A Lady of Finance

CHAPTER 1

The Ragamuffin

The lush fragrance of spring flowers and growing grasses were like heady wine to a young boy. A clear, warm April morning meant for fishing, just for a four-and-ten-year-old like Richard, the only son of the Earl of Easterbrook. A measles epidemic at his school had given him a three-week reprieve, and today was his last day of freedom. His fishing pole was in one hand and a half eaten piece of bread and ham in the other as he walked toward the river.

Closer to his favorite fishing spot, Richard heard a noise coming from up ahead. He stopped and listened. It must be an animal in a poacher’s trap, he thought as he hurried on. The closer he got, the louder the sound became until, at one point, he realized it was a young girl. He slowed, and then the thought came to him—Beth!

Dropping his pole, he ran the last fifty feet. There, rolled in a ball next to a tree trunk, was Elizabeth Stevens, daughter to Easterbrooks’ neighbors, Gaelyn and Margaret Steven, the Earl and Lady of Carston. Their estate, known as The Willows, and his parents’ estate, Brooksides bordered on one side of Lord Easterbrook’s estate.

Sitting down beside her, Richard touched her as he spoke, Beth. Richard was the only person she allowed to call her this. Immediately recognizing him, she turned and threw herself into his arms.

Quiet, Beth, now quiet. What are all these tears for? Richard spoke consolingly to her, patting her head. Nothing is so bad it can’t be fixed. I’ll help, and you know your uncles will.

While he talked, she calmed the hiccups till finally she spoke, He hit her. Papa hit Momma three times! I saw him. I was playing in her dressing room, and he came in, yelling about an heir. Papa wants an heir; that means a son, and I’m not one. Her eyes filled again. I ran out to stop him, and he hit me with his hand. You know, the one with the ring on it. She touched the bleeding cut on her face as she whispered, I fell against the wall. Papa yelled for Barner, his valet. When he came in, he said, ‘Take her outside.’ So, he took me through the kitchen, put me outside, told me not to come back till tonight, and shut the door. And I’m hungry. Beth quietly started to weep again as Richard began to rock her back and forth.

Soon it will be your birthday, and the godfathers will be here. Since my father is one of them, he will help you today. Could you talk to him now?

She nodded.

He helped her to stand, Come with me. Mrs. Cooper will have breakfast ready. Let’s sneak in for a plateful. He smiled down at Beth, receiving a slight smile in return. As they walked toward the estate, he talked softly to her about a possible birthday present. He began assessing her appearance; her clothes were not just dirty but tattered, too. The waist had two small holes, and her collar was frayed. This was clothing that even tenant children would not be wearing.

Just think, nine years old! Closer to being a lady and less thought of as a baby. She smiled at him.

As they walked up to the house, he took the path to the veranda steps, hoping his parents were at breakfast in a small dining parlor on the east side, where the French doors would be open. He felt the tug on his hand as she began to resist.

Can we not go in by the kitchen? she begged. I’m so awfully dirty.

It’s best we talk with your uncle Charles right away, while you still remember all of it. Your uncles Teddy and Florazel will keep you and your mama safe. Also, Mama will help you get cleaned up afterward. Once again, he took her hand, and as they walked through the door, he said to her, I’ll be right beside you.

Good heavens, Richard, what do you have there? gasped Lady Emily.

Lord Easterbrook put down his paper, moved his chair back, and stood up. Scrutinizing her face with dirt, blood, and tear stains making muddy tracks down her face, he smiled at her. Even with hair that was matted, tangled, and dirty, he knew only one little person with such white blond hair and violet eyes. Good day, Lady Elizabeth. He bowed over her grubby fingers.

Hello, Uncle Charles. She giggled as she spoke.

Elizabeth! Well, I’ll be. What has happened to you, child?

Richard looked at his mother. We need to talk to Father in the library for a short while before you take her away for a bath and lots of food. He noticed his mother’s eyebrows arch, You were planning to help, weren’t you, Mother? I promised Beth we would help her.

Of course, dear, but it was your sudden authority that took me aback. You can be assured, Elizabeth, that your uncle and I will help you, starting right now.

As they moved by the buffet, he reached out and snagged a piece of toast for her.

Could we talk now, Father?

Gray, the butler, asked if anything was needed as the three seated themselves. Richard requested a wet cloth, and as they waited, Elizabeth ate her toast. When Gray returned, Richard gently wiped her face. He spoke softly to her as he cleaned the bloody wound on her right cheek. It had started to dry and was going to take more than just a wet cloth. His father watched him with amusement in his eyes, thinking something may come of this later.

Shall we start now?

Yes, Father. Beth, tell him just what you told me.

I lost my kitten, Goldie, that Uncle Florazel gave me for my birthday last year. Do you remember, Uncle Charles, none of you came, but you sent me presents? Papa would not let me keep her in my room. She had to stay out in the stables. I know she got lonely, so I would go out to visit her when I got up early. Last week she was gone, and I searched and searched inside and outside the stables. Goldie was nowhere. Papa was going riding, and he heard me calling. He said I disturbed his horse and told Barner to take me to the nursery, where I was to stay for the rest of the week. Biddy was to make sure I did not get out of the nursery.

Who is Biddy?

She is the nursery maid for the new baby, but the baby died, so she plays with me.

Your mother had another baby … no, excuse me … I did not realize your mama was in a family way.

Yes, but I heard the doctor say she cannot have any more. She was very sad and cries lots now. Elizabeth looked teary eyed at Lord Charles.

Where were you that you heard all that?

Outside Mama’s door, she said as she squirmed in her chair.

Where was your governess, Elizabeth?

I do not have one … only Biddy.

I see. Go on, child.

She proceeded to tell him the events of that morning. As he sat there, the frown seemed to spread across his forehead. At one point he had a thought, Did Barner strike you?

No, not this time. He just told me I could not come back to the house till dark, and I had not had anything to eat. Panic came into her voice.

But he has hit you before?

Her eyes filled with tears as she continued, Yes, when Papa told him to.

Looking at Richard for a few seconds, Lord Charles came to a decision. I hope you do not mind, Richard, but I think this would be a good time to tell Elizabeth about your idea for her birthday present, hoping to distract her momentarily with thoughts of a present.

Richard explained about the diary, how to start with the date, month, and year, putting down all the good and bad happenings during the day.

Lord Charles leaned toward her, smiling, This will show you how the ladies of fashion remember all their important dates. Since this is a very special birthday for you, you’ll want to start keeping your diary now. He added, But remember, diaries are for private thoughts, to be talked about only if you need to tell your mama or me about certain things.

Is Uncle Florazel coming with Uncle Teddy this time?

Yes, as is Mr. Simonson, your great-grandfather’s man of business. You’ll want to be on your best behavior and dressed up pretty.

Oh, Uncle Charles, she frowned as she spoke, looking down at her dress, this is all I have. I’ve grown out of all the rest.

Speaking under his breath, Lord Charles cursed Lord Carston but then began to laugh out loud as he thought of what the Duke of Wexford, the Prince Regent, and he, the Earl of Easterbrook, would do to Gaelyn at the birthday party … if not before. A rap on the door brought Lady Emily and the children’s old nanny, Miss Blessing. Off Elizabeth went for a good scrubbing.

Richard, stay a bit. I think we should talk a little more.

That’s fine, Father, there are some questions I’d like to ask, too, but do you suppose I might ask for some breakfast in here?

A pull of the bell brought Gray, and a brief request was made. Then they were both seated once again on either side of the large library desk.

Well, Richard, a good morning’s work, and I want to thank you for bringing her here. I fear we godfathers have shirked our duties, but all that will be rectified now. I will send a few letters today and take her home myself. Now, for your questions, ask away. I feel you are old enough to know, and today has given you the right.

Richard looked at his father for several seconds, took a deep breath, and asked, I know you, the Prince, and the Duke of Wexford are her godfathers but how and why?

Easterbrook got out of his chair and walked to the window. Looking out, he began to look back. "About the time you were born, Lady Margaret was in London, having her first season. Her grandmother opened the old house for this girl’s send off. She was a beauty; ‘a diamond of the first water,’ as they say, but there was more to Margaret than beauty. She was a happy young girl, and it showed in her eyes and face. When she met Carston, he was already an earl with three estates. She had a small estate in the Cotswolds, near Stroud, called the Cedars, left her by her mother; and with her portion of 50,000 pounds, she was for the taking. Her grandfather was the Duke of Clairmont, at one time, one of the most powerful men in this country. His heart bothered him. The doctors didn’t know enough about his problems. The duke and duchess moved to the family estate near Bolton Abbey, on the Wharfe River, not all that far from where this new couple would live.

I always thought him a very thorough and sometimes suspicious man. For some reason, Clairmont distrusted Carston. He tied him up in the marriage contracts with things unheard of under normal circumstances. Who knows, maybe he saw something in him we did not. But then why marry Margaret to him? He mulled this over half to himself. It was something he had never understood. Anyway, the contracts will be helpful to the three of us now.

Lord Charles turned back toward Richard. "Well, before her come out, she had met Theodore Baines. His father and brothers were still alive then. But who puts stock in a third son, even a duke’s son? He fell in love with her and offered for her. Her grandfather was neither kind nor discreet, and he broke both their hearts in the way he humiliated Theodore. As far as I’ve been privy to, they are still in love with each other. I know he cares deeply for her, but I do believe she has tried to be a good wife to Carston. Her feelings about Theodore are hidden.

Long before the wedding, Theodore made an enemy of Carston, so up to now, Wexford has stayed away, only coming here on Lady Elizabeth’s birthday. We go together, staying no more than twenty minutes, seeing only the child. Lord Charles paced back and forth from desk to window.

"Clairmont used that feeling Margaret and Theodore had for each other to appoint him as one of the godfathers to her child after his father and brothers died in the boating accident. You are aware your mother is Margaret’s distant cousin, so she was asked to be godmother and I to be the second godfather. It also didn’t hurt that we lived so close to them. And finally the prince: he owed Clairmont a great deal of money. It was to be forgiven as long as he participated in the christening and continued as godfather to Margaret’s first living child.

Starting at the age of nine, each of us is to tutor the child several times a year until the age of six and twenty in each of our areas of knowledge. Mine is riding and hunting, Florazel’s is the arts, and Wexford’s is finance. When Margaret had one miscarriage after another, we came to believe there would be no child. When Elizabeth was born, the prince went to Simonson and complained that only he was godfather to the heir. Mr. Simonson brought out the papers that we all had signed and the terms used were, child and grandchild. So, as Simonson put it to the prince, either he was there the day of the christening, or by noon the following day, he was to bring the one million pounds and the interest into his office in repayment of the debt.

A million pounds! gasped Richard.

Yes, well, it was probably closer to two million by that time. He had been building something when he borrowed from the duke. He stood, reflecting out the window. Richard sat quietly, waiting finally hearing, Clairmont’s orders concluded with Margaret’s dress allotment and his demand she have two months in London every year for the season and to replenish her wardrobe.

But, Father, Elizabeth said she does not remember her mother ever going to London.

Well, well, there’s another charge against him. I want to thank you again, Richard, for your help this morning. If you can just hold any further questions till later, I should write to Wexford today, and you have a gift to purchase in the village.

CHAPTER 2

The Game Begins

The package had been wrapped and ready for Elizabeth’s birthday, just what Richard had wanted, and left with his father. Though he didn’t want to go, Richard was in one of the family carriages now passing thru Earls Colne, heading toward Holstead. He would be in Cambridge before the dinner hour. Richard had made his father promise to write him about what transpired. He thought about what his father had done yesterday, dozing as the coach made its way back to his school.

After Elizabeth was washed and dressed, Lady Emily saw her one last time. She ran her hand over