A Continuing War_At Home and at Sea, 1803-1804

by John G. Cragg

  Giles left the gathering early to write to Daphne. He had a lot to tell her, all about the long day and the various successes that had accompanied it. As he described how the dawn raid was discovered, he felt a slight unease. It somewhat disappeared when he got to the Dutch frigate, but it reappeared to nag him as he got to describing the celebration in the wardroom. He put down his pen and considered what the source of his unease might be. He found that it stemmed from Lieutenant Kirkpatrick. His initial reaction to the news of his officer’s death was relief that a problem had taken care of itself. Yes, he was glad that Kirkpatrick was dead and was relieved that the lieutenant had not done more damage. But somehow those feelings did not seem to be appropriate. Shouldn’t he have done something to enhance his subordinate’s performance? Why had he ordered Kirkpatrick to take command of the sailors in the north-east assault? He was only lucky that more of his people were not injured by the untimely actions of the lieutenant. Shouldn’t he have kept his subordinate with him and used a midshipman instead to command the sailors, or shifted Mr. Miller to go with Mr. Macauley and given Mr. Milton another midshipman?

  Giles found that his pen had written these thoughts and doubts in the letter to Daphne even as he was formulating them. Surely, he shouldn’t burden her with these things. How could she respect him if she knew the doubts that sometimes assailed him? Surely it was up to him to maintain a sure confidence in everything so that she would know that she could always rely on him. But she had shown him that at times she had doubts about her decisions concerning the farms. They had succeeded during their few days in Brighton in stripping away much of the formal attitude of self-confidence and sureness that was a large part of their upbringings, especially Giles’s. Did he really want to slip back into that mask of self-confident sureness in the correctness of his actions and opinions, even though, in reality, he had strong doubts? No, he would risk showing his hesitations. That way he might even get support for overcoming them.

  Having wrestled with himself over the matter, Giles did not remove the page with the account of his worry, even guilt, about how well he had handled the problem which the lieutenant had presented. He would take his chances that showing his vulnerability would not lessen him in Daphne’s eyes, even though it went against all his upbringing to take the gamble. Instead, he brought the letter to an affectionate end, ready for posting in the morning.

  Chapter X

  Daphne put her dinner scheme into practice on returning to Dipton Hall. After taking another bath, over Elsie’s protests that it was not healthy to bathe so often, she wrote notes inviting Major Stoner, Captain Hicks and Lieutenant Charles to dine with her on the coming Saturday.

  Next she joined Lady Marianne and her nieces in the small drawing-room before dinner. Talk of the hunt and who had been there occupied them not only until dinner was announced, but also during the first part of the meal. At that point Daphne mentioned meeting the three military men and inviting them to Dipton Hall. She found herself positively grilled about the three guests not only by her nieces, but also by Lady Marianne who was particularly interested in Major Stoner. Daphne portrayed him as a diamond in the rough, though her real opinion was that he was just quartz that would not take well to cutting and polishing. She waited until they had withdrawn into the drawing room to mention that she understood that Captain Giles was intending to give the two girls modest dowries. She indicated indirectly that she didn’t know the amount, which was true, but Daphne was not going to let on that the first notions of her husband and the figures which she was herself thinking about would undoubtedly be considered to be very generous as a wedding gift to compensate for a young lady’s having of no real influence or access to the higher levels of society. The announcement was greeted with unbridled excitement by her three listeners. They knew that even a modest sum could make the difference in whether marriage to them would be feasible for many very respectable young men of limited income. Their speculation about the army officers whom Daphne had met also revived.

  The enthusiasm was used by Lady Marianne to get her two daughters to perform on the piano-forte. This rather grated on Daphne’s nerves for the girls were not accomplished musicians. She realized, however, that this disadvantage might be partly because they had had no realistic expectations of ever getting a genteel husband to whom such a skill might be attractive. The promise of a dowry, or a wedding portion as they called it, even a modest one, might make it worthwhile to pursue an ability to attract men through music. Indeed, after a bit of playing, each one took a turn singing while accompanied by her sister. Daphne got an early escape on the basis of pleading fatigue as a result of the hunt, though in truth her main reason was to escape the cacophony which had taken over the drawing room.

  Daphne had trouble falling asleep that night, even though she was exhausted by the day’s activities. She was reflecting on the effect of her announcement on the others in the drawing room. For the first time she realized how the prospect of a dowry could turn hopes and dreams, which up until then had had little chance of fulfillment, into possibilities that needed to be pursued. She had been regarding her companions as at best a nuisance that had unavoidably been forced on her as part of her marriage. Now she realized that they had probably been no happier with the situation than she was. Indeed, their situation was worse. They had no real assurance that their step-brother would keep supporting them and their prospects otherwise were grim. Marriage would have been a distant chance, since any suitor would have to be able to take on the expenses of a wife without any recompense from her dowry. A long, unfulfilling future lay before each of them. No wonder they were not the most entertaining of people to share her home with! So far she had regarded her thoughts of match-making as only a way to get rid of a nuisance. Now she realized that it would be an act of charity as well. With that comforting thought, Daphne fell asleep.

  She was surprised the next morning that her first caller was Lord David.

  “Did you enjoy the dinner last night?” was Daphne’s first question, said in a tone with a bit of an edge to it.

  “Immensely,” Lord David teased her. “I have never seen so many pompous old men gathered together. Quite put my college’s high table to shame.”

  “No, seriously, was it enjoyable?”

  “Yes, on balance I would say it was. There were some good chaps there and many had useful things to say about the area and people. I even found out where to buy good hunting horses – and other horses, for that matter.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s near a village called Salton Masham, on the other side of Ameschester. It is rumored that the stud farm may be closing down. The owner died and his heir apparently is a London man with little interest in horses. That, actually, is why I am here.”

  “Here? Why?”

  “The man I was talking with suggested that it might be wise to see what horses they have for sale if I am interested in getting a hunter, in case they are about to sell off the stud to someone who wants to raise horses themselves. Your father and I are intending to ride over there today and we wondered if you would like to accompany us.”

  “I would certainly enjoy that. Just let me get changed. I won’t be a minute.”

  The time taken was more like thirty minutes than one, since Daphne first had to summon Elsie from the bowels of the house where she was cleaning the clothes that Daphne had worn on the hunt and Elsie had to make sure that Daphne’s riding boots were cleaned and ready. It also took time for Elsie to help Daphne out of her morning gown and into her riding clothes and to brush her hair again. Elsie was used to her mistress arriving home looking disheveled, but she would not allow her to depart in less than perfect order. At least Lord David and Daphne did not then have to wait for Daphne’s horse. As soon as her plans were known, word had been sent to the stables to saddle Moonbeam. The mare was at the portico along with Lord David’s mount when they emerged from the front entrance of Dipton Hall. Mr. Moorhouse was already on horseback at the end of his drive
when the other two came along.

  It was market day in Ameschester. Progress through the streets was hardly hindered by crowds until they came to the market square itself. There a crowd had gathered in the south-west corner of the square. The trio of riders eased their way towards that corner for that was where their road exited the square. They were blocked near the corner by the crowd. There were several other riders who, like them, were looking on to see the source of the blockage. Lord David recognized one of the mounted men from the Hunt Dinner.

  “What is going on?” he asked.

  “Dick Hanks is trying to sell his wife Martha. That’s him with a bridle around Martha’s neck.”

  Daphne could see that there was indeed a stout, red-faced woman dressed only in her shift, with a rope bridle around her neck which was held by a small man. He seemed to be shouting at another man near to him, though the hub-bub of the crowd made it difficult to make out his words.

  “Sell his wife?” asked Lord David. “And if she bosses him, why is she wearing that bridle?”

  “Yes, that is what he is doing and the bridle is necessary for the action, as is her being dressed only in her shift. The two of them have been fighting together ever since they were married and that was five years ago. She is a complete shrew and leads him a dog’s life. When he tries to control the woman by hitting her, she just hits him back and she is better at it than he is. That harridan definitely runs their household. The bridle is only to show that she is his in law if not in fact and so he can sell her and the shift says that she is bringing nothing with her – including his debts.”

  “So he is really is going to sell her?”

  “The story is that he called her a useless scold in the tavern last night, and he would happily sell her if anyone would buy his woman. She responded by daring him to try. She just declared here that she would happily sign the paper for anyone who would buy her off of him. Her words were actually ‘if anyone will buy me off of this turd.’

  “What makes it particularly interesting is that it is said that in the tavern last night two men were teasing him on not being able to control his woman. He responded that they certainly would not be able to do any better if she belonged to them. The two who were ridiculing him were arguing that Martha would make a very good wife for anyone who could control her, and Dick said just let them try. If they liked her so much, they could buy her. She was worthless to him, but she must be worth a few shillings.

  “So here he is, and he has been daring the two men to put some money where their mouths were. The crowd is encouraging them, and Dick is saying that they won’t buy her because they know she will put them under her boot just like she did him. She will too, I’d guess. But their pride is involved. In response to the taunting, one of them offered sixpence and the other offered a shilling. They have a bidding contest going on, and her price is up to half a crown and still rising.”

  The three riders from Dipton watched in fascination as that bidding continued with much taunting and insulting of the various men’s abilities and manhoods into which the auctioned woman joined with passion. The price rose to seven and six, whereupon one of the men who was bidding yelled, “That’s too dear for me. You can have her, but don’t come to me if she controls you the way she does Dick Hanks.”

  The crowd broke up with the entertainment at an end, and Daphne and her companions were able to resume their journey.

  “Is that legal?” asked Lord David.

  “Probably not,” replied Mr. Moorhouse, “but it is the only way the poor chap can get a divorce. He can’t just abandon her, not unless someone else will take her on. The Parish wouldn’t allow it. The money, and the document of sale they sign, is a commitment to support her. The law says she is her husband’s property, but it also says that he has to support her whether or not he wants to.”

  “I am certainly learning things that they don’t teach at Cambridge,” remarked Lord David.

  “They didn’t teach them at Oxford either,” Mr. Moorhouse rejoined.

  The three riders continued on in companionable silence until they reached Salton Masham where they were directed to the horse farm of Masham Grange. The house itself was large, but not imposing, probably dating back to the time of King Charles II. The stables were newer and were adjacent to several paddocks, some quite evidently fitted out for breaking and training horses. There was a good number of steeds to be seen, grazing in nearby fields, while in the training areas several horses were being put through their paces.

  They were greeted at the stables by a middle-aged man in riding clothes who introduced himself as the stable master, Griffiths by name, and apologized that the owner was not at home. He would be happy to show them the hunters that were ready to be sold. Normally, they would be sent to auction, but with the impending changes, they could also be sold for a favorable price immediately.

  Daphne asked about the impending changes. Mr. Griffiths explained the situation. Mr. Audley, Mr. Daniel Audley the former owner, who had been very committed to his stud farm, had died. His heir, Mr. Stephen Audley, who was only a second cousin, was from London and had no interest in horse breeding. He thought the stables ugly and would tear them down and replace them with a much smaller establishment and felt that the paddocks as laid out distracted from the beauty of the grounds. As a result, Mr. Audley – Mr. Stephen Audley – was going to sell all the horses. Indeed, he might look favorably on an offer for all the horses together and all the moveable equipment used for the stud farm, just to spare himself the trouble of dispensing with it all piecemeal.

  Mr. Moorhouse and Lord David listened to this explanation impatiently, but Daphne was enthralled. What was involved in running a stud, she wondered, and on being given a quick summary by Griffiths, she asked a question that surprised both the stable master and her companions.

  “How profitable is a stud, Mr. Griffiths? Is it a business or a hobby?”

  “It is both, my lady,” was the reply. “There is a good demand for horses of all types, especially with this war on, though heaven only knows when any of the cavalry mounts will see action. That side is highly profitable. But much of the passion that Mr. Audley, Mr. Daniel Audley, that is, had for the stables came from breeding exceptional race horses or jumpers and trying to improve the breed. That can be a much more speculative venture. I am not sure if Mr. Audley made a profit from it, but financial return didn’t seem to matter to him on that part of the venture.”

  “I see. And it is all for sale?”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “Well, I would have to examine the accounts before I could to be truly interested in it as a venture.”

  “I have never heard of a woman owning a stud farm, my lady.”

  “Haven’t you? Well there is a first time for everything. But if we were interested in the venture, it would be owned by my husband, Captain Richard Giles, of course. But really, we are here to look at your hunters, Mr. Griffiths.”

  “Yes, my lady. I knew the name sounded familiar. Dipton Manor. But Captain Giles already has a hunter, does he not, Dark Paul? A fine horse, though not very well trained, as I recall. He would take a very firm hand to control him, though some of his worst habits come from his trainer. That man is not really very good at his job. But why would Captain Giles want another hunter?”

  “This horse would be for me, Mr. Griffiths. Dark Paul is more than I can handle easily. Furthermore, my father, Mr. Moorhouse, and Lord David here both are in need of good hunters.”

  “We surely have some mounts that should interest you. Would you tell me your experience and what sort of horse you are looking for, my lady?”

  “I have almost no experience hunting, especially not in following the hunt directly. So I want a thoroughly trained horse that will not try to be too daring on its own.”

  “Not like Dark Paul, I would think. I believe that we may have just the horse for you. Almost as good as the mare you are riding. Of course, your horse is not a hunter, but she is an extraordinary ex
ample of horseflesh. You really should breed her, my lady. May I ask where you got her?”

  Daphne laughed, “We bred her ourselves. Not intentionally. Our stable boy put her dam into a field with other horses at a time when he should have isolated her. Moonbeam was the result. No pedigree at all.”

  “Sometimes accidents turn out better than our best laid plans, my lady. Though I would never confess that to other breeders. And you, Lord David, what sort of hunter are you needing?”

  Griffiths rapidly discovered the extent of Lord David’s experience and drew the same information from Mr. Moorhouse. He sent a couple of stable boys to gather several horses.

  “I am afraid, my lady, that I only have the one mare that would be suitable for you. She is a little small, but is a very good jumper and full of energy, even though she is fairly easy to handle for a high-spirited mount. I expect you intend to ride astride since that is how you have come here today. I do not think she has been trained to the side-saddle.”

  “That is correct, Griffiths,” broke in Mr. Moorhouse. “I don’t want her to break her neck trying to follow the hunt side-saddled.”

  Daphne laughed, but did not contradict him. The horses were brought and each of them tried the mounts that Mr. Griffiths had thought would be most suitable for them. Daphne fell in love immediately with the mare he had selected for her. She was lively, yet responsive to the reins, required no use of the crop, and, when Daphne took her over some hedges, her action was as smooth as butter. Her companions, with a couple of horses to choose from each, for Mr. Griffiths had determined that their needs were quite different from each other, were each placed on the horns of dilemmas for in each case they felt they preferred the horse they were riding to the other one, no matter which horse they were on. They promised to return shortly to see if they could make up their minds. Daphne also promised to return, but more to allow some bargaining in which her position would be weakened if she wanted to purchase immediately.