by Joan Smith
“Not in the least. The very thing, Tommy,” he said enthusiastically.
“I’m glad to hear it. Not that it would stop me from marrying her. I figured if anyone I care about were to kick up a fuss, it would be you.”
“Why would you think that?” he asked, again feeling offended.
“I don’t know. Not that you’re toplofty, exactly, just a bit high in the instep. You lords all stick together like a ball of wax. Have your own clubs like Almacks and keep out the commoners. Nab all the fortunes going as well. You ought to leave ‘em for us younger sons. How do you come to be mixed up in all this business with Liz, Nick? Going to the Dials and all. It ain’t like you.”
“I was dragooned into it,” he admitted with a wry smile, and told Tommy about Liz hounding him into the snuff shop.
“Wouldn’t I love to have seen that. She’s a regular demon about making people help her. Truth to tell, I enjoy doing a few errands at the Dials. You learn all sorts of interesting things from the fellows there. Not things you’d do yourself, but it’s well to be on the qui vive for their stunts. Dirty fighting and card sharping and dipping and things like that.”
“I’d like to learn how Fannie picked my pocket. I didn’t feel a thing.”
“You wouldn’t if she’s any good.”
“Do you often go to the Dials? Lizzie mentioned a fellow called Alfie who usually accompanies her.”
“I mostly only go when Alfie can’t, for one reason or another. I help Lizzie and Lady Gertrude out in different ways. I can’t tell you the number of times Lizzie’s made me collect old clothes, and find positions for some of her pets that she feels can be trusted not to run off with the family’s silver. Now she and Lady Gertie are hounding half a dozen politicians about setting up a clinic, and schools for poor kids. I’m not much help there.”
“I’ve heard her on the subject.”
“You’d best run for the hills as soon as this ruby business is over, or she’ll have you making speeches in the House, setting up petitions or bills or however you fellows do things at the House.”
Nick found this a good time to change the subject. “I hope this romance with Miss Cousens works out, Tommy. It will make a man of you.”
“I think so too. Old Uncle Alf may even reconsider restoring my allowance and putting me back in his will. He certainly lectured me enough about wasting my time and talents when he cut me off. He never did say what talents he was talking about. I know he didn’t mean riding or shooting, certainly not cards. I have no talent there. It’s half the reason my pockets are to let. Have you noticed how the relatives rally around and start doing things for you when you don’t need their help? But try borrowing a few bob from them when your pockets are to let and all you get is the cold eye and a lecture.”
“If you’re a little short, I could —”
“I wasn’t hinting, Nick.”
Nick decided Tommy was really a fine fellow. He apparently had no notion that Lizzie was planning to rescue him by marrying him. As he lay in bed that night, he wondered what Tommy meant by saying he was high in the instep. It was true he didn’t number any Cits among his close friends, but that was only because he seldom came in contact with them. Or was it a kinder way of saying he was selfish?
Perhaps Tommy was right. He had been thoroughly annoyed when Lizzie more or less forced him to help her. He had certainly thought it beneath him to visit a place like Seven Dials. But if people like him and Lizzie and those with money and influence didn’t help the disadvantaged, who would? Surely their many privileges imposed some obligations on them. Noblesse oblige, in fact. The French had a word or phrase for everything, though they hadn’t paid much heed to that phrase, to judge by their revolution.
Then his thoughts turned to the interesting matter of Liz learning that Tommy was all but betrothed to Miss Cousens. If she was shattered, he must try to console her.
Chapter Thirteen
Lady Gertrude was having such a successful evening at the card table that she didn’t return home until well after her niece was in bed. It was breakfast the next morning before they met. She was dressed for the day in another of her garish ensembles with what looked very much like a canary in her hair. Yes, it was a small stuffed canary.
“How did it go last night, Lizzie?” she asked, before digging into a hearty plate of gammon and eggs. Her strenuous exertions on behalf of her chosen people required fueling. “I heard a rumour that you cut your arm on a broken wineglass. Lady Belmont was quite upset — about the broken glass, I mean. She told me Carbury had taken you home, so I didn’t feel I must go running after you. Did you manage to get the necklace?”
“Oh yes.”
“Excellent! And how’s your arm, dear? Shall I call Doctor Tom?”
“That’s not necessary. It’s fine.” She entertained her aunt over breakfast with a recital of the retrieval of the rubies. Lady Gertrude was vastly amused.
“And Sara actually shot you! I am amazed she had the gumption. To say nothing of the pistol.”
“I was sure she was just pretending she had one, but then she did steal the rubies, so we ought not to have been surprised. There is more to her than we thought.”
“I wonder where she got the pistol, and where she kept it hidden from her aunt, for you didn’t see it when you were searching and it would be too large for her evening bag.”
“I hadn’t finished my search. I had to dart into the clothespress when I heard her coming. I did hear a drawer open, so very likely it was in one of the drawers I hadn’t got around to searching.”
“What time is she coming to call?”
“Around eleven.”
“Can I can be of any help? Shall I stay?”
“No, that’s fine. She’ll be more forthcoming with just me there to quiz her.”
“Then I shall go and pay my respects to King George, and take him the snuffbox. That will encourage him to do his duty by the poor girls who are being abused. This is no new thing for them. A couple of good thrashings will soon get the word about. Such a pity we can’t find decent work for them. Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day. First the clinic, then the school. Do you think there’s any hope of getting money out of Carbury for the clinic?”
“I doubt it, but at least he’s going to go with Tommy tonight to set Hanson by his heels. Best not to drag anyone else into it.”
“Tonight? I presume you are referring to some scheme to recover Sara’s letters. Tell me about it.”
When Elizabeth had outlined the plan, Lady Gertrude nodded her approval. “Such fun. It makes me wish I were young again.” After a frowning pause she said, “Sara ought to be ripe for plucking, after all you’re doing for her.”
“She has no money of her own, Auntie. After she’s married to Buckner she might do something for us. She claims to admire me, so I am hopeful on that score.”
They ate in silence a moment, then Lady Gertrude said in an overly innocent way, “And how about Carbury, Liz?”
“No, I shan’t ask him for money.”
“Money? I meant is there any chance of his offering for you? He was used to be one of your admirers. He seems quite eager to help you now.”
Elizabeth had misjudged his eagerness before and made a fool of herself by taking for granted he wanted to marry her. She would not make that mistake again. “He was not in the least eager. I had to badger him. He only agreed to help because of Tommy,” she said, as if she didn’t care a groat, which was enough to tell her aunt she loved him still, or again. She was coming to suspect from the way Nicholas studied her that he might be in the same state of mind, or heart, or whatever it was that drew couples together.
Elizabeth was alone in the salon when Miss Westlake was announced. Sara was carrying a basket and a bouquet of flowers, which Liz recognized as having seen at the ball the night before, but they were still very nice flowers.
“I’ve brought you some pork jelly and some petits fours left over from last night,” she said. “How is your arm,
Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth mentally consigned the pork jelly to Meg. It would be excellent nourishment for a new mother. “Thank you, Sara. The flowers are beautiful. My arm will recover.” Then with a thought that it would be well for Sara to feel indebted to her, she winced and added, “Though it is very sore at the moment.”
Strangely, this caused Sara to smile broadly. “You’ll never guess what, Elizabeth! You are the first to know, other than Auntie. Lord Buckner made a formal offer for me last night, and Auntie agreed. Is it not wonderful? And I have you to thank for it.” She stopped, thought a moment, and added, “For not telling him about the letters I wrote to Hanson, I mean.”
“That is wonderful news, Sara. I am very happy I could help you.”
“It will be in the journals today. Auntie rushed the announcement down to the journals this morning, and Buckner is seeing about announcing the banns. He has sent home for the family engagement ring.”
“An early marriage, I expect?”
“We have not decided on a date, but soon. Very soon.”
“That’s splendid news. But about tonight, have you decided how you’ll get out of the house?”
The smile faded to uncertainty. “I don’t know. Auntie is a very light sleeper.”
“You’ll have to give her a sleeping draught. Does she take a posset or cocoa before retiring?”
“Cocoa,” she replied, then looked aghast as she realized what Elizabeth was suggesting. “Oh I couldn’t. Lady Belmont doesn’t approve of laudanum.”
“I daresay she doesn’t approve of your stealing her necklace either. I’ll give you some laudanum before you leave. Can you get it into her cocoa?”
Sara offered no more objections. “I usually take her cocoa up to her when I’m home. I shall be home this evening. How much do I use?”
“Not more than five drops. Here is what we’ve decided to do. You take the rubies for Hanson.”
“You mean give them to him?” Sara cried.
“Certainly, but not until you have got your letters and checked them. Make sure they’re all there, and are the originals, not copies.”
“Oh that’s easy. I wrote them on my own stationery, with my initials engraved on top.”
“Good. You get your notes, give him the rubies, and dart home as fast as your legs will carry you.”
“But — but what about Auntie’s rubies? Is Hanson allowed to keep them? Surely that is no help to Mr. Gower.”
“Hanson will be — er, accosted soon after he leaves you, and be relieved of the rubies.”
“Oh Elizabeth, I know you are very brave, but do you think you can handle him with that sore arm?”
Elizabeth just smiled in disbelief. “No, I am not quite that brave, Sara. I have arranged with some friends to do the retrieving.”
“But then — how do we get them back to Auntie? She’ll insist on knowing where you got them, how you come to have them I mean, unless Tommy Gower stole them.”
“I shan’t give them back to her.” Before Sara could ask the obvious question, Elizabeth continued, “I shall arrange for them to be found.”
“Where?”
“Perhaps it’s best you not know that, Sara, so you can be surprised when they are found.”
“She lost them — I mean I took them — at Galveston’s rout.”
“Yes, I remember very well, Sara. Now, you take the necklace and make sure your aunt doesn’t see it.” She handed her the rubies and watched as they were stowed in her reticule, then continued. “You’re sure you know what you have to do tonight? Give your aunt the sleeping draught, and be at the corner of Grosvenor Square and Duke Street at two a.m. with the rubies. Best take your pistol with you. Insist on examining the letters before you give Hanson the necklace.”
Sara firmed her jaw, lifted her chin and said, “Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll do just as you say.”
“You had best do it, if you don’t want Buckner to see those love letters.”
“You can count on me.”
“Good. I’ll get the laudanum now. Don’t let your aunt see it.”
“I’ll hide it at the back of my stationery drawer, where I hide my little pistol.”
“I have been wondering where you got that pistol, Sara?”
“Hanson gave it to me when I was seeing him. It was at the time the footpads were attacking everyone. He was very thoughtful like that at first. I had planned to take it with me tonight, just in case.”
“Good!”
“Though I do hope I don’t have to shoot him.”
“I shouldn’t think that will be necessary, but if he cuts up rough and you do have to, aim for his legs, not his chest. After all, you don’t want to kill him.”
“Oh no indeed! I had planned to shoot his arm.”
“The leg would be safer. Unless you are a very good shot, you might accidentally hit him in the chest.”
“All right. I’ll remember that. I’ve never used the pistol before. Before last night, I mean.”
Elizabeth got the laudanum and Sara rose to leave. Elizabeth offered her best wishes on the coming marriage, which put the smile back on Sara’s face. She left with her shoulders back and a firmer step than usual.
It was Elizabeth who sat, frowning. It seemed she had brought off a match for Sara, or at least prevented its imploding, but she could see no way to accomplish her own desired match. She would not so much as hint that she would accept if he offered.
Chapter Fourteen
Lady Gertrude sat alone in her flamboyant salon when Carbury called on Elizabeth that afternoon. She had enjoyed her visit with her old friend, King George. He had adored the Tsar’s snuffbox. Any connection to royalty was caviar to him. He dropped veiled hints that he and Tsar Peter were great friends, unaware that the gentleman was in his grave before George was born. History was not his long suit. She had his assurance that he would set a patrol on the area frequented by the girls from the Dials, and added a healthy reserve to her wine cellar as well.
She was expecting a call from Doctor Tom. On this occasion she was not rolling bandages but toting up the past week’s take. She kept a running record of donations and expenses in a common scribbler of the type used in the schoolroom. Hard covered ledgers cost money that could be spent more usefully on the poor. Although close as bark on a tree in these little ways, she did not begrudge herself in the matter of food and drink. Cadging was hard work; she had to keep up her strength. A pot of tea of an excellent quality and a plate of biscuits sat beside her scribbler on the small table drawn up before her chair.
Unsure whether Nicholas meant to offer for Elizabeth, she decided that just hinting for another donation could do no harm. After greeting him she indicated her scribbler and said sadly, “So much to be done, so little money. I am just ten pounds short of our needs, and that is after donating my winnings last night. I was aiming for ten pounds at cards last evening, but Lady Belmont insisted on playing for pennies as she always loses. She is so busy criticizing everyone’s else’s play that she quite loses control of her own.”
Carbury realized this as a not very discreet dun for a donation and asked, “What, exactly, is it you need the money for, Ma’am? Surely the rent for Doctor Tom’s clinic cannot be ten pounds a month?”
“Indeed no. I am not such a flat as to pay that sort of money for the poor little hovel he occupies. No, it is for an option on a small building Doctor Tom has discovered is up for sale on Little Earl Street. It is falling apart and is going for an old song. There are plenty of fellows at the Dials who would be better employed wielding a hammer and saw to fix it up than fighting with one another. They would work cheap, but I would feel obliged to pay them something.
“With a few repairs the house would be ideal for the clinic and we could set up the floor above as a schoolroom for the youngsters. It would be handy to have them together. Passing the clinic every day would make them lose their fear of the doctor. Doctor Tom could slip abovestairs from time to time to give a little lesson on health
matters. If we cannot find a volunteer teacher we would have to hire one as well. Then what good is a school without a slate and books and paper? So many expenses, so little money.”
She shook her head sadly and peered at him from the corner of her eye. Her gaze lingered a moment on his elegant jacket and cravat pin. Undeterred by his indifference, she forged on to see if guilt had any affect on him.
“And those who can best afford it are the last to offer. Mind you, the ladies who plump for the orphans have already been hitting society rather hard this season. Such an ineffective way to raise money. A good fifty percent of the donations go into expenses. One hundred percent of donations to the Dials goes into helping the poor. But then folks feel sorrier for orphans than the children of poor families, who are actually much worse off.”
“I’ll give you five,” he said.
Lady Gertrude smiled like a crocodile as her hand shot out for the money. “Too generous, Carbury! I hope you do not think I was hinting.”
“Perish the thought! Just so you don’t expect me to volunteer as a teacher.”
Elizabeth entered as he was handing over the money. “Auntie, I told you not to dun Nick,” she said. “He has already made a sizable donation.”
“So you did, dear, but I promise you I did not dun him. He offered — so generous. How could I deny him the pleasure of a further donation if he feels like it? And you did not ask me not to dun him. You only hinted that he might not agree to donate anything further.” She put the money in her pocket and arose. “I must have a look at the replies to my advertisement for a teacher. Thanks to Carbury, I can go ahead and begin interviewing now.”
Elizabeth just shook her head. “Sorry about that, Nicholas. How much did she dun you for?”
“She hinted that she was ten pounds short. I gave her five.”