by Mary Wood
His thoughts turned to the accident. He had very little knowledge of the family who had caused it. His uncle had told him what details he knew, but Frederick’s anger had clouded his thoughts. Why were the family on the highway? They must have known how dangerous it was, and what could happen if they came across a carriage! But then the Bowland Hills were hardly a major route for traffic. Maybe the family thought to make their journey easier than crossing the hilltops would have been.
A small trickle of pity towards them entered him. He wondered how old the children were and how they felt, having seen their mother killed, and what it was like for them in a cold jail. He would ask after them. Maybe even go and see them. He needed to hear exactly how it had all happened. With this settled in his mind, he felt much more relaxed.
Taking what used to be his father’s chair near the log fire, he rested his feet on the fender and raised his arm to tug on the cord of the attendance bell. The summons was answered within minutes.
‘You rang, M’Lord?’
The address surprised him; he hadn’t yet got used to being the new Earl. ‘Yes, Crowther, I’d like to partake of a brandy, if you would see to that for me.’
‘Very well, M’Lord. And may I say how sorry I am at what has happened, and convey the condolences of all the staff, M’Lord?’
‘Thank you, Crowther. And thank the staff for me. I will have a few instructions shortly, as I am going to see my mother tomorrow. In the meantime there is a telegram I need sending.’
With the door closed on Crowther and the dusk just beginning to throw shadows across the room, Frederick’s earlier sense of being alone crowded in on him. A spark spat out and landed on the part of his ankle that was exposed. The pain of the burn triggered a tear that had threatened since he’d been told the dreadful news. Trying to blink it away didn’t help. Before he could stop it, a whole deluge of tears was released, causing his body to fold and leaving him feeling weak with despair.
A tap on the door got him sitting up straight and blowing his nose with vigour, before giving the command to enter.
‘I’ve taken the liberty of having a hot bath prepared in front of the fire in your room, M’Lord.’
This had the effect of soothing Frederick. ‘Thank you. That will be most welcome, Crowther. Oh, before you go, I wish to pen another telegram. This time to Lord Bellinger.’
Simon Bellinger was the same age as himself, though a damn sight richer! They had mixed in the same circles since childhood, as the estate that used to be in Simon’s family was situated not far from Frederick’s family home. Simon’s father had been more astute than most of the aristocracy of the time, and hadn’t been precious about the family pile, but had sold it on the death of his father and had invested most of the money in a cotton mill. Now Simon’s family owned several of them, and a new country estate just outside Blackburn.
Frederick intended to ask Simon if he could stay with him whilst he was in Blackburn. It would be less embarrassing than staying with the Arkwrights. The question of the marriage arrangement shifting to him would need to be discussed, but it wouldn’t hang over him every minute of the day if he stayed elsewhere. Yes, he’d be better as a visitor than as a lodger, even if his mother was in residence in the house. And it would leave him free to make arrangements to have Bertram’s body, which still needed identifying, brought back. Besides, he could enjoy some lighter moments with Simon. He’d not have to stand on ceremony all the time or make small talk.
Maybe there would be a chance of joining Bellinger’s poker table. The players in his circle had serious money to lose. And why the thought came to him, Frederick didn’t know, but if the game did happen, afterwards he would go to the whorehouse that Bellinger frequented. Bellinger had often invited him, but as yet Frederick had remained a virgin and relieved himself, when it was necessary to do so. Perhaps it was the right time to become a proper man. Yes, a new life awaited him. He might as well start it by finding out what it was all about, and what would be expected of him in that department, if he married Katrina. According to Bellinger, the ladies of the whorehouse were the best of teachers.
5
Katrina & Frederick
A Deal is Struck
Katrina couldn’t believe the turn of events. Part of her was sorry, of course, for what had brought it about, but a large part of her was filled with excitement. Frederick, the new Earl, would be arriving at any moment, and Papa had received a communication from the Rollinson solicitor, Frederick’s uncle, to ask if he would consider a new betrothal – whether his daughter was disposed to consider a match between Frederick and herself. Katrina smiled. Yes, I find myself very much disposed towards the idea.
‘Oh, Mama, I am so happy, and yet I feel guilty for being so. I know I have only met Frederick on a couple of occasions, but I did find myself attracted to him.’
‘Well, my dear, it is an ill wind, as they say. But for our part, your father and I are very happy, too. We wouldn’t have forced you to marry Bertram, God rest his soul, but Papa would have been very disappointed – and I for him. At last you will be in the position you should have been from birth, and it all bodes well for you being very happy, too. I am so pleased, and now it should be an easy task to get Marcia settled. Suitors will be knocking at her door in their droves, due to the connections that she will have through you, and with the elevation of our position.’
This little speech confirmed what Katrina had always known about her mama: that it was she who missed her former life so much and hated living on the fringe of society, not Papa wanting to elevate himself. And it was this desire, from the wife he loved deeply, that had driven her papa to try and drive her into marriage to the repulsive Bertram.
Her mother’s voice cut into these thoughts. ‘You look very pretty, dear. That blue suits you. Now, I must go up and talk to Lady Eleonore. She was feeling much better when I looked in on her this morning. She has no broken bones, thank goodness, and the cut on her head looks as though it will heal nicely, but the poor darling has black eyes and is bruised all over.’
‘Does she know?’
‘No. In his communication Lord Frederick said he wanted to be the one to tell her, but I think she suspects. She hasn’t asked after Bertram, only muttered about her poor baby.’
‘Baby!’
‘We mothers always think of our children in that way, as you will find out, my dear.’
‘Mama . . . well, about that I – I don’t know anything about having babies or—’
‘Really, Katrina! That isn’t a subject for discussion. Having said that, don’t worry about it. Everything will come naturally, and Frederick will know what to do. It isn’t proper for a young lady even to think about it. I’m very surprised at you.’
With her face flushed, Mama left the room, leaving Katrina blushing with embarrassment. She’d known it wasn’t proper to ask, but she had been worrying about that side of things ever since it was first proposed that she should wed. What did happen between a man and a woman in bed? And how did it result in pregnancy? Oh, it was all very frightening.
Having been shown into a grand drawing room and partaken of a glass of ale with Arkwright, Frederick found that he rather liked the man. Straight-talking and with no airs and graces. And even though it was clear he wanted his family to rise in their social standing, he came across as an honest and fair man – easy to deal with and a good fellow altogether. Frederick was surprised, though, that Mrs Arkwright hadn’t managed to get her husband to speak the Queen’s English, or at least to moderate his northern country accent a little. Surely she would know that it, alone, would bar him from certain circles. Even he would find it an embarrassment to introduce Arkwright to his friends, and he was known for his liberal attitude towards such things. Besides, the way Arkwright spoke masked the intelligence the man obviously possessed, and gave credence to those who would say that new-moneyed folk were vulgar in the extreme.
Into these thoughts came the realization that Arkwright had paused in h
is conversation and was refilling their glasses himself! Though Frederick often wanted to relieve his servants of their duties and felt capable of carrying out these simple tasks, he would never do so. His butler would feel affronted, and as if he hadn’t any worth. Arkwright had a lot to learn.
When the man spoke again, he changed the subject from business to the matter they both knew was at hand: ‘Now, lad. As sorry as I am about everything, there are things we need to discuss. You know that your uncle has contacted me?’
A tinge of embarrassment flooded through Frederick at this. Suddenly it seemed in very bad taste for them to have even thought about the new arrangement within hours of learning of Bertram’s demise.
As if sensing his thoughts, Arkwright said, ‘Naw, lad, there’s nowt to be ashamed of. I long since learned how them in your class go about these things. I have a good teacher in me wife. Marriage in your society is no more than a business contract that can at best sometimes turn out well for both parties, and at worst solve a lot of problems. I were lucky, and I hope you will be an’ all.’
‘Are you saying that you agree to it, Sir?’
‘Aye, I am, and I think as you’ll fare very well together. You’re a handsome chap and, from what me wife tells me, a very agreeable one. Katrina can be a handful – takes after me in her ways – but you look man enough to sort her out; not like that brother of yours, God rest him. She’d have taken him in, chewed him to a cud and spat him out.’
Frederick didn’t know whether to laugh at this or not. He certainly felt like doing so, as he didn’t detect any malice in what Arkwright had said and could acknowledge the truth of it.
‘Very well. I’ll meet Katrina and court her a while, make sure she is of a mind to have me as her husband.’
‘Oh, she’ll have you all right. Her mother tells me she’s right taken with you.’
‘Thank you, Sir.’
‘Same terms apply, but I’ll say to you what I were going to say to your brother. In return, I want me other lass introducing to the right circles. I want me and me wife to be included in the right circles, and I want you, lad, to learn some of me trade. I want to leave me business to someone as cannot only handle it and know what it’s all about, but can improve it as well and start to take over from me, so as I can spend more time enjoying what me hard graft has got me.’
‘As far as taking a hand in the business and learning the ropes, you will find me very well disposed. I am a mathematician in my third year at Oxford, with a view to becoming a professor, but the idea of that was born from my circumstances, and the repulsion in me at becoming a man of the cloth, as was my fate if I had no trade. I am fascinated by industry and will be a willing learner and very happy to take over from you – that is, if I come up to the mark. Now, Sir, I find you a straight talker and, as such, imagine that you can take as well as give out, so I have a condition of my own to put to you, if I am to introduce you to the “right circles”, as you phrase it.’
‘Oh? And what’s that then?’
The harshness of this response had Frederick cringing. Had he misjudged the fellow?
But then a grin lit Arkwright’s face and he beamed at him as he said, ‘Quite right. Start as you mean to go on. Let’s have it then, lad. What condition have I to meet?’
‘It’s about the way you speak, Sir. You will never be accepted in the upper circles – and don’t forget, mine will sometimes include Queen Victoria herself – whilst you talk with such a broad accent. It marks you as uneducated and uncouth, which I know you are not, but others won’t even bother to get to know you, to find out. And they will shun your wife and daughters, just in case courting them will lead to having to court you.’
‘Good God! Well, I—’
‘I am sorry if I have offended you, Sir.’
‘No, lad.’
‘And on that subject, whilst we are alone you may address me as you like, but the proper address is “My Lord”. Even family will address me in that way when others are around. If you are talking of me, you—’
‘All right, la— M’Lord, I get the bloody picture. You lot have always been so far up your own arses, and yet few of you have a penny to call your own.’
At this, Frederick couldn’t help himself: his laughter bubbled over and came out as a roar.
Poor Arkwright looked nonplussed for a moment, then joined him, taking his hand and shaking it with a strength that no one had ever used before. ‘Eeh, you had me going then, lad!’
With this, their friendship was sealed. When he could speak, Frederick said, ‘I thought you would explode, Sir!’
Calming down, the man he now thought of as his soon-to-be father-in-law became serious once more. ‘You’re reet, I will have to do sommat about how I speak. Young lass as is our Queen will think I’m from a foreign country, as she’s never been up this end of her country, and isn’t likely to. But you knaw, lad, I didn’t come by what I have easily, and that’s nowt to do with speaking one way or t’other. I was a putters-out – I dropped raw cotton off to the spinners in the cottage industries, but I saved all I earned, and when the first automated spinners were invented, I bought into one. Me fortunes grew from that, and from me own bloody hard work. And I’ll tell thee sommat, lad, I’m not a nobody, as me dad was a distant relation to Richard Arkwright, who was a brilliant inventor and who funded the invention of the water-powered spinning wheel, and died an extremely rich man. But having said that, I take what you say on board, and I’ll speak with Mrs Arkwright, see what she can do for me. She’s never criticized me, never – well, not criticism as such. She has tried to correct me at times, but I took no bloody notice. She should have insisted and put me right before now. Can’t understand it; she usually gets her way with everything. Anyway, let’s go and find the ladies, and then I expect you would like to see your mother.’
All of this surprised Frederick. ‘I admire you, Sir, and I am honoured that you are to take me into your family. I will work hard, too, and make you proud of me. And yes, I’m not looking forward to telling my mother what has happened, and if you will give me your leave to, I think I should do so as soon as possible. Maybe the ladies would excuse me if I went up first, and then met with them?’
‘Just as you like, lad . . . um, M’Lord. Eeh, thou knaws, when we’re on our own, it’ll allus be me calling you “lad”. I won’t be able to help meself – you’ve to allow me that respite to be meself.’
‘I agree. Besides, I rather like being that, to you. It will make for a special relationship between us.’
‘You’re alreet, you knaw that? In fact you’re all I could wish for in a son-in-law. I have faith as you’ll make my Katrina very happy. You have a way of accepting compromises and, with my lass, you’re going to need to. Like I told you, she can be headstrong.’
They both laughed – a laugh that said they were companions in the face of the women in their lives. Frederick had a feeling his new life was going to turn out really well. But first he had to deal with what was happening in the present, and that weighed heavily upon him.
6
Frederick & Ruth
A Chance Meeting
As he sat at the poker table later that night, Frederick thought about the day’s events. The whole thing had gone rather well. Mother had of course been devastated, and the doctor had been called in and had given her something to put her to sleep for a while. When she’d woken she’d come to a calmer place, and Mrs Arkwright had been a great help to her.
Katrina had been most agreeable – fun, even – and every bit the lady. Yes, they would jog along very well, he thought. He certainly found her highly attractive. She’d flirted with him, which he’d enjoyed. He knew he’d have no problem being a good husband to her, and she had explained that she was very happy with the arrangement, though she felt great sadness at the loss of his brother, which he’d found rather sweet.
Because of this, when they left the club later and he tucked his winnings into his wallet, Frederick thought twice about his ea
rlier plan. ‘Count me out of the extra activities you have planned, Bellinger. I’d rather just go back to yours and get my head down.’
Bellinger was having none of it. ‘Come on, Freddie, old boy. Don’t get cold feet. It’s time you introduced your cock to a fanny. You can’t be a virgin when you get married, dear fellow. Make a right mess of things, you will.’ His ridiculous laughter echoed around the narrow street, making it impossible for Frederick to maintain the indignant stance he’d taken.
Instead he took the same line. ‘You are very crude, M’Lord. It is unbecoming. At least my cock won’t be riddled with poxy diseases, as yours has been on more than one occasion.’
‘Oh, don’t. Don’t remind me, M’Lord. Ha, that sounds funny. I have had the right to that title for ages, but you . . . well, I think “Viscount” suits you much better. Anyway, all you have to do is inspect the goods first, and then get the whore to wash in your presence. Not only can you be sure she is clean by doing this, but it is pleasurable as well. Besides, once you have an idea of what’s what, you can go for the virgins. They are not diseased, they give enormous pleasure and they don’t expect much, so you can just enjoy yourself. Expensive, though, and not without a certain amount of guilt, especially if they cry.’
‘Cry? Why should they cry?’
‘Good Lord, you really are a novice. You do know that it hurts a woman the first time?’
Not wanting to appear to have no knowledge of this fact, even though he hadn’t heard it before, Frederick laughed it off. ‘Of course, but I didn’t expect they might cry! I don’t think I could bear that.’
‘Oh well, you’ll have to go gently then. But that’s not for me. I like to push my way through and get on with it. Bugger the tears – they’re being paid well.’
This whole thing was sounding more distasteful by the minute. These women might be selling what they had, but they didn’t deserve to be hurt to that extent. And what about Katrina? My God, he’d have to find out more, without making a fool of himself, before he took her for his bride. He couldn’t stand the thought of reducing her to tears.