“Didn’t I tell you? You know that I am interested in the financial details of well-run farms, and I had never seen the accounts of a stud farm. I seem to be able to learn a great deal from financial records. Many of the considerations for a stud farm are the same as for our dairy farm, but others are quite different. The basic structure of that stud farm seems to be very solid, though I did see some aspects that could be improved.”
“I wonder what will happen to Mr. Griffiths when they sell it.”
“He will have to look for employment elsewhere. A new owner should take him on if he can persuade Mr. Griffiths to leave Salton Masham.”
“I don’t suppose that you would consider adding the stud farm to Dipton Hall, if we could afford it.”
“It is up to you, of course, Richard. You certainly could afford it. As you know, Mr. Edwards sends me copies of his reports and you are indeed very well off.”
“The decision about whether to buy the stud farm may be up to me in principle, but with me at sea, the burden of overseeing it would fall on you, I know. If you do not want it, then I don’t either. I know that legally it is all mine, but I think of it as our wealth. You already have undertaken more than I could even imagine that you would do or that I could undertake myself if I weren’t at sea.”
“Oh, managing a horse farm would not be a problem if we had someone like Mr. Griffiths to do the real work. I enjoy all that I am now doing and would enjoy the extra interest. Yes, I think we could easily include a stud farm in our other activities at Dipton Hall. To make it successful, I think the trick would be to make sure that one’s reputation for first-class mounts for gentlemen is maintained. Running the racing side at a profit is much less certain. I am not sure that one can make money off the racing stable directly. Too many people are prepared to put too much money into that aspect of horse breeding for one to count on its being profitable. But if the other half of the business is well run, a good reputation for racing horses may help to keep the whole operation profitable. If overseeing it becomes too much, we could always hire a steward for Dipton Hall who would only need some overseeing.”
“You know far more about all this than I do, my love. However, I would like to know that Dipton Hall is breeding good horses.”
“Well, let’s study the details about how it would affect Dipton Hall before plunging into it. We would need much larger stables to begin with, of course, and if we move the stables, we really will have to think about how it will affect the vistas and other shaping of the grounds that may be needed to show our home at maximum advantage. I don’t think your seat should be overshadowed by our business. I imagine that we can find a solution to that problem if we put our heads together so, yes, we can certainly undertake having a stud farm at Dipton Hall.”
“Good.”
They left the tea shop, well pleased with their conversation. After they had mounted, Daphne raised another subject.
“Richard, what do you think about Twelfth Night?”
“What about Twelfth Night?”
“We have never had much of a celebration at Dipton Manor. It is not my father’s sort of thing. He did allow the servants to have a bit of a feast and some music in the hall that night, but we didn’t take part in it.”
“When I was growing up, at least when I was little, there was quite a celebration or so I remember. But as my father’s affairs deteriorated and he became more irritable, I think it rather was phased out. You would have to ask my mother whether and how they celebrate Twelfth Night at Ashbury Abbey now. Why do you ask?”
“I think, maybe, we should encourage some sort of celebration. It might mean a lot to the servants. Did you notice how wistful Mr. Griffiths seemed when he mentioned how it isn’t celebrated at Salton Masham Grange?”
“I did. You are right. I do not have to leave until after Twelfth Night so I can participate in the festivities.”
Daphne laughed, “Then so can Carstairs. Elsie for sure will want us to permit something for Twelfth Night.”
Chapter XV
Daphne and Giles spent the next few days forming more detailed plans for how Dipton Hall could fit a stud farm among its other activities. They sketched plans for the stables and layouts for the necessary paddocks. Daphne insisted that when they considered one part of the estate for the stud, they should also consider where the uses to which it was presently allocated would be accommodated elsewhere. Dipton Hall with its extensive home fields was a successful, ongoing operation and she did not want to compromise that accomplishment by taking on the new activity.
The planning was well advanced by New Year’s Day. The following day, Daphne and Giles again rode over to Salton Masham. The view of Salton Masham Grange, when they topped the rise leading to the valley in which it lay, revealed smoke coming from most of the chimneys indicating that the owners were at home. They proceeded to the main house and told the butler that they had come to see Mr. Audley.
The master of the house rose to greet them from a comfortable-looking chair. He was a tall, slim man, appearing to be about forty years of age, with mutton-chop whiskers. They hardly went with his long nose and austere face. Its lines suggested that displeasure was his habitual expression.
“Sir Richard, Griffiths told me that you had been looking at the stables. What can I do for you?” Mr. Audley ignored Daphne, except for a minimal initial bow.
“We understand that your stud farm is for sale.”
“No, it isn’t. I did indicate to Griffiths that I would be closing the enterprise and was thinking of selling it completely, but I have reconsidered. With this war, the army will require a great many horses. Especially draught horses to pull carts and guns. And they will not be too fussy about quality as long as the creatures look strong. I am going to switch to raising such animals immediately.”
“What will happen to your existing stock and training equipment?”
“Oh, I am sending all the horses and foals to auction. I expect to make a much better profit than if I have them properly trained and sold afterwards. Many have already been sold or have been spoken for and the rest will go soon.”
“Then I am sorry to have troubled you, sir. Good luck in your new venture.”
“It is not a matter of luck, but of seeing where the demand is. I am surprised that you, a naval captain, have the time to consider breeding horses and training them. If you spent your time at sea, as you are supposed to, honest men would not lose ventures to the enemy.”
Giles tried to maintain his calm. “Have you suffered misfortune, Mr. Audley?”
“I have, sir! I have. A very promising venture to Spain, bringing in sherry. Disappeared. Probably taken by privateers or pirates. What is the Navy doing, sir, to protect our trade? Nothing! And I laid out good money to get the wine cheap by bribing the tax people in Cadiz.”
“Where was this cargo destined to go?”
“To Cornwall, sir, to Cornwall.”
“And to which port?”
“No port, of course. To be landed in a secluded bay, away from the excise.”
“So you complain about the Navy, but want to escape taxes to help pay for it?”
“Of course not. I pay more than my share of taxes. Far more.”
“Well, good day to you, sir. I trust that your horse-breeding will be as successful as your smuggling and bribery. Come along, Lady Giles.”
Giles turned and marched out of the house, with Daphne trailing along behind him, pausing only as they accepted their coats from the butler.
“Wretched man. Breaks the law, cheats the government, and complains about the Navy. I wouldn’t buy an old pan from that tinker!” Giles fumed. “Certainly not his breeding and training facilities. Pity the poor army sergeants who are stuck with his horses.”
Daphne had never seen Giles so angry. She hesitated to confirm with him what seemed obvious – that this was the end of their plans to raise and train hunting or riding horses. She was disappointed, but Giles seemed to be more than disappointed. As they
approached the fork in the drive, where one branch led to the stables and the other to the house, Mr. Griffiths was waiting for them.
“I’m sorry, Lady Giles, Sir Richard, that you have made a trip for no purpose. Mr. Audley only told me this morning about his new plans, and especially about how he would be disposing of the hunting aspect of the stables. I feel badly for having misled you.”
To Daphne’s surprise, Giles immediately resumed his usual air of affability. “No reason to feel badly, Mr. Griffiths. You weren’t to know. Are you going to stay on to manage this new venture?”
“I am not! If Mr. Audley were seriously intending to raise good working-horses and develop excellent blood lines for them, I would be happy to stay. But that is not his intention. He intends to breed any old cart horses to each other, no selection, no training, just foist them off on the army. He claims he knows jobbers who will be taking any sort of animal at fixed prices, quality be damned. I can’t have any part of that, sir.”
“Then what will you do?”
“I do not know. I will have to find another position, hopefully one where my real skills are needed. I don’t want to stay near Salton Masham, not now, not to see the reputation that Old Mr. Audley built up for Salton Masham Grange dragged through the mud.”
“I cannot guarantee anything, of course, but there may be a position at Dipton Hall for you. Lady Giles and I will have to do some calculations and see how horse breeding or training might fit in with what we are now doing. If it is convenient, come over to Dipton in the next few days, and we can talk more about it.”
Giles and Daphne rode off to Ameschester.
“Richard, what is going on? Why did you invite Mr. Griffiths to come to Dipton Hall? Surely our horse plans are dead after what Mr. Audley said, aren’t they? Isn’t that why you got so angry?”
“No, Daphne. I was angry at that sanctimonious hypocrite complaining about Navy protection for his illegal smuggling venture. I have every hope that his breeding venture will fail, though it probably won’t. But I see no reason to abandon our plans, though we may have to change them. Develop our own blood-lines rather than take over Salton Masham’s. Griffiths has a great reputation and may be invaluable in setting up a breeding operation. Of course, it is up to you as well as to me, in fact mostly up to you since I shall be at sea. But I don’t want to abandon the idea.”
They rode on, talking animatedly about what would and would not be possible and where Griffiths might fit into the plans. The reason for Giles’s enthusiasm for Griffiths also became evident.
“Daphne, I hope you won’t misunderstand me. I believe that you already have your hands full with running Dipton Hall and all its agricultural affairs as well as those of your father. In fact, I think you should think of getting some sort of manager to help you and take over some of the load. I had hoped, when we first talked of it, that I could play a bigger part, especially in relation to the proposed raising of horses, but realistically that will not happen until Boney is beaten. And I hope that soon you will have additional matters to occupy you.”
“What are you thinking of?”
“Ugh…well…you know…ugh…children.” Giles was blushing, so furiously that Daphne could see it even on his weather-beaten face.
“Oh!” was her response, and it was her turn to feel a rush of blood to her face. She had hoped to have children, though the timing of her brief honeymoon had made it impossible that she would be with child. She had every hope that this visit by her husband would produce the desired result, but she had never even considered mentioning this to her husband. Neither of them knew how to discuss the subject together. However, she did hope that his concern would have a genuine basis in fact before long.
“Griffiths has much more experience in raising first-rate mounts that we have,” Giles firmly changed the subject. “In fact, he is very well known for being the guiding hand behind Ashton Masham Grange in the horse world, and it has been one of the top places. I was thinking that we should snap him up if we can, even if his real use to us may be somewhat speculative at this point.”
“You have a very good point. I like him, and he probably knows more about raising animals in general than I do, quite apart from horses. I wonder what we should offer him. We should be able to provide him a very nice cottage to live in. The one that became vacant when Mr. Gramley’s steward was dismissed is still available, and it is really quite a superior residence. I know that Mr. Griffith’s wife doesn’t really want to leave Salton Masham, but having a nice place ready to move into might make the transition easier.”
They rode on talking animatedly about the possibilities that having an expert on breeding and training horses would bring to Dipton Hall.
When Griffiths appeared at Dipton Hall a couple of days later, they quickly reached agreement about employing him, and he suggested other ways he might help them in addition to those for which they had already planned. In particular, he looked over the rough plans they had drawn up for placing the new stable block and suggested several improvements. Daphne, in particular, realized that he would be more of a help than she had expected. He had a good feel for the possibilities of the countryside and how it could be exploited in a way that would keep, or even increase, its charm. He would be an excellent addition to the staff of Dipton Hall.
The twelfth day of Christmas saw all the servants at Dipton Hall extra busy. They wanted no failures in service to endanger the treat promised for the evening. All the servants from all the residences closest to Dipton Hall -- Dipton Manor, Dipton Dower Cottage and Dipton Vicarage would join together for the celebration and so it could be arranged with minimal inconvenience to their employers. The gentry would all have luncheon at their own homes and then would gather at Dipton Hall for dinner. That meal would be served at five and the festivities in the servant’s hall would commence at eight o’clock. Though the servants didn’t discuss it for fear that doing so would somehow reduce the possibility of its occurring, each one hoped that, if their masters and mistresses were not inconvenienced, they might continue the celebration in years to come.
Daphne noted that at tea all the servants seemed to be nervous, trying extra hard to please and not be intrusive. Even Elsie seemed to be on edge as she helped Daphne to dress. The atmosphere seemed to be even worse as they filed in for dinner.
“What is going on?” Daphne whispered to Giles as they entered the dining room and she noted that the footmen seemed to be as stiff as metal soldiers.
“They are afraid that they will made a mistake and then we will be angry and cancel the festivities.”
“Surely not. No one would do that, would they?”
“We wouldn’t. But I am sure my father might or even my mother. Most of the servants don’t know us all that well, particularly me. It is most unfortunate. If Ralph doesn’t unbend a bit he will spill the soup onto my mother’s lap.”
Daphne couldn’t help giggling at the thought of that event, and then realized that her hilarity would make the servants even more nervous. Luckily, no such disaster occurred. The meal proceeded as usual, and no untoward event occurred before Daphne led the ladies into the drawing room. A bowl of nuts was knocked over at the sideboard while the three men were gathering at one end of the table. They all studiously avoided taking any notice of the mishap.
Surprisingly, the nervousness of the servants spread to the drawing room. Catherine Crocker stumbled worse than ever when she attempted to play the piano-forte and Daphne’s performance was far from her best. Things only improved when she and Giles tried a movement of the piano and violin sonata on which they had been working. Giles seemed to be totally unaffected by the prospect of visiting the servant’s hall later in the evening and his confidence transferred to Daphne. His sangfroid spread to the others so that when eight chimed on the clock in the drawing room, they all descended to the servant’s hall in an orderly parade.
The servants had completed all the arrangements to receive them, but were all nervous at what they co
uld only consider a bit of a reversal of roles. The trestle tables on which the dinner for all the servants from the different houses, both indoor and outdoor, had been served had been cleared away, and a table with an enormous punch bowl, cups and ladle had been set out.
Daphne had warned Giles about what his role was to be. He stepped confidently behind the table, picked up the ladle and a cup which he filled before handing it to Daphne. She, in turn, passed it to the first servant in a line that had quickly formed on the appearance of their master and mistress. When all the servants had been served, Giles and Daphne prepared cups for all the gentry who had dined with them. Giles then poured cups for himself and Daphne, raised his own cup high and said, “Here is to all who have served us in the past year. We thank you all.”
Everyone took a sip from their cup before Steves replied, “Here is to our masters and mistresses. May they and their houses prosper!”
This time all cups were drained. Daphne, who had invented the ceremony herself when no one else seemed sure as to what should be done, nodded to Giles who in turn announced, “Let the dancing begin.”
Steves nodded to the musicians, who were in a corner of the Hall, to play. Giles asked Mrs. Wilson, the housekeeper at Dipton Hall to dance while Steves invited Daphne. Pairings of the other quality persons with their senior servants followed while the footmen asked the ladies, who were in a majority, to dance. The exception was Mr. Griffiths, whom Steves had asked to come for the night when he learned that the horse expert would be joining the staff at Dipton Hall. The new stable master, greatly daring, asked the Countess of Camshire to dance and did a very serviceable job guiding her onto the dance floor. A vigorous country dance ensued following which the upstairs party retreated to their proper quarters. Daphne suggested to all of them that they retire early, so that the servants who attended them at bedtime would be freed to take part in the rest of the revelry in the servant’s hall.
A Continuing War_At Home and at Sea, 1803-1804 Page 20