘And were the couple happy?’

  ‘I am told that, once they were married, he showed no affection for her and she treated him with complete indifference.’

  ‘Yet a child was born?’

  ‘Yes. Just over eight months after the wedding she gave birth to a son a month before its full time. He was named John after his father. It may have been her insistence on treating me so well that led to problems in her relationship with her husband. He had no desire to see his son brought up with a base-born child.’

  ‘But that happened?’

  ‘Yes, and, fortunately for me, Captain Burnett’s opposition proved short-lived. He unexpectedly suffered an apoplexy whilst taking an evening stroll and died. This meant that I was educated alongside John, though our schoolmaster always distinguished between us. He treated John with kindness but argued that my innate sinfulness required regular use of the rod. I grew up with John sometimes treating me as a friend and sometimes as a servant and sometimes as an unwanted nuisance. I think he has always resented the fact that his mother often showed more affection to me than to him.’

  ‘And is she still alive?’

  Tom’s eyes suddenly moistened. ‘No. She died recently and I still deeply mourn her loss.’

  ‘If what you say is true, then why should Squire Woodforde not set you up so that you can marry Miss Westbrook? He and his sister have obviousl
y welcomed you into their family and he has a great fortune and no heir of his own. Even if he wishes the bulk of his estate to go to his nephew, he could still make a rich man of you.’

  ‘There was a time when I dared hope that might be the case. But that is now out of the question because I have shown myself unworthy of his benevolence and unworthy of Miss Westbrook.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘By my actions.’

  ‘And what actions were those?’

  ‘I prefer not to say, your ladyship.’

  Lady Overbury did not press the matter, but his reluctance to tell her the entire story left her concerned. What sin had he committed? It must have been something terrible to make his benefactor turn against him. Was Mr Jones, despite his charming manner, an appropriate person to protect her?

  3

  ENTER BEAU NASH

  In the afternoon Henry Fielding called on Lady Overbury to see if everything was all right and to announce that he had found a new housekeeper. She immediately took him to task for not telling her enough about the two men he had sent to protect her and sought information about what crime Tom had committed.

  ‘Forgive me, madam,’ replied Fielding, looked very embarrassed. ‘I should have told you more about his position. He is a good lad but one prone to get into scrapes. The daughter of Squire Woodforde’s gamekeeper – a saucy trollop called Molly – became greatly enamoured of young Tom and, to be blunt, she used every opportunity of throwing herself at him. The poor youth clearly thought it wrong to seduce her but the hussy got the better of his good intentions. A young man’s flesh will only stand so much. Shortly afterwards she showed signs of being with child. Tom wanted to do the honourable thing and marry her despite being told by his friends that she was unworthy of him. Happily he unexpectedly caught the jade in bed with another man, which cast understandable doubts on not only her character but also the paternity of the child.’

  Lady Overbury shifted uneasily in her chair and then tried to cover her shock by saying awkwardly, ‘Mr Jones is obviously well rid of the slut!’

  ‘Yes, but Squire Woodforde understandably took the whole affair very ill, judging that his support for the illegitimate Tom had been scant rewarded. I tried to make him see that Molly had played the main part and, as a consequence, made him view the matter in a slightly better light. He has now decided that he will pay Tom’s passage to America and so give him the opportunity of creating a new life there, rather than cut him entirely adrift.’

  ‘But that could amount to a death sentence for the poor young man!’

  ‘It might also make his fortune,’ parried Fielding.

  ‘And what of his love for Miss Westbrook?’

  ‘He must put that behind him.’

  ‘Does she love him?’

  ‘I think Miss Westbrook still reciprocates Tom’s feelings for her, despite what has happened, but she faces insurmountable opposition from her father. Mr Westbrook has told her in no uncertain terms that he will disinherit her and turn her out of doors stark naked and without a farthing if she does not abandon her idea of marrying Tom.’

  Their conversation came to an abrupt end as Sarah Darr burst into the drawing room with the news that no less a person than Beau Nash, Bath’s Master of Ceremonies, was at the door.

  ‘Show him in, Darr. We cannot keep the great man waiting!’ exclaimed Lady Overbury, casting a quick glance at herself in the mirror.

  Beau Nash entered the room in a manner that belied his advanced years. Lady Overbury’s gaze initially focused on his flamboyant dress – the white frilly shirt, the unbuttoned flowered waistcoat, the brown coat edged with lace, and, above all else, the cream-coloured tricorne hat, which was pulled so far forward that it grazed his right eyebrow. Then, as he pulled off his hat to greet her, she looked into a face whose features were striking if not attractive – large, watery blue eyes, an overly long nose, red plump cheeks, a small but sensuous mouth, and a strongly dimpled chin. The black wig that hung in curls to his shoulders belied his years for the wrinkles and lines on his face showed he was obviously in his sixties.

  ‘My dear Lady Overbury,’ he said, bowing graciously despite his years, ‘I am so sorry that your first night in Bath has been such a terrible one. I want you to know that I will use whatever influence I have to ensure that we resolve this most cruel crime. I have already sent a messenger to inform Sir Robert of his housekeeper’s death and I hope that I will soon be able to send him news that we have caught her killer.’

  ‘You are too kind, sir,’ she returned.

  ‘In the meantime I hope that you will consider moving to a safer place. I would recommend either the White Hart or the Bear Inn or, if you prefer a lodging-house, the home of Mrs Hodgkinson. The latter has fine views over the river.’

  Lady Overbury was slightly offended by the patronizing manner in which he said this and she shook her head. ‘I have no intention of leaving this house until the poor woman’s murderer is caught. Mr Fielding has provided me with two excellent young men to ensure that none can hurt me if I stay here.’

  Nash shrugged his shoulders. ‘I do not decry Mr Fielding’s temporary measures but perhaps when you are more acquainted with me you will more readily heed my advice.’

  ‘I already feel I know you, Mr Nash. I have heard so many talk about you.’

  ‘I hope to my credit, your ladyship.’

  ‘Oh yes, sir. Who has not heard sung the praises of the man who, for forty years, has been this city’s undisputed Master of Ceremonies?’

  He ignored the irony in her voice. ‘You flatter me, your ladyship.’

  ‘What brought you to this place?’ she said, curious to see if she could acquire a greater insight into his true nature.

  ‘Do you want the truth, madam?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  He chuckled. ‘Then you are unusual because few women do!’

  ‘I think you will find, Mr Nash,’ interrupted Fielding,’ that Lady Overbury is no ordinary woman.’

  ‘Then we will be well matched for she will find I am no ordinary man.’

  Lady Overbury smiled at the man’s wit, but that did not prevent her saying, ‘You have not answered my question, sir.’

  ‘But I will. As you may know, I was from my youth a professional gambler and I first came here in 1702 when many nobles were accompanying Queen Anne on a visit to the city. I hoped to make their stay an enjoyable one for them and a profitable one for me!’

  ‘Do you then take pride in fleecing the young and inexperienced?’

  Nash ignored the gibe. ‘One should always take pride in one’s work, whatever it may be,’ he replied.

  Henry Fielding laughed. ‘Don’t let him deceive you, madam. Beau Nash is not ruled by greed. He will take money from those who have too much, but many a young innocent fool can vouch for the fact that the Master of Ceremonies has protected him from losing too much. Indeed there have been occasions when he has taken on the other professional gamblers, who have fleeced the inexperienced, and won back their money for them.’

  ‘You make me sound like a modern Robin Hood!’ retorted Nash.

  ‘Judging from your clothes, sir, you strike me as a man more suited to the city than the forest,’ replied Lady Overbury with a slight chuckle of amusement. ‘You must like Bath very much to have stayed here so long.’

  ‘I love it now but I hated the place when I first saw it. All the lodgings were mean and contemptible. Their walls were covered with unpainted wainscot and their floors with soot and small beer to hide the dirt. The furniture within most rooms was a ramshackle collection of shoddy items that paid heed neither to fashion nor comfort. Even worse for someone used to London society like myself, the amusements of the place were neither elegant nor conducted with delicacy. There were no proper dress codes and no rules about where or when people could drink, smoke, gamble, or dance. There was not even a central meeting place for the inrush of visitors, just a canvas marquee.’

  ‘Then I am truly surpris
ed that you stayed.’

  ‘That is easily explained. I won a thousand pounds in just over seven weeks and I recognized that I could be a big fish in Bath’s small pond. I decided that, rather than chasing around the country after men to dupe, I could stay here and encourage the dupes to come to me.’ He gave a beguiling wink and, for the first time, Lady Overbury suddenly realized why this man had been so successful. She imagined what the corpulent Beau Nash might have looked like when he was thinner and forty years younger and decided that he had probably cut quite a dashing figure all those years ago. ‘I and another gambler called Webster began suggesting ways of making a stay in Bath a more pleasurable experience,’ he continued. ‘When Webster was killed in a duel, I took on the role of being Bath’s unpaid Master of Ceremonies and I used my authority to begin introducing significant changes.’

  ‘Such as what, sir?’

  ‘You have only to look around you, Lady Overbury. I determined to make the city attractive. That meant paving the streets so that they were less muddy in winter and less dusty in summer and creating new flower-edged promenades from what had been just cattle routes. It meant registering sedan-chair operators so that they did not charge unreasonable rates to their customers, and inspecting lodgings to ensure that they reached a certain standard and were not exorbitant in cost.’

  ‘You may not think it because of what has happened in this house,’ added Henry Fielding, ‘but Bath is a remarkably safe city because of Mr Nash’s endeavours. It was he who encouraged Bath Corporation to ban the wearing of swords and to become much tougher in dealing with unwanted beggars. It was he who saw to it that better night watchmen were appointed to patrol the streets and who created the cage where night walkers and disorderly persons can be locked up.’

  ‘You flatter me, Mr Fielding. I have to say that none of that would have made Bath the success that the city is today had I not also recognized the power of women.’