"Drawing your unloaded pistol at a bandit was incredibly brave of you. Were you not scared?" Jane, Thomas' younger sister, asked me.
"In truth, yes, I was scared. I cannot deny that I acted on instinct and not on common sense. Had I used my brain and thought the action out thoroughly, then perhaps I wouldn't have taken that course of action. But, something had to be done and at that moment I acted as anyone would."
"You did just as anyone else would?" Mrs. Campbell repeated almost in disbelief. "Come now, Monsieur Levasseur. Not many would do as you did. You truly are a hero."
The topic soon turned away from me and to the business matters of Mr. Campbell, then onto the health of Mrs. Robinson's husband. The education of Christopher Campbell and Phillip Campbell was then discussed next and finally the pastime activities of Jane and Thomas. I was happy that I was no longer the centre of attention.
"Thomas has told me that your piano playing has excelled and that you are quite the protégé," Aunt Tilney said to Jane.
Jane modestly denied her brother's high praises. Jane said that her brother had greatly exaggerated her skills, but she did thank Ms. Tilney for her kind words. However, the praise did not end there and Aunt Tilney turned to me directly and continued preaching about the blossoming skills of Jane.
"She also paints wonderful portraits and pieces of art. Monsieur Levasseur, as a man of taste I am sure you would be mesmerised by Jane's talents," Aunt Tilney said to me.
"I have no doubt," I responded.
"Perhaps you will remain in Bath long enough to hear her play the piano or see her paint a masterpiece. Would you like that?"
"Nothing would give me more pleasure, Ms. Tilney."
A male servant then arrived in the drawing-room and informed us that the table in the dining had been set and the food was ready to be served. This interruption was immediately followed by Emma Tilney declaring to all her guests that we should proceed into the dining room and continue the festivities from there. We all mutually agreed and then made our way from the drawing-room to the dining room. I saw a look of relief on Jane's face when the period of complimenting her had passed.
From the clothes that Jane wore she appeared to be a common girl of low birth. Given her brother's profession, I did not imagine that her family had a mountain of gold or were spoiled in the treats of extravagance. I also knew that my aunt was a generous and good-willed woman, she cared about connections and appearances but she also knew that one's economic standing was not the end-all and be-all of a person's life. The short time I had spent with Jane and examined her, I found her to be a pretty-faced creature that was timid. Her shyness, or lack of opportunity to speak, had stopped me from forming a more in-depth opinion of her so early on. Although, I had already rendered my opinion of her brother and it was not a favourable one.
As we passed through the long corridor of my Aunt Tilney's house, moving from the drawing-room to the dining room, I looked at the framed pieces of art that decorated either side of the hall. Most of them were placed exactly as I remembered them.
"Monsieur Levasseur, here is something I think you will find familiar. It is a splendid piece," Mrs. Robinson said to me as we walked collectively to the dining room.
She pointed at a piece of art that was secure behind glass and a polished dark wooden frame. The artwork was drawn landscape and it was an image of the Notre Dame, the jewel of Paris that is a monument to the beauty of gothic architecture. I responded that the image was beautifully drawn, although nothing compared to seeing the real cathedral in person. In truth, I had never seen it.
For lunch, an ensemble of bread was prepared with fillings, as well as tea, meat and a selection of fruit were available to choose from. The lunch was very informal and the dining room was so grand and well-varnished that the two almost contradicted each other. A servant would occasionally enter the room to ask if there was any more food that needed to be gotten or if any tasks needed to be completed. On one of the servant’s entrances, Aunt Tilney called the servant over to have a quiet word with him and she whispered something to him which was out of the earshot from the rest of us. The servant gently bowed before leaving the room.
"Now, what day did you say that you are going away on? Forgive my memory, but I have completely forgotten," Mrs. Robinson said to Mrs. Campbell.
"Tuesday fortnight," Mrs. Campbell responded matter-of-factly as she placed her cup and saucer down on the dining table after having had the smallest of sips of her milk tea.
"Then your handsome boys, Phillip and Christopher, will remain here during the festival and the ball which will take place next Saturday in one of the ballrooms," Mrs. Robinson said with a delighted tone in her voice.
"I was unaware that there was a ball scheduled to take place, but I suppose I am not at home and not a local with sufficient means of finding out. So yes, I suppose they will," Mrs. Campbell responded once more.
"That is wonderful news. The balls always bring such good times and new friends to the city of Bath. Connections are always made and even a few marriages come from them, from time to time," Aunt Tilney then added to the conversation.
Mr. Campbell sniggered at the three ladies speaking and then regained his composure. The ladies enquired what he had found funny about their exchange and only after he was asked for the third time did he tell them his reason.
"As well-bred and fine young gentlemen as my two children are, I know that they enjoy balls just as much as I do, and that is not a lot. It is always the women who find such things of interest and I have heard many women talk for hours and days on such matters, allowing their imaginations to run wild with how perfect the night will be only to find the reality fall well short of the fantasy they created in their minds."
"Pray tell, husband. Where have you heard these many women speak?" Mrs. Campbell asked her husband with a questioning gaze.
"Everywhere,” Mr. Campbell said before continuing, “it happens everywhere there is a woman present and the topic is at hand. You, three ladies, were just about to start. I am sure of it."
The three ladies were quick to disagree with Mr. Campbell and they pled their innocence. They told him that it was wrong of him to judge all ladies on all occasions based on the actions and words of a few. They told him that marriages were a common result of the balls of Bath and that at least four or five happened each year. The three ladies then finished reprimanding Mr. Campbell and spoke to each other about the shared acquaintances they had and tried to determine if there were any love interests, signs of affections, or potential proposals on the horizon for the acquaintances.
"Thomas and Jane will both be in attendance at the ball. Won't you?" Aunt Tilney then asked the brother and sister who had not spoken much throughout the lunch.
"I am unsure if I can attend as I believe the restaurant will require my attention that night. Jane is strongly considering going if she can find a partner to go with. She is not very well acquainted and is anxious to go to the ball alone," Thomas told Aunt Tilney.
"Monsieur Levasseur can no doubt accompany her if he is to stay in Bath for another week. Phillip and Christopher are both certainly more than perfect partners too," Aunt Tilney replied to Thomas.
There was a sudden change on Thomas's face. He looked angry and agitated at such a proposal, but he regained his composure quickly so that no one in the room spotted it. However, I did. I did not like Thomas and I hadn't liked him since encountering him at the restaurant the night before. Nothing he had said or done at Aunt Tilney's house had changed my opinion of him.
"I would love to accompany Jane to the ball if she would allow me the pleasure. A friend to speak with is an important thing to have and I love attending balls," I said only to further annoy Thomas.
The declaration that I enjoyed balls was another lie I told under the pretence of being the suave and confident, Monsieur Levasseur. In my younger days, my time and attention had all been spent on education. I knew about females and could label their body parts and quote th
e entire speeches of Shakespeare's ‘Juliet’ yet dancing with them was a strange concept to me. Speaking to a woman of my age and class was something that had always made my stomach churn and my head feel light. On the few occasions when I did go to a ball in London, I sat on seats beside other men who could not interest a female or arouse curiosity or excitement within them. These men were my contemporaries.
"Delightful. Did you hear that, Jane? What a delightful gentleman Monsieur Levasseur is. We will be sorry to lose to him when he goes back across the water," Mrs. Robinson spoke.
"And is that your plan, Monsieur Levasseur? To go back to France once you quit Bath?" Mr. Campbell asked.
"No, I will travel to London first as I need to tend to some business there," I responded.
"Is it important business?"
"It is quite significant. A matter of life and death, I think the saying goes."
"Well then perhaps we shall have the pleasure of seeing each other in London. If it is balls you fancy then there are many held regularly across the city," Mrs. Campbell said. "You are of similar age to Christopher and Phillip, if not only a few years older, perhaps you can accompany them to a ball. With your presence in their company, I am sure some noteworthy heads will turn to view you."
Again I responded in a kindly manner and said that spending time with her two sons would bring me nothing but joy. I did also thank her for her kind words concerning my age, too, but I told her that I was at least ten years older than Christopher and Phillip. To stop from having to speak further on the subject I took the pot and tea and refilled my cup slowly. Another conversation then replaced the last and I did not have to participate in this one.
The servant soon appeared back into the dining room and he was holding a picture in his hands. Aunt Tilney told him to first clear the table to make space for the picture and then to set it down in the centre for all to see. The servant did as he was instructed and the picture was soon put flat on the table for all of the guests to see. The picture was a portrait of me, William Underhill, as a young man. The portrait was painted when I had just reached the age of one-and-twenty and was just nearing the end of my studies. Seeing the picture on the table evoked a great many memories, many of which I had forgotten.
"This was my beloved nephew, William. This is how Monsieur Levasseur came to be in Bath and how I made his acquaintance. Both he and my nephew were academics and they taught each other their respective languages. William spoke to Monsieur Levasseur about me and the delights of Bath and upon passing through, Monsieur Levasseur felt compelled to make my acquaintance. It was only then that our dear French friend learned of my beloved nephew's death," Aunt Tilney said as she addressed the group.
"I hate to pry and I do not want to cause you any hurt, but I am still unaware of his cause of death,” I said in a low murmuring voice.
"He and his friends set out on some silly treasure hunt across the world for some godforsaken reason and he caught a fever from some of the native people they came across on their journey. He died from the illness in a matter of days," My aunt responded.
"His companions met the same fate?" I followed up.
"No, I believe that the strength of William's spirit and determination, even in death, protected his companions and brought them safely home."
"I am sure you are correct," I said.
"It was a terrible loss," Mr. Campbell added. "I knew his father, marginally, and the whole situation was a terrible blow."
"It was certainly the talk of London for quite some time," Mrs. Campbell then spoke.
"And Bath, the whole story made its way here and to Bristol and beyond I believe," Mrs. Robinson chimed in.
"Yes, the story lasted for weeks and it only made the heartache of losing a child all the more painful for the family," Aunt Tilney confirmed.
"The story of his death was widespread for weeks around the country?" I enquired.
"No, the story of the recovered buried treasure. Everyone was astounded to hear that the pirate's treasure had been discovered, especially since the clue scroll which the pirate wrote was so cryptic," Mrs. Campbell replied.
"William's companions found the treasure?" I questioned once again to confirm that there were no misunderstandings and that the information I had heard was correct.
"They certainly did," Aunt Tilney said.
“And a massive sum it was too,” Mr. Campbell added.
The lunch lasted another hour and many other topics were discussed, but my mind always refocused on the treasure and the lucky companions of 'William Underhill'. A part of me was glad that my deciphering of the code was correct, but I hated the thought that my three betrayers had gotten their hands on the buried treasure. I detested the very notion that their new riches would have brought them happiness. I wanted nothing more than to put an end to any enjoyment they had immediately.
When the grey clouds in the air began to grow darker and the servant told us of the likelihood of imminent rain, the lunch party ended. All the guests thanked Aunt Tilney and we then said goodbye to one another. The Campbell family said that they would be in Bath another fortnight so that the chances of rekindling our newly formed friendship was likely. I said I looked forward to seeing them in the future. I also said that I would remain in Bath at least until next week's ball had come and gone so I hoped to see everyone at least one more time before my journey to London. Once all the farewells and goodbyes were concluded, I left my Aunt Tilney's house and returned to my rented lodging.
Chapter 10 - The Ball
Most of the days between the lunch and the ball were uneventful and passed by without any issues or anything significant taking place, except for the fact that during this pause in excitement is when I purchased paper and ink and began to document some of the details of my journey so far. I also began jotting down some plans that I had conceived concerning vengeance and what my path would be after that task was completed. I wrote most evenings before I went to bed and each morning after I woke up. Each entry was written in a code that I had invented based on numbers, to ensure that anyone who got possession of the book would not be able to easily decipher what I had written unless I shared with them the mechanism behind the code.
As an Englishman pretending to be French, I had to be sure to tread carefully whenever I spoke to a person. As an imposter, I had to sound and act and behave like a Frenchman. I had to swear allegiance to the guillotine that had killed so many French nobles, aristocrats and even the former French king and queen, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, during the revolution that happened more than thirty years prior. Also, when I was asked my opinion on such matters which were continuously pressed, I had to repeat the motto 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' which was used so often during the revolution as a phrase of equality. To the people I met who were of high society, they found this unsettling, but the common-folk found the concept of equality inspiring with some even muttering to me that they wished the revolution had spread across the English Channel and into England.
My aunt, Ms. Tilney, or some of her acquaintances that I had met, either in the restaurant or at that small lunch gathering, had done their rounds about the city and spread the news about me far and wide. Whenever I walked into a bakery or a church or a restaurant, people addressed me as Monsieur Levasseur and even went as far as greeting me in French. I won't lie, the charade was something bothersome and it took a lot of restraint to make sure that I didn't break character when I was pushed on topics about the French countryside or the state of its politics, but somehow I managed to keep myself together.
Not only was my face and name now familiar or recognisable through descriptions, but I was considerably held in high regard. I saw young maidens look at me with interest in restaurants and eating houses and in parks where I strolled daily. I also was no longer placed in common areas in restaurants but given priority seating at the finest tables with the cleanest linens whenever I entered into an establishment. Needless to say, this special attention and treatment grabbed th
e attention of even more people and garnered even more special attention to me. I welcomed all of it.
The lodging that I had acquired when I first arrived in Bath is where I remained. I negotiated a good price with my landlord and paid two weeks' rent in advance. I told him that although I was unsure if I would stay in the accommodation for the entire duration of those fourteen days, I would pay for the full two weeks' use nonetheless. The landlord was pleased with such a proposal and he accepted it immediately upon hearing it. I paid him in full with some of my gold coins.
Now, on the manner of my gold coins, I counted them two or three times in total between the lunch party at my Aunt Tilney's house and the ball that I was graciously invited to. I had more than enough to afford my current lifestyle for a year or possibly two, but I don't believe that it would have stretched any further than that. There were some nights that I tried to figure out a method of managing my money and I tried to project that if I was conservative with my spending then how long the gold would last. Therefore I planned that as soon as my deed of revenge was completed I would do all that was necessary to reclaim my previous life and return to the world as William Underhill and return to the loving family that loved me and had strong connections and a sizeable amount of wealth.
Emma Tilney, my aunt, was the only family member that new about Monsieur Levasseur, but it seemed quite evident to me that she was extremely fond of him. On the morning before the ball was organised to commence, she had sent one of her servants to my rented lodgings to present to me a handwritten invitation. Alongside the invitation, she also wrote a charming note.
Monsieur,
Although our time together has been short, and our interactions limited, I know your country and your countrymen. I know that they are noble creatures and that you are as fine a man that walks among them.
I hope you can come to the ball tomorrow for I very much look forward to introducing you to some favourable people, whose company I know you shall very much enjoy.
Revenge of an Englishman Page 9