The Purchased Peer

by Giselle Marks

  “They have done a remarkably good job, but you were right; the straw paper does look well, Xavier,” she said smiling. “I really did not think the rooms would look this good when they were redecorated, the house seemed so dingy.”

  “As a boy I remember it as always being shabby and grubby, it just got shabbier over the years. The house looks better than I ever believed it could, thank you so much Celestina,” he said kissing her hand again, while Millett stared at the new wallpaper.

  Celestina doubted that even the high sticklers who considered themselves arbiters of society taste would find much to ridicule in how Kittleton Place had been restored. Celestina bit her lip and hoped that Xavier would not consider her new town house in bad taste. She had moved in and her new staff were making the place run relatively smoothly, but everything felt so modern and artificial, compared to the old world charm of Kittleton. She found it strange she had missed the house as well as her husband and while she had been in London, she had been wishing she could see what was happening at Kittleton.

  During her absence in London, Celestina had felt jealous of Xavier. She found herself worrying about whether he had been seeing other women, because she had been away so long. As he showed her around their country home, she found herself looking for signs he had been unfaithful, but could find nothing to indicate he was anything but her loyal and loving husband. His very charm and attentiveness made her suspicious, yet she had to admit nothing in his manner had changed, except he seemed even more pleased to see her.

  Finally, when their tour was over, he took her to his carving room and showed her the pieces he had been working on. While he was apologetic that his skills were, in his own opinion, very limited, Celestina was full of admiration for how he spent his evenings. Other lords might not spend their spare time carving, but it was clear he had taken much time working at his carvings. It was not an activity which involved meeting attractive females or anything else she could complain of. Perhaps her relief at finding how he had spent his evenings made her more effusive in her praise, than she would have been otherwise, but she gave him more compliments over his woodworking, than she had before.

  They had another glass of wine together and shortly afterwards retired.

  When Xavier reached for Celestina, she giggled and flung her arms around him. Perhaps the long absence from Kittleton and his bed influenced her behaviour or she was just a little tipsy but she had made no real decision to change her behaviour towards him. Xavier however was overjoyed, making love to her with renewed hope and tenderness. He risked a rebuke by kissing her lips and then deepening the kiss, murmuring endearments. When she kissed him back, and buried her fingers in his long curls, Xavier was happier than he had been since their marriage. Her participation in his enthusiastic lovemaking was all the Christmas presents he had wanted.

  Only Xavier made it down to breakfast the following morning but Celestina had slipped out to her own room during the night, ashamed to remember how she had uninhibitedly enjoyed her husband’s love making and kisses. If she had not known she had bought him, she could almost believe his loving words. She found herself blushing knowing she would never again be able to pretend she was only allowing his lovemaking purely to have an heir. She cried herself to sleep alone, but when she woke, found she had a headache. When her dresser entered to enquire whether she would take breakfast on a try, Celestina found herself breaking her own rules and declaring she would sleep in that morning and would rise a couple of hours late.

  Xavier had not really expected Celestina down for breakfast and assumed she would have a tray in her room. However he was surprised at Hector’s absence.

  “Do you know, Millett, whether Mr Browne returned to Kittleton last night?”

  “No, my lord. I will enquire of the footman who was on duty.”

  The butler briefly left the room, returning to inform Xavier,

  “According to Radley, he was very late, my lord, a little drunk and he smelled of perfume. He did not think it his place to ask him where he had been.”

  “No, quite. So, Millett, I don’t think we need to expect him to come down for breakfast.”

  Xavier spent some time over correspondence, paying a few bills and registering them into his account book dutifully. He was finding the accounts less onerous now after some months’ practice. Then having cleared his desk he went out to the grand dining room which was in the process of being re-arranged to act as a buffet for the staff party that evening. He watched as his servants went cheerfully about organising for their party. Much had already been decorated with greenery tied up with colourful ribbons. The other door from the dining room connected to the great hall, through which he could see Mrs Fretwell’s girls busy festooning the room with more garlands of greenery. Almost all the staff including Hodges, his valet, and Celestina’s maid or dresser, Amy, were busily setting up for the party. No distinction seemed to be being made for whether they were outdoor workers or house servants who answered directly to Millett or Mrs Fretwell. It seemed who was in charge had already been settled, as only Eliza issued orders.

  He had to move to one side as the carpet was rolled back up by a couple of his footmen and borne away. However little dust was left behind, reminding him how well Mrs Fretwell was succeeding as housekeeper even if she did not live in the house. A maid swept up the tiny amount of dust left behind, as he considered the matter, although he had heard no order for it to be done. The table had been stripped of the usual fancy silver, glass and china and pushed closer to the wall. As he watched fresh cloths were laid and then they were edged with garlands or greenery entwined with ribbons. Beyond suggesting to Eliza that she had the ballrooms’ two huge fireplaces lit with a fire early to take the chill off the room, Xavier could see he was only getting in the way. So he turned to leave.

  “My lord, have any of the men been asked to cut a Yule log? No one has mentioned it and we will need it here before dusk,” Eliza asked as he reached the door.

  “John, have you arranged a yule log?” he asked John Burland.

  “Sorry I did not think of it, my lord. Still we could go and cut down a tree now?”

  “I think I have a suitable tree in mind, get a farm cart harnessed and I’ll change into working clothes.”

  ***

  When Celestina and Hector emerged for their midday meal, it was to be informed by Millett, somewhat pompously, that his lordship had gone to cut the Yule log and that he would be back later in the afternoon to change for the workers’ party which would be held that evening. After eating their meal Celestina and Hector went to inspect the preparations for the party. Now the buffet table was laden with food, covered with linen clothes. Barrels of cider had been brought up together with a stack of mismatched plates and tankards. As they watched the servants bustle past carrying yet more food, singing a traditional Christmas song. The words related more to the drinking of a toast and eating many good things, than any depiction of the nativity, but the tune was jolly and the servants all seemed to be looking forward to the party. From the productions emerging from the kitchen and the delicious smells floating through the house, it was clear that Antoine was entering fully into the spirit of the season.

  ***

  Xavier enjoyed his day in the wintry sunshine cutting down and preparing the yule logs with John Burland. They cut two lengths to fill both fireplaces and heaved them into the farm cart. Then they sorted the remaining branches for cutting into firewood and the brush for repairing brooms and tinder, leaving it all tidy before returning to the house with their booty.

  When they reached the stables, Xavier left John to organise the carrying of the yule logs into the ballroom. It would be done ceremoniously by the lads after the party had started. Xavier located two empty burlap sacks and having shaken them out to remove any traces of fodder that still remained bore them off to his library. However he found Celestina and Hector had taken refuge there from the bustling industry that had overtaken Kittleton Place. They had been sitting by the f
ireplace talking quietly before getting ready for the party. Xavier thought Celestina quickly replaced her veil as he entered, but did not think much of it.

  He had seen nothing of her face as she had her back to the door. However he thought he caught one word, a name from their conversation as he entered. It was a common enough name but he wondered about hearing it said by Hector and with his late night return, he put two and two together and reached twenty-four. Xavier grinned to himself and moved over to a cupboard which had been moved into the library on his orders.

  “Good afternoon, my lady. Good afternoon Hector, I am just going to load the staff presents into these sacks ready for the party and then I will bath and change. You have plenty of time to get ready. The house is a bit chaotic with so much to be done.”

  “Yes, it soon became clear to us that we were in the way, so as we knew you were out fetching the yule log, I am afraid we invaded your privacy here,” Celestina apologized.

  “Kittleton would not be holding a yule party, except for what you have done for the house and myself, my lady. We are both grateful and as my wife, everything I own is yours. I wish you would make yourself feel more at home,” Xavier said as he stuffed a large number of brown-paper wrapped packages into the sacks. He checked that he had emptied the cupboard before closing the doors once more and relocking it. He left the two sacks in front of the cupboard, bowed to them and then went to find his valet and his bath.

  ***

  The party went well. Too much food was eaten and far too much was drunk. Only Xavier and Enoch Caldercott were ostentatiously abstemious. As the wine, cider, ale and spirits flowed the company began to relax and sang some traditional local songs. The workers were at first very careful not to include anything that might offend the countess’ sensibilities. Then Hector, who had kept pace with the hardest drinkers of the assembly found his voice. He sung a couple of slightly off colour ditties, before breaking into ‘The Trooper Watering his Nag.’ Celestina had been unsure whether his other songs were suitable for mixed company, but she was fairly certain that this song was not.

  Hector’s deep bass sang out “Quoth she, what is this so stiff and warm,”

  She felt her face go scarlet as the workers and their families joined in raucously with the chorus of “Sing Trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo.”

  “'Tis Ball, my nag, he will do you no harm, Ho, ho, wont he so,”

  “Sing Trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo,” the crowd roared back.

  Celestina turned to Xavier and whispered in his ear, “Do the words mean what I think they do?”

  “Yes,” he replied, “Which is why I wasn’t joining in, my lady.”

  Hector continued on, unaware of Celestina’s disapprobation.

  “But what is this hangs under his chin…”

  “Do you know the words, Xavier?” she whispered.

  “Yes of course. The song is popular locally, Hector will be thought well of, for singing it.”

  “'Tis the bag he puts his provender in,” Hector bellowed out.

  “Oh!” was all she said. She sat quietly feeling more and more embarrassed. Xavier put his arm round her almost for comfort. She felt very grateful for her veil as she did not know where to look,

  “But what if my nag should chance to slip in?”

  “Sing Trolly lolly, lolly, lolly, lo.”

  “Then catch hold of the grass that grows on the brim…”

  Xavier whispered to his wife, “I apologize for the unsuitability of the words, my lady, but if I stop him singing, they will be very disappointed. Hector has a fine carrying voice.”

  “I understand, Xavier, I was just rather shocked…” she whispered back, her face reddening as the song progressed to a very bawdy end.

  Everyone cheered Hector and he was slapped on the back but Xavier made a small gesture to Amos Burland, who stood up and sang a perfectly acceptable romantic song, in a melodious tenor and soon Celestina had filed Hector’s lapse to a dusty corner of her memories.

  It was well into morning before Xavier found his bed, on that Christmas morning.

  On the following morning they would process to church and Antoine had indicated he would serve a Christmas feast at two in the afternoon, although Xavier felt that everyone had overeaten at the evening party. He himself had not much imbibed, but now that Celestina and Hector had retired, he drew himself another glass of cider and toasted his staff. He thought the party had gone extremely well and they had appreciated their presents. Enoch had offered to take the old carriage with his family and old Harry Mundy home to the cottages. Annie Caldercott was flushed from enjoying herself, but Enoch had been fairly restrained with his lord’s eyes on him. Xavier wished the old man well as Enoch helped him into the small carriage. He would keep the horse and carriage overnight and then take Mr Mundy and his own family to church in the morning.

  The vast majority of Xavier’s employees joined the procession to church on Christmas morning, as did those now dwelling in the cottages on the way, although many of the men were suffering a slight indisposition after the party the night before. Matthew Bayliss and his new wife Katherine had driven over from Brook Farm and would join the Falconers for the Christmas feast. The church was crammed and the congregation lofted their singing to the rafters. Xavier’s fine baritone voice harmonised with those of the villagers, giving praise to the Lord. Xavier actually approved of the vicar’s sermon for once, which was of Jesus being born to save sinners and he congratulated him on it as he processed out the church.

  “Thank you, your lordship. I wondered if it would be possible to discuss the school with yourself and your ladyship,” Reverend Lytchefelde asked looking unusually humble.

  “Are there problems with the school?” Xavier asked knowing that he had dumped considerable work on the clergyman’s hands.

  “No, my lord, it has been extraordinarily successful. We have been so pleased with the progress the children are making, that we were considering extending it. The thing is old Mrs Redding died last month. It was long expected and her daughter, Miss Constance Redding nursed her to the end. However since her mother’s death, she has been helping at the school, while seeking a new job as a governess. However there are more pupils who would like to attend. There is a house that we thought might be suitable as a regular school house with a bit of work and we could take more children and cover the full week if Miss Redding could be employed…”

  The vicar sort of petered out and stood looking hopeful, his eyes mostly fixed on Celestina.

  “The main problem being lack of money, Reverend?” she enquired.

  “Yes my lady,” he said looking down embarrassedly.

  “Why don’t you write down your expected costings for the new school building, Miss Redding and school supplies and send it to the Place. Then we can probably consider the matter of making a special grant towards the school. I am not planning to leave until the 28th, so there is time to discuss the matter before then.”

  The procession returned to Kittleton Place. Antoine laid on a fine spread which the diners struggled to make an impression on. Apart from the Baylisses, there was only Hector Browne to keep them company, but the spirit was cheerful and they discussed the vicar’s proposal amongst them. Celestina was generally in favour of supporting the project if the costings were not too profligate. Matthew had heard of a couple of small farms that might be coming up for sale and was proposing visiting them after St. Stephen’s Day.

  “There is a hunt on St Stephen’s Day, but I don’t intend to attend this year. The Master is Lord Gregory Stanner of Staines Moor Grange. A number of ladies hunt, but I think we can avoid going this year.”

  “I suppose I must meet the local gentry some time, Xavier.”

  After the meal, the Baylisses left because the days were short and they wished to reach Brook Farm before nightfall. Celestina gave Xavier presents for Christmas. She had bought him a large emerald stick pin to adorn his cravat and books of poetry from Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Words
worth who were currently in fashion. She gave Hector a new beaver and a striped belcher neckerchief which he had been apparently yearning for. Xavier had found the matter of giving present s to his wife difficult. He was not prepared to purchase her something with what was her own money.

  “I did not want to buy you a Christmas present with your own money, my lady. So please forgive my amateur efforts, but I made you this,” Xavier said shyly.

  He had made her a jewellery box. He had taken considerable pains in carving the box in a dark redwood and polished it to a fine finish. The lid of the box was carved with the Swan of Blighton Holdings and the two falcons shown on his own arms. He had written to the college of heraldry over establishing Celestina’s arms, so their children could use their conjoined shield, realising the swan emblem she had been using for her company business was not officially decided as her coat of arms. His request had recently been agreed and so their new shield could now be used. The box had been fitted with a brass lock by the local blacksmith, but within the box, a second level was covered and secured by a wooden puzzle lock, which Xavier explained the workings of, to Celestina. She was very pleased with the present, especially as he had gone to the trouble of getting her coat of arms agreed.

  For Hector, Xavier gave a travelling writing desk, which he had also made, from the design of an old but very battered desk used by a cavalier member of his family during the civil war. The desk had compartments for quills, a knife, sand, sealing wax and inks. It would secure three ledgers together with some extra paper and a blotter. Xavier had decorated the lid in marquetry, a new skill he was learning and it showed a scene of the tower of London, as Xavier had found a print that he could work from for the illustration. Hector was overjoyed with his gift, which Xavier had had a leather bag made by the saddler to fit, so it could be carried on horseback or stored carefully on a carriage. He was wondering if Celestina might like a more delicate one made for her. He knew such items could be purchased, but he did not feel that was the same when it was her money buying it.