Positions at Court involved no work and pleasant little salaries granted for a lifetime; Lord Robert had mentioned that the Commissioner for West Indian Slaves was on his deathbed and that there would be a need for a successor in the early future. There were no West Indian Slaves, had been none for thirty years, but that merely made the job somewhat easier, the six hundreds a year more simply earned.
Sudbury knew that these positions were often precursor to a senior honour such as the Order of the Bath or, not uncommonly, a barony for political services. Was Sir Richard to become Lord Burke then he would be not at all displeased – a grandson of his blood to be second baron!
“I must discuss the matter of a date with my lady wife and Miss Louise herself, Sir Richard, Neither is at home this morning – having taken the carriage into Dorchester for some sort of shopping expedition – but we are to have a small dinner party tomorrow which you might wish to grace.”
Dick was, naturally, pleased to do so; he had purchased a small gift for Miss Louise while in London, would give it her then.
“I should mention, by the way, that I am majority owner of a steam ship-building yard in Liverpool now. We have a number of naval contracts already in hand.”
Dick had purchased an emerald of middle size but excellent quality, set as a pendant on a gold chain. Emeralds were rare stones in England and he had not seen another in Dorset society; nor had Louise.
“You are generosity itself, Sir Richard!”
“The best for my lady wife, ma’am! I have been fortunate in business just of late and wish to share my stroke of luck. Has there been any discussion with you of a wedding day, ma’am?”
“Some four weeks hence, I believe, Sir Richard. I understand that my Papa is to make an announcement before the ladies withdraw, sir.”
Sudbury performed with great pomposity, accepted the applause of those present and offered a toast to the happy couple. Dick returned an extempore speech of equal banality, was really quite pleased with himself; he had not realised that he had the talent of speaking at length while saying nothing at all.
The builders had finished their work in his absence, to the approbation of Briggs and the appalled horror of the great bulk of the neighbourhood. The house possessed a bathroom, with hot water running from a tap; there were large mirrors on the wall so that the bathing debauchee could inspect herself while unclothed! There were water closets as well, two of them, running out to a large and distant cess-pit, hidden away behind a newly planted hedge of rambler roses. There was hot water on tap in a new laundry room, greatly easing the work of the staff, and thus, obviously, encouraging idleness among the lower classes who had previously benefitted from carrying heavy coppers of boiling water. The vicar had made oblique reference to decadence among the newly wealthy, so Dick was informed.
“In that case he can stay poor for me – I shall not be among his congregation and putting money into the plate on a Sunday! He will have no chance at all of becoming decadent as far as I am concerned.”
The remark trickled back to the vicar who preached on ‘Cleanliness next to Godliness’ on the following week.
Mr Sudbury reported with glee on the wedding invitations sent to the nobility, following a hint from the Lord Lieutenant’s office, and the most prompt and gratifying acceptances he had received.
“You have not mentioned your specific intentions for a wedding journey to dear Louise, Sir Richard!”
“Neither I have, sir – most remiss of me!” He turned to his fiancée, sat across the room from him, at a proper distance while they were unwed. “We are to cross the Atlantic, my dear. New York in the first instance and then to observe the glories of Niagara. Depending on the needs of my interests in the States we may then proceed to Chicago or into Canada; it is possible that I may be called to Washington. We must expect to be overseas for six months, possibly for a year.”
“Oh! How very gratifying, sir! So much to be seen and marvelled over! Will it be possible to enter upon the Wild West, sir? I presume we will be distant from this sad war, sir?”
For perhaps the first time in Dick’s company she allowed herself to show enthusiasm.
“I trust so, ma’am. Your maid and Plaistow will see to our comfort in any case.”
“My maid, Sir Richard? I have no maid, sir!”
“No doubt your Mama can remedy that lack for you, my dear. I am sure that you will discover the benefits of a female at your side. It will be easier, I am sure, for Mrs Sudbury to seek out a proper young woman than trying to discover one for ourselves, neither of us really knowing what we are looking for in an abigail!”
Mrs Sudbury graciously assented; she would pass the word among the ladies of her acquaintance – between them they would be able to come up with a suitable person.
“Quite the little aristocrat, my daughter is to become!”
“It is an ambition, Mrs Sudbury. Lady Burke will be but a titled commoner, but the wife of Lord Burke would be a long step higher in the world, and that is not wholly impossible, ma’am, provided we remain in England.”
“I was not aware that you might choose to leave the country, Sir Richard!”
“I have bought the additional land at Burkes with the intention of staying, ma’am, but it is possible that I might be persuaded of the desirability of becoming a citizen of America. General Grant must become President eventually, and he would be a good friend, I believe.
Mrs Sudbury was only partly gratified that her new son-in-law rubbed shoulders with the great – while there was a degree of reflected glory therein it also suggested a lower status for her dear husband.
“It is now quite certain that the vulgarians of the North must prevail in their war of conquest, I presume, Sir Richard?”
“It is highly probable, ma’am, provided only that the war is not brought to an untimely end by an unfortunate result in the coming election. Should, for example, McClellan become President then I am quite sure he will betray the sacrifices made by the dead soldiers of the Union.”
“One understands General McClellan to be the epitome of the gentleman, Sir Richard!”
“Not perhaps the sort of gentleman I would wish to be associated with, ma’am! I was a member of the general’s staff for a few months after the First Battle of Bull Run and was unimpressed by his martial spirit. I have little respect for his philosophy either, ma’am.”
“I presume you are referring to his opposition to abolition, Sir Richard? It is perhaps fortunate that we have no population of Africans in this country, the point for us therefore being moot.”
“There are many thousands of black folk in England, ma’am. Pictures of gangs of navvies constructing the railways and in the great public works in London clearly show many black faces. The slave ports of Bristol and Liverpool both display the presence of freed men over nearly two centuries, and I am told that the great naval harbour of Portsmouth also has a visible minority in its population. It is, or should be, a matter of pride to England that we are more truly the nation of the free than is America.”
Mrs Sudbury was tempted to be offended – she could not see that ‘freedom’ was in any way superior to a properly deferential society. As for being proud of such degradation – not a concept she could comprehend. She was, however, soon to turn off a third daughter, much to her pride, and almost without cost – she had not had to take her to a great series of expensive and time-consuming social functions to attract the attentions of a young man. Sir Richard could fairly be described as the catch of the year in the County and brought much prestige to the family – and, if he should ever become a peer, he would be of the greatest value to the Sudburys’ future standing.
She contented herself by saying that as a mere female she had no understanding of political affairs. Her husband, when later informed, shook his head and said that he feared Sir Richard was of a Whiggish persuasion – though they must now be called ‘Liberals’, of course.
“We must perhaps cultivate a few of the breed ourselve
s, ma’am. Not all of them are vulgar, or so I am informed, and if my son-in-law is to be great in their counsels then we must position the family to be in the way of such benefits as may accrue. The Liberals are very much in the way of creating ‘Boards’ with functions for carrying out matters of Public Health and Education and such; membership of these bodies inevitably carries a salary, and often not ungenerous expenses, which our boys might come to enjoy. There will always be more would-be members than places, of course…”
Families which had been prodigal in the bearing of children must always be considering where they might be profitably employed.
“I had believed that we had always been safely Tory, sir!”
“So we have been, ma’am – but the world is changing, and we must accommodate ourselves to it.”
“Perhaps we would be better employed in reversing those undesirable and thoroughly unnecessary changes, sir!”
“Possibly so, ma’am. The steam engine and the water closet – neither of which was known to our forebears, I am told – do not seem wholly to be regretted, or so I believe.”
She ignored this remark – she did not approve of levity
Book Three: The Making
of a Man Series
Chapter Two
The wedding went off well, in some ways – all of those who had accepted invitations were actually present and Mrs Sudbury had the overwhelming delight of welcoming aristocracy into her home. The Sudbury family had been greater in County and national affairs in previous generations and the house reflected that glory; it was a mansion and sufficiently imposing in its status. If the family moved up in the world again – on Sir Richard’s coattails perhaps – then the house would not shame them by suggesting plebeian ancestors.
The Lord Lieutenant, who knew the house and could guess of the nature of Mrs Sudbury, congratulated her upon its presence – ‘a most imposing dwelling’. She swelled in pride, far more so than at the compliments upon her daughter – so handsome a bride.
Dick observed all and said as little as possible – he had no wish to fall into the unwisdom of satire and the Sudburys made very tempting targets. He relaxed a little in the company of the Carteret heir, who seemed to be casting a sardonic eye on Mrs Sudbury.
“A change from the last time I was present at such a ceremony, sir”
“How so, Sir Richard?”
“I recall my wife to have been somewhat different in nature!”
Carteret choked, emptied his glass to give himself time to formulate a response.
“Ah, yes – the new Lady Burke does seem to be of an ethereal, slender nature, Sir Richard. I understand she possesses talent in music and literature.”
“She does indeed. Her predecessor was also talented, but in another field.”
“In more than one of the local fields from all I ever heard, Sir Richard!”
Dick raised his glass in silent acceptance of a hit.
“I hear you are bound for America again, Sir Richard.”
“Government business as well as my own affairs, sir. There is still an interest in this foolish war of theirs.”
“I read last week that there is talk of one half of a million of deaths, so far, Sir Richard.”
“Possibly as many as one young man in every ten, sir. In some communities, of both North and South, that figure will rise above one half. The harm they have done to themselves is inconceivable. More than one of their divines has suggested that the war is God’s punishment on the nation for tolerating slavery.”
“Do you believe that, Sir Richard?”
“I believe very little, sir, except that I am damned if I like champagne! There are drawbacks to wedding breakfasts, sir – the need to drink this stuff being one of them!”
“Tut! A very good bottle, Sir Richard. I have no liking for the wine either, but one is not permitted to say so, you know. Champagne is the height of refinement and thus must be enjoyed – by order of Society!”
Dick acknowledged the truth of the comment - 'good taste' was all!
"When do you travel to the States, Sir Richard?"
"Within the month, I believe, sir. We shall translate to the house in Liverpool next week and then I shall make a booking with Cunard. The availability of first-class suites will determine the exact day of passage, of course."
Dick did not mention that instructions from London would also play a part.
He remained carefully sober and left the festivities at the appropriate moment, as determined by Mrs Sudbury who was rather visibly in control of the occasion. The journey was only to Burkes, a matter of a half of an hour, barely time for husband and wife to exchange a few platitudinous words - the church, the cake, the probability that her younger brother would fall down drunk - the normal small change of weddings.
Dick noticed that his lady wife was exceeding nervous of him, could not help comparing brides - this one seemed the polar opposite of the last. He must be within reason polite, he judged. He retired to his dressing room and changed from his wedding finery, at Plaistow's orders - it was the case that he should appear in normal casual day wear before taking a light evening snack.
"Rules are rules, Plaistow, and must be obeyed, in England at least. In America you will find things to be different, and the farther West one progresses the less formal habits are."
"That could be rather difficult, sir."
"It might well be, but one must be alert to the demands of one's company."
Plaistow wondered just what that might mean.
Dick made his way downstairs, heard sound from the music room, discovered his bride sat at the pianoforte, an expression of delight making her almost beautiful. She was a taking woman, when she allowed the mask of decorum and maidenly propriety to slip.
"Sir Richard! Such an instrument, sir! A perfection of tone that far outstrips that at my home!"
"This is your home now, my dear. I have small knowledge in the field but have endeavoured to put together a small collection of sheet music for you. When we return from our travels we must spend a few days in London where it is possible, I am told, to purchase almost everything ever composed. I would wish to visit Vienna one day, as well - there must be a plethora of shops there. Have you inspected the bookroom yet? It is furnished essentially to my taste; there is at least one good bookshop in Liverpool and we must visit there next week."
She had not been aware that they were to travel to Liverpool at all, still less so soon.
"I am sorry - I have been used for years only to consider my own convenience! I would wish you to meet my closest acquaintance in the business world there before we take ship."
They talked as he showed her round the house, 'her house', he insisted, and he persuaded her to join him in a glass of wine at their light supper before taking her upstairs and delivering her into the hands of Merrett, the newly hired maid.
The servants left and Dick knocked on his wife's door, was bidden to enter by a tiny voice. She seemed shocked that he was clad in a dressing-gown. It occurred to Dick that this might well only be the first of her surprises; he shrugged and joined her in the big bed.
The night progressed according to plan - Dick's plan that was, his bride seeming to have very little expectation of what was to occur. Dick wondered whether it was polite to pay a morning visit and strangle one's mama-in-law on the day after the wedding. He thought the etiquette books might recommend delaying a few hours, at least until the overnight guests had departed.
"Did your mama tell you nothing, Louise?"
"Only that all men are animals when the lights are out, Sir Richard."
"She could perhaps have been more explicit, my dear. And just call me 'Richard', at least when we are in bed together."
Things could have been worse, he decided - she was inclined to be cooperative by the morning and it was probable that a little perseverance would work wonders. Perhaps he should strangle Mr Sudbury!
They made the obligatory morning calls on the neighbourhood during the week a
nd readied themselves for the long journeying ahead of them in the afternoons, managing to get onto terms with each other the while.
"Do you ride, Louise?"
"Not well, Richard. I was never one for equestrian exercise. Smelly animals, and indisputably stupid!"
"Which probably explains why so many of our County acquaintance love them dearly."
She laughed, confessed that avoiding the company of the people who did so much enjoy riding was also a factor in her aversion.
"We must be seen to inspect the park that is in the making, my dear. The justification for the process is that the children will demand to exercise themselves on their ponies - so we must show enthusiastic."
The mention of children produced a thoughtful silence - she was not wholly sure she looked forward to that mysterious set of events.
"Have you spoken with Merrett about such matters, Louise? I am sure she will be very knowledgeable, and will be able to set your mind at rest, I hope."
Never having had a personal maid before it had not occurred to her that she could be a confidante; she put his advice into effect as she changed for dinner, learned so much that was interesting that she was very nearly late to the table, came down with her cheeks still blushing red.
Louise showed signs of excitement as they stood on the platform waiting for the little local to take them into Poole to change to the London express. She confessed that she had never before travelled by train; she had never seen any town larger than Dorchester.
"Yet Dorchester is only a tiny place! It hardly merits being called a town at all. You will see much of London as we pass through today, and we shall spend a few days in Liverpool before taking ship."
Dick found himself recasting plans for the next few days - having chosen to marry a sheltered young girl he had an obligation to her. He could not as he had vaguely supposed leave her to entertain herself in the daytime; shopping would be necessary, and some sort of exposure to the sights of the town.
An Uncertain Peace (The Making of a Man Series, Book 3) Page 3
