The Vice Of Virtue (A Poor Man At The Gate Series Book 10)

by Andrew Wareham

  "Pity! She will spend her fortune and his, given the chance, and will commit casual adultery within the twelvemonth. I presume she is sufficiently well-trained to ensure that her eldest-born will be Rothwell's, but the paternity of any other of her brood will be debatable at best! I have spoken with her, and danced with her as one must, and have no doubt in my mind that she would be far better suited to the rooms of assignation in Covent Garden than to the salons of Mayfair. She may be born a lady, but she has the soul of a whore, James!"

  James had also engaged the lady in conversation, and had found very little of common ground with her - she had no knowledge of the political world and no interest in anything other than fashion and scandal.

  "She is limited indeed, brother. However, if that is what Rothwell wants, then that is exactly what he will get! He is a grown man, and I am not his keeper. A pity that his father, who might have influence over him, will not be seen in Society."

  "To change the subject slightly, James, to my own ambitions, in fact - you spoke at some length with Miss Markham at the Jerseys’ ball. What, without the bark on the word, is your opinion of her? I will say that I have a tolerance for her and believe that she would make a good wife, one well aware of the concept of duty but not willing to say yes to my every word, able in fact to run her own domain without bothering me too much. I think I could make a life with her, but that could be said of several other young ladies of our acquaintance."

  James had envisaged being applied to by his young brother, who tended to have an exaggerated respect for his knowledge and opinions on social matters. He had discussed the question of Joseph’s marriage with Jennifer.

  "Your brother is no judge of people, James. Primarily, I suspect, because he rarely goes into Society, is more at home with his steam engines which, whilst intellectually demanding, rarely call for an understanding of character and personality!"

  "Yes, my dear." James could see that she was irritated with Joseph, could not quite understand why - the man was what he was, one must simply accept that he was not of the ordinary run of human beings.

  "Miss Markham would make him a good wife, I have no doubt, and I believe would be happy enough to do so. Her parents wish to push her off their hands - she has a sister some four years younger who is a beauty and may achieve great success provided her elder is out of the way. She is almost witless, and an intelligent sister will show up her lack, they fear."

  James did not understand, but marriages were women's business, after all.

  "So, I should encourage Joseph to plump for Miss Markham?"

  "If you must. He might be better advised to pay attention to the Hughes girl - she has made more than one attempt to attract his interest, finds him a very pleasing prospect, I believe. There could easily be a love-match there!"

  "I had not noticed, and he has not mentioned her."

  "Your brother is incapable of observing his hand in front of his face, sir! She has smiled her best and done her utmost to be pleased in his company, but I am aware that he has been wholly unable either to notice or to ascribe a reason to her behaviour. I presume he once possessed an emotional side to his being, but such appears very lacking now."

  "Should I perhaps tip him the wink?"

  "No! He must make up his own mind – such as it is - better far that we guide him in no direction at all than send him astray."

  James did not know how to answer his brother, was forced in the end to say that he thought Miss Markham would make a very good wife. He could say no less, he thought, in all honesty, though he still could not quite understand this business of her sister. He would try to be helpful, however.

  "Is that Miss Hughes over in the far corner, Joseph? The tall, blonde girl?"

  Joseph looked across and inevitably caught the young lady's eye, received her very best smile; he nodded back to her.

  "Yes, that is her. I danced with her two nights ago and she talked quite well. A pleasant enough girl."

  "Jennifer likes her, I know. I believe she is well dowered."

  "Oh, I did not know. I did not really notice her, though I thought she smiled a lot, even when I did not really say much that was amusing. I think I shall close an offer with Miss Markham, James... this London life is boring me and I wish to get back to work. If Miss Markham will accept me then we can get the betrothal business over with and I can return to Lancashire within a few days."

  "Would not that be seen as a trifle brusque, brother?"

  Joseph was taken aback; he would not for the world intentionally appear discourteous.

  "Oh dear, would it? Do you think I would be obliged to squire her about Town for a week or two?"

  "I think you must remain in her company for the remainder of the Season, it would only be right."

  "But that is three more weeks to waste!"

  "You may pay Sir William a visit at his yard - there is bound to be some new project there, and I believe you have yet to inspect his sea-coal enterprise."

  Joseph brightened up at the prospect of something interesting to do with his days. He glanced about the ballroom, saw Miss Markham, decided there was no time like the present.

  They danced, as was obligatory at a ball, then he led her to a table and offered a refreshment, returning quickly with a pair of glasses.

  "It is five weeks since Lady Jersey introduced us, is it not, Miss Markham?"

  "It is, Mr Andrews."

  "Long enough to form an opinion of each other, I believe."

  She agreed, cautiously, making no attempt to tell him what her opinion might be.

  "If it was your wish, Miss Markham, then I would call upon your father tomorrow. I know I should speak to him first, but I do not wish you to be placed under any coercion to accept my offer. If you are unwilling, ma'am, then the offer will never be made, for I would not wish to cause you discomfort."

  "You do not seem to be making any great protestations of undying love, Mr Andrews."

  Joseph was surprised – from all that Lady Jersey had said he had expected a business transaction.

  "I am not, Miss Markham. I find you to be an amiable sort of person and believe that we could enjoy a pleasant, civilised existence together. I am, as you know, an industrialist by inclination - I suspect my heart is given to the steam engine, ma'am - and despite being a younger son would be able to offer a very comfortable way of life, and within a very few years, a rich one, but in the North Country, not in London except for a small part of each year. What I cannot offer, and will not pretend to, is a great romance - other members of my family are perhaps more gifted in that direction!"

  "Lady Margaret is your cousin, is she not, sir?"

  "She is, ma'am - and has provided the dowagers with tonight's topic of discussion, I believe. I would add that I am well acquainted with Captain Hood and have nothing other than respect for him - an able man of the most rigorously upright character. Their match is most certainly made for love rather an advantage, ma'am!"

  "I will be very happy to pass that message to any who may ask me, Mr Andrews. I imagine that my opinion will be much canvassed when it is discovered that I have accepted your very flattering offer. I suspect that I shall be content indeed to make a life on your terms - honesty says that I do not believe I have too great a romantic streak in me, sir. I believe I had far rather be comfortable in a sensible and well-organised marriage than to live as a spinster while hoping one day to attain the heights of nuptial bliss. I will be very pleased if you will call upon my father, sir, and assure that you will receive the answer you desire."

  He bowed and suggested they should venture upon a celebratory glass of champagne; she gave the matter a little consideration before declining.

  "It would be observed, Joseph, by those amongst the dowagers who have no function in life other than to discover and comment upon other folk's business. Young misses are not to be seen to be touching wine, you know! I prefer to remain unremarked upon."

  "There are worse ambitions, Lucilla. By the way, ma'am, do
you prefer Lucy? I would not wish to cause you irritation by using the name if you do not like it."

  "I am more used to 'Cilly', which I wholly detest, for obvious reasons! ‘Lucy’ will do me very well, Joseph, though obviously not in public! I seem to remember hearing that you do not like 'Joe'?"

  "My father's great friend, Lord Star, was Joe by name - and I doubt I will ever be half the man he was. I should be very unwilling to usurp his name, for the respect I bore him - he was a man it was very easy to admire, even to love!"

  "A rare man indeed! I regret that I shall never know him. He has a number of sons, I believe, all of whom are in close contact?"

  "Several, and they range greatly in character and amiability; some are close friends. You will meet most of them in the early future, Lucy; not all, and that I will explain in a location more suited to family confidences."

  Both correctly assumed that the assent of her parents would be easily come by. Joseph arrived at the house the Markhams had hired for the Season to find all except a red carpet awaiting him, Lucilla having spoken with her mother on the previous evening. The butler, also hired for the Season, was anxious to usher him ceremoniously into the presence of the master of the house - a newly-wed couple about to establish themselves would have a full suite of servants to take on; even banishment to the wilds of the North Country would be a small price to pay for a permanent place.

  "Mr Joseph Andrews, sir!"

  The butler had a fine, resonant voice, Joseph noticed, as he was meant to.

  Joseph had been introduced to Markham some weeks before - Lady Jersey at her most officious - and was able to exchange the ordinary courtesies and accept a welcoming glass easily before broaching the business of the morning. He outlined his financial standing, which Markham was fairly well aware of, having asked the right questions of his man of business as soon as Joseph had appeared on the horizon, but surprised him with the details of his land holdings.

  "I am the family's man of business to a very great extent, sir, with many responsibilities in the steam and iron and coal sides of our wealth. I am in receipt of twenty parts in the hundred of our income as a result, that for life. My own enterprises, brought into being to manufacture various machines which I have devised, and often patented, are also profitable and make me up to an easy ten thousand pounds a year, with expectations of rapid increase. Additionally, sir, I am in possession of some four thousands of acres of land - waste and hillside and moor in outlandish locations and bringing in almost no rental. But this land is all in possession of coal seams, or in one case a rich outcropping of ironstone. When the steam railways have spread across the land - which will happen in the next two decades - these acres will become mines, and I shall see a quarter of a million, at very least, from them!"

  Markham was amazed, wondered if he was quite certain that it could be so.

  "So much so that I am actively seeking more such acres throughout the whole of the North Country, sir! Distant from towns and poor farming land are the criteria I have set my agents, and they find me such patches at not infrequent intervals. A lot of canny farmers in the North Country are rubbing their hands with glee for having passed off barren fields to me!"

  Markham was not sure that he wholly approved of such overtly ‘commercial’ money-making, but a man who talked six-figure sums was not easily to be dismissed. He might not be wholly a gentleman in his habits, but that was all the more reason for him to take a wife who could give the right touch to his family!

  Markham laid out his own proposals - he could put no more than five thousands into his girl's hands, he regretted, but, of course, he had no son and there was no entail on his few acres. His father had purchased two farms of much the same size. On his death his Lucilla would come into one half of his farmland, to be specified in his Will.

  "It will amount to a little more than seven hundred acres, sir, but of good wheat land and close to Hungerford - a very respectable part of the country, and with a more than respectable house. It is in my mind that my second girl would have the smaller farmhouse, no doubt for a tenant. The place on Old Glebe Farm could very easily be expanded and made into a gentleman's dwelling for the family, sir. We live in town, in Bath the year round, my grandfather having never built the place in the country he long considered - he was, as I am sure you know, Governor of Jamaica for many years, a second son without estate, and retired with his fortune, which was comfortable rather than vast."

  Joseph had no intention of ever moving his family south to live in agricultural respectability, but there was no need to mention that. Neither party discussed the Markham relatives either, though his several aunts had married well and his four cousins in the present government could provide valuable patronage and his wife's brothers were close to John Company and to the Hudson's Bay people. Younger sons seeking employment in twenty years would find a number of opportunities open to them.

  They agreed that the lawyers could be put to work immediately and that the engagement should be announced as well - there was nothing to negotiate, to cause any hitch.

  "A wedding in the summer, Mr Andrews?"

  "An excellent idea, Mr Markham. Shall we consult Lucilla on that matter?"

  Her presence was demanded for the first time that morning.

  She gave her consent to the marriage, as was only polite, and joined them in discussion of a date. The choice seemed to be of late spring in London or early in July, before the shooting season opened, in Bath.

  "Can you make all of your arrangements in time for a May wedding, Lucilla?"

  "Easily, sir. You will remember that my previous husband-to-be died inconveniently close to our wedding day and I have the great bulk of my trousseau put together already - and fashion has changed very little in the year."

  "Then May it should be, for my part."

  It was agreed and the news was spread. Joseph wrote a letter to his elder brother, in duty bound to the head of the family, courtesy demanding that he should be first to be informed, before reading the announcement in the columns of the press.

  "I think I should also write to Thomas Star; as brother to Mary he has a claim to my attention above and beyond the ties of friendship, would you not agree, James?"

  "A note to the dowager would also be appreciated, I think, brother."

  "So it would! I had not considered her. Will she be present at the wedding, do you think?"

  "I would imagine so. Indeed, it might be possible to beg her appearance in the last few days of the Season. She has chosen the Norfolk coast this year but could be persuaded, I think. She had examined the bills of the playhouses and the Opera and had decided there was little to attract her, but family concerns must bring her to Town, where she should be. I do not like that she should choose isolation from the Polite World, you know, Joseph."

  Joseph could not see why - it seemed a very reasonable policy to him.

  "I must speak with Miss Markham regarding the house, James. It would not be in breach of convention to discuss our marital home in advance of the wedding, I presume?"

  James thought not, sought advice from his own lady, was reassured.

  "I presume he means to refurbish - knowing your brother I am quite certain that he will have neglected the decorative order in its entirety - it would not be a matter of importance to him. Miss Markham's hand would be much the more skilful in such a task, I doubt not! Thinking on the matter, James, you have told me that you consider the house inadequate for a gentleman? Should you perhaps whisper in Joseph’s ear?"

  Miss Markham was well aware that she would be to a great extent isolated in her new home - she could not see Joseph as a social being - and that it would be wise to build a nest that she might be comfortable in.

  "Gardens, Joseph? I presume the house has some?"

  Joseph was sure it must have, he believed he numbered a gardener amongst his few servants.

  "And that is another matter I had meant to broach, Lucilla. I have my man, Locke, and a house-keeper and a cook-maid
and two other domestics, and the outside man who is also my groom, as well as the actual gardener. You must have your own maid, naturally, and as well you may require more females - to your own discretion, of course. What of a manservant? Do we need one or more? Should there be a butler?"

  "A man who possesses ten thousand a year must have a butler, Joseph - the two are inseparable! As well, there must be at least one indoor man, to give the butler dignity. How great is the house, sir?"

  "Well... quite small, actually. Mary was little concerned about such matters and was content that I should purchase conveniently close to the works."

  She made no comment, her silence sufficient in itself, and Joseph quietly made his way to Michael's office.

  "A suitable dwelling, Mr Joseph? Of course, sir. Within a comfortable hour of Roberts Works? I will send one of my juniors immediately, sir. Young Mr Quillerson would be very suitable for such a task, I believe. Quite an able young man and well capable of spreading his wings. Furnishings to be the prerogative of your bride, sir?"

  "Wholly, Mr Michael. It would be as well to purchase the new house whilst still retaining the old, I suspect. A town coach for my lady I already possess - I shall instruct the groom to pull it out and ready it for use again. I think, sir, that it might be as well to ensure that there is a respectable area of garden land attached - not a park, as such, but certainly sufficient for lawns and beds and perhaps a wilderness, a shrubbery at minimum."

  "Eight acres, Mr Joseph, not less. Should I procure peacocks, sir?"

  "Noisy damned birds! A beast that looks so beautiful has no business to sound so foul!"

  Michael applauded his wit - he so enjoyed a good pun, he said.

  Joseph stared.

  The Chards stood at dockside, waving their farewells, calling their certain intent to make a visit before too long, to stay months at their fine plantation. As intended, numbers of the lesser orders on the quay nudged each other in awed attention.

  The Stars, followed by their entourage, turned away from the rail and were led to the first-class quarters – luxurious accommodation on a ship designed solely for the coast-wise passenger trade. The section of the ship forward of the engine-room, nearly a third by size, was exclusive to the higher-paying gentlefolk and their servants; the mob travelled at the stern, in steerage.