Charity Girl

  Mr Crick uttered a little titter, but said it wouldn't become him to agree, though he was bound to own that Lord Nettlecombe had some rather odd ways. 'He has become quite a recluse, you know, and almost never receives anyone, except Mr Jonas Steane – and not even him at present.' He sighed, and shook his head. 'I regret to say that he and Mr Steane had a difference of opinion a few weeks ago, which resulted in his lordship's going off to Harrowgate, and leaving me with instructions to deal with any matters that might arise during his absence. He stated in – in what I may call unequivocal terms that he did not wish to see Mr Steane, or, in fact, anyone, or to receive any communications whatsoever – even from me!'

  'Good God, he must be short of a sheet!' exclaimed the Viscount.

  'No, no, my lord!' Mr Crick said hastily. 'That is, not if you mean to say that he's deranged, which, I collect, is your meaning! He has a – a somewhat untoward disposition, and has what I venture to say are some rather odd humours, but he is very shrewd – oh, very shrewd indeed! – in all worldly matters! Extremely long-headed, or, as he would say himself, up to all the rigs!' He tittered again, but, as the Viscount remained unre sponsive to this evidence of Lord Nettlecombe's humour, changed the titter into a cough, and said, with a confidential drop of his voice: 'His – his eccentricities derive, I believe, from the unfortunate circumstances of his private life, which has not, alas, been a happy one! It would be improper in me to expatiate on this subject, but I need not scruple to tell your lordship (for it is common knowledge) that his marriage was not attended by that degree of connubial bliss which one has so frequently known to soften a somewhat harsh disposition. And the very unsteady character of his younger son was a source of great pain to him – oh, very great pain! One had hoped that he would find consola tion in Mr Jonas Steane, but, unfortunately, he did not care for Mr Jonas's wife, so that his relationship with Mr Jonas has sometimes been a trifle strained, though there has never been any serious quarrel between them, until – But more I must not say on that head!'

  'My dear sir,' interrupted the Viscount, who had been grow ing perceptibly impatient during this monologue, 'do, pray, let me make it plain to you that I am not concerned with Lord Nettlecombe's marital troubles, or with his quarrels with his sons! All I wish to know is where, in Harrowgate, he is to be found!'

  'Oh dear, oh dear, did I say that he was in Harrowgate?' asked Mr Crick, looking dismayed.

  'You did, so you may just as well give me his exact direction,' said the Viscount. 'That will save me the trouble of enquiring for him at every hotel, inn, or lodging-house in the place, which, I promise you, I shall do, if you persist in withholding his direction!'

  'My lord, I don't know his direction!'

  The Viscount's brows drew together. He said incredulously: 'You don't know it? How is this possible? You have told me that you are wholly in his confidence!'

  'Yes, yes, I am!' averred Mr Crick, apparently on the verge of bursting into tears. 'That is to say, I know why he has chosen to go away, but he would not tell me where he meant to stay, because he said he didn't wish to be troubled with any business while he was away. He did me the honour to say that he was confident I could settle any matter that might come up without referring it to him. May I venture to suggest to your lordship that you should wait until he returns to London – which, according to my information, he will do next month – '

  'Why, certainly!' said the Viscount affably, rising from his chair, and picking up his hat and gloves. 'You may suggest anything you please, Mr Crick! I am sorry you are unable to furnish me with Lord Nettlecombe's direction, and I won't waste any more of your time. Oh, no! pray don't trouble to escort me to the door! I can very well find the way out!'

  But this Mr Crick would by no means permit him to do. He darted across the room to hold open the door for his distinguished visitor, bowing even more deeply than his clerk had done, and followed him down the dusty stairs, begging first his pardon and then his understanding of the delicacy of his own position as the trusted confidant of a noble client. The Viscount reassured him on both heads, but left him looking more harassed than ever. His last words, as Desford was about to mount into his tilbury, were that he hoped nothing he had said had given a wrong impression! Lord Nettlecombe had gone to try what the Harrowgate Chalybeate would do for his gout.

  'Don't tease yourself !' Desford said, over his shoulder. 'I won't disclose to his lordship that it was you who let slip the information that he had gone to Harrowgate!'

  He then took his seat in the tilbury, recovered the reins from Stebbing, and drove off at a brisk trot, saying abruptly: 'Didn't my father go to Harrowgate once – oh, years ago, when he was first troubled by the gout! I was still up at Oxford, I think.'

  Stebbing took a minute or two to answer this, frowning in an effort of memory. Finally he said: 'Yes, my lord, he did. But, according to what I remember, he came home within a sennight, not liking the place. Unless it was Leamington he took against.' His frown deepened, but cleared after another few moments, and he said: 'No, it wasn't Leamington, my lord – though the waters never did him any good. It was Harrowgate right enough. And those waters didn't do him any good neither – not but what there's no saying that they wouldn't have done him good if he'd drunk more than one glass, which tasted so bad it made him sick.'

  The Viscount grinned appreciatively. 'Poor Papa! Who shall blame him for going home? Did he take you there?'

  'Me, my lord?' said Stebbing, shocked. 'Lor', no! In them days I was only one of the under-grooms!'

  'I suppose you must have been. What a pity! I hoped you might know the place, for I don't. Oh, well, we'd best stop at Hatchards, and I'll see if I can come by a guide-book there!'

  'My lord, you're never going to go all that way just to find Miss's grandpa?' exclaimed Stebbing. 'Which – if you'll pardon the liberty! – don't seem to be a grandpa as anyone would be wishful to find!'

  'Very likely not – indeed, almost certainly not! – but I've pledged my word to Miss Steane that I will find him, and – damn it, my blood's up, and I will not be beaten!'

  'But, my lord,' expostulated Stebbing, 'it'll take you four or five days to get there! It's above two hundred miles away: that I do know, for when my lord and her ladyship went there, they were five days on the road, and Mr Rudford, which was his lordship's valet at that time, always held to it that it was that which set up his lordship's back so that he wouldn't have liked the place no matter what!'

  'Good God, you don't imagine, do you, that I mean to go in the family travelling-carriage? What with four people in the carriage, the coachman, and I'll go bail a couple of footmen outside, and a coach following, chuck-full of baggage, besides the rest of my father's retinue, I'm astonished they weren't a sennight on the road! I shall travel in my chaise, of course, taking Tain, and one portmanteau only, and changing horses as often as need be, and I promise you I shan't be more than three days on the road. No, don't pull that long face! If I can post to Doncaster in two days, which you know well I have frequently done, I can certainly reach Harrowgate in three days – possibly less!'

  'Yes, my lord, and possibly more, if you was to have an accident,' said Stebbing. 'Or find yourself with a stumbler in the team, or maybe a limper!'

  'Or founder in a snowdrift,' agreed the Viscount.

  'That,' said Stebbing coldly, 'I didn't say, nor wouldn't, not being such a cabbage-head as to look for snowdrifts at this time o'year. But if you was to drop the high toby, who's to say you won't find yourself foundering in a regular hasty-pudding?'

  'Who indeed? I'll bear it in mind, and take care to stick to the post-road,' promised his lordship.

  Stebbing sniffed, but refrained from further speech.

  Desford was unable to find a guide-book of Harrowgate at Hatchard's shop, but he was offered a fat little volume, which announced itself to be a Guide to All the Watering and Sea-bathing Places, and contained, besides some tasteful Views, numerous maps, town-plans, and itineraries. He bore this off for peru
sal that evening, hoping to discover in the chapter devoted to the amenities of Harrowgate a list of the hotels and lodgings there. But although almost a dozen inns received favourable notice neither High nor Low Harrowgate appeared to boast of any establishment comparable to the hotels to be found at more fashionable watering-places; nor was any lodging-house men tioned. As he read what the unknown author had to say about the place, and pictured his father there, he was torn between appreciative amusement, and a strong wish that he himself were not obliged to go there. The very first paragraph was daunting, for it stated that because Harrowgate possessed 'in a superior degree' neither the attraction of being fashionable, nor beauty of scenery, it was chiefly resorted to by valetudinarians. No doubt feeling that he had been rather too severe, the author bestowed some temperate praise on the situation of High Harrowgate, which he described as exceedingly pleasant, and commanding an extensive prospect of the distant country. But as, in the very next paragraph, he referred to the 'dreary common' on which both High and Low Harrowgate were built, and to 'the barren wolds of Yorkshire', it seemed safe to assume that the place had not taken his fancy. Which, thought Desford, flicking over the pages which dealt with the qualities and virtues of the wells, and reading the passage headed Customs and Accommodations, was not to be wondered at. He could almost feel the hairs rising on his scalp when he read that one of the advantages enjoyed by visitors to Harrowgate was that the narrow circle of their amusements drew them into 'something like family parties'; but when he read that the presence of the ladies sitting at the same board as the gentlemen excluded any rudeness or indelicacy, he began to chuckle; and when, on the next page, he learned that one of the advantages of mixing freely with the ladies was the sobriety it ensured – to which the author acidly added that to this the waters contributed 'not a little', he laughed so much that it was several moments before his vision was sufficiently clear to enable him to read any more. However, he did read more, and although he found no mention of a pump room, he did learn that there was an Assembly Room, and a Master of Ceremonies, who presided over the public balls; a theatre; two libraries; a billiard-room; and a morning lounge in one of the new buildings, called the Promenade; which made it seem probable that he would experience no very great difficulty in discovering where he could find Lord Nettlecombe.

  But what he found very difficult to understand was why Lord Nettlecombe, who, so far from enjoying the company of his fellow men and women, had for years spurned even his oldest acquaintances, should have elected suddenly to spend the summer months where, according to the author of the Guide, repasts (served in the long rooms of the various inns) were 'seasoned by social conversation'; and where 'both sexes vied with each other in the art of being mutually agreeable'. It was possible, of course, that the circumstance of the expenses of living and lodging being moderate might have attracted his cheese-paring lordship; but this advantage must surely have been off-set by the cost of so long a journey. The Viscount, as he took his candle up to bed, wondered if Nettlecombe had travelled north on the common stage, but abandoned this notion, feeling that the old screw could not be such a shocking lickpenny as that. He might, with perfect propriety, have travelled on the Mail coach, but although this was much cheaper than hiring a private chaise it was by no means dogcheap, particularly when two places would have to be booked. Lord Nettlecombe might not travel in the rather outmoded state favoured by Lord Wroxton, but it was inconceivable to Desford that he could have gone away on a protracted visit without taking his valet with him. The thought of his high and imposing father's regal progress to Harrowgate, and his very brief stay there, made Desford begin to chuckle again. He must remember, he told himself, to ask Poor Dear Papa, at a suitable moment, for his opinion of Harrowgate.

  Tain, his own extremely accomplished valet, had received without a blink the news that his lively young master meant to leave almost at crack of dawn for an unfashionable resort in Yorkshire; and when further told that he must pack whatever was strictly necessary into one portmanteau, he merely said: 'Cer tainly, my lord. For how many days does your lordship mean to stay in Harrowgate?'

  'Oh, not above two or three!' replied Desford. 'I shan't be attending any evening-parties, so don't pack any balltoggery.'

  'Then one portmanteau will be quite sufficient for your lord-ship's needs,' said Tain calmly. 'Your dressing-case may go inside the chaise, and I shall not pack your Hessians, or any of your town-coats. I fancy they would be quite ineligible for wear in Those Parts.'

  That was all he had to say about the projected expedition, either then or later; and Desford, who had had several years' experience of his competence, never so much as thought of asking him whether he had packed enough shirts and neckcloths, and had found room for a change of outer raiment.

  For his part, Tain showed not the smallest surprise at what he might have thought to be a very queer start, or betrayed by look or word that he was well aware of the Viscount's purpose in going post-haste to Harrowgate, when his intention had been to attend the races at Newmarket. He had not yet seen Miss Steane, but he knew all about her meeting with the Viscount, for he stood on very friendly terms with both the Aldhams, and had contrived, without showing a vulgar curiosity unbecoming to a man of his consequence, to discover from them quite as much as they knew, and many of Mrs Aldham's conjectures on the probable outcome of the adventure. On these he withheld judgment, feeling that he knew my lord far more intimately than they did, and having yet to see in him any of the signs of a gentleman who had fallen head over ears in love. He did not discuss the matter with Stebbing, not so much because it would have been beneath a gentleman's gentleman to hob-nob with a groom, but because he was as jealous of Stebbing as Stebbing was of him.

  Before he went to bed, the Viscount wrote a brief letter to Miss Silverdale, informing her that he was off to Harrowgate, where he was reliably informed Nettlecombe was to be found, but hoped to be back again in not much more than a sennight's time, when he would come to Inglehurst immediately, to tell her how his mission had prospered, or, he added, if it has not prospered, to discuss with you what were best to do next for that unfortunate child. I should think myself the biggest rascal unhung to have foisted her on to you, my best of friends, if I were not persuaded that she must have made you like her.

  This missive he gave to Aldham on the following morning, telling him to send it by express post to Inglehurst. He then

  climbed into his chaise, and set forward on the long journey into Yorkshire.

  Nine

  The Viscount suffered no delays on his journey, and might have reached Harrowgate at the end of the second day had it not occurred to him that to arrive without warning at a watering-place in the height of its season would probably entail a prolonged search for accommodation, and that the late evening was scarcely the time to prosecute this. So he spent the second night at the King's Arms, in Leeds, leaving himself with only some twenty more miles to cover. He was an extremely healthy young man, and since he spent a great part of his time in all the more energetic forms of sport it was hard to tire him out, but two very long days in a post-chaise had made him feel as weary as he was bored. The chaise was his own, and very well-sprung, but it was also very lightly built, which, while it made for speed, meant that it bounded over the inequalities of the road in a manner not at all conducive to repose. Midway through the second day he remarked to Tain that he wished he could exchange places with one of the post-boys. Quite shocked, Tain said incredulously: 'Exchange places with a post-boy, my lord?'

  'Yes, for he at least has something to do. Though I daresay I shouldn't care to be obliged to wear a leg-iron,' he added reflectively.

  'No, my lord,' said Tain, primly. 'Certainly not! A very unbecoming thing for any gentleman to do!'

  'Also uncomfortable, don't you think?' suggested Desford, gently quizzing him.

  'I have never worn one, my lord, so I cannot take it upon my-self to venture an opinion,' replied Tain, in chilly accents.

  'I must r
emember to ask my own wheel-boy,' said Desford provocatively.

  But Tain, refusing to be drawn, merely said: 'Certainly, my lord,' leaving Desford to regret that it was he and not Stebbing who was sitting beside him. Stebbing would undoubtedly have entered with enthusiasm into a discussion, embellishing it with some entertaining anecdotes illustrative of the advantages and disadvantages attached to a postilion's career.

  However, the regret vanished when the Viscount remembered how valuable Tain's services became from the instant that he climbed down from the chaise, and entered whatever posting-house his employer had chosen to honour with his patronage on this or any other journey. In some mysterious way known only to himself he could transform the most unpromising bedchamber into an inviting one in no more than a flea's leap, as the saying was; to lay out a change of raiment for his master; to make such arrangements for his comfort as Desford would not have thought it necessary to command, if left to manage for himself; to press out the creases in his coat; to launder his neckcloth and his shirt; to procure extra candles; and to overawe the domestic staff into bringing up hot water to my lord's room without delay as soon as he himself demanded it. Stebbing might be a more amusing companion during a tedious journey, but none of Tain's arts was known to him, as the Viscount realized, and acknowledged, when, as Tain drew the curtains round his bed that evening, he murmured: 'Thank you! I only wish you may have ensured your own comfort half as well as you have ensured mine!'