The Fencing Master's Daughter Read online

  “Haldings & Gladwin have their offices some seventeen miles from Westfield, my lord in the town of Huntisdon.”

  Julian who had been industriously answering a pile of Edward’s correspondence was amazed at Edward’s conjecture for a few seconds, then began to follow Edward’s logic and looked up, now intrigued to hear whatever the young Mr. Gladwin had to impart.

  “My father, Mr. Jarvis Gladwin has had the honour to serve the late Lord Armstrong of Perriswood for many years. As my Lord Armstrong had been unwell for some years, it was found after his unfortunate demise that his affairs were in rather a tangled mess and unravelling the details has taken rather longer than usual. Regrettably my father has also not been in such good health recently and he felt unable to make the journey to London, at this time of year to explain the bequest to your lordship.”

  Young Mr. Gladwin paused dramatically and Edward took up his cue with theatrical aplomb.

  “I had no expectations of a bequest from Lord Armstrong, Mr. Gladwin. What exactly did my lord leave me Mr. Gladwin?”

  “Why he left you Perriswood, the estates, everything my lord, apart from a few small presents to members of his staff. He named you his heir to his estates and fortune.”

  There was another dramatic pause while Edward took in this information and he was just about to ask the question that came to the fore, but his secretary Julian beat him to the punch.

  “Mr. Gladwin, would the Perriswood inheritance by any chance include a property by the name of Seacliff in the village of Westfield?”

  Chapter Fouteen – Escarmouche

  “Yes, Mr Creighton it would,” the young Mr Gladwin declared surprised, they should be interested in so insignificant a property which was only a small part of the legacy.

  “The bequest is of some considerable size, the unentailed property of Perriswood makes up the largest part of the property, together with its home farm and a number of tenanted farms. In addition to the main estates, Lord Armstrong spent his mature years buying smaller run-down estates around the area. He had them put back into good shape and then rented them out. Lord Armstrong ceased to visit his London town house as he began to age, many years before he died. He chose to lease it rather than part with it. There were a number of smaller bequests to his loyal servants, which have already been paid, but there also remains a respectable sum of money banked, as Lord Armstrong did not believe in investing in Consols,” Mr Gladwin explained.

  “What are your rough estimates of the value of the legacy, Mr Gladwin?” the Earl enquired, stunned that a man he had barely known should have left him his estates.

  “There have been some difficulties in determining the full extent of the properties involved, my lord. Lord Armstrong bought and sold many properties in his later years, in some programme of consolidation of his own. However the properties now owned and which had been sold at profit have now been established to Mr. Gladwin senior’s satisfaction,” he answered. Then Mr Gladwin revealed a figure which made Julian whistle and Edward gasp. The full total value of the estate, other properties, investments and monies was estimated at approximately half of what Edward already owned.

  “Is there no nearer heir or persons who had reason to expect to have been left the estate?” Edward enquired.

  “I understand there was a will leaving the estate to his godson, but that was changed five years previously. The godson is, I believe, a man of some means and has no direct relationship to Lord Armstrong. My father insisted that there had been some falling out between them five years ago. Although the rift seemed to have been healed between them, Lord Armstrong chose not to change his will back.” Mr Gladwin revealed hesitantly.

  “My father made a point of offering his condolences to Lord Armstrong on the death of your father, who had been named as heir in the will. He enquired whether my lord wished to change the will accordingly. Lord Armstrong insisted it be let stand. The will named his beneficiary only by his title, so the bequest to you is perfectly valid. Your father was close friends with Lord Armstrong and was fifteen years younger than Lord Armstrong, who assumed he would pre-decease your father, The nearest surviving relations Lord Armstrong acknowledged were some second or third cousins. In the last ten years there were few regular visitors apart from the godson. Those visits increased over the last two years, when the godson acquired a hunting lodge in the vicinity. No relatives have visited Lord Armstrong at all in the last two years. Please feel assured that the legacy is rightfully yours, my lord.”

  Mr Gladwin went into the estate in some details, before producing papers, which were signed and witnessed.

  “I will visit the town house shortly to decide what to do with it, since you say it is currently untenanted. I will visit the estate, and Mr. Gladwin senior, in the New Year to settle how to deal with the inheritance. This has all come as a huge surprise. May I thank you, Mr. Gladwin, for informing of my inheritance. I will remember to inform your father how efficiently you have dealt with the matter. May I offer you dinner and a bed for the night?” Edward asked.

  “That is very kind of you, my lord. I could not possibly impose on you. I intend to catch the next coach bound home to Markshire, because I am slightly concerned about my father’s health. Thank you, my lord.”

  “I hope your father recovers his health swiftly and thank you again for your assistance,” Edward declared and saw Mr Gladwin junior out himself. He ostentatiously shook his hand and thanked him again in front of the embarrassed Jenkins.

  When Mr. Gladwin had departed Edward dashed off a note to Mr. Grey informing him of his inheritance of the Perriswood estate, including an apparently undistinguished house set in fifty acres of woodland by the name of Seacliff. He then went and carefully changed his clothes before boarding his carriage to collect Madelaine from Mlle. Claudette’s establishment. On leaving Madelaine at Claudette’s, Henri had shopped for a much more elaborate dinner than he usually served to his master and his daughter.

  Knowing the earl would be collecting Madelaine from Claudette’s, he had asked her if she needed his escort home that evening as he had a lot of cooking to do. Madelaine agreed it was impractical for Henri to collect her under the circumstances and that her reputation would survive the journey in Edward’s company for half an hour. Julian could not be expected to accompany his master and wait in the cold carriage while they dined.

  For the first time Madelaine entered Edward’s closed carriage without the chaperonage of either Henri or Julian. Even though Edward would have loved to have taken Madelaine in his arms and kissed her, he dared not risk the fragile friendship which now existed between them. He was not going to destroy it by mauling her only a few days before they left for Chalcombe Manor and the prospect of more than two weeks in her company. Perhaps if she felt more comfortable in his company she would allow him into her confidence as to why she was so determined to reject the match between them.

  Madelaine, who had been concerned about being alone with Edward in his carriage, was relieved to have her hand kissed and then for him to settle back and converse politely about her day and the discovery of Lord Armstrong’s bequest including a house named Seacliff. That Furet must have known Edward was his lordship’s heir was obvious to them both. Madelaine pointed out should he have died, his heir would have become the new Earl of Chalcombe and the property would still not have been in Furet’s hands.

  The document of conveyance had not mentioned Furet’s name, and Mr. Grey intended to search for the person who had been named as purchaser, who was unknown to him and Edward. Mr. Grey suggested the nominee was likely to be an agent acting for the principals and might be in ignorance of the name of the real beneficial owner. The suggestion that Edward’s heir, Sir Horace Charrington, could be implicated in any way, in what must clearly involve treason was beyond Edward’s comprehension.

  The streets had been fairly empty in the dark winter’s evening and they made good time driving to Soho. Arriving at Beak Street earlier than usual they continued their conve
rsation seated in the stationary carriage. They considered the probable reasons that this Seacliff property should be sought by a notorious French spy. If the property was as its name implied on the coast of Markshire, then the most probable reason was for the landing of smuggled goods or people to and from France. Most French espionage made use of the bands of smugglers who proliferated around England’s coasts.

  Madelaine suggested Seacliff must overlook a spot where they regularly landed cargoes and under Lord Armstrong they had no difficulties, but the conspirators had been concerned Edward might take a greater interest in the property or sell it to a more energetic owner. They watched Sir Robert Dickinson who had been Louis’s last pupil of the day taking his leave shortly followed by Jean-Claude mincing away. When they had both turned the corner of the street Edward handed Madelaine down from the carriage and instructed the driver to return in three hours’ time.

  Louis welcomed Edward to his salle and suggested he join him in his apartment for a glass of wine before the meal. Madelaine offered to tidy the salle before she came up. She checked first on Henri, who was in his element surrounded by fragrant aromas and who chased her from the kitchen with the request she returned in fifteen minutes when he would be ready to serve the first course. Stripping off her redingote, bonnet and gloves Madelaine set to sweeping the salle. She rearranged the chairs neatly and extinguished the candles. She was just finishing this task when the street door re-opened. Into the dimly lit salle returned Sir Robert Dickinson and he took in the face and form of Madelaine in an instant. He enquired after a package he had left behind, which Madelaine had placed neatly on one of the chairs.

  Madelaine backed away and curtseyed saying she had placed the parcel on one of the chairs provided for spectators. Many young pupils arrived at the salle with their tutor or a footman in attendance. Some of the more affluent fathers chose to personally follow their scion’s progress in the art of swordplay with pride. Sir Robert moved to the chairs and picked up the parcel as Madelaine continued to retreat backwards towards the stairs to their apartment. He started to turn to leave, offering his thanks over his shoulder and Madelaine breathed a sigh of relief. She took her eyes off Sir Robert and continued somewhat slower towards the stairs, but Sir Robert was quicker placing his body between her and the stairs.

  Madelaine tried to retreat once more, but he reached for her and dragged her into his arms roughly kissing her, before she had a chance to stop him. She struggled biting his lip and kicking out with her leather walking shoes. He seemed to be unconcerned at her resistance and merely lifted her from the ground and started to bear her towards the door he had entered from, his parcel dropped and now forgotten. With both his arms carrying her, Madelaine managed to get a breath and screamed at the top of her lungs.

  “Au Secours! Help I’m being attacked.”

  Sir Robert swore at her and tried to speed his way, but she hit out at his face and continued kicking and struggling for release, still yelling for assistance. Down the stairs rushed both the Earl of Chalcombe and her father, who plucked an unbuttoned rapier from a wall display as he descended. Sir Robert had neared the door, but the advancing fury in the faces of the two men discouraged him from continuing in his kidnap of Madelaine. He set her on her feet pushing her towards the men and fled. Louis dropped the sword and embraced his shaken daughter but Edward chased after Sir Robert into the night. However, that gentleman had made good his escape, and had boarded his chaise a little further down the road which set off at high speed.

  Henri’s face appeared in the door to the kitchen steps but realising a rescue had already been accomplished retired once more to his cooking. Louis was appalled that his favourite pupil should assault his daughter and carefully locked the door behind Edward’s return. Madelaine went to change her dress which had been crumpled in the attack. She didn’t don one of her new frocks, but found a neat dark dress and a plain knitted shawl but she rearranged the plaited hair bound around her head into a loose chignon before going to assist Henri in carrying the first dishes for dinner up the two flights of steps to their apartment. Even though she had dressed plainly Edward found it difficult to not stare when she re-appeared with Henri. The more he saw her, the more desirable he found her.

  Henri had excelled himself with a fine Turbot à la hollandaise removed with a Velouté Dubarry soup. This was followed by a nicely spiced pigeon and ham pie, a pork loin prepared with shallots and stuffed with anchovies, accompanied by crêpes filled with chicken and celery mousse with dishes of chestnut croquettes, globe artichokes à la Carême and spinach in a béarnaise sauce, meringues served with orange flavoured cream and pots de crème au chocolat.

  The plain Spanish red wine which was served with the dinner might not have been of the quality that Edward was used to drinking at society receptions, but he had drank far worse in the Peninsula and it went well with the dinner Henri had prepared. If Henri had decided not to waste his blunt buying lobsters or turtles then his delicious cooking gave him sufficient cause for pride. Louis was not discomfited by the simplicity of what was put before the earl, for he knew that Henri’s cooking was better than that served in most noble English Houses. Henri had made no fancy ices or pastry confections as a centre piece to their modest table but the flavours were good and the food was attractively presented.

  Conversation flowed easily, although Madelaine did not contribute much, as Edward and Louis compared their travels through Europe, their disasters and triumphs. Louis said nothing about the duels he had fought, but they found amusing anecdotes which would not offend a lady’s ears. No further mention was made of Sir Robert Dickinson’s behaviour during the meal. Madelaine drank little wine but to Edward’s surprise (used as he was to society beauties picking at their food,) made a good meal, sampling all the dishes. She mused that as there were only five days remaining before they were to travel to Chalcombe Manor, that Henri need not shop again as they would be using up the left-overs from the meal until then.

  Madelaine left the men to their brandy and said goodnight to her father, then she assisted Henri with clearing the dishes back to the kitchen and went to bed. Now Madelaine was no longer present Edward brought up the subject of Sir Robert Dickinson and his attempt to carry off Madelaine. Louis expressed his disappointment in the man, whom he had enjoyed teaching as a pupil of some accomplishment in the art of fencing. He would now have to bar him from the salle. Louis thought it a pity duelling was illegal in England as he was tempted to call the gredin out. However the English courts would not look benignly on a fencing master challenging one of his pupils. Louis assumed Sir Robert had tried to abduct Madelaine when he had discovered how beautiful she was.

  It was perhaps the most dramatic attack that had been attempted on her, but Louis was not blasé about how men reacted to Madelaine’s beauty. Louis said his wife Julia was a great beauty and that many men had been attracted to her, but that Madelaine’s beauty was more curse than blessing. It restricted her life in a way that other women’s lives were not. The sooner Madelaine accepted Edward’s proposal and got married the happier Louis would be.

  Edward remembering the number of attacks on his self, wondered at the coincidence that someone should also try to kidnap Madelaine, he was not certain that Sir Robert’s actions were purely driven by lust. Something made him wonder if perhaps he was involved in Furet’s plot. He was angry with Sir Robert, and considered heading for his lodgings to express his anger, but he knew it would lead to a fight. If he fought Sir Robert over Madelaine, there would be gossip that would make Madelaine’s life even harder.

  Madelaine did not need her beauty advertising; if she became notorious then the men who would seek to buy her charms would multiply by a hundred fold. Louis and Madelaine would be forced to go abroad and with Napoleon and his family occupying most of mainland Europe where would they find safe to go? He hoped to make her his bride and that she would be accepted in society. Gossip of that kind could destroy her chances of being accepted by the ton.

>   Chapter Fifteen – Champêtre

  The weather was relatively clement for the journey to Chalcombe Manor and the earl’s party in three carriages with outriders, made good time over roads that were no worse than usual. Lady Chalcombe had left for the country house three days previously to make sure everything was in order for the holiday visit. Jenkins their family butler, her ladyship’s dresser, Sutton, and a middle-aged widowed cousin, by the name of Almira, who had attached herself to the dowager after Edward’s father’s funeral, had travelled with her. Henrietta tolerated her uninvited residence, as Almira could be relied on to be very self-effacing and took great pleasure in arranging flowers throughout the house, for which she had a natural flair.

  Madelaine and Louis travelled in the first carriage with the earl and Julian. Henri travelled in the second carriage with Plovett, Edward’s valet, an extra footman and a maid whom Edward had employed to attend to Madelaine during her visit to the country. Madelaine wore her new emerald green redingote and a pale green travelling dress with her new bonnet. Edward enjoyed the picture she made dressed, for once, as a young lady of rank. She had arranged her hair in a series of tight plaits woven round her head and piled high allowing a few pale blonde curls to be visible beneath the bonnet’s edge.

  The final carriage contained only luggage and a couple of gentlemen who were well known to Charlie Griggs. Charlie himself drove Edward’s carriage and Timothy travelled on the box beside him, both of them keeping an eye open for trouble. The procession created a lot of interest as it passed through towns on its way, due to its size and grandeur. They were guaranteed to receive exemplary service whenever they changed horses. They stopped overnight at an excellent hostelry where Julian had already arranged rooms and a private parlour for them to dine in. The journey was accomplished in good time, without any untoward incident, and with the travellers in reasonably good humour.