The Wages Of Virtue (A Poor Man at the Gate Series, Book 8) Read online

  Book Eight: A Poor Man

  at the Gate Series

  Digital edition published in 2014 by

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  The Wages of Virtue

  Copyright © 2014 by Andrew Wareham

  All Rights Reserved

  Contents:

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Scene Setter

  Introduction

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  By the Same Author

  Scene Setter

  The continuing story of erstwhile, small-time smuggler Tom Andrews, who in earlier adventures, escaped from England to avoid the hangman’s noose. He was shanghaied onto a Caribbean bound privateering ship, before Tom fled to New York, accompanied by Joseph Star, a part Carib freeman. They were betrayed and were forced to return to England at the beginning of the first great industrial boom; as unscrupulous businessmen they quickly became wealthy.

  In The Wages of Virtue, although now without their respective patriarchs, fortune, misfortune and understated sibling rivalries permeate the lives of the Andrews and Star families.

  Introduction

  Tom Andrews and Joseph Star are dead and their children must establish themselves as the new generation of the families. They are no longer 'new money' and must take their places in the ranks of the hereditary peerage, or become outsiders with no access to the networks of political power and economic influence which are the realities of rule in Britain.

  Robert Andrews accepts the new life and does his best to fit in; James Andrews builds the basis of a stolidly successful political career while his youngest brother seems to be on course for spectacular failure. Thomas Star establishes himself as the young patriarch, nurturing his kin to the best of his ability, though with mixed success.

  Overseas, Henry Star flourishes in the corrupt world of the Southern States while the ventures in India expand on their profitable beginning. England is moving from the flamboyance of the Regency towards the outward respectability of the Victorians - yet the reality is much as it always was.

  Author’s Note: I have written and punctuated The Wages of Virtue in a style reflecting English usage in novels of the Georgian period, when typically, sentences were much longer than they are in modern English. Editor’s Note: Andrew’s book was written, produced and edited in the UK where some of the spellings and word usage vary slightly from U.S. English.

  Book Eight: A Poor Man

  at the Gate Series

  Chapter One

  It was a good funeral, Robert supposed, or so Society would say. The whole world was there - or that part of the world that was worth noticing - every pew in the old church full and some worthies actually standing, though all of the most important were to the front and had elbow room.

  He was pleased to note that none of the Latimers had managed to find a seat; they were stood in a block at the very rear, simpering at the aristocracy from a respectful distance. He suspected, and rather hoped, that they would have noticed and resented the pew that had been reserved for the staff, Brown prominent amongst them, dressed to perfection in respect to his master and far smarter than any of the Latimer menfolk.

  The valet had informed Robert of his intention to retire from service - he could not accept another gentleman, he had said, he had not the heart for it. He was to go to Matlock on the morning's stage, by way of Derby; he would purchase a cottage there having saved a sufficiency during his years at my lord's side. It was not his original home, but he liked hills and moors, he said, and my lord's Will had provided very generously for him - he would live in a degree of comfort he had not expected.

  The Bishop of Peterborough had offered himself to lead the service, rather vigorously, sending a dean to point out the desirability of the presence of a lord of the church. Peterborough was renowned as the poorest diocese in England and Robert suspected that the bishop, who had a large family and a number of sons to provide for, much fancied translation to York or Canterbury and wished to perform in front of the leaders of the nation in the hope of being remembered at the next vacancy.

  'To hell with him!'

  It had been an easy decision to take; Reverend Harker, their vicar, had buried Lady Verity and he could do the same for his father - at least he had known him and could give an honest eulogy, unlike the bishop's performance for the Grafhams. The local man had no ambitions in the church, intended never to leave the parish, so he could afford to offend the Bishop, and might, being a Christian and having no love for politicians, enjoy so doing.

  The rector concluded his prayers and led them to the graveside, the mighty of the land shoulder to shoulder, barely space for the pall-bearers who had been carefully selected from the politicos for their use to the family, taken from a plethora of the willing. The churchyard was muddy and the possibility that one of the great might slip in was almost sufficient to raise a smile - the Old Man would have loved that!

  Gervase Paynton, who had carefully placed himself at his side, watched anxiously, determined to miss nothing, occasionally whispering to his father, demanding to know a name.

  Gervase had appeared at the Hall on the day after the birth and death, upset to have missed the excitement but pointing out, repeatedly, that his sister had set the next day as the most likely for her delivery, and, if she did not know, then who could blame him for being behind the fair?

  Lord Liverpool was present, no doubt mourning the four thousand a year to Party funds that had just passed away; almost the whole of the Cabinet was ranged behind him, though Wellington and Canning were actually prominent at his shoulder in a very overt political statement. Goderich, also ambitious, eased in behind them. Several senior Whigs occupied the front row on the other side of the grave, making another point.

  The lawyer and member, Mr Clapperley, was present with his son, stood behind Lord Liverpool, being a lesser figure in his administration; unless Robert was much mistaken, he was sniffling, holding back tears. It was perhaps the first demonstration of humanity and decency Robert had ever seen in the horrible little man; he must remember to catch his eye and offer his thanks to him later.

  Far at the back, outside the wall of the graveyard, stood every adult from the estate together with their older, more responsible, children; their heads were uncovered and a number were shedding tears in an actual sense of loss, not mere courtesy to the dead and fear for the future. The old lord had spent much of his time at the estate and knew many of his people; the new man was a far more distant figure and lived in London, which boded ill for them, they s
uspected.

  The carriages led the genteel to the Hall for the funereal baked meats - not a feast because it was incumbent on those present to remain sober. Ordinary mortals made their way to the tithe barn where Robert had arranged for a massive meal to be available, food for every villager and an excess for the many sight-seers who would have walked in from miles around to see the nobs assembled.

  Tables had been set out in the four biggest rooms of the Hall, furniture borrowed from all of the houses of the area, and some two hundred were eventually seated and presented with plates containing still-warm food - an achievement for which the whole staff must be rewarded, Robert told Captain Thame.

  The brothers presided, one to each room and the new Lord Star in the fourth, expressing their thanks to every man who had travelled to reach the estate and ensuring that the chaises of those who must return to London that day were drawn up close to the doors.

  Lord Liverpool ate hurriedly and congratulated Robert on the good weather that had blessed the funeral - he did not seem surprised that the sun had shone upon him.

  "Perhaps, my lord, you could favour me with a few minutes of your time when you are next in London?"

  The Prime Ministerial request amounted to a command and Robert instantly assented; Liverpool left, grimacing slightly as his habitual indigestion - the inevitable result of years of gobbled meals - asserted itself. One of his staff, anonymous in a black coat, suggested to Robert that ten o'clock on Tuesday next would be an excellent time, my lord having fifteen minutes untaken in his diary then. He had not intended to be in London for a month, but saw no alternative other than obedience; he could have claimed the appointment to be inconvenient, but would have spent the next five years atoning for his lapse if he had.

  Mid-afternoon saw the Hall empty of all except the family and the Stars, every one of whom was in attendance, with the exception of John who was still not officially in England or even alive.

  Captain Thame, acting as major-domo for the day, suggested to Robert that the family should repair to the library where Mr Michael was waiting with the Will.

  Chairs were set out around the large reading table, Michael at the side, Robert at the head of the table, Charlotte and Sir Matthew, James and Joseph in no particular order. The Dowager was still confined to her chamber with her infant, would not come downstairs for a few days, as all accepted, but Lord Paynton, her father, had been begged to take her seat, as propriety demanded.

  "A sad occasion, my lord, and one that I had hoped not to attend for many years yet," Michael commenced. "The Will is known in its main outlines to all present, I believe, the late Lord Andrews having discussed it very openly."

  They nodded in unison, all except Lord Paynton.

  "The Thingdon Estate is in entail, my lord, and falls to your trusteeship; also eighty per centum of the Roberts enterprises, held at your disposal whilst the interests of Mr Joseph Andrews are protected. Separately, the lands at Lutterworth, inherited from the late lord several years ago, descend to Mr James Andrews, to be held by him in entail in the male line, together with the lifetime income previously agreed and the disposal of the cotton mill near St Helens in Lancashire and the house owned by Lord Andrews outside Liverpool. To Mr Joseph Andrews falls, for his life, twenty parts of the income of Roberts Iron Founders and the Roberts Coal Mines and Roberts Shipyards; to his personal ownership and disposal, the cotton mill at Wigan and the sum of five thousand pounds sterling in cash. To Lord Andrews' daughter, Lady Star, a bequest of five thousand pounds sterling and the care of some or all of the great dogs of the Thingdon Estate, to be arranged as suits her convenience and that of the second Lord Andrews."

  Michael smiled at the relief on Robert's face.

  "There are bequests and annuities to all of the domestic staff, as is proper, and provision has been made for the maintenance of my lord's responsibilities to his school in Dorset and those charitable institutions in the present care of Mr Saul Mostyn. You are aware of all of these, I believe, my lord."

  Robert nodded, they were all properly in hand.

  "Provision for the Dowager Lady Andrews and for my lord's daughter, Verity Frances Jane Andrews, is as follows, the arrangements provisionally made prior to the birth all taking effect. The estate in Norfolk, near Cromer, recently purchased from the executors of the late Lord Castlereagh, and known as The Lodge, is to be Lady Andrews' in freehold. The sum of twenty thousand pounds is placed in Trusteeship to her daughter, the income accruing to Lady Andrews until her daughter's majority or earlier marriage. Trustees to the Fund are to be Lord Andrews and Lord Paynton, with their assent?"

  Either could have refused the duty, but such would occur only in the rarest of circumstances and would occasion much scandal. They signed the documents passed to them.

  "I will instruct Captain Thame to journey to the Lodge at his early convenience and to set in hand any and all works that may be regarded as appropriate."

  "That is outside the remit of the Will, Lord Andrews, but I have no doubt it will be appreciated."

  Paynton murmured his thanks on his daughter's behalf.

  "There are other personal bequests, which amount to a significant sum and are to be met from a fund that Lord Andrews had set aside from the income he drew annually from the businesses. To Sir William Rumpage, one thousand pounds and the same to Mr Alec Fraser, together with his thanks for their services and an expression of his respect for them. Captain Thomas Burley to receive five thousand pounds, and his children, including those as yet unborn, one thousand each to be received at their majority, the income compounding in trusts, myself to manage them, reporting annually to Lord Andrews; the sum of five thousand pounds has been dedicated to this. The remainder, amounting to three thousands and a few hundreds, to be given to a lady known as Judy, with the message that although he had never met her he had conceived a great affection for her; Lord Andrews is requested to make the gift. Finally, my lords and lady and gentlemen, his dear love to you all."

  Michael put his papers together, rose from the table and bowed himself out. Robert escorted him to the door then turned to the others.

  "A few words before we leave the room, sister and brothers, and to you my lord."

  They settled back in their chairs, waited while tea and coffee were demanded and brought in.

  "The question of residence of the Dowager first of all, Lord Paynton - she will remain here, in the Hall, while she wishes, whether that be one month or ten years, and she will be welcome in Mount Street, where there is a substantial nursery. My father had no great liking for London and so gave no thought to a Town House of her own; that lack can easily be supplied, my lord."

  "You are very generous, my lord."

  "Family, my lord - my little sister must remain known to us all, much in our company."

  "Both will always be welcome in our houses," Sir Matthew stated, Charlotte agreeing at his side.

  "James, your income is known to you and discussed at length. Please be aware that should you receive an appointment as a Minister of the Crown - which may not be an unlikely event - then the family would ensure that your income remained suitable."

  James took a few seconds to assimilate the implications of that speech, then made his thanks, though saying he was not at all sure that he was the material Ministers were made from.

  "You are an Andrews, brother!"

  "Joseph, have you any plans for the immediate future that might interfere with your running of your mill?"

  "I have no plans at all, brother, but will be in frequent contact with Lord Star in any case. No doubt he will be able to manage the mill for me if the need arises, if, for example, I was to travel abroad for any length of time. I know that he intends to make that offer to James. I will, for the while, continue to work at Roberts, if I may."

  "You are more than welcome, brother, and certainly do not need my permission."

  Joseph managed a smile.

  "Charlotte, and Sir Matthew, the question of the dogs arises. I mu
st, I think, in respect to Mama, retain two breeding couples - but I will be very happy to arrange transport north for the remainder."

  "They may roam the fells, Robert, and will, I have no doubt, be very happy in the mountain air. I shall regard Papa's bequest as made entirely for their benefit, having expected nothing of the Will, bearing in mind the very generous portion I brought to my marriage."

  Sir Matthew agreed - they had had no legitimate expectations.

  "Nor illegitimate either, my lord," Charlotte added.

  Robert chose not to comment further.

  "What of your mother, Thomas? Have you a dower house or will she retire to a coastal town for her declining years?"

  "Neither, Robert. I had taken a wing of Freemans for my family, as is not uncommon practice for the heir, and my father had in effect taken the other, the public rooms in the central block shared. Nothing needs to change and my mother will stay in her own chambers in the house that has for many years been hers. Elizabeth can foresee no difficulties."

  It occurred to Robert that there would be no problems because Elizabeth would not permit them; she demanded, and enforced, a calm, civilised existence.

  "We must make arrangements to take our seats, Thomas. Parliament will sit for another month and I must be in London at Lord Liverpool's beck next week. If we appear in the House then all will be made tidy; failing that we will have to wait till January."

  It was not a legal necessity that they must actually sit in the Upper House - there were many backwoods peers who never appeared in their whole lifetimes - but it was not unwise to announce to the political parties that they existed and would occasionally speak and cast a vote. Their businesses could benefit from government contracts and they had brothers who might be blessed by official patronage - they did not need to actively seek bribes, for they would be given in the hope that they might be effective, casting bread upon the waters, as it were.