“No.”
“Elizabeth,” he continued, “I heard some heated, unladylike words outside. Didn't I?”
“Yes father.” Elizabeth paused, then looked at Charlotte and said, “Miss De Vere, I'm sorry for what I said and pray you will forgive me.”
Charlotte found it impossible to say anything other than, “Yes, I do, and I hope you will do likewise.”
“Good! Now I would like to invite you to the hall for supper.”
“But -”
“You and the Answorths. Please say yes. We need to become better acquainted.”
“Mr. Talbot won't be there, will he?”
“You mean Freddy? No, not tonight. He's due back tomorrow.”
“Thank you, yes we will attend.”
As she and Dr. Answorth walked back to the vicarage, Charlotte asked him, “I hope that you're not upset I accepted that invitation.”
“Mr. Talbot? I must admit he is best experienced in small doses, but no. For all his faults, he is a decent Christian man, who is trying to make life better for the less fortunate.”
“I just wish he were less trying.”
“Are you still upset with Miss Talbot?”
“She's so earnest. I don't know. I guess she can't help flaunting her wealth. There she was in her London finery asking about buying new dresses for the country.”
“They do mean well. She just wanted to fit with the other women.”
“I know, that's what makes it so hard. They're neither one thing nor the other.”
“Meaning?”
“If they were really noble, then their wealth would let them stand out from the common herd, and if they were really of the middling sort, then they would be in the common herd. Instead, they try to be both and fail utterly.”
“That's not fair Charlotte. It's a pity the church has eliminated confessionals and penance. I'd have you saying a hundred 'our fathers' for that.”
Dinner started auspiciously. The Talbot's were not daft enough to use the De Vere plate and dishes when offering hospitality to the woman they displaced from the hall. Instead, they 'killed the fatted calf', a lamb actually, to greet their guests and served dinner using a service brought from London. Since the ice had not been replenished last winter, there was a surfeit of meat dishes, ranging from a saddle of lamb, slices of a roast leg, and lamb collops to a head cheese. There would be plenty of left-overs and extra meat for the servants.
It wasn't until the females had retired to let Dr. Answorth and Mr. Talbot enjoy their port and snuff in peace that any awkwardness arose. Mrs. Talbot precipitated it by asking Mrs. Answorth and Miss De Vere a simple question, “It must be awkward to visit the hall and see us here, changing things. Knowing my son, I'm sure he drove a very hard bargain with you. Was there anything that you needed or wanted from the hall?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? I heard about your wardrobe Miss De Vere. Freddy was more than a little rude, so please accept our apologies. We've put the De Vere plate and service away. It doesn't feel right to use it.”
“I can't use it now. Where would I keep it?”
“Tell you what, when you get married and set up your own establishment, we'll send it to you. Can't be fairer than that, can we?”
Charlotte and Mrs. Answorth were distressed by this blunt conversation about material goods. Elizabeth, who had been receiving painful lessons in country manners of late, tried to shift the conversation away and into safer grounds. “Mother, this isn't the time to discuss these things, I'm sure the matter can be arranged later. Miss De Vere, are you looking forward to Thursday's ball?”
“A bit, Miss Talbot, but it is likely to be a tedious affair, you see I know everyone who will be there.”
“And then you journey for Bath?”
“Dr. Answorth has the gout and we thought the waters might help with it.”
“I'm sure you're excited at the thought of the assemblies there. They shouldn't be so tedious.”
“They would have to be very tedious indeed to match Thursday's event.”
One of the footmen gave a discreet knock on the sitting room door, then opened it. “Mr. Talbot has arrived.”
Freddy entered the room, dressed in his traveling clothes. He stopped and stiffly bowed to Mrs. Answorth and Miss De Vere. They acknowledged his bow with a cool gesture. Elizabeth on the other hand showed her pleasure at seeing her brother return.
“Freddy! We weren't expecting you until tomorrow.”
“My business finished sooner than I expected, so I thought I would catch the afternoon mail.”
Charlotte gave him a studied glance. “Surely Mr. Talbot, with all your wealth, you don't take the mail?”
“Why not? There's usually good company on the mail, it's much cheaper than going post and I'm not above a little mixing with low society. There were a couple of newspaper men going to Bristol to write about the harbor, and some ship or another that was being launched.”
Mrs. Answorth commented dryly, “I see.”
“I suppose father and Dr. Answorth are still closeted with the port. Should I go and release them?”
“Please.”
When Freddy entered the dining room he found the two men deep in discussion. The port sat, barely tasted, on the table in front of them. Dr. Answorth, who sat there with a slightly stunned look, was saying, “A school, for the indigent, here, in Staverton?”
“Why not? I had my start from a school like that.” Mr. Talbot noticed his son, “Freddy, you're here, come join us. I was just discussing our ideas for a school with Dr. Answorth.”
Dr. Answorth recovered a little from the stunning news and said, “Mr. Frederick, please come and sit with us.”
Frederick readily assented. Dr. Answorth gathered his thoughts, “I rather thought this bank of yours was what you wanted to talk to me about. This idea of a charity school, I'm not sure about that.”
“The bank was just something that addresses a pressing need. The day I arrived one of the farmers tried to borrow the money for a plow from me. Seems there was no way for them to get credit, even when the risk was minimal. I don't like making personal loans, too many things can go wrong, all of which can make for hard feelings.”
“So you organized a bank?”
“Of course. Now they own shares in it and it's their money too. That way they won't waste it.”
“Father, how much did you drop into it?”
“Not much, a hundred pounds. About a third of the capitalization.”
Dr. Answorth brought the conversation back to what interested him, “About this school idea of yours. When you said indigent, how indigent did you mean?”
“I got the idea from Miss More's Christian Morals. That we who are blessed ought to aid the less fortunate.”
Dr. Answorth groaned. “The evangelicals are not popular around here.”
“Aye, just as well. She was against teaching anything useful to the poor. Just enough reading to read their bibles and say their prayers. Still, can't say I wasn't influenced by it.”
“So you're not thinking of an evangelical school?”
“No, teach them a trade or something useful. I worked my way up from almost naught, and don't see why anyone else shouldn't at least have the chance to better themselves.”
These sentiments, while dangerously leveling, were a vast improvement over a pack of canting methodists.
“I don't see why that should be a problem. Have you gone far along in your plans?”
“Not yet. It's early days.”
Dr. Answorth mentally asserted that he would do his best to ensure it stayed 'early days' for as long as possible.
Wednesday morning, Freddy and Elizabeth in his gig with Henry his groom sitting on the back called on the Answorths. Hearing the noise of the carriage, and peeking out through her curtains, Charlotte told her maid, “Are we never to be free of these Talbot's?”
It wasn't purely a social call. Freddy inquired if Dr. Answorth were available. He and his
sister were led into Dr. Answorth's study. They closed the door behind them and asked his pardon for disturbing him so early.
“It is not a problem. However, since we met last night, what is the purpose of this call?”
Freddy looked at his sister then told the vicar. “It's not for general knowledge, my father has grown a little eccentric of late.”
“Eccentric?”
“There's a reason he's moved to the country, out of the city.”
“Oh.”
Elizabeth continued, “We're hoping the fresh air and quiet living will help him.”
“Help him?”
“He's become a bit reckless, there's a reason I'm now head of the firm. It will take a year or so, but we'll soon have his damage fixed.”
“Damage? You aren't wealthy after all?”
“Didn't say that. No, we're not in trouble, not even sailing into the wind as it were. Just we should be in fair weather and there were some storm clouds on the horizon. I've steered us free of that.”
“So why are you telling me this?”
“I'd like to look at this bank idea of his. Check the books. He may have been 'optimistic' in his enthusiasm. It won't hurt us if it fails, Lizzy spends that much on a dress.”
“Only once, for a court dress.” She added, “Waste of money in the end, though, as I couldn't be presented at court.”
“But if it takes the farmer's money, it could be terrible for them.”
“I wondered about that. Here's my copy of the charter, and the initial sums deposited.” Freddy spent the next minutes carefully reading, as Dr. Answorth worried that he had given his blessings to a terrible idea. Freddy looked up. “It looks like a standard banking charter. That's good, but it is dreadfully undercapitalized.”
“What does that mean?”
Elizabeth explained, “I think Freddy means that a run on the bank could break it. Is that right?”
“Mostly. It also issues insurance. They can't cover all the obligations if they come due at the same time. It's also not clear where the income will come from to pay interest due on the accounts.”
“Oh, dear God, What can be done?”
Freddy reassured him, “It's not that bad. There is a reasonable chance it will float by itself. What I need you to do is keep me informed, and failing that, tell Lizzy.”
“Miss Talbot?”
“Yes, she has signature authority for enough of the ready to cover the bank's obligations.”
“Your sister?”
Elizabeth asked, “Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No, it's just highly irregular.”
Freddy explained, “I can't be here all the time, my mother has very little business sense, and my father is a bit eccentric. So Elizabeth it is. She already does the books at the hall.”
“Yes I see. I suppose it makes sense.”
“She's very good at it you know. I generally run my ideas by her. She has saved my bacon more than once.”
Elizabeth blushed and attempted to shift the subject, “We've trespassed on enough of your time, See you at the ball on Thursday?”
Charlotte watched from behind her curtains as Freddy and Elizabeth boarded their carriage and left the vicarage grounds. She bounded downstairs to find the vicar and ask what happened. Dr. Answorth was unusually uncommunicative. “I'm sorry dear girl, but there really is little I can tell you.”
“Dr. Answorth, surely there wasn't anything too secret was there?”
“It was told to me in confidence. I can add that you shouldn't paint the younger Talbot's with the same brush that you use for the older ones.”
“What do you mean?”
“As our savior said, 'judge not, lest ye be judged.' Let me leave it at that.”
The parish hall was brightly lit on Thursday evening as the excited cream of society for Staverton, Holt and surrounding parishes came to the ball. Carriages were parked throughout the little town and all the stables were full of horses awaiting their return trip in the morning. While their masters eagerly entered the parish hall, the grooms, footmen and associated drivers or postilions found their way to the pubs. The leader of the orchestra, a small group of musicians who rode up from nearby Bath for the evening, found Dr. Answorth and asked when they should begin.
“In a moment,” he replied, then he addressed the crowd, “I thought for the first dance we should have young Mr. Talbot and Miss De Vere start the set.”
Charlotte shuddered at the thought. She had warned Dr. Answorth that this would not work and he had ignored her. Freddy, who was standing in the back with his family, listening to his father chat with one of the neighboring squires, was only slightly less annoyed. He told Elizabeth, “Well, needs must. Once more unto the breach dear friends. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.”
“It won't be that bad. Just dance with her the one time. It's only to start the ball.”
He calmly walked to the front of the hall and gracefully bowed to Charlotte. She stiffly curtsied to him and they took up positions at the head of the line. The band struck up the country dance 'Welcome to All Strangers' and the dance began.
Freddy asked, “I believe it is customary to converse during the figures.”
To which Charlotte replied, “Customary, but not required.”
“Come Miss De Vere, what have I done to warrant such silence?”
“This,” Charlotte pulled a note from her sash, the hundred pound note Freddy had secreted in her dresses, and handed it to him. “I don't want your pity.”
The figures on the floor took them apart for a while, when they came together again Freddy took up the thread, “It's not pity. I thought -.”
“You didn't think, that's the problem.”
“I thought you could use it, think of it like the 'luck pennies' you give back when you buy a horse.”
“I'm not a horse and I'm not for sale.”
“I'm sorry then that I offended. Believe me when I say it was kindly meant.” They said nothing until the dance ended when they curtsied and bowed. Charlotte was steaming. She told Mrs. Answorth, “Is there nothing that will upset that stuck up full of himself swell!”
“What is wrong Charlotte?”
“I gave him back that note, was rude to him, and still all he did was to apologize to me. What a lack of spirit.”
“Or perhaps he has good manners. Please my dear, try to avoid unpleasantness, for better or worse the Talbot's are now our neighbors, and it is best to get on with them.”
“For worse, I'd say.”
Charlotte stood on the side of the room glaring at Freddy as he gamely danced with partner after partner. When she wasn't glaring, she was remarking to her friends to his disadvantage.
“Have you ever seen such an oddly cut coat?” was one of the less insulting comments. Elizabeth, similarly disadvantaged by the excess of females, wandered over and happened to hear some of her discourse. She was about to go and defend her brother when her father stopped her, “Lizzy, we can't make everybody happy with us. Think on it, poor Miss De Vere has lost all her expectations. We aren't to blame, but we're an easy target for her displeasure.”
“Yes, father. I'd so much like to defend Freddy.”
“Let Freddy fight his own battles, my dear. He's well aware of how the wind blows in that direction. If he chooses to ignore her, so should you.”
At the change in the tunes, one of the squire's sons came over and asked Elizabeth if she would dance. Charlotte's comment, “Money talks.” was loud enough for them both to hear.
The squire's son bowed at the start and said, “Miss Talbot, I hope you understand that I don't agree with that sentiment.”
Elizabeth curtsied, replying “Of course. How is Miss Smith?”
The man smiled, “Very well, thank you. I asked her father if I could pay my attentions to her this evening.”
“I hope he said yes, I know Lucy was keen on it. That was all she talked about on Tuesday. Imagine a ball to go to and no talking about dresses o
r dancing.”
“He did.”
“So when is the wedding?”
“We'll post banns next month, it gives my aunt and uncle from the city time to come.”
“Where in the city are they?”
“Cheapside, I think, I've never been there. He's in trade.”
“A respectable line of trade?”
“I would think so. He's a decent fellow and a great sport. I can't imagine him doing anything that wasn't respectable.”
The tune changed and the squire's son bowed while Elizabeth curtsied. The man went off in search of another partner.
The dancing continued for the customary four sets, then there was a break. The break was both for the dancers to refresh themselves and the musicians to stretch sore muscles and tune their instruments. The remaining sets of the evening proceeded in much the same manner as the first, with Charlotte waxing elegant in her disparagement of the Talbot's, while Elizabeth kept carefully on the other side of the room when not dancing. It wasn't until they were in the carriage on the way to the hall that she spoke of the evening.
Elizabeth remarked, “That Miss De Vere doesn't think highly of us, does she?”
Freddy replied, “I didn't notice. I was too busy dancing.”
“She was rude about you while you danced.”
“Was she? She was upset about my subterfuge at trying to give her a bit more capital. I really don't understand her objections. I suppose I offended her pride in some way or another.”
Their father added, “I hope Lizzy that you didn't let her remarks spoil your evening.”
“No father, but I could have done without them. She was making herself ridiculous in her peevishness.”
“Just remember, she deserves our pity. Imagine being done out of your home and expectations by your father and brother.”
“Is that why my share is wrapped so tightly in trusts?”
“That and to protect you and your children from a spendthrift wastrel. Should you be so daft as to fall in love with one.”
Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman Page 5
