Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman

by Amelia Grace Treader

  “Don't worry Miss Talbot, my brother is not looking to marry into your family.”

  “Thank you. I must seem a bit rude, but I'm a bit gun-shy over introductions to handsome young men. Too often, it's my fortune and not me or my character that intrigues them.”

  “I understand, or at least I hope I do.”

  “In any case it looks like he and my friend, Miss De Vere are enjoying the dance.”

  “Is Miss De Vere eligible?”

  “By birth yes, by fortune no.”

  “Oh, what a shame. She seems such a personable young woman.”

  “She is, but I'm not sure her problem isn't better than mine.”

  “How so?”

  “I'm eligible not by birth, but by fortune. At least my friend will know that her suitors aren't interested in her estate.”

  “Don't be so cynical Miss Talbot.”

  “I try not to be.”

  “Sooner or later some sensible man will come along and sweep you off your feet.”

  “That's what I hope.”

  The dance came to an end. Miss De Vere and Mr. Christie curtsied and bowed to each other, then came over to Elizabeth and Mrs. Jones. Charlotte was enthusiastic, “Thank you Mrs. Jones for asking your brother to come and dance.”

  Mr. Christie replied, “It was my pleasure. Should we go for tea?”

  After tea, as Elizabeth predicted, the crowd grew. Very quickly both she and Charlotte were introduced to partners by Mr. King. The rest of the evening was spent dancing or conversing with partners while waiting for a set to form. All too soon Mr. King held up his watch. It was the fatal hour of eleven which meant the music and the dancing stopped. Charlotte and Elizabeth both curtsied to their partners who bowed in return, then went to find the Answorths.

  Outside the assembly building, Elizabeth bid her friends goodbye and returned to the house on the Paragon. She was alone, practically alone, with only a footman to escort her and insure her safety. Much to her surprise the candles were lit in the front parlor.

  “Freddy! What are you doing here?”

  “Lizzy, I thought I'd relieve you of your burdens, you should enjoy yourself, at least for some of your time, in Bath.”

  “They're not much of a burden, I enjoy business.”

  “I know, but there are things that a delicate young lady.” Here she playfully punched his shoulder. “A delicate young lady should not be required to do. Have the wives started to ask you about their husband's promotion prospects yet?”

  Lizzy frowned, “Yes. It was a bit awkward.”

  “I thought so. They won't while I'm here. Anyway, we pay well for the positions they have. Have to make a profit, which means we can't just give the money away.”

  “Even Mrs. Jones.”

  “Really? Good Lord, I'd have thought she wouldn't have had anything to worry about.”

  “It started with a Mrs. Willis, the wife of one of the juniors.”

  “Ah, that's a different case. I've had a report that he's a bit of an issue.”

  “Oh dear, they'll think it's my doing.”

  “Sorry, but I am going to have to look into this. My employees have to do their jobs. We can't carry dead weight.”

  “If you have to do it, please try to use your finesse. Mrs. Willis thought he was due for a promotion.”

  “Good Lord, firing someone is never easy, and that will only make it harder when he's fired. Poor man, I think I interviewed him myself. He seemed a bright young fellow. Wonder what the real story is?”

  “He probably doesn't fit into the office. Something messy and social.”

  “Could be. So tell me about what you've been doing that isn't business.”

  “I was just at the assembly.”

  “So I gathered.”

  “You'll never guess with whom.”

  “Not that De Vere woman.”

  “Yes. She wants to be friends.”

  “She's bad news, Lizzy. There has to be some reason beyond remorse with her.”

  “That was just possibly part of it. Loneliness was the rest.”

  “Loneliness I believe. Remorse never.”

  “Well, nonetheless, we're meeting tomorrow at the concert.”

  “Please keep her out of my way, if you can.”

  “I'll do that. Now you must be tired, I'm exhausted.”

  6. Never Let Pleasure Interfere with Business.

  If Elizabeth had been surprised with Freddy's arrival. Mr. Robert Jones was not. He and Freddy had exchanged expresses to arrange for Freddy's trip. There were issues to be examined with the firm's business in Somerset and Gloucester. The fate of the unfortunate Mr. John Willis was this simplest of these issues. He, Mr. Jones and Freddy met in the morning.

  Mr. Willis trembled as Freddy addressed him. “I've read Mr. Jones' reports about you. What is going on?”

  “I'm just not that good at adding figures, my mind wanders.”

  “Adding figures is what a clerk does. You're not doing it very well.”

  Mr. Willis stammered in shame, “I-I-I know.”

  “I don't like firing people. Please give me a reason to keep you.”

  “I found that irregularity with the Somerset Canal Company. I spot things like that. It's just the routine adding that's so hard.”

  Freddy looked at Mr. Jones. “Is this true? We're meeting about that later.”

  “Yes, Willis is the one who spotted it.”

  “How?”

  “Mrs. Willis and I were walking, on our day off, over by Monkton Combe and I was watching the boats. There were people getting on the boats upstream from where they measured the loads, and then getting off downstream. Earning the odd penny for beer, I suppose.”

  “Mr. Jones, Mr. Willis, sometimes when a person isn't working out, it's not because they're bad. It's because they're in the wrong position. This is beginning to sound like it's the case here. I seem to remember I interviewed you didn't I?”

  “Yes, Mr. Talbot.”

  “I hate to admit I make mistakes, but this looks like one of them.”

  Mr. Willis' trembling became more pronounced at this news. This was it, the chop.

  Freddy noticed, “Don't worry. Good clerks are easy to find.”

  “Not that easy,” added Mr. Jones.

  “Relatively easy to find. Good inspectors are very hard to come by.”

  “Inspector?”

  “The firm has grown too big for me, or indeed anyone to check everything personally. I need trustworthy men to look for irregularities. Not just to audit the books, but to look for the odd little things that signal trouble. I'm beginning to think I've found one.”

  Jones added, “Willis has been very good at finding when things aren't quite right. Unfortunately, too often it's been his addition.”

  “Has he identified any other irregularities?”

  “Sir, there were those mortgages.”

  “Mortgages?”

  “The loans to the Chalfield estate. Their agent was trying to use mortgaged land as the security for new mortgages. He was a clever bugger, and created 'new' parcels by combining parts of old ones. Caught that before we were done over.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If he used the same parcels of land for a new mortgage, any idiot could find what he was up to. Instead, he'd generate a new parcel by mixing, say a third of three adjacent ones, and giving it a new name. Made it look like there was no mortgage even when there was.”

  “Mr. Jones, I think we've got our newest inspector.”

  “Good. I was not looking forward to letting him go. He's a personable chap.”

  “Now I have a task for you. How would you feel about looking over things in Staverton?”

  “Staverton? I didn't know we had any business in the countryside there.”

  “My father is setting up some sort of agricultural bank. He's a bit 'enthusiastic' about things, but there's something that doesn't quite add up. I'd like you to take a look at it. There's a solicitor involved, a Mr
. Cruise, who may not be completely above board.”

  “I'll see to it. That name seems familiar,”

  “Staverton is next to Chalfield. He may have done some work for them. He may be the only solicitor in the area.”

  “It's possible I saw it there. Any road, I'll keep my eyes open.”

  “Good. Now about your wife, apparently she asked Miss Talbot about you.”

  “I really wish my wife hadn't talked to Miss Talbot about me. I told her not to.”

  “It is unfortunate, it makes things very difficult for Elizabeth and she has enough social difficulties as it is. I can get away with being incredibly rude to people who fawn on me or ask for favors. She can't.”

  “Oh.”

  “I think she's truly lonely, has very few friends. She is even trying to befriend that blasted De Vere woman again.”

  “Sir, I'll make sure my wife doesn't do that again.”

  “Thank you. Now I need to talk with Mr. Jones about other things, privately.”

  After Mr. Willis left with the door carefully and solidly shut behind him, Mr. Jones said “Willis really is a screw-up you know. Should have just let him go.”

  “You're probably right, but a screw-up who notices things is what I need right now.”

  “Well, it's your money.”

  “It is, isn't it?”

  “And you're almost never rude. I've watched you carefully Freddy. At most, all you ever do is shut someone out, just ignore them. Usually you just give them a courteous reply as if you didn't notice the insult.”

  “That usually drives them crazy. In any case we have to look into the canal companies. I'm not at all happy with their long term prospects. Especially that coal canal. They still haven't solved that big incline at Combe Hay.”

  “At least the inclined plane they're using won't drown the horses.”

  “Wonder who came up with the idea for that 'caisson lift'? It was clearly insane.”

  “It wasn't your father was it?”

  “No, he's not that daft.”

  “So what do you want me to do about it?”

  “I'm not sure yet. The trouble is we own so much of the companies. It's too much of a risk to have that much of our money invested in them. How the heck to we get out of that without causing a market panic?”

  “Not easy, is it?”

  “No, and I want to explore investing some of those funds in steam.”

  “Steam?”

  “Trevithick's engines.”

  “Didn't he just go bankrupt?”

  “Yes, I know. He and his partner Dickenson didn't run their business very well. I don't know much about steam engines, but.”

  “But you're a damned good businessman.”

  “Precisely, they need someone with good business sense to run that part of their business and make sure it's profitable.”

  “I assume you want our firm to do that.”

  “Yes. There's also this engineer up north, Stephenson. Need to look into his doings.”

  “Freddy, you need an engineer you can trust to look at these. These gentlemen could show you anything and you can't tell it from rubbish.”

  “I know. I'm looking for one. In the meantime, they use wrought iron, lots of it. That's why we're expanding into ironworks.”

  “Somerset coal. Ironworks need coal, canals move coal, and finally, Bath iron works. I see. You're a clever devil aren't you?”

  “My mother thought me clever.”

  “That doesn't mean anything, so did mine.”

  “Do you see why I need an inspector who is a bit of a screw up?”

  “Still no.”

  “No one will believe he's inspecting them. Catch the buggers at it.”

  Mr. Jones silently mimed tipping his hat. “Damn Freddy, that's good.”

  “I wish my skills worked as well with the females. You don't know any that would be eligible?”

  “I'll have my wife pass the word to the Bath gossips. Don't be surprised when you're mobbed tonight at the concert.”

  “Concert?”

  “A young opera singer, Miss Fanny Corri-Paltoni. She studied under Angelica Catalani. Since the divine Catalani has given up the stage, she is the best in England.”

  “If you say so. I could never hear much difference between singers.”

  “You philistine, you don't know what you are missing.”

  “Perhaps, but I have a date with Miss Elizabeth. She wanted to show me something in the parade or the abbey or some such place.”

  “Is she matchmaking for you again?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Rather you than me.”

  “Mrs. Jones would probably agree with you. I just hope it isn't that blasted De Vere woman. Last time we met she tried to put me in my place.”

  “As if anyone could.”

  “It was less than pleasant. The thing is, she is a pretty thing, and when she's not cutting up at me looks to be reasonably tolerable company.”

  “Watch your step, Freddy.”

  “Oh I will.”

  Elizabeth met Freddy near the Abbey and took him for a walk in the parade gardens. He asked her, “Lizzy, I see from your expression that you have some plan or another that you want to involve me in. The answer, before you begin, is no.”

  “I only wanted to ask you to escort me to the concert tonight. There's supposed to be a superb new singer, singing Mozart.”

  “Is that all, I though you didn't particularly care for music?”

  “I don't, but it is the place to be seen tonight, and well.”

  “Well what? Not that De Vere woman again.”

  “No. It's something to do. I'll keep you apart if you wish.”

  “Fine, as long as I don't have to talk to her, I'll escort you. Is that all?”

  “It's just I'm worried about you Freddy.”

  “About me. Why?”

  “It's just you don't seem to be as much fun as you used to. Do you have any friends?”

  “Running the firm doesn't give me much time to meet anyone. Especially eligible young women.”

  “That's why I want you to come to the concert.”

  “I said I will, now Lizzy, is there anything else?”

  “No.”

  “Good, I'm due back at the shop soon. I don't usually do this, but did you need a nuncheon?”

  “I can pick up a snack from one of the stalls near Cheap Street.”

  “I'll walk you that far.”

  As they approached Cheap Street, they were met by Charlotte and the Answorths. They were walking, or in Dr. Answorth's case limping, from their apartment to the pump room. Charlotte waved to attract Elizabeth's attention. Freddy stiffened, then quietly told his sister, “Sorry Liz, but I think I'll go to the office now.”

  “Freddy?”

  “Remember you promised to keep me free from that De Vere woman.”

  “I will.”

  Charlotte ran over to talk with her friend. “Lizzy, was that your brother?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is he coming to the concert tonight?”

  “He will escort me. I think he needs a break from business, and a concert is what is available.”

  “I'd rather not talk to him, can you keep him from me. Please?”

  “I'll do my best.”

  Elizabeth's fears that it would be difficult to meet her promise to Freddy and Charlotte apart at the concert weren't realized. They both asked to keep the other away from them, and Elizabeth agreed to try. It meant that she couldn't meet with the Answorths and Charlotte before the concert, but they could try to see each other there.

  Elizabeth and Freddy entered the assembly room, which was now set with chairs facing the musicians stand. Charlotte stood in the octagonal room with Mrs. Answorth, anxiously scanning to see her friend would arrive. She gave them a quick glance then turned away. That Mr. Talbot was here. She needn't have worried. Freddy was immediately descended upon by three hopeful young women and expertly detached from his sis
ter.

  “Charlotte? Are you well.”

  “Lizzy, I'm so glad you've made it. What happened to Freddy?”

  “Word got out that a personable rich single young man was at the concert and the usual swarm of unattached beauties went after his attentions.”

  “Freddy?”

  “Freddy.” Elizabeth smiled at some inside joke.

  “I fail to see what's funny about it.”

  “He was just complaining that he wasn't meeting any pretty women. This shows him that he has to be careful in what his wishes for.”

  “I'm pretty. He's met me hasn't he?”

  “Yes, but you don't like him, do you?”

  Mr. James King, master of the ceremonies, a man dressed in formal, if somewhat old fashioned, clothes came out and reminded the crowd that the music was about to start and would they please take their seats.

  The concert started, a mixture of arias, mostly in Italian and by Mozart. Charlotte was entranced by the music and sat there rapt in attention. She was lost in another world. Elizabeth found it a bit screeching and sharp. As her Italian wasn't up to following the music, she found it less than entrancing and sat there slightly bored with the whole thing.

  Intermission came far too soon for Charlotte and as a welcome relief for Elizabeth. As they rose and made their way through the crowds to try to find some punch, Elizabeth was accosted by several gentlemen. These gentlemen had heard from their mothers, aunts and sisters that a wealthy heiress was in town. More importantly, their female relatives passed on the news that she was single and reasonably attractive. Someone recognized Elizabeth as the heiress. The news quickly passed along the gossip line that she was more than reasonably attractive, and the swarm descended upon her.

  Elizabeth vainly tried to include Charlotte in the conversation, but was borne away. Charlotte stood there, slightly upset at being left out but mostly puzzled by what happened. There was a gentle touch on her elbow.

  “Miss De Vere?” It was Freddy, he was smiling, and he was carrying two glasses of punch. “Would you care for a glass of punch?”

  “Mr. Talbot. What are you doing here?”

  “I have to apologize for Lizzy, she shouldn't have left you alone like that.”

  Charlotte paused, suddenly breathless, unsure what to say.

  “She's not as good as I am at quickly detaching leeches. Would you accept my company as second best?”