Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman Read online

  “Nothing will ever induce me to marry that bounder. Why just look at how he treated his groom. Sent him to London and back in a day's trip, and that was after a hard day riding around Staverton Hall.”

  Mr. Bayliss coughed to draw attention to himself again. “Henry has nothing to complain about. He is very well paid to be a confidential messenger for the Talbot's.”

  Charlotte replied, “Is being well paid all that matters to you? How about loyalty?”

  Bayliss continued, “Loyalty goes both ways, Mr. Talbot is very loyal to his employees, looks after their needs and expects their loyalty in return. Henry's invalid mother is at the rheumatic hospital in Bath. Henry thinks it's on charity. It's not.”

  Freddy, on entering, overheard that last exchange. “I'd appreciate it if you could keep that secret. Henry would be upset if he found out about my involvement.”

  Bayliss thought, “I'd be willing to bet Henry knows.” but kept his thoughts to himself. He added aloud, “Mr. Talbot, I wish you would let people know about your charities.”

  “Sorry Mr. Bayliss, no, that's a private matter. I don't desire the attention. Charity is not charity if you use it to publicize yourself. I might be wealthy, but thank God I'm not a Pharisee.”

  Freddy then sat down at the table across from Charlotte and asked simply. “Have you made a decision, or should I go back to the pub and get another pint while you continue discussions?”

  Charlotte gave Freddy an intense look of dislike. Mrs. Answorth broke in, “Dr. Answorth had a suggestion. You and Miss De Vere could get married, a marriage of convenience. That way she could stay in her estate.”

  Freddy laughed. It took him no little time to compose himself. When he recovered he asked, “Are you serious?” After he then gave Charlotte an unsettlingly serious examination, as if he were examining a lot of defective goods and finding them not up to specification he continued with, “What did you think of this idea Miss De Vere?”

  Charlotte started to stammer out “No, not ever,” but ended up saying, “I'm not sure.”

  Dr. Answorth replied, “Miss De Vere is a highly eligible young woman with a distinguished bloodline. Marrying her would buy, pay your, sorry, introduce you into polite society.”

  “So does my fortune. I don't have trouble mixing with the ton in London, especially when they need a loan. She may have a distinguished bloodline, but she's poor. She'll be lucky to attract a husband of her own station in life.”

  Charlotte, highly annoyed with the turn the discussion was taking, interposed, “Dr. Answorth, Mr. Talbot, please. I am not a piece of livestock to be bargained over.”

  Freddy thought for a moment, Charlotte was clearly a pretty woman and he had a suspicion that if he were on her good side, she would be pleasant company. She certainly could look better if she were decked out in a dress that complimented her looks rather than subtracting from them. He could almost imagine falling in love with her. At least if he could be sure that, unlike so many of the beauties he'd met, it was him and not his money that she loved. He made his final and best offer, “This is a new development. It merits careful consideration on both our parts. Tell you what. I was going to foreclose on you if you didn't sell out. My offer of eleven hundred pounds for the house and demesne still stands. The interest and principal due on the mortgages is about five hundred. I'll pay you six hundred cash and count the difference to the mortgage payment.”

  “Mr. Talbot!”

  “That's my best offer. Can't say it's not fair. Otherwise, I will just foreclose on you and take the lot.”

  Mr. Bayliss added, “Remember what I told you about the Talbot's and their business practices.”

  “What did you tell them, Mr. Bayliss?”

  “Just that you play for keeps in business.”

  “Damn right. How well you know me.”

  Charlotte looked at Mr. Cruise. He nodded, “You won't get a better offer for the house.” She looked at Freddy, then extended her hand to him. “You have a deal.”

  Freddy was relieved, had Miss De Vere been difficult, he would have proceeded to foreclose on her. He might have been started foreclosure proceedings with reluctance, but ineluctably they would have moved to the inevitable conclusion of his taking the estate from her. Taking her hand he replied, “Thank you.”

  As they were leaving, Mr. Bayliss asked Freddy, “Would you really have given them cash for the whole thing? That's very unlike you. Normally you'd just foreclose.”

  “There is a minor matter of the local farmer's good will. It would create a pile of difficulties for my governor and me later if I 'did down' the beloved daughter of the old lord when she was in trouble.”

  “Ah. Sentiment. I thought it had no place in business.”

  “It doesn't, and don't you forget it. But I'm not about to damage the property by acting daftly.”

  “If you say so. I still think you're acting a bit daft. Don't let her pretty face sway you. She's a minx, not worth it.”

  “Don't worry, I won't, and I'm well aware of Miss De Vere's low opinion of me. This little maneuver buys us the time to smooth things out. Now you'll arrange the contracts with Mr. Cruise?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good, go over them very carefully, I don't have a good feeling about him. Not sure why, but he wouldn't be someone I'd choose to employ.”

  Mr. Bayliss concurred, “Those negotiations were too easy. He should have fought harder for his client. I would have.”

  “That's why you're our solicitor.”

  In their gig on the way home, Dr. and Mrs. Answorth asked their young guest what she intended to do now that she had sold the hall. “I'd love to get out of this village. See society.”

  Dr. Answorth replied, “Six-hundred pounds won't last you very long in London, nor in Bath. Better put it in the four percents.”

  “Live on twenty-four pounds a year? I'd rather try my luck in the marriage mart and become a governess if I don't make a hit. Besides the farm income will help.”

  “Mr. Talbot was correct about the income, debt and principal, Miss Charlotte. You might be able to hold onto the land for a year, if you're lucky.”

  “I can always sell some land.”

  “Not with Mr. Talbot holding the mortgages. He will have to be paid off first, for the full value of the bond on that land.”

  Charlotte was disconcerted. “Dr. Answorth, I had hoped when I sold the hall, I would be free of it. I'm still stuck here, glued in place still, aren't I?”

  There really was nothing to be said in reply to this.

  Mrs. Answorth finally broke the silence and asked her husband, “Dr. Answorth, how is your gout?”

  “My gout?”

  “Didn't you want to go to Bath, for the waters?”

  “Yes, but”

  “Why don't you arrange for your curate to take over for a month or two? Mr. Cartwright needs the practice if he's to find preferment. We'll take lodgings in Bath and you can take the waters. I'm sure Miss De Vere would be pleased to accompany us. That way we'd know someone in Bath.”

  3. The Talbot's Take Possession.

  Unwilling to let the grass grow under their feet, Freddy's sister, father and mother arrived within the week. The good people of the nearby villages of Holt and Staverton found this to be a mixed blessing. The bulk of the servants at the hall were immediately rehired, much to their relief, but the new family didn't keep a proper distance like old Lord Staverton. Worse still, they had brash London manners and were prone to say what they meant and push hard for bargains when making a deal. Still, on the whole, and here both Freddy's and his father George's willingness to stand rounds in the pub as well as general cheerful attitude helped immeasurably, they were accepted, at least for the time being.

  One person who was not pleased was Miss De Vere. It would be a dreary and tedious few weeks before she and her friends the Answorths could depart for Bath. Early on, in what she could only describe as 'the occupation', she found that when Freddy said 'house and contents
' he meant it.

  The day after the sale, Mrs. Answorth and Charlotte drove the rectory gig to Staverton Hall in order to retrieve Charlotte's dresses and the odd bits of jewelry she had left in her room. When they knocked on the hall door for entrance, Freddy himself answered it.

  Seeing Charlotte's shocked expression, he said, “Sorry, I haven't gotten the hang of waiting for a footman to come and open the door for me. Always thought it dashed rude to leave our guests waiting while a servant ran up here to do something I could easily do myself. What can I do for you?”

  “I've come to retrieve my wardrobe.”

  “Your wardrobe?”

  “My gowns, I need them for Bath.”

  “I'm sorry but they are part of the 'contents' of the house, are they not?”

  “Surely you don't want them?”

  Freddy stood back and surveyed Charlotte with his measuring eye. She found it oddly disconcerting. “No, but you're about m'sister Elizabeth's size. She might want them.”

  “You must be joking.” She looked Freddy directly in his face and did not see the smallest trace of a smile or humor, let alone any sign that he comprehended her dilemma. He shrugged, “No, if not Elizabeth, then the rag merchants. See what we can recover for them.”

  “But my things, I left them here expecting to be able to take them.”

  “I'm sorry but the contract for the sale clearly states 'house and contents'. You should have read it before you signed it.”

  Charlotte bit her tongue to hide her feelings. She turned on her heels and returned to the gig with Mrs. Answorth. As they left the grounds a torrent of her opinion came forth. It started with “That unreasonable, impertinent, unbearable man,” and ended several minutes later with a plaintive lament of “What am I going to do for gowns when we go to Bath?”

  Freddy was a bit disconcerted himself. He was reasonably sure that Elizabeth would laugh at the idea of using this woman's gowns. That comment was a feeble attempt at humor which went astray. After all Lizzy had access to the best and most stylish mantua makersi in London and their father, while until recently extremely prudent with money in business, gave her a more than adequate clothing allowance. On the other hand, that upstart little, the word beauty came to mind, only to be dismissed with the word minx, deserved the difficulty. Finally, the clothes had to have some value in the second hand market. He went in search of his man Phelps to discuss the problem. Mayhaps a solution would present itself.

  It was Elizabeth who solved the problem for him, by accident. The rest of the Talbot family arrived late in the afternoon. She descended from the carriage, looked around the yard, and announced that the place met with her approval.

  “Freddy! It's perfect. There are cows and horses and everything is so fresh.”

  “London has been getting a bit rank of late. All those people and all that coal smoke. I've felt so much cleaner since I've been looking for a house in the country.”

  Elizabeth asked, “Do we have any horses? I could so do with a ride.”

  “Henry! Can you help my sister?”

  Henry came running. “Sir! Mr. Talbot, what?”

  He paused, there were the two Mr. Talbot's, father and son. He alternately looked at both of them for instructions.

  “Henry,” Freddy asked, “Is there a horse Lizzy can ride?”

  “There's the mare, but” Freddy's father interrupted him.

  “But nothing, Get Lizzy mounted, please.”

  “Mr. Talbot?”

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “The mare isn't like her horse in London. She's a bit hard to handle and riding in the country isn't like traipsing around Hyde Park.”

  Freddy generally respected Henry's judgment about horses, but his father didn't.

  “See that my daughter has her ride!”

  “Yes, Sir!”

  Mounted sidesaddle on what had been Charlotte's least favorite hunter, Elizabeth began to wonder if the horse was possibly a bit more than she could handle as it sidled along in an ill temper. A few moments later she knew it was much more than she could handle. It started acting up while they were still in the stable-yard. Once they left the yard the horse shot off at a fast canter. Lizzy held on for all she could as the horse raced over the fields, jumped hedges and generally ran wildly out of control. The horse decided to jump one last fence, shied at the last minute and Elizabeth slid forward over the horse's neck to the ground. She lay there, in the mud, stunned, while the horse ran off.

  Charlotte was riding down a shaded country lane on her favorite mount. The horse was an old mare, a bit of a slug really, but she was even tempered and friendly. Charlotte had brought her along to the Answorths because she couldn't bear the thought of leaving her behind. Her beloved mare, her first horse, the one she learned to ride on, was more of a pet than a mount.

  A dark hunter, bearing an empty sidesaddle crashed into the lane in front of her and sprinted away.

  Charlotte thought out loud, “Somebody's had an accident, I wonder who?” She traced the horse's path back through the fields, and found a disheveled woman sitting in the mud and holding her head.

  “Are you hurt?”

  The woman looked up at her and gave her a sheepish smile with her mud-streaked face. The bits of grass and weeds stuck to her hair only added to her comic appearance. Her fashionable blue velvet riding dress was ruined with mud and more than a few tears.

  “No, I'm not hurt. Just a bit ashamed of myself. I thought I knew how to ride well. Henry was right. The countryside isn't like Hyde park.”

  “Henry?” That name was familiar, unfortunately. Charlotte looked carefully at the woman. “You're not from around here, are you?”

  “Not yet.”

  “But you look familiar. You are one of the Talbot's, aren't you?”

  The woman carefully stood up, straightened her skirts and brushed off what she could of the muck and grass that adhered to them. She held out her hand. “I'm Miss Elizabeth Talbot, you can call me Lizzy if you like, everybody does.”

  “I know your brother.”

  “Freddy? How droll, isn't he a riot? He can keep a straight face and tell the most outrageous whoppers.”

  “I hadn't noticed. By the way I'm Miss Charlotte De Vere.”

  “Oh, you're the woman sold us the hall, aren't you?”

  Charlotte rather tersely replied, “Yes.” Meeting Freddy earlier in the week was enough of the Talbot family for her tastes. She was decidedly not enthusiastic about meeting any more of them.

  “Freddy's last letter talked about you. You're much prettier and nicer than he described.”

  “What?”

  “You must have made some sort of impression on him. His letters are usually full of business deals, interest rates, and boring things like that. You'd never think he could be any fun if you read them.”

  “You think he can be fun?”

  “I wouldn't want to go up against him in a business deal, but yes, when he's not cooking up some complicated financial scheme he's a blast, a great gun.”

  Charlotte was momentarily lost in thought. This was an aspect of that man's character she hadn't considered. No one could be totally rude, boorish and ill-mannered, though so far Mr. Frederick Talbot had done a thoroughly effective job of appearing that way. His sister seemed to be decent and well-mannered enough.

  “Miss De Vere?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you know which way is back to the hall? I should get back there soon or they will be worried about me.”

  “It's too far to walk, especially if you've been thrown from your horse.”

  “I wasn't thrown off it. I just sort of slid off the front.”

  “That's what I mean by thrown from your horse. If you can walk to the far side of that field, there's a lane.”

  “Yes, I see it.”

  “Wait there, and I'll be along in the Vicar's gig to take you home. We can chat on the way.”

  Lizzy smiled, “That would be top of the trees. I was hopi
ng to make some friends quickly, and we could get started.”

  Elizabeth cornered her brother the next morning. “Is it true that you wouldn't let Char- Miss De Vere take her clothes from the hall?”

  “Yes, they're part of the contents of the house. If she'd wanted them, she only had to say so before we drew up the contract.”

  “Freddy! That's incredibly rude and vulgar.”

  “Is it? I thought you might want them.”

  “Me? Are you out of your mind? There isn't a gown there that is even vaguely in fashion. Maybe they were in fashion in the '90's, but they aren't now. As if I'd ever wear second hand clothing. I know mother and father did, once back when they were young and poor, but not any longer.”

  “Then we'll sell them to the rag merchants.”

  “What do you think you'd get for them?”

  “I don't know, ten, at most twenty pounds. They probably have some value on the resale market.”

  Liza reached into her reticle and pulled out a banknote. “Here's twenty. They're mine now.”

  “I thought you didn't want them.”

  “I don't, but I know someone who does.”

  Freddy tried to return the note to his sister, “No, please not her.”

  “Sorry, yes. Charlotte's a sweet, well-mannered and gentle young lady. I like her and think we'll soon be close friends.”

  Freddy pushed the note back into Lizzy's hand. “Lizzy, I'm not going to do business over this with you. It's not as if these clothes are worth much. Take them to that woman, if you want, but please do not involve me in it.”

  “Did you know there's going to be a ball in Staverton, Thursday next week, before the Answorths go to Bath?”

  “No. Should I?”

  “If you're going to be the new land owner, I would think so.”

  “Did you plan on attending it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is Miss De Vere?”

  “Probably, it's to see off her friends the Answorths. I'd be very surprised if she's not there.”

  “We haven't been invited. So I'm not sure we can.”

  “I'll bet we get invited.”