Then take a little advice from me, Brother, Jane went on. Change that coat and waistcoat before you see him. It will not help your cause.
Wise words, as always, Jane, he said. Ill go up to my room and put on something drab. He picked up his portmanteau from the floor where he had dropped it and ran up the stairs two at a time.
He doesnt change, does he? Isabel said.
No, unfortunately. I fear we are in for an uncomfortable dinner time.
* * *
In that she was right. Even though Teddy had changed into a dark grey coat and a white cravat and waistcoat, he had evidently not been successful with their father. He was resentful, Sir Edward was angry and Lady Cavenhurst upset. Jane and Isabel tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere by talking about the wedding and the doings in the village and were only partly successful, not helped by Sophie demanding to know what was the matter with everyone, why the gloomy faces. Anyone would think there had been a death in the family, she said.
Death of me, Teddy said morosely, which made his father snort derisively and his mother draw in her breath in distress. But no one commented and they continued to eat their roast beef in a silence broken only when someone asked politely for the sauce boat or the salt cellar.
* * *
After the meal ended, the ladies repaired to the withdrawing room, where a maid brought in the tea tray. Is Papa very angry with Teddy? Jane asked their mother as they arranged themselves on sofas.
He is more disappointed than angry, her ladyship said. She was still a handsome woman, with an upright figure which belied her forty-nine years. Teddy promised him he would limit his extravagance, but it seems not to have happened. But we will not talk of it. No doubt it will be resolved somehow. It was typical of their mother to shut her eyes to problems in the firm belief someone else would solve them.
They had not been seated many minutes when Sir Edward and Teddy joined them, but Teddy soon made his excuses to leave. Jane rose and followed him. Teddy, she said, taking his arm. Are matters very ill with you?
Couldnt be worse. And the old man refuses to stand buff.
Oh, dear, what will you do? They strolled into the book room where there was a comfortable sofa and sat down side by side.
I dont know what to do. You cant help me out, can you, Sis?
How much do you owe?
Well... He seemed reluctant to go on. Its mostly gaming debts and they simply have to be paid.
Go on, how much?
Five thousand or thereabouts.
Five thousand! Oh, Teddy, how did that come about?
You know how it isyou win some and you lose some and I kept thinking I would recoup. Luck was against me.
Who do you owe the money to?
Lord Bolsover holds the biggest of my gambling debts, about three thousand. Hes the one making the most noise about it. There are a couple of others. Gieves and Hoby and the vintner can wait.
Wait for what? Until you have another winning streak? And I would have thought it was more important to pay your tailor and bootmaker who have a living to make. Gaming debts are not enforceable by law. You should know that, working in a law firm as you do.
All the more reason to pay them. It is a question of honour.
Honour! Teddy, if you had any honour you would heed poor Papa, who has always done his best for you. He is not made of money, you know.
So he told me. He heaved a sigh. He suggests I find myself a rich wife, preferably a widow, old enough and independent enough to curb my excesses.
Jane could not help laughing and was relieved to see a slight twitch of her brothers lips in response. He only said that because he was cross with you.
He was in earnest, Jane.
You do not like the idea?
Oh, I like it well enough, always supposing the wealth came with a pretty face and figure. But where am I going to find such a one wholl have me? Even if I did, it would take time and I havent got the time. Hector Bolsover wants his blunt.
Oh, Teddy, what a mess you are in.
I know. Can you help me out?
Where do you think I can find so much money?
You still have the bequest Aunt Matilda left you, havent you?
That is meant to be my dowry.
But, Jane, you are never going to marry, are you?
Only a brother would be so blunt. It hurt, but she didnt show it. Maybe not, but I have other plans for my inheritance.
More important than rescuing your only brother from the River Tick?
She sighed heavily. She had a dream of opening an orphanage for some of the children of men lost in the recent war. The idea had come about when she had been in London the year before. She had seen some ragged, barefoot children running about the streets begging and when she spoke to one of them, to the dismay of her mother who had accompanied her, she was told a tale which made her heart bleed for him. His father had been killed in a battle in far-off Portugal, his mother had been forced into service where children were not welcome and because she was obliged to live in, she had to give up the tenancy of their two tiny rooms. He slept in doorways or under the trees in the park. I do well enough, he told her, holding out his hand for money.
How many more were there like that? she had asked herself, how many children were there without homes, without adequate clothing and enough to eat? Surely the government should do something about them, she had said to her mother, as they left the child clutching a sixpence. Their fathers fought for king and country and that is how they are rewarded. Its a disgrace.
I do not see what we can do about it.
We can speak to Sir Mortimer for a start. Sir Mortimer Belton was their local Member of Parliament. If the problem is put to him, he might bring it up in Parliament. We could make a fuss, bring it to the publics attention. Raise a subscription to provide the children with homes.
Oh, dear, her mother had said. That sounds like a crusade.
And a crusade it had become, but trying to make the government move was like tickling a tortoise. Jane had decided that she must set an examplenot on a grand scale, she could not afford that, but she could do something locally. A small boarding school for about a dozen orphans of soldiers in their own vicinity was what she had in mind. It might encourage others to do the same in their own localities. The five thousand pounds she had would not be enough and she had enlisted the help of the Rector, the Reverend Mr Henry Caulder and his wife, to raise funds. They had decided that the best way to do it was to find philanthropic sponsors. To encourage them, she would put her own money into the venture, she had told them. If she gave her inheritance to Teddy, it would put an end to her plans before they had even begun to take shape.
Can you not ask Lord Bolsover for more time, so that we can think of something? she queried.
You dont know his lordship, or you wouldnt even suggest it.
If he is such an unpleasant man, why do you associate with him?
He is in the group I play with.
Teddy, you are a fool and I do not wonder that Papa is angry with you.
Do you think you can bring him round? He always listens to you. I will be for ever in your debt.
Teddy, you are a fool and I do not wonder that Papa is angry with you.
Do you think you can bring him round? He always listens to you. I will be for ever in your debt.
She laughed. You are in enough debt without adding me to your list, Teddy, but Ill see what I can do with Papa. Not tonight, though. Give him time to calm down. How long will you stay?
I cannot show my face back in London until at least Bolsover is satisfied.
But what about your position at Hallidays?
What position?
Even the almost-unshockable Jane was taken aback by that. Oh, Teddy, dont say you have been dismissed? No wonder Papa is furious.
He dont know about that. Darent tell him. If you cant help me, I will have to go abroad, the Indies or India or something.
That will break Mamas heart. And the disgrace will be hard to live down. And theres Isabels wedding in a months time. What do you think Mark will say about a scandal like that hanging over the nuptials? Go away, Teddy, go and make yourself useful somewhere and let me think.
He stood up and left her. Her thinking led her nowhere, except to the realisation that she would have to forfeit her inheritance. The thought of all those orphan children continuing to suffer because of her brothers selfishness was more than she could bear. She had always been tolerant of Teddys foibles, but this time he had really angered her. If it were not for her mothers distress and her sisters wedding, she would let him stew.
* * *
If it isnt Drew Ashton, Mark exclaimed when he saw his old friend striding towards him along Piccadilly. Where have you sprung from? Its years since I saw you.
Ive been in India, just arrived back.
And looking very prosperous, I must say. Mark looked the other man up and down, taking in the perfectly fitting coat of clerical-grey superfine, the embroidered waistcoat, the diamond pin in his precisely tied cravat, the pearl-handled quizzing glass hanging on a chain from his neck, and the gold pocket watch. His trousers were strapped below his polished city shoes. You didnt used to be so elegant.
I did pretty well out there. You dont look so bad yourself. What have you been up to? How are your lady mother and Lord Wyndham?
They are both well. As for me, Ive been campaigning with Wellington. Came home after Waterloo and now about to be married. Im in London to call on my lawyers about the finer points of the marriage settlement and to buy a suit of clothes for the wedding.
Youve time to join me for a meal at Grillons, surely.
Yes, of course. Glad to.
Mark turned back the way he had come and they walked a little way down the street to the hotel, where they were soon settled at a table and ordering food and wine.
Tell me, Mark said, while they waited for the repast to arrive. Why the sudden urge to visit India? I recollect you left Broadacres in somewhat of a hurry. I hope it had nothing to do with Mamas hospitality.
No, certainly not. Lady Wyndhams hospitality is of the best. She made me very welcome. It was a family matter that came up suddenly and had to be attended to. I did explain that at the time.
So you did. I had forgot. So, what are you going to do now you are back in England?
I am thinking of buying a share in a clipper and continuing to trade. It has served me well so far.
Trade, Drew?
Why not? I am not so top-lofty as to turn my nose up at a good way of making a fortune. He stopped speaking as a waiter brought their pork chops, succulent and sizzling with fat, together with a large bowl of vegetables. They helped themselves and tucked in.
A nabob, are you? Mark queried. His friend certainly gave that impression. It was the only way he could have come by such finery without inherited wealth, which Mark knew he did not have.
You could say that. I went out with the intention of making a fortune and in that I succeeded. I am no longer the poor relation to be pitied because no young lady of any standing would consider me.
Im sure that isnt true, Drew.
Oh, it is, believe me. The young lady I wanted to marry turned her proud nose up at me. Not good enough, you see.
Mark detected a note of bitterness in his old friends tone There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Indeed, yes, although, unlike you, I am in no hurry to become leg-shackled.
I am not in a hurry. We have known each other since childhood.
Tell me about her. Is she beautiful? Does she have a pleasing temperament?
Yes, to both questions. You have met her, Drew. Her name is Isabel Cavenhurst.
Cavenhurst!
Yes, you sound surprised.
No, no, Andrew said hastily. I do remember the name. Dont the Cavenhursts live close to Broadacres?
Yes, on the other side of the village at Greystone Manor. We went there several times while you were staying with us. Surely you remember that?
Yes, now you remind me, I do. There were three young ladies, I recall, though the youngest was no more than a child and the middle one, still at her lessons. The elder was seventeen or eighteen. I recall her name was Jane. I misremember the other names. He spoke nonchalantly, as if it were a matter of indifference to him.
Isabel is the second daughter. She is by far the most beautiful of the three, but Sophie is young and may grow into her looks. As for Jane, she has some very good qualities I can admire, but good looks is not one of them.
So you have taken the pick of the bunch and not the eldest. Isnt that a little unusual?
We are not in the Middle Ages, Drew, my parents would never presume to tell me whom I should marry. I was able to please myself. Anyway, Jane would not have welcomed my advances even if I chose to make any. I believe there was some sort of disappointment. I dont know the details, but she withdrew from society and I saw more of Isabel. Then of course I went to Portugal and was away six years. Isabel and I became engaged when I returned.
So when is the wedding to be?
Next month. The fifteenth.
Then I wish you happy.
Thank you. You must come down for the wedding.
Oh, I dont know about that.
Why not? You do not have a prior engagement, do you?
No, I am as free as the air until I find my clipper.
Then why the reluctance?
It is surely up to the brides family to issue the invitations? They may not wish to include me.
Thats a feeble excuse if I ever heard one. I can put forward my own guests. Besides, there is something you can do for me...
Oh, and what might that be?
Jonathan Smythe was to be my groomsman, but he had to go to Scotland to visit an elderly relative who is dying and as his inheritance hangs on his attendance at the death bed, he has abandoned me to go to her. I need someone to stand up with me at the altar.
I havent seen Jonathan since we were at school together. The terrible trio, they called us, do you remember?
Yes. Always into mischief, the three of us.
My great-aunt and Jonathans second cousin live in the same area of Strathclyde, both of them dragons.
I know, but dragon or not, he has been summoned and I am left without a groomsman.