The Fencing Master's Daughter

by Giselle Marks

  After a brief search the silk was uncovered together with slightly paler green ribbon she had considered making it up with. As Sutton volunteered to help with the sewing Madelaine was sure they would make it in time.

  St. Stephen’s Day started wet, but the earl was determined to be dressed and downstairs for breakfast. Madelaine was up early and had already cut out the silk for her overdress before breakfast. Louis proposed to continue with his fencing lessons and his pupils now included young Master Purcell and Timothy Griggs as well as Julian Creighton. The fencing lessons were held in the ballroom as everything was in readiness for the Ball. Edward was wheeled in to watch and Madelaine brought her sewing to keep him company. Soon they acquired a larger audience with Sir Bardolph, Sir Anthony and Sir Horace choosing to spectate rather than play cards or billiards. The wet weather had discouraged outdoor sport.

  Both Julian and Timothy proved quick learners, but Master Purcell was slow at understanding what was required and Louis having taught the basics to Julian and Timothy set them to a practice bout at one end of the ballroom while he tutored the young lad who was happy at having escaped from the nursery. The ladies found them engaged in the art of swordsmanship and Sir Anthony, who had been an above average swordsman in his youth, was persuaded to help demonstrate some moves with Louis to his pupils. Sutton joined Madelaine and between them they made faster progress in creating the overdress.

  After a light luncheon they continued sewing in a corner of the billiards room where Sir Bardolph challenged Louis to a match. Sutton hemmed the fabric while Madelaine made the tiny puff sleeves applying three bands of the ribbon. Then stitching ribbon also to the bodice. Sutton was very impressed with Madelaine’s handiwork and was determined to be pleasant to the earl’s bride to be. Although she had no desire to leave the Dowager Countess’s service, she intended to recommend one of her nieces for the position of dresser to the new Countess.

  Carriages bringing the guests for the ball started arriving early in the afternoon. Those that travelled the furthest would stay in the Manor over-night. Every room would be occupied and Julian had packed up his belongings and would be riding back to the vicarage for the night to allow his room to be utilised. There was sufficient room for the additional grooms and drivers over the stable block, but several maids and valets had to make do with a bed being set up in their employers’ dressing rooms. In the kitchen Henri had been heard singing a song or two in his own language. After the panic of organising for the Christmas Eve party everything was running smoothly.

  All the expected guests for dinner arrived in time to change, although there were complaints about the state of the roads. Their tempers were improved by the prompt offering of refreshments and the provision of warmed rooms to change in. Edward, who had been moved to the drawing room, welcomed them to the Manor as Jenkins and Lewis tended to their needs. Dinner was served at six promptly in the dining room and no one found anything in my lord’s table to criticise. Edward was no longer aware of the pain in his thigh except when he moved sharply and made no complaints about drinking only one glass of wine at dinner. Port was served, but not dawdled over, as the guests who had not been invited for dinner were beginning to arrive.

  Madelaine wore the new jade overdress, which set off the earl’s Christmas present beautifully. She had made silk roses from the ribbon to decorate the bodice and had put a group of them high in her hair. After dinner Edward’s guests transferred to the ballroom while he was moved to the entrance hall, where his mother and sister waited to receive the other guests. Madelaine stayed at Edward’s side and was presented to everyone. Her status, as Edward’s fiancée, did not require explaining for the diamond heart on her finger and the look of devotion in her lord’s eyes said it all.

  Lady Hailey was one of the last guests to arrive and was accompanied by her distinguished husband Lord Hailey. Lady Hailey was a statuesque dark blonde who looked far too young to be the mother of a serving officer in Lord Wellington’s army. She was more than ten years younger than her husband, who was a member of Lord Liverpool’s government and held a position at the Admiralty. Edward thought he saw a slight air of distraction behind her eyes as she was welcomed by Lady Henrietta and smoothly complimented Lady Sophia on her toilette. Edward made the introductions to Lady Madelaine on whom Lord Hailey’s connoisseur’s eyes dwelt longer than the earl considered proper.

  The next guests were waiting to be announced and the Haileys passed on into the ballroom while the letters burnt a hole in Edward’s pocket. A few more guests arrived and it was decided to abandon the receiving line and move into the ballroom. The banqueting hall had been set up with tables and a much more sophisticated buffet than Henri had produced for Christmas Eve. Henri had created a centrepiece of confectionary which was built in homage to the Manor’s Doric folly, although the colours were more vivid and every part of the mock temple was edible. Already the guests were talking louder as Edward’s staff began distributing glasses of champagne and rum punch. When the earl’s party had been provided with a glass of champagne, the orchestra struck up for the first dance. The elderly earl of Langridge led Lady Henrietta on to the floor and other couples followed with Sir Henry Johnson leading out Lady Madelaine.

  The orchestra maintained a good tempo and everyone seemed inclined to approve the arrangements for the Ball. Edward watched the dancing for a while sipping his glass slowly and then after a suitable interval Timothy wheeled him to the library where he could enjoy a cheroot without offending anyone’s sensibilities. He asked Lewis to discreetly hand Lady Hailey a note, asking her to visit him there when she could get away. He sat in solitude blowing a cloud waiting to discharge his duty. He did not wait long.

  Lady Hailey was intrigued by Edward’s summons and wondered what he could want to speak to her of privately. She feared he might have received some bad news of her son who was a Lieutenant serving in Spain as they had been visiting family and might have missed a letter at their country seat which had been more than thirty miles away. She was surprised he had not included her husband in the invitation but Edward’s temporary incapacity and the presence of the exquisite Lady Madelaine, who she assumed would become his countess made the possibility the earl had amorous intentions unlikely.

  Edward asked Timothy to wait outside the library door to ensure privacy and invited Lady Hailey to sit, offering her a glass of sherry or ratafia. She accepted a glass of sherry for form’s sake and waited anxiously for what Edward had to say.

  “I’ve been asked to return some property of yours to you by Mr. Grey,” he stated smiling and withdrew the packet of letters from his inside pocket handing them to Lady Hailey. The colour blanched from her face and she took the packet with trembling hands.

  “They were retrieved from the possession of a person believed to be a French spy. Mr. Grey wished to reassure you, he would make no scandal, but I believe he would like to know how they came to be in the spy’s possession and what was asked for from you and by whom for their return and non-publication.” Lady Hailey gulped down the sherry and Edward replenished her glass.

  “I assure you of my complete discretion in this matter, but when you return to London it would be better if you spoke to Mr. Grey in confidence.”

  The colour gradually returned to Lady Hailey’s cheeks and her hands stopped trembling as she held the letters in her lap. She stuttered her thanks and checked over the letters before throwing them into the fire that warmed the room.

  “Sir Robert Dickinson stole the letters; we were lovers briefly. If only I had realised how vile that man is, but he seemed so very charming to me. At first he demanded money which I handed over; then he wanted sight of some of my husband’s papers which I reluctantly showed him. I am greatly relieved they have been destroyed, but he still can cause trouble by spreading the story about.”

  “I think Mr. Grey has his suspicions about Sir Robert. I don’t think he will be free for long to cause mischief, but it would help Mr. Grey if he knew what he could have co
mmunicated to our enemies.”

  Chapter Twenty-three - Décès et Remède

  Madelaine danced the night away although Edward spent most of the night in the card room. Louis, whose winnings over the holiday far outweighed his losses, only visited the card room to check on the earl’s alcohol consumption. He spoke quietly to Lewis who was on duty in that room and was reassured. So he merely glanced at the play in which Edward was winning, as a heap of guineas lay beside him. Louis then returned to the ballroom and kept an eye on who Madelaine was dancing with. Louis partnered Lady Sophia in one set of dances and Lady Callista in another, but when a waltz was announced moved across the floor to claim his daughter’s hand before she chose from a group of eager young men. Madelaine apologised but insisted her father had precedence over all their claims.

  As her father was a better dancer than her other claimants, she could enjoy being swirled around the floor without the problems of persuading an excitable young man, to keep the line. Louis mentioned the second waltz of the evening would be just before the supper interval. She should accompany Edward to supper and avoid dancing the waltz. When that waltz was called Lady Henrietta had positioned herself beside the Comte and before he could ask another lady to dance she placed her hand upon his arm. So he bowed to force majeur and swept her into the dance. Lady Sophia was rather shocked at her mother waltzing with an unmarried man, even though Louis retained the correct position throughout the dance, she could not fail to notice how fondly his eyes rested on her mother’s smiling face.

  As Louis escorted Lady Henrietta into supper, Lady Sophia resolved to talk to her brother about the romance. When she finally managed to button-hole Edward, the dancing was over and most of those who were travelling home were boarding their carriages. She pointed out their mother and the Comte appeared to be involved. Edward merely stated in reply that he believed it was so. Lady Sophia spluttered at this acceptance of her news and asked whether he thought it acceptable for their mother to marry a penniless French émigré.

  “The Comte informed me she was set on marrying at St. James’s after she has forced him to cut his hair and find a new tailor. I rather think she has the best side of the deal. Besides he could be said to be temporarily embarrassed rather than penniless. When Wellington finally routs Napoleon he will be able to claim his estate and lands which must have some value even if the chateau is derelict.”

  To this Sophia had nothing to say in response. She did attempt to talk to her mother on the following day, before they departed for Sir Anthony’s estate two counties away, but she failed to disturb her mother’s equanimity one jot.

  “Sophia I married your father at my parents’ insistence and I have no intention of allowing my children to interfere with my choice of a second husband. You will have to accept it Sophie.” Henrietta told her daughter firmly. Most of the guests departed that day although Sir Bardolph and his family intended to stay a little longer and Sir Horace had decided to remain for the foreseeable future.

  Edward’s lawyers visited before New Year and drew up Sir Horace’s new will to his directions. It was quiet after the holidays but Edward gradually improved and on New Year’s Day Madelaine removed Edward’s stitches and Louis allowed him to try a few steps around his bedroom the next day. On Twelfth night the Christmas greenery was taken down and the Purcells departed for home; Edward joined the fencing lessons which Louis insisted was excellent exercise for stretching the muscles in his thighs. Edward protested he had not actually fought with a foil for over ten years, so Louis continued his training with a sabre which as a former cavalry officer he was accustomed to.

  As the Devereauxs were extending their original planned holiday indefinitely, Louis wrote to Jean-Claude, terminating his employment, and Edward wrote a bank draft on his behalf to pay his notice. Louis enclosed an excellent reference for Jean-Claude and felt that covered his obligations. His lease on the salle was paid for another four months and Edward asked his London agent to keep an eye on the premises in Louis’s absence. Madelaine had insisted on paying the few outstanding bills herself before travelling into the country.

  She wrote to Claudette explaining she had accepted Edward’s proposal and that the notices would shortly be in the papers. Claudette replied in French insisting on making her wedding dress as a wedding present. Claudette was disappointed the marriage would take place in the country, but Madelaine promised to visit as soon as she returned to London. Madelaine spent her evenings sewing for her trousseau having refused to allow her fiancé to pay for a modiste to be brought from London and for him to provide her with a new wardrobe. She had accepted cloth and ribbons paid for by Louis’ winnings, but had arranged for Claudette to purchase them on her behalf at trade price. She had also sent Claudette a detailed design for the simple wedding dress she dreamed of. Edward wrote to Mr. Grey enclosing the letters from Sir Horace’s agent concerning Sir Robert Dickinson and including a brief summary of what Sir Horace and Lady Hailey had confided in him.

  Edward moaned to Madelaine that her father was a worse disciplinarian than his former cavalry drill master, but it was clear his leg was making excellent progress and he was soon allowed to make visits to the surrounding farms in a carriage with suitable protective escort but he was eager to start riding again. Madelaine had been exercising his Spanish black stallion, although she failed to mention it to Edward. Now that most of the guests had departed she joined the fencing lessons dressed in breeches.

  A letter from Mr. Grey arrived testifying he had received a detailed letter from Lady Hailey and that the information found in Furet’s coat had been useful, but they had been unable to discover his whereabouts and believed he had fled the country. Mr. Grey’s agents had visited Westfield and searched the environs of Seacliff, but although it was clear the property had been used for smuggling it was unoccupied and no sightings of Furet had been made. He had left men discreetly watching the house and had warned the coastguard to keep a close watch on the beach at night. Sir Robert Dickinson had not returned to London and was not at his rather run-down family seat. Nor did he appear to be resident at his hunting lodge. Charlie Griggs returned from London and reported that his contacts had not seen a hair of the ferret.

  Jarvis Gladwin the younger visited at the earl’s request and confirmed his father had paid off the staff at Perriswood as instructed, keeping on only the housekeeper and her husband as caretakers. The stables had held only half a dozen horses and the solitary groom had been kept on for the time being until the earl decided what to do with the remaining cattle. As Lord Armstrong had acted as his own agent, Mr Gladwin had engaged a suitable man to supervise the Markshire holdings with his confirmation in that role awaiting the earl’s decision.

  The month of January passed quietly at Chalcombe Manor. Edward got better and Sir Horace got worse. Edward had planned to visit Perriswood at the end of the month, but felt he could not leave the old man to die alone. Louis spent much of his time at Sir Horace’s bedside trying to alleviate his pain. January drifted into February and Sir Horace hung onto a semblance of life. Everyone tried to keep his spirits up through his last days. Towards the end he was in constant pain and fighting for breath. Neither Louis’ nor Dr. Ashton’s medicines helped for long. His courage through his final illness was indomitable and February passed. Reverend Creighton visited regularly and was present when Sir Horace took his last breath on a beautiful morning in the middle of March.

  The Chalcombe Manor party travelled slowly to Chartley where Sir Horace had wished to be buried next to his beloved wife Maud. The funeral was sombre and there were many tears for the old man had been loved. Edward was concerned Sir Robert Dickinson might attend expecting to hear of his inheritance, but he made no showing. Edward consulted with Sir Horace’s lawyers and handed over the new will which was acknowledged as valid.

  Edward had brought Shawcross with him and over the next few days they settled the old man’s affairs. Most of the land was tenanted and the small home farm was taken over on a ten
year lease by one of his other tenants. The farm house would be occupied by the farmer’s eldest son who had recently married. Edward decided to have Perriswood cleared and, beyond keeping his papers and a few family portraits, sent the rest to sale. He paid off the staff generously, providing pensions for the older servants who were unlikely to find further positions and writing references for the others. The house would be rented out when a suitable tenant could be found. Edward asked Shawcross to take on an assistant and to supervise both estates from Chalcombe Manor for the time being.

  By early April Lady Henrietta returned to London with her Comte, although he moved back into the salle with Henri for appearances’ sake. They had decided to announce their engagement after Edward and Madelaine’s marriage at the beginning of May. Lady Chalcombe was out of mourning for her step-son George, and although she wore black gloves for Sir Horace, she now wore the colours she preferred. The earl finally intended to travel to Perriswood. Jenkins went to London with Lady Henrietta, but he sent Peterson and Lewis ahead with Shawcross and a group of other staff to make Perriswood habitable for their visit. Edward travelled with Lady Madelaine and Julian with Charlie Griggs driving and Timothy up beside him. Fulton the elder drove the second carriage which held Plovett and Madelaine’s maid with the luggage. They had two outriders with them, both armed. Edward wore his cavalry sabre and had a pair of loaded pistols in the pockets of both carriage doors.

  The only complication to leaving Chalcombe Manor was Gelert’s determination to not be parted from Madelaine. He jumped inside the carriage as Madelaine boarded and would not be shifted so his addition was reluctantly accepted. The journey to Perriswood went without mishap and they found it a charming house, smaller than Chalcombe Manor, but in good order and comfortably arranged. Everything was ready for their arrival and though they missed Henri’s cooking, the tuition he had given to the junior cook, who had arrived before them, guaranteed they were reasonably well fed.