Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman (23 page)

On their return to the hall, Freddy
immediately sent an express to Bayliss in London telling him to
purchase the mortgages on Chalfield hall and the surrounding farms
with an eye to foreclosing. He also asked that his groom Henry,
return, with the documents. That done, he asked his father about
the letter. After reading it, his father replied, “Aye, It does
look damaging. That set weren't known for their fidelity. Did Lord
Staverton acknowledge Charlotte?”

“
Yes. I doubt she knows anything
about these letters.”

“
Then this could be embarrassing,
but not much else. Did you pay for it?”

“
A thousand. Too much, but I'll
get that back from the old crow. Trouble is she has at least one
more letter.”

“
How?”

“
We're, I'm buying the mortgages
for her estate. It's just to the north of us and will merge with
this one.”

“
Is it good land?”

“
Much the same as here, but even
more neglected if you can think that were possible. The thing that
bothers me is, should I tell Charlotte?”

“
That's a tough one. Given her
pride, she might just run and hide in her shame.”

“
I'm afraid she might do
that.”

“
Then you'll need a story about
why you're buying Chalfield. She's smart enough to figure out
what's up otherwise.”

“
For Lizzy and Sam?”

“
Might work. Don't want them
setting up household here, but I'd like her settled nearby. If I
let Major Travers marry my daughter, that is.”

“
Sam's a decent man, it's a good
match.”

“
You're probably right Freddy, but
I'm enjoying playing the hard father.”

“
Don't push too hard. Did you know
Lizzy was talking about riding to Gretna Green?”

“
She would do it if I pressed her,
wouldn't she?”

“
You're right about that. She's a
very determined young woman.”

“
Oh all right, I'll let him know
that I approve.”

Having finally convinced Mr. Talbot
of his bona fides, Major Travers explained that he had to return to
London. With the onslaught of events in Staverton, he had
overstayed his leave. More importantly to Freddy and even more so
to Elizabeth, if he was to take up a position as an engineering
advisor with the firm, he needed to investigate what he should do
with his commission. He wasn't sure if he had to 'sell out' or if
there was another alternative. He planned to leave for London until
Freddy offered to send an express for him. “There's no harm in
trying to settle things with a letter, and Lizzy will be so much
happier if you're around.”

As long as Charlotte was there,
Freddy was not about to spend the evening at any place other than
the Royal Oak, and so Freddy, his father, and Major Sam were in the
tap room when a 'traveling gentleman' came to stay for the night.
Loosed from the restrictions of home, he had been enjoying the
services of servant girls on his trip, and thought the barmaid at
the Royal Oak would be another pretty notch on his belt. Charlotte
chatted nicely to him, encouraging him to have another pint or
three, which only led him to think her more pliant about the other
services he would like to have.

Freddy was trying to explain to his
father and several of the farmers why a large 'pig factory'
wouldn't work, or at least not just yet. Sam had shared his joke
with his soon to be father-in-law, and Mr. Talbot thought the idea
of a pig factory worth pursuing.

“
Father, I've put a fair bit of
thought into this and it won't work. You're right that raising the
animals on that scale is most efficient. It's just that there are
some other things that have to be in place for it to
succeed.”

“
Really? Tell me?”

“
Transportation. How are you going
to get the pigs to market? For that matter how will you bring in
enough food for them all?”

“
I thought the canal could handle
it.”

“
It's too slow, though in a few
years steam trams could work.”

“
You're investing in them aren't
you?”

“
Yes, sort of, it's a long term
plan for the firm, but it's years from being a real possibility.
There are two more serious problems: cooling and
disease.”

“
Cooling?”

“
It would be best to send the
meat, wouldn't it?”

One of the farmers interjected,
“Aye, then we could grind up the rest of the carcass for
food.”

“
Without a ready supply of ice
that's not going to work.”

“
Could we cure the hams, or make
salt pork.”

“
Maybe though you'd need a lot of
salt which adds to the transport problem. Disease is the big
problem. If you put so many pigs in one place, and if any one of
them catches the scours or flu, then they all could die from
it.”

His father thought about that. “So,
Freddy, you're pointing out the big risk. Good lad, but I still
think there's a solution to it.”

Freddy was starting his reply, “I'm
not saying you shouldn't breed them to be better producers,” when
Charlotte started to screech, “No!” He looked up and say the
visitor hauling her upstairs, saying “Don't be shy, my
deary.”

He rose and strode purposely to
them. He shouted, “Unhand that maid, sir!” The gentleman released
Charlotte and stepped towards Freddy. He was well built and
prepared to fight for his interests. “Do you want to stop
me?”

“
Yes. If I have to.”

“
Then it's your look out,
Mate!”

The man crouched into position and
brought up his fists. He shot out a punch, which Freddy expertly
blocked. He was then surprised by a hard blow from Freddy. Several
more blows followed in rapid succession which left the man sprawled
on the floor.

Panting for breath, Freddy added,
“It's been a while, but I boxed for my college. Glad to know I
still have my punishing left hook.” He turned to Charlotte, “Miss
De Vere, you are coming back to the hall, with me,
tonight.”

“
But Freddy?”

“
But nothing, I want to keep you
under my eye, and out of trouble.” He smiled at her, then added,
“Besides if Sam ends up having to go to London to sort out his
affairs, Lizzy will be lonely and I need you to keep her distracted
and out of mischief.”

On the morrow,
a hassled looking Henry drove into the yard at Staverton Hall. In
his carriage and looking even less settled was the Talbot's
solicitor Mr. Bayliss. Finding Freddy in the Hall, Mr. Bayliss made
his irritation clear, “Mr. Talbot, you must stop with these hurried
demands on my services. They are interfering with my ability to
serve the firm, and Mrs. Bayliss is beginning to be upset with my
frequent and sudden absences.”

“
I'm sorry for that Mr. Bayliss,
this should be the last one for a long while. At least I hope it
is.”

“
I've bought out the mortgages, as
you requested. Not quite as cheaply as before, but still for
pennies on the pound. There is a complication.”

“
A complication?”

“
The estate may be
entailed.”

“
Entailed? You can't mortgage
against entailed property. At least not unless you can break the
entailment at will. Otherwise, it's not properly
secured.”

“
That's why I came along with
Henry. The entailment contracts will be recorded with the deeds, in
this parish or the next. If not there at the hall
itself.”

“
So either we can take the
property, or put that old bat is in legal jeopardy.”

“
If her estates are entailed, the
question becomes who is the real owner?”

“
That and why does he let her
stay?”

“
Yes. One other thing Mr. Talbot,
why pursue this property? Isn't the Staverton estate big enough
already?”

“
I have my reasons, one of them is
in the office.” Freddy led Mr. Bayliss to the room that his father
had set up for conducting business. Shutting the door behind him,
he pulled out the letter Lady Chalfield sold him. “Read this. That
old croaker is trying to blackmail Charlotte.”

Bayliss scanned the letter. “I see.
She brought herself to your attention didn't she?”

“
Yes. I'd have left her alone
otherwise. Now I have no choice but to pursue her until these
letters are dealt with.” Knowing his employer, Mr. Bayliss realized
that Freddy meant to use the power his wealth could provide to push
the unfortunate Lady Chalfield to the brink of fiscal ruin, if not
beyond. Freddy would do what it would take to stop this threat to
his love, and count the cost cheaply at that.

The door opened and Charlotte
entered, “Freddy, I was wondering whether you'd like to walk into
Holt with me. What do you have to do?”

“
Nothing.” Freddy quickly tried to
hide the letter.

“
What's that?”

“
Nothing, just some boring
business correspondence.”

“
No it isn't, is it? Remember you
said you'd always trust me. Do you really trust me?”

Freddy thought for a few moments
and then handed her the letter. “Charlotte, what this letter says
and implies doesn't make any difference to me, but I won't let that
old bat ruin you.”

Charlotte looked at the letter and
then broke out in laughter, “This isn't my mother's handwriting,
and my father never had the pox. She and he were very much in love.
She'd never play him false.”

“
It's a forgery?”

“
Looks like it. You know, it sort
of resembles John's handwriting. He could write in a passable
imitation of both my parent's hands. Found it dashed useful when he
was in school.”

“
Mr. Bayliss, this is all the more
reason I have to break that old soak. Do you need me while you look
for the details on the entailment?”

“
No, go for your walk with Miss De
Vere. That way maybe I can get some work done.”

Mr. Bayliss had his work cut out
for him. None of the local solicitors could remember anything about
an entailment, or was particularly helpful. The records kept at the
manor didn't help either. Even a quick trip to Bath didn't help him
find out any additional information.

In the meantime, Mr. Willis
reported to Freddy in person. “Mr. Talbot, I've done my best to
track Mr. De Vere.”

“
What did you find?”

“
'My Lord Staverton's' trail has
gone cold. I tracked him through Colne on the canal, but then he
decamped from his boat crew and headed off into the
countryside.”

“
Any ideas where he's
gone?”

“
Most likely he's found refuge
with a friend at one of the local farms or estates. Doubt he's gone
very far, especially if he thinks he can still squeeze some ready
from you.”

“
Damnation. It does sound like
you're right.”

“
I could, if you want, start
asking the farmers.”

Freddy thought for a while, then
replied, “No, he'll turn up if he's around here. Why don't you go
back to Bath and start looking into the operations on the canals.
From what you've sent me, it sounds like they may have more than a
few irregularities in how they operate. Leave the papers here,
we'll serve them to him when he comes to call.”

“
Mr. Talbot, sir, it's been my
pleasure. Let me know if you need me to look further into
this.”

“
Don't worry, I will. How are you
finding it, being an inspector?”

“
Other than the time away from
Mrs. Willis, which is a mixed blessing, I've been enjoying it. I've
sent Mr. Netherfield a report on some of what I've found on the
canals while tracking that miscreant.”

“
You have?”

“
I thought that was what you
wanted as he's managing the firm's canal investments, or did you
want me to report directly to you?”

“
It would be best if you send me a
copy. That way someone can check on Mr. Netherfield.”

Willis chuckled then
replie
d,
“Quis custodiet
ipsos custodes?
^v
”

“
Exactly.”

Shortly after Mr. Willis left to
return to inspecting for the firm, Major Travers received a
response to his letter. He spent the afternoon reading it
carefully, and weighing the consequences while walking in the
countryside deep in thought. When he returned well into the
evening, he found the family gathered in the parlor engaged in
various pursuits over evening tea. He rushed into the room and
announced, “Freddy, I can take your offer, with one condition. I
can go on half-pay and may be called up if I'm needed. I hope that
isn't a problem.”

“
Shouldn't be. Welcome to the
firm.”

Charlotte came downstairs early the
next morning as Freddy was breaking his fast, walked over to where
he had been sitting and held his hand. “Freddy, dearest,” she
began, “I don't see why we shouldn't just post the
banns.”