Flashmans' Lady fp-6

by George MacDonald Fraser

  My Shame and Remorse may be imagined, and if aught could have increased them it was the sudden sight of my darling H. in the garden, taking his exercise, he explained, before his match in the afternoon. The sight of his flushed, manly countenance, and the knowledge that he had been engaged in such a healthy, innocent pursuit while I had been helpless in the Heated Embrace of another, however much against my will, were as a knife in my heart. To make it worse, he called me his Jolly Old Girl, and asked eagerly after the picture gallery; I was moved almost to tears, and when we went together to the terrace, and found Mrs L.L., I could not but remark that H. paid her no more than the barest civility (and, indeed, there was very little about her to Entice any man, for she appeared quite bedraggled), but was all kindness and attentiveness to me, like the dear best of husbands that he is.

  But what am Ito think of Don S.'s conduct? I must try not to judge him too harshly, for he is of such a warm temperament, and given to passionate disclosure of it in every way, that it is not to be wondered at if he is Susceptible to that which he finds attractive. But surely I am not to blame if- through no fault of mine - I have been cast by Kind Nature in a form and feature which the Stronger Sex find pleasing? I console myself with the thought that it is Woman's Portion, if she is fortunate in her endowments, to be adored, and she has little to reproach herself with so long as she does not Encourage Familiarity, but comports herself with Proper Modesty …

  [Conceit and humbug! End of extract - G. de R.]

  There's no doubt that a good gallop before work is the best training you can have, for that afternoon I bowled the best long spell of my life for Mynn's Casuals against the All-England XI: five wickets for 12 in eleven overs, with Lillywhite leg before and Marsden clean bowled amongst them. I'd never have done that on cold baths and dumbbells, so you can see that what our present Test match fellows need is some sporting female like Mrs Leo Lade to look after 'em, then we'd have the Australians begging for mercy.

  The only small cloud on my horizon, as we took tea afterwards in the marquee among the fashionable throng, with Elspeth clinging to my arm and Mynn passing round bubbly in the challenge cup we'd won, was whether Solomon had recognized me in the drawing-room that morning, and if so, would he keep his mouth shut? I wasn't over concerned, for all he'd had in view was my stalwart back and buttocks heaving away and Mrs Lade's stupefied face reflected in the mirror - it didn't matter a three-ha'penny what he said about her, and even if he'd recognized me as t'other coupler, it wasn't likely that he'd bruit it about; chaps didn't, in those days. And there wasn't even a hint of a knowing twinkle in his eye as he came over to congratulate me, all cheery smiles, refilling my glass and exclaiming to Elspeth that her husband was the most tearaway bowler in the country, and ought to be in the All-England side himself, blessed if he shouldn't. A few of those present cried, "Hear, hear," and Solomon wagged his head admiringly - the artful, conniving scoundrel.

  "D'ye know," says he, addressing those nearest, who included many of his house party, as well as Mynn and Felix and Ponsonby-Fane, "I shouldn't wonder if Harry wasn't the fastest man in England just now - I don't say the best, in deference to distinguished company"— and he bowed gracefully towards Mynn —"but certainly the quickest; what d'you think, Mr Felix?"

  Felix blinked and blushed, as he always did at being singled out, and said he wasn't sure; when he was at the crease, he added gravely, he didn't consider miles per hour, but any batter who faced Mynn at one end and me at t'other would have something to tell his grandchildren about. Everyone laughed, and Solomon cries, lucky men indeed; wouldn't tyro cricketers like himself just jump at the chance of facing a few overs from us. Not that they'd last long, to be sure, but the honour would be worth it.

  "I don't suppose," he added, fingering his earring and looking impish at me, "you'd consider playing me a single-wicket match, would you?"

  Being cheerful with bubbly and my five for 12, I laughed and said I'd be glad to oblige, but he'd better get himself cover from Lloyd's, or a suit of armour. "Why," says I, "d'you fancy your chance?" and he shrugged and said no, not exactly; he knew he mightn't make much of a show, but he was game to try. "After all," says he, tongue in cheek, "you ain't Fuller Pilch as a batter, you know."

  There are moments, and they have a habit of sticking in memory, when light-hearted, easy fun suddenly becomes dead serious. I can picture that moment now; the marquee with its throng of men in their whites, the ladies in their bright summer confections, the stuffy smell of grass and canvas, the sound of the tent-flap stirring in the warm breeze, the tinkle of plates and glasses, the chatter and the polite laughter, Elspeth smiling eagerly over her strawberries and cream, Mynn's big red face glistening, and Solomon opposite me - huge and smiling in his bottle-green coat, the emerald pin in his scarf, the brown varnished face with its smiling dark eyes, the carefully-dressed black curls and whiskers, the big, delicately-manicured hand spinning his glass by the stem.

  "Just for fun," says he. "Give me something to boast about, anyway - play on my lawn at the house. Come on"— and he poked me in the ribs —"I dare you, Harry," at which they chortled and said he was a game bird, all right.

  I didn't know, then, that it mattered, although something warned me that there was a hint of humbug about it, but with the champagne working and Elspeth miaowing eagerly I couldn't see any harm.

  "Very good," says I, "they're your ribs, you know. How many a side?"

  "Oh, just the two of us," says he. "No fieldsmen; bounds, of course, but no byes or overthrows. I'm not built for chasing," and he patted his guts, smiling. "Couple of hands, what? Double my chance of winning a run or two."

  "What about stakes?" laughs Mynn. "Can't have a match like this for just a tizzy*(* Sixpence.) ," winking at me.

  "What you will," says Solomon easily. "All one to me - fiver, pony, monkey, thou. - don't matter, since I shan't be winning it anyway."

  Now that's the kind of talk that sends any sensible man diving for his hat and the nearest doorway, usually; otherwise you find yourself an hour later scribbling IOUs and trying to think of a false name. But this was different - after all, I was first-class, and he wasn't even thought about; no one had seen him play, even. He couldn't hope for anything against my expresses - and one thing was sure, he didn't need my money.

  "Hold on, though," says I. "We ain't all nabob millionaires, you know. Lieutenant's half-pay don't stretch—"

  Elspeth absolutely reached for her reticule, damn her, whispering that I must afford whatever Don Solomon put up, and while I was trying to hush her, Solomon says:

  "Not a bit of it - I'll wager the thou., on my side; it's my proposal, after all, so I must be ready to stand the racket. Harry can put up what he pleases - what d'ye say, old boy?".

  Well, everyone knew he was filthy rich and careless with it, so if he wanted to lose a thousand for the privilege of having me trim him up, I didn't mind. I couldn't think what to offer as a wager against his money, though, and said so.

  "Well, make it a pint of ale," says he, and then snapped his fingers. "Tell you what - I'll name what your stake's to be, and I promise you, if you lose and have to stump up, it's something that won't cost you a penny."

  "What's that?" says I, all leery in a moment.

  "Are you game?" cries he.

  "Tell us my stake first," says I.

  "Well, you can't cry off now, anyway," says he, beaming triumphantly. "It's this: a thou. on my side, if you win, and if I win - which you'll admit ain't likely"— he paused, to keep everyone in suspense —"if I win, you'll allow Elspeth and her father to come on my voyage." He beamed round at the company. "What's fairer than that, I should like to know?"

  The bare-faced sauce of it took my breath away. Here was this fat upstart, with his nigger airs, who had proclaimed his interest in my wife and proposed publicly to take her jaunting while I was left cuckolded at home, had been properly and politely warned off, and was now back on the same tack, but trying to pass it off as a jolly, light-h
earted game. My skin burned with fury - had he cooked this up with Elspeth? - but one glance told me she was as astonished as I was. Others were smiling, though, and I saw two ladies whispering behind their parasols; Mrs Lade was watching with amusement.

  "Well, well, Don," says I, deliberately easy. "You don't give up in a hurry, do you?"

  "Oh, come, Harry," cries he. "What hope have I? It's just nonsense, for you're sure to win. Doesn't he always win, Mrs Lade?" And he looked at her, smiling, and then at me, and at Elspeth, without a flicker of expression - by God, had he recognized my heaving stern in the drawing-room, after all, and was he daring to say: "Accept my wager, give me this chance, or I'll blow the gaff"? I didn't know - but it made no odds, for I realized I had to take him on, for my credit's sake. What - Flashy, the heroic sport, back down against a mere tyro, and thereby proclaim that he was jealous of his wife where this fat swaggerer was concerned? No - I had to play, and look pleasant. He had, as the Duke would say, humbugged me, by God.

  But what was he hoping for? A fluke in a million? Single-wicket's a chancy game, but even so, he couldn't hope to beat me. And yet, he was so set on having his way, like the spoiled, arrogant pup he was (for all his modest air), that any chance, however slim, he'd snatch at. He'd nothing to lose except a thousand quid, and that was ha'pence to him. Very well, then - I'd not only beat the brute; I'd milk him for the privilege.

  "Done, then," says I, cheerfully. "but since you've set my stake, I'll set yours. If you lose, it'll cost you two thousand - not one. Suit you?"

  Of course he had to agree, laughing and saying I drove such a hard bargain I must give him the tie as well - which meant that if the scores finished even, I would forfeit my stake. I had to win to collect- but it was a trivial thing, since I was bound to drub him handsomely. Just to be sure, though, I asked Felix then and there if he'd stand umpire; I wasn't having some creature of Solomon's handing him the game in a box.

  So the match was made, and Elspeth had the grace not to say she hoped I would lose; indeed, she confided later that she thought Don Solomon had been just a little sharp, and not quite refined in taking her for granted.

  "For you know, Harry, I would never accompany him with Papa against your wishes. But if you choose to accept his wager, that is different - and, oh! it would be such fun to see India and … all those splendid places! But of course, you must play your best, and not lose on my account—"

  "Don't worry, old girl," says I, climbing aboard her, "I shan't."

  That was before dinner. By bed-time I wasn't so sure.

  I was taking a turn about the grounds while the others were at their port, and had just strolled abreast the gates, when someone goes "Psst!" from the shadows, and to my astonishment I saw two or three dark figures lurking in the roadway. One of them advanced, and I choked on my cheroot when I recognized the portly frame of Daedalus Tighe, Heskwire.

  "What the devil are you doing here?" I demanded. I'd seen the brute at one or two of the games, but naturally had avoided him. He touched his hat, glanced about in the dusk, and asked for a word with me, if he might make so bold. I told him to go to blazes.

  "Oh, never that, sir!" says he. "You couldn't vish that, now - not you. Don't go, Mr Flashman; I promise not to detain you - vhy, the ladies an' gents will be waitin' in the drorin'-room, I dare say, and you'll want to get back. But I hear as 'ow you're playin' a single-wicket match tomorrow, 'gainst that fine sportsman Mr Solomon Haslam - werry esteemed cove 'e is, quite the slap-up—"

  "What d'ye know about his cricket?" says I, and Mr Tighe chuckled beerily.

  "Well, sir, they do say 'e plays a bit - but, lor' bless yer, 'e'll be a babby against the likes o' you. Vhy, in the town I could get fifty to one against 'im, an' no takers; mebbe even a hundred—"

  "I'm obliged to you," says I and was turning away when he said:

  "Mind you, sir, there might be some as would put money on 'im, just on the chance that 'e'd win - vhich is himpossible, o' course, 'gainst a crack player like you. Then again, even cracks lose sometimes - an' if you lost, vhy, anyone who'd put a thousand on Haslam - veil spread about, o' course - vhy, he'd pick up fifty thousand, wouldn't 'e? I think," he added, "me calkerlation is about right."

  I nearly swallowed my cheroot. The blind, blazing impudence of it was staggering - for there wasn't the slightest doubt what the scoundrel was proposing. (And without even a word of what cut he was prepared to offer, rot his insolence.) I hadn't been so insulted all day, and I damned his eyes in my indignation.

  "I shouldn't raise your voice, sir," says he. "You wouldn't want to be over'eard talkin' to the likes o' me, I'm sure. Or to 'ave folks know that you've 'ad some o' my rhino, in the past, for services rendered—"

  "You infernal liar!" cries I. "I've never seen a penny of your damned money!"

  "Veil, think o' that, now," says he. "D'you suppose that Wincent 'as been pocketin' it again? I don't see 'ow 'e could ha' done, neither - seein' as my letters to you vas writ an' sealed, vith cash henclosed, in the presence of two reliable legal friends o' mine, who'd swear that same vos delivered to your direction. An' you never got 'em, you say? Vell, that Wincent must be sharper than I thought; I'll just 'ave to break 'is bloody legs to learn 'im better. Still, that's by the by; the point is"— and he poked me in the ribs —"if my legal friends vos to svear to vot they know - there's some as might believe you'd been takin' cash from a bookie - oh, to win, granted, but it'd make a nasty scandal. Werry nasty it would be."

  "Damn you!" I was nearly choking with rage. "If you think you can scare me—"

  He raised his hands in mock horror. "I'd never think any such thing, Mr Flashman! I know you're brave as a lion, sir — vhy, you ain't even afraid to walk the streets o' London alone at nights - some rare strange places you gets to, I b'lieve. Places vhere young chaps 'as come adrift afore now set on by footpads an' beat almost to death. Vhy, a young friend o' mine - veil, 'e vosn't much of a friend, 'cos 'e velched on me, 'e did. Crippled for life, sir, I regret to say. Never did catch the willains that done it, neither. Course, the peelers is shockin' lax these days—"

  "You villain! Why, I've a mind to—"

  "No, you 'aven't, Mr Flashman. Werry inadwisable it vould be for you to do anythin' rash, sir. An' vhere's the necessity, arter all?" I could imagine the greasy smile, but all I could see was shadow. "Mr Haslam just 'as to vin termorror - an' I'll see you're five thahsand richer straight avay, my dear sir. My legal friends'll forget … vot they know … an' I dare say no footpads nor garroters von't never come your vay, neither." He paused, and then touched his hat again. "Now, sir, I shan't detain you no more - your ladies vill be gettin' impatient. A werry good night to you - an' I'm mortal sorry you ain't goin' to vin in the mornin'. But think of 'ow cock-a-hoop Mr Haslam'll be, eh? It'll be such a hunexpected surprise for 'im."

  And with that he faded into the darkness; I heard his beery chuckle as he and his bullies went down the road.

  When I'd got over my indignation, my first thought was that Haslam was behind this, but saner judgement told me he wouldn't be such a fool - only young idiots like me got hooked by the likes of Daedalus Tighe. God, what a purblind ass I'd been, ever to touch his dirty money. He could make a scandal, not a doubt of that - and I didn't question either that he was capable of setting his roughs on to waylay me some dark night. What the devil was I to do? If I didn't let Haslam win - no, by God, I was shot if I would! Let him go fornicating round the world with Elspeth while I rotted in my tin belly at St James's? Not likely. But if I beat him, Tighe would split, for certain, and his thugs would pulp me in some alley one fine night …

  You can understand that I didn't go to bed in any good temper, and I didn't sleep much, either.

  It never rains but it pours, though. I was still wrestling with my dilemma next morning when I received another blow, this time through the smirking agency of Miss Judy, the guv'nor's trull. I had been out on the gravel watching Solomon's gardeners roll the wicket on the main lawn for our match, sm
oking furiously and drumming my fingers, and then took a restless turn round the house; Judy was sitting in one of the arbours, reading a journal. She didn't so much as glance up as I walked by, ignoring her, and then her voice sounded coolly behind me:

  "Looking for Mrs Leo Lade?"

  That was a nasty start, to begin with. I stopped, and turned to look at her. She leafed over a page and went on: "I shouldn't, if I were you. She isn't receiving this morning, I fancy."

  "What the devil have I to do with her?" says I.

  "That's what the Duke is asking, I dare say," says Miss Judy, giving the journal her sly smile. "He has not directed his inquiries to you as yet? Well, well, all in good time, no doubt." And she went on reading cool as be-d--d, while my heart went like a hammer.

  "What the hell are you driving at?" says I, and when she didn't answer I lost my temper and knocked the paper from her hand.

  "Ah, that's my little man!" says she, and now she was looking at me, sneering in scornful pleasure. "Are you going to strike me, as well? You'd best not - there are people within call, and it would never do for them to see the hero of Kabul assaulting a lady, would it?"