A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 23
“Yes, sir, but you are also very modest in all things I have known you to do,” Georgiana said, colouring deeply, but determined to continue. “So I must assume at least some praise is due in your quarter for your accomplishments.”
“I cannot deny that I have been successful,” he said. “However much of my success has come from being in the right place at the right time. My station in the American war put my ship in the path of one rich merchant ship after another, so that all we needed to do was be able to chase them down.”
“And that you were able to do,” Georgiana stated.
“Yes, we were. But it is rather like if you or I were determined to chase after a great fat chicken,” he said. “It might run about for a bit, but eventually, we should catch it. What I always longed for was a fight that was at least equal.”
“You have mentioned the American frigate that you chased – that it got into port.”
“Yes, it is my greatest regret, that we could not catch it in time. There is wealth, certainly, in your merchant ships, and we did catch the occasional heavy privateer, but the only distinction is in taking on a ship of war, of at least your own strength in guns, and the American frigates generally have more than ours. They built them large and heavy, you see, because they were just starting their navy and had no preconceived notions of how many guns a frigate should have. We are only just catching up.”
“Still, there must certainly be some honour in the ships you captured.”
“No, I cannot deny that. They lined my own pockets, and those of my crew, and England could certainly use such riches to help fight the war against Bonaparte. But it is not the same as an equal fight – I would have given a great deal for an equal fight.”
Georgiana did not attempt any consoling remarks at this statement; she knew that with the war over he would not have any chance at an equal fight, that the crack frigate HMS Caroline was in ordinary somewhere in Portsmouth and that Captain Stanton might never go to sea in her again. She let a little time pass, therefore, occupying herself with her food, and then finally asking him to explain more about how their trip back should be different, with regards to the wind.
“I think you will find it very different,” he said. “On our way here we were sailing in what we call a close reach, but as we return, the wind will be behind us, pushing us, in what we call a broad reach, or perhaps we shall even get to running, where the wind is blowing directly at our stern. We shall also have the benefit of the tide, which will be pushing us back home.”
“Captain Ramsey did say it would be easier to return.”
“Yes, much easier,” Captain Stanton said. “What a parcel of fools we should look, were we to strand you ladies somewhere short of our destination.”
The captains did not at all strand the ladies short of their destination. Captain Ramsey took the tiller on their return, and their return path was much straighter – there was none of the zigging and zagging across the river. Captain Ramsey did still need to mind the other boats on the river, although they were fewer, the sides of the Thames turning into a forest of masts as they made their way down the river, the working boats tied up as evening approached. They all found the return trip colder, with the wind blowing behind them, but Captain Stanton readily provided blankets for all to drape around themselves, so that they should not be bothered by a cold that threatened to cut through even the thickest of pelisses.
Georgiana, who had found herself a place in the middle of the boat right next to Captain Stanton, when the ladies had all re-embarked for the return trip, asked in a tone not nearly so decisive as Kitty’s (although she still did ask) if she might help him with something, and he gave her a sheet that she might let in and out as he told her. There was not nearly so much adjustment needed as when they had been tacking up the river, but occasionally Captain Stanton did call for adjustment, and Georgiana would take it up or let it out in her one good hand, quietly helped by Mrs. Annesley whenever she struggled.
The changing tide meant that the boat was nearly even with the quay when they returned, and so there were not the same difficulties of getting in and out of the boat as there had been when they departed. Still, both captains were very attentive in ensuring the boat was tied up properly, and that they each had as much assistance as was needed in stepping from the boat to the quay. Captain Stanton took particular care in attending Georgiana, taking a firm hold on her good arm as she stepped out of the boat. In return, she managed to catch his elbow with her good hand, and softly say a thank you for his assistance.
They all agreed during the carriage ride home that it had been a most enjoyable day, that it was a diversion unlike any other they had ever undertaken, and they should readily agree to do it again, if they were so invited. Georgiana, however, could only think of how she was making progress – however slight – in showing her affections to Captain Stanton, and she retired to rest before dinner with the greatest satisfaction in such thoughts.
Chapter 32
Sunday came, with a quiet morning at church, and word from Lord Brandon that he thought the Corn Bill near passage; he expected it should go to committee in the Commons as soon as the morrow. This relieved Elizabeth, and she thought it unfortunate that her husband was from home, and farther from this news than he would have been if he had stayed in town. Still, she knew it would reach him soon enough, and it might mean a quicker return for him, as he would no longer have so much to discuss with Richardson.
She thought tenderly of the letter he had written her, every bit as fine as that of his last absence, just as he had promised, and wondered what he might be doing now. It was likely he had not yet finished visiting all of the tenants, and she thought of him riding the roads she remembered from her visit there. Something he had said to her, on that sleepy morning of his departure, rose again to her mind, of how he would allow the tenants as much time as they desired, to discuss any concerns with him. Her mouth quirked in a little smile as she was reminded of how she had once thought him so proud, so above his company, this husband of hers who must now be sitting down at the worn dining tables of every single one of his tenants, for so long as they chose to speak to him.
They stayed inside Monday, wishing to keep Georgiana company, and Mrs. Annesley and Catherine would stay behind with her in the evening, for her wrist was still not well enough to play. Even if it had been, Georgiana was certain she would be very out of practise when she was finally able to take up her instruments again. Elizabeth and Mary were making their way out the front door to the carriage when they heard the sound of a horse’s hooves coming up fast at them. Elizabeth looked up, and was entirely shocked to see that it was Captain Stanton. He pulled the horse – Elizabeth assumed it to be Phoebe – up to a hard stop just before their carriage, and said:
“Do not go tonight. There is rioting and looting in the West End and there is no telling how far it will spread. Have your man take the carriage back around and then get everyone into the house. Ramsey is gathering up some men, and he will be here soon.”
“Rioting? Why should there be rioting?” Elizabeth asked, feeling suddenly as if she was in some sort of strange, confused dream, and wishing very much that Darcy was there.
“The Corn Bill – the people protest what it will do to the cost of bread,” Captain Stanton said. “My uncle’s house is nearer to them. We heard the noise and I rode down to see what was happening.”
“Is your uncle safe?”
“Yes, he is fine, although the house is too close to the action for my comfort. He has gone to Lady Tonbridge’s home to weather the storm,” Captain Stanton said. “Is Mr. Darcy still from home?”
Elizabeth nodded. She was not one usually given to fear, but she felt it now. This was a situation unlike any she had ever faced, or ever would have expected to – their very home, and safety, threatened by this unseen mob. She was not certain it was one Darcy had ever faced, either, but she very much wished for his presence here now, so that they might at least brave the situation together.
“Captain Ramsey will stay the night, then, until we are sure it is safe,” he said.
“That is far beyond considerate,” Elizabeth said. “We will have a bed prepared for him immediately.”
“I hope things are not so bad that he may have use of it,” Captain Stanton said, grimly. “It may be a very long night. He should be here soon – keep your doors locked until he arrives. I must leave you now. Please give the rest of your family my best wishes.”
He cantered off at this, and Elizabeth ordered the carriage sent back around, then rushed back into the house with Mary. Georgiana and Catherine had seen Captain Stanton ride up from the drawing room window, and greeted their return with confusion. Elizabeth acquainted both them and Mr. Miller with the news of the riots; Mr. Miller left them and returned with some of the male servants, all of them armed with pistols and taking up stations at the front door and windows, after tightly shuttering the latter.
“We have plans for this sort of event, my lady,” he told Elizabeth. “You need not worry.”
Yet worry Elizabeth did, and after she had requested Mrs. Wright have a room made up for Captain Ramsey, she joined the other ladies in the drawing room, where they all sat, silent and tense. Mrs. Annesley had spent the most time in town of any of them, and she could never remember anything the likes of this happening. There was occasional unrest, but never such a widespread threat to the homes of the genteel.
Perhaps a half-hour later, there came a knock at the door, and Mr. Miller opened it in his usual manner, but flanked by a footman and a groom, each of them carrying a pistol. Elizabeth rushed up to stand behind them and was relieved to see it was Captain Ramsey, and he was not alone. Behind him stood perhaps a dozen men – clearly seamen, large burly men, most with their hair braided in long pigtails, and each of them carrying an axe or a spear in his hand.
“Greetings, Mrs. Darcy,” Captain Ramsey said, looking more serious than usual, although not overly worried. “Are your family all well?”
“We are startled by the news of the rioting, but otherwise fine.”
“I am glad to hear it. You need not worry about a thing now. Each of these men served under Captain Stanton or myself – they are all trustworthy, and it would be quite a mob that attempts to get past them.”
Mr. Miller looked a bit vexed by this statement, as though it was an attack on his staff’s ability to defend the house. Yet, Elizabeth thought, even he must admit that a group of seamen who looked every bit like they had known battle and would not mind another tonight was a far greater deterrent to any attack on the house than its liveried servants, wielding their pistols with varying degrees of awkwardness.
Elizabeth asked if Captain Ramsey would introduce the men to her, and as he did, each bobbed his head stiffly in greeting. Captain Ramsey said he should like to have the men stand in front of the house in shifts, six men on, six off, through the night, ready to call the other shift out at the least sign of the rioting reaching Curzon Street. They would camp in the entrance-hall, if she approved; they did not wish to disturb the rest of the house.
Elizabeth did approve – although these men were certainly not of the sort she would ordinarily have in the house, if they carried the approval of the captains, that was more than sufficient for her. She asked Mr. Miller to see to moving chairs and bedding into the hall as the men not taking the first shift came in, looking quite uncomfortably at their surroundings and gingerly taking seats in the chairs when the footmen carried them in. Elizabeth asked Captain Ramsey if he would come into the drawing room and sit with them. This he did, and the rest of the ladies were informed of the presence of the men and the state of the riotous crowd, which was growing and moving on from Bedford Square, where they believed the first damage had been done. Mrs. Wright came in, and stood at the edge of the room, waiting quietly until a lull in the conversation, and then she made her way to Elizabeth’s side.
“Shall I see to some refreshments for the captain and his men, Mrs. Darcy?”
“Yes, please do. Coffee, tea and port and some light food here in the drawing room,” Elizabeth said. “I must admit I have no idea what to feed the men.”
“Never you worry, ma’am. My brother is a quartermaster on the Superb,” Mrs. Wright said. “I know the naval stomach. Bread, cold beef, cheese, and the remains of the pudding from dinner would go over very well, together with a few bottles of wine from the very front of the cellar. Perhaps we might mull some of the wine, for the men outside – it is quite cold tonight.”
“Very well, Mrs. Wright, please make it so, and let them know they shall have as much food as they like. They do look like men accustomed to eating rather a lot.”
Mrs. Wright smiled, nodded, and left the room. Elizabeth returned her attention to the conversation, which moved from one nervous, meaningless topic to another. They were all still tense, although much less so now, and Kitty, though looking mildly worried, seemed more pleased that Captain Ramsey was there than anything else.
Only now could Elizabeth really turn her mind to the fact that he was here, that both he and Captain Stanton had put in quite a lot of effort to see to their safety – had really treated them as though they were family. Perhaps it did mean that one or both of them wished to become part of the family; or perhaps they were merely being gentlemen, knowing Mr. Darcy had been away from home, and wishing to ensure the safety of a house full of ladies.
Elizabeth could not help but think of the rest of their family and acquaintances. The Bingleys and Hursts came to mind first. She wished Jane was there with her so that she could be certain her sister was safe, but knew Mr. Bingley and Mr. Hurst to both be accomplished shots when hunting, in addition to whatever defence their servants would be able to mount. The Gardiners would be far from the rioting, in Cheapside, and certainly Colonel Fitzwilliam would be seeing to the safety of his family, and perhaps that of Lady Catherine as well. Elizabeth stifled a smile at the thought of Lady Catherine, on her own doorstep, demanding with nothing more than force of will that the mob leave her house alone, and then sobered. She might not like the lady’s manners at all, but she did not wish to see her come to any harm.
Their first disruption on the night came with loud voices outside the house. Captain Ramsey rose and left the drawing room, Elizabeth following him into the hall, where the men had risen from their chairs and their meal, and were making their way out the door.
“Let ‘im through, Tom, ye damned swab, ee’s one man off ‘orseback an’ ee ain’t on the riot. An’ ee’s wearin’ an army uniform.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam came in following this, looking somewhat rumpled but mostly amused.
“I came to see if your house was adequately defended,” he said. “I see it is in fact the best-defended house in all Mayfair.”
The seamen in the off shift followed him into the entrance-hall, some of them looking sheepish, all of them retaking their seats as delicately as men of fifteen stone and more could.
“Captains Ramsey and Stanton have been so kind as to see to some men for our defence,” Elizabeth said. “Are your family safe? And Lady Catherine?”
“They are fine – some of my former soldiers are on guard, much the same as your setup here. Lady Catherine is staying with us, much to my mother’s delight.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I am glad to hear she is safe.”
“Only because my mother possesses infinite patience.”
“That she does,” Elizabeth said. “Will you come into the drawing room and take some refreshment?”
“No, I beg your pardon – I should be off. I came only to see that your family was safe, and now that I see that is certainly the case – ” with a respectful nod to Captain Ramsey “ – I should get back to the house. Please do introduce me to your friend before I take my leave, though.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Elizabeth said. Captain Ramsey had become such a fixture at Curzon Street that it was easy to forget that he had not yet been introduced to all of their family, although Edward did know of him, and his courtship of Catherine. “This is Captain Andrew Ramsey, of the Royal Navy; Captain Ramsey, Colonel Edward Fitzwilliam of His Majesty’s 33rd.”
“I cannot thank you enough for seeing to the safety of Mrs. Darcy and her sisters,” Edward said, shaking Captain Ramsey’s hand. “I must admit to being quite worried for them, and concerned at not being able to make my way here any earlier.”
Captain Ramsey said all that was proper, and Colonel Fitzwilliam made his bow and left. Elizabeth took advantage of his departure to ask Captain Ramsey if she might have a private word with him, before they returned to the drawing room, and they made their way down the hallway, stepping into the dining room.
“I do of course wish to pay your men for their efforts,” she said. “I am not sure what would be appropriate, however. What would you say to ten shillings per man?”
“That is very nearly a half-month’s pay,” Captain Ramsey said.
“Then let it be a guinea per man, and let them know they shall receive the same for every night they return while the rioting continues.”
“There are some among them who were quite happy simply to be fed well,” Captain Ramsey said. “They will be very appreciative of your generosity.”
“We are very appreciative of their protection, so this perhaps makes us more equal,” Elizabeth said. “Let me go see to the money.”
Within one of the drawers of the desk in Darcy’s study was a little strongbox containing a few hundred pounds in case ready money was ever needed within the house; he had shared its existence with Elizabeth before his first departure to Pemberley. She went to the study and pulled it out now, removing the necessary coins and then returning to the dining room to give them to Captain Ramsey so that he might share them out.
They both returned to the drawing room once the men had been paid, and sat there for only a little while before Elizabeth suggested they should all go attempt to sleep. Everyone rose reluctantly and left the room, Kitty most reluctant of all. Captain Ramsey refused the bedroom that had been prepared for him, although he thanked Elizabeth for the family’s kindness; he preferred to stay in the hallway with his men, should anything happen.
